So I technically became a DBZ fan in 2009, so it’s kinda wild to think that the fandom got to experience this a year prior. I did end up watching this in 2010, and I just remembered how awesome it was seeing Krillin and Yamcha back in their old gi again (especially with their Buu saga styles lol).
Prior to rewatching this OVA, I read the manga adaptation (which I learned was released a year after this anime), while Naho Ooishi did a good job drawing it, this version of the story is the better way of experiencing it. There’s so much love written for the old school fans, from Gotenks using Yamcha’s and Tien’s moves, to having the other cast have their shining moments - except for Vegeta & Gohan… Maybe there could’ve been opportunities to reintroduce other stuff that the fans like, especially Super Saiyan 3, but I’m not bugged by it tbh.
In addition to this OVA being a love letter for the fans, the remake of the original anime opening with the Buu saga cast was tastefully done, and the Orange Hero anime ending is one of my favourite songs from this whole franchise - quite literally nostalgic and heartwarming.
The narrative isn’t really that noteworthy, even with it establishing Vegeta having a secret younger brother. This was written more so as a gag story, similar to stuff like Neko Majin, which is way up in Toriyama’s alley.
When I read the manga adaptation, there were some notes from Toriyama beforehand saying that he had forgotten stuff, and one of the most important details he had forgotten was that everyone’s memories of Majin Buu should be erased 6 months after Kid Buu’s defeat - meanwhile the OVA is set 2 years later, and Mr. Satan is making a hotel based around Majin Buu’s defeat…
The animation is really good, and it kinda makes me question why they never stuck with this look for Super? I like Yamamuro’s style when there’s time given to the animators to finesse it, otherwise we get the DBS Episode 5 situation lmao.
Overall, this OVA really feels like Toriyama saying “hey don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten about you guys 😉” and given Dragon Ball’s popularity after GT ended, this was probably him acknowledging the fanbase.
It’s almost safe to say that this is silently de-canonised, as with the Battle of Gods and Resurrection ‘F’ movies - because let’s be real, Goku could’ve asked King Kai to find Tarble and Instant transmission him so that they can do the Super Saiyan God ritual, and also it’s very odd to establish that Abo & Cado are on the same tier as Frieza, but the people leading the Frieza army are as strong as Zarbon & Dodoria. Lastly, not to mention that Toriyama basically used traits from Tarble to create Cabba lol. But that being said, they did mention Tarble in the DBS Broly movie, so maybe they’ll do something with him again in the future.
I wonder if the red tint on base form Goku, and the blue tint on his SSJ form during that fight inspired Toriyama for his upcoming project…
So I technically became a DBZ fan in 2009, so it’s kinda wild to think that the fandom got to experience this a year prior. I did end up watching this in 2010, and I just remembered how awesome it was seeing Krillin and Yamcha back in their old gi again (especially with their Buu saga styles lol).
Prior to rewatching this OVA, I read the manga adaptation (which I learned was released a year after this anime), while Naho Ooishi did a good job drawing it, this version of the story is the better way of experiencing it. There’s so much love written for the old school fans, from Gotenks using Yamcha’s and Tien’s moves, to having the other cast have their shining moments - except for Vegeta & Gohan… Maybe there could’ve been opportunities to reintroduce other stuff that the fans like, especially Super Saiyan 3, but I’m not bugged by it tbh.
In addition to this OVA being a love letter for the fans, the remake of the original anime opening with the Buu saga cast was tastefully done, and the Orange Hero anime ending is one of my favourite songs from this whole franchise - quite literally nostalgic and heartwarming.
The narrative isn’t really that noteworthy, even with it establishing Vegeta having a secret younger brother. This was written more so as a gag story, similar to stuff like Neko Majin, which is way up in Toriyama’s alley.
When I read the manga adaptation, there were some notes from Toriyama beforehand saying that he had forgotten stuff, and one of the most important details he had forgotten was that everyone’s memories of Majin Buu should be erased 6 months after Kid Buu’s defeat - meanwhile the OVA is set 2 years later, and Mr. Satan is making a hotel based around Majin Buu’s defeat…
The animation is really good, and it kinda makes me question why they never stuck with this look for Super? I like Yamamuro’s style when there’s time given to the animators to finesse it, otherwise we get the DBS Episode 5 situation lmao.
Overall, this OVA really feels like Toriyama saying “hey don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten about you guys 😉” and given Dragon Ball’s popularity after GT ended, this was probably him acknowledging the fanbase.
It’s almost safe to say that this is silently de-canonised, as with the Battle of Gods and Resurrection ‘F’ movies - because let’s be real, Goku could’ve asked King Kai to find Tarble and Instant transmission him so that they can do the Super Saiyan God ritual, and also it’s very odd to establish that Abo & Cado are on the same tier as Frieza, but the people leading the Frieza army are as strong as Zarbon & Dodoria. Lastly, not to mention that Toriyama basically used traits from Tarble to create Cabba lol. But that being said, they did mention Tarble in the DBS Broly movie, so maybe they’ll do something with him again in the future.
I wonder if the red tint on base form Goku, and the blue tint on his SSJ form during that fight inspired Toriyama for his upcoming project…
