Did I mention that DBZ is probably one of the most engrossing anime ever written? From Goku beating the unintimidating, girl-like cackling out of Frieza and his loser henchmen, to the inspirational choreography and edge-of-your-seat action of the Cell vs. I don't even think its physically possible to not shed manly tears sometime during this show the sheer passion of our heroes is magnificent enough to inspire Kim Jong Il to build a refuge camp with his bare hands. Dragon Ball Z is, in reality, the beautifully paced, glorious tale of a group of proud men defending their universe from a rotating cast of bombastic douchebags. Next time someone tells you that the plot of the show is "stupid and cliche", or that the "fight scenes drag on forever", get them into an armbar and make them beg for mercy because they just told you a goddamn lie straight to your face. You've no doubt heard others poke and make fun at this show's various idiosyncrasies. For those that are confident that they're prepared, slide the car seat back and hold onto your testicles because this show is no fucking joke. If you don't have the balls to handle the sheer Nagasaki imploding intensity, the tear wrenching drama, or the mindblowing plot twists Dragon Ball Z has up its sleeve, you need not apply, lest you're prepared to have your face literally melted off in a fit of testosterone-fueled rage. Yes, ladies and gentleman, this is a show for men and men only. Like Hank McCoy's premature big-foot vaccine, watching Dragon Ball Z is guaranteed to turn you into a badass gorilla with the strength ofġ0 men and the swag of Carlos Santana. Make no mistake, this is not an anime for children or people on high blood pressure medication.
This is because the amount of manliness contained in just one episode of DBZ is enough to cause penis growth, beard hair, and possibly cancer. Contrary to popular belief, this is not because of some terrible medical condition or permanent damage from anabolic steroids. If you're like me, the name Dragon Ball Z gets your blood boiling, your erection throbbing, and your bicep muscles pulsating. A man without a challenge is a man who does not live. When two of the most beloved fighters, Goku and Vegeta, stand against the mightiest villain in an empty planet, when the last hope is on their shoulders, when the price of failure will erase everything that is worth living for, they look at the situation and smile: this is how life is supposed to be. It is grand, it is electric, it is emotional and atmospheric. Still not impressed? Just watch the final DBZ battle.
Goku's naive greatness and Vegeta's indestructible pride completes, arguably, the single greatest friendship in anime history. The way Akira Toriyama changed his perspective throughout the storyline and how he did not rush Vegeta's judgement of his surroundings is astounding. He was one of the greatest villains at first and one of the greatest heroes in the end. I was always astonished by the character development which is amazingĪnd to emphasize this, I like the example of Vegeta. It's not all about the fighting, although the series have probably 4-5 battles that should be written in the anime history books. From the incredible Sayian Saga, an important Frieza Saga and the entertaining Cell Saga to the Grand Finale - Buu Saga, DBZ does not disappoint.
The original Dragon Ball was fun, but in DBZ the characters have grown and the maturity is felt throughout the whole series. No doubt this is one of the most popular series that helped spread the art of anime in the world.