Summary
- Dragon Ball's ever-evolving visual style has played a crucial role in shaping the tone and experience of each mainline series, reflecting the narrative evolution of the franchise.
- The original Dragon Ball series had a colorful and cartoony design, with fluid animation that complemented the lighthearted and fun-loving tone.
- Dragon Ball Z marked a significant shift to a more intense and dramatic visual style, with muscular character designs and complex fighting sequences that conveyed high-stakes battles and cosmic threats.
Dragon Ball, a much-loved and iconic anime and manga series, has captured the hearts of fans for decades and continues to do so even to this day. One of the most intriguing aspects of this legendary and iconic franchise is its ever-evolving visual aspect or style, which has gone through significant transformations over the years just like Vegeta and Goku.
Let's explore the different looks of Dragon Ball, analyzing how each mainline series' visual style sets the tone for its respective story, and how character designs and animation styles shape the overall experience for the audience of the franchise.
Dragon Ball (Classic)
The original Dragon Ball series, which successfully ran from 1986 to 1989, introduced the anime audience to the world of Son Goku and his journey to finding the Dragon Balls. The visual style of this series is characterized by its colorful palate and cartoony design. Akira Toriyama, the creator of the Dragon Ball franchise, blended his manga with a lighthearted and whimsical aesthetic, which translated beautifully into the anime adaptation.
The character designs in this early installment are iconic, with characters like Goku, Bulma, Krillin, and Master Roshi sporting distinct and legendary looks. The animation style is fluid but sometimes simplistic, reflecting the show's comedic and shōnen adventure-driven nature. This animation style perfectly complements the light-hearted and fun-loving tone of the original Dragon Ball series.
Dragon Ball Z
Dragon Ball Z marked a significant shift in the franchise's visual style and blessed the screens from 1989 to 1996. As the story transitioned from adventure to epic battles and cosmic threats, the character designs and animation style followed suit. The characters became more muscular, and the fighting sequences grew in complexity and intensity.
The character designs of Dragon Ball Z are iconic in their own right, with Goku's Super Saiyan transformation becoming one of the most recognizable moments in not just shōnen but overall anime history. The animation style, while retaining some of the comedic elements of the original, took on a more intense and dramatic tone. This visual shift was monumental in conveying the high-stakes battles and world-threatening conflicts that defined the series.
Dragon Ball GT
Dragon Ball GT, a non-canon series from the franchise that ran from 1996 to 1997, represents a visible departure in the franchise's visual style. Toriyama's involvement in the series was limited, and it shows in the character designs and overall aesthetic. The characters appeared slightly different from their Dragon Ball Z counterparts, and the animation style turned out to be less consistent.
While Dragon Ball GT has its dedicated fans, it is seen as a departure from the tone and quality of the previous series. The changes in visual style contributed to the polarizing reception of GT among fans.
Dragon Ball Super
After a long hiatus, Dragon Ball made a comeback with Dragon Ball Super in the year 2015. This series aimed to recapture the essence of the original Dragon Ball series while incorporating elements from Dragon Ball Z. The visual style underwent a significant rejuvenation, with character designs and animation that harked back to the series' roots. The character designs in Dragon Ball Super kept the iconic looks of the characters while incorporating subtle updates. The animation style attained a balance between the comedic and action-packed, ensuring that both the lighthearted and intense moments were well-executed without any limitations. This return to the classic style clicked with fans and helped reignite the franchise's popularity among the fans and anime audience in general.
In 2018, Dragon Ball Super: Broly took the visual style of the franchise to new and greater heights. The film featured breathtaking animation sequences, fluid fight scenes, and stunning visuals. The character designs remained faithful to Toriyama's original art, but the animation quality and execution reached a level previously unseen in Dragon Ball. Dragon Ball Super: Broly set a new standard for the franchise's visual style, showcasing the prowess of top-tier animation in the Dragon Ball universe. The movie's success highlighted the enduring appeal of the series and the significance of keeping the visual style fresh and dynamic.
A Blend of Classic and Modern
The ongoing Dragon Ball Super series has continued to improve its visual style, striking an equilibrium between the classic and modern. Character designs remain faithful to the original, but animation quality has improved since the earlier episodes of the series. The visual style of Dragon Ball Super reflects the series' visual evolution over the years, incorporating elements from both the original Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z while maintaining a consistent, engaging, and fresh look.
The Dragon Ball franchise's ever-evolving visual style has played an important role in shaping the tone and experience of each mainline series. From the whimsical and adventurous style of the original Dragon Ball to the glorious battles of Dragon Ball Z and the return to classic roots through Dragon Ball Super, the visuals have reflected the narrative evolution of the series. Character designs and animation quality have also played crucial roles in keeping the franchise fresh and intriguing for generations of fans of the franchise. As Dragon Ball continues to expand and evolve, its visual style will undoubtedly remain a defining and spectacular aspect of its enduring legacy.
Dragon Ball Super is available to stream on Crunchyroll.