Kicking off with the original manga series in 1984, the Dragon Ball franchise has been going strong for over 40 years, becoming a global phenomenon and never showing signs of slowing down. From hit anime series and video games to collectible card games and plenty of merch, the fandom has never been starved of fresh content, even following creator Akira Toriyama's death in March 2024. Most of these releases are met with glowing reviews and ample fanfare, but one peculiar anime series was quickly dubbed the "black sheep" of the franchise. While views on Dragon Ball GT have evolved in the decades since its release, it has never quite shaken its negative reputation.
Best Dragon Ball GT Representation In Dragon Ball Games
These are some of the best Dragon Ball GT representations and references in Dragon Ball games.
Beginning its run on Japanese television on February 7, 1996, Dragon Ball GT is commemorating its 30th anniversary this year, but it's not likely to see much in the way of a proper celebration. The series is still being criticized for its dull plot and goofy character designs three decades later, and most have chosen to simply leave it in the past. However, there are some diamonds in the rough for those willing to give the 64-episode series a rewatch, and some longtime fans are finally admitting that certain bits and pieces of GT weren't quite so bad after all.
Dragon Ball GT Remains the Most Controversial Series in the Long-Running Franchise
Given the popularity of Toriyama's manga series, it was no surprise that both the Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z anime adaptations found unprecedented success. With so much money coming in, publisher Shueisha and Toei Animation were reluctant to let it end, prompting the creation of Dragon Ball GT. Under major pressure, Toriyama agreed to its production, but the series isn't an adaptation of his manga series. Instead, it's an anime-exclusive sequel to Dragon Ball Z, something that immediately rubbed fans the wrong way.
The series begins with Goku accidently being turned back into a child by Ultimate Shenron, who is summoned by his former enemy, Emperor Pilaf. He is then forced to travel the universe to track down the Black Star Dragon Balls along with Trunks and his granddaughter Pan, as failing to do so within one year will result in Earth's destruction. While the first two arcs of Dragon Ball GT are agreed to be the best that the lambasted series has to offer, viewers agree that the show falls off with the subsequent Super Android 17 Saga and Shadow Dragons Saga arcs. Many also became frustrated at the series' focus on Goku, which didn't give any other character the chance to shine.
Fans of Dragon Ball were no doubt excited for more content back when the series kicked off in 1996, but it was immediately clear that Dragon Ball GT wasn't what most who supported Toriyama's work were interested in watching. The original author was largely uninvolved in GT's development, and fans quickly pointed out the missing spark that was present in the former anime adaptations. Jokes don't land, many plot points seem forced, and both Pan and her robot companion Giru have been dubbed as some of the most annoying characters in the Dragon Ball franchise. It was a losing battle from the start, and present-day fans have long wondered what it would have taken to make GT a welcome entry to the series. (Involving Toriyama more seems the easiest answer.)
This Concept From Dragon Ball GT Is Just Too Good to Keep Ignoring
Dragon Ball GT might be hated by many, but it actually introduced great concepts that the series can still benefit from.
This isn't to say that Dragon Ball GT was a total flop at the time of its release. It inspired a stage show in Japan in 1997, along with several art books, a 2013 manga adaptation, and several video games, including Dragon Ball GT: Final Bout for the PlayStation and the 2005 Game Boy Advance title Dragon Ball GT: Transformation, which was released exclusively in North America. Curiously, GT was much more popular overseas than in Japan, though it's hard to find much love for it online.
Despite Backlash, Dragon Ball GT Has Plenty of Redeeming Qualities
Over the past three decades, there have been many discussions about what Dragon Ball GT did right. Even those who haven't dipped their toes into the series have likely seen the Super Saiyan 4 transformation, which was introduced in GT's 34th episode and remains one of the most beloved forms in the entire franchise. An advanced version of the Super Saiyan and Golden Great Ape forms, it is devastatingly powerful, with an updated incarnation of it recently appearing in the newest anime series, Dragon Ball Daima. This has been well-received, as it was many fans' favorite part of GT, with the transformation getting some upgrades to keep it fresh and interesting for modern audiences.
One of Dragon Ball GT's powerful main villains was also applauded by viewers. In the distant past, the Tuffle race, once the natural inhabitants of Planet Plant, were wiped out by the Saiyans under King Vegeta's rule. In GT, Baby, the only survivor of this decimated race, returns to get his revenge on the Saiyans, boasting unique techniques and ample power. He even possesses Vegeta, triggering yet another fight between the Saiyan Prince and his rival. This was a highlight for many, with Baby being anything but one-dimensional. His ability to lay eggs within the people he possesses, enabling him to turn his former hosts into loyal minions, also added a bit of extra horror to his arc.
Vegeta fans were also pleased with how Dragon Ball GT handled his character's growth. Throughout Dragon Ball Z, the Saiyan Prince begins to show more affection for his family and for the planet Earth, with the peak of his transformation coming during his sacrifice in the Buu Saga. In GT, he's truly evolved into a family man, putting aside his eternal rivalry with Goku and obsession with becoming stronger and instead choosing to focus on his wife and children.
30 Years Later, Many Fans Have Warmed up to Dragon Ball GT—At Least, a Little Bit
While Dragon Ball GT had some good ideas, fans agree that these were ineffective due to weak writing and poor execution. The Baby Saga, in particular, introduced many interesting ideas, from the possibilities of Super Saiyan 4 to the joining of Majin Buu and Uub. The Black Star Dragon Balls also conjured up an interesting question for fans of Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z: what if the Dragon Balls had been corrupted via overuse earlier in the canon series?
Fit the 9 games into the grid.
While it remains divisive 30 years after its debut, Dragon Ball GT has still managed to make an impact on the franchise as a whole. Currently, GT's legacy lives on in Dragon Ball Daima, with Super Saiyan 4 making a comeback in the series' 18th episode. While the design is largely similar, the trigger for the transformation has been changed to make sense in the show's story. Dragon Ball GT has also seen plenty of representation in Dragon Ball video games, including the recent Dragon Ball Sparking Zero. It remains to be seen if any other aspects of GT will appear in future Dragon Ball content.
The Dragon Ball franchise as a whole turns 40 in 2026, and fittingly, some exciting news was recently announced. A new anime, Dragon Ball Super: The Galactic Patrol, will continue where Dragon Ball Super left off, and a new video game, Dragon Ball: Age 1000, is on the way. While little is known about the latter, it has been confirmed that Toriyama was involved in its creation. More information will be revealed in April during the Dragon Ball Games Battle Hour in Los Angeles.
- Release Date
- 1997 - 1997-00-00
- Network
- Fuji TV
- Showrunner
- Akira Toriyama
- Directors
- Minoru Okazaki, Mitsuo Hashimoto, Yoshihiro Ueda, Takahiro Imamura, Hidehiko Kadota, Osamu Kasai, Hiroyuki Kakudou, Shigeyasu Yamauchi
- Writers
- Akira Toriyama
- Franchise(s)
- Dragon Ball
Cast
-
Masako NozawaOob (voice) -
Yûko MinaguchiUncredited
