Connect with us
'Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero' is super disappointing

Manga and Anime

‘Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero’ is super disappointing

It’s been four years since the last Dragon Ball movie. Is ‘Super Hero’ a worthy installment to the franchise?

Dragon Ball is at an interesting crossroads at the moment. While the Dragon Ball Super manga by Akira Toriyama and Toyotarou is ongoing, its anime adaptation concluded a few years ago and despite an ongoing web series titled Super Dragon Ball Heroes, the anime franchise seems to be in limbo. It’s been four years after the last feature film, Dragon Ball Super: Broly, which felt like a return-to-form for Toriyama’s creation. For their next movie, they have gone down the 3D animation treatment. 

The 21st Dragon Ball movie, subtitled Super Hero, marks the return of the Red Ribbon Army, an evil organization that Goku defeated when he was a kid. However, instead of focusing on Goku, the story is about his son Gohan and his former mentor Piccolo as the two go on a mission to save the world from the newly reformed Red Ribbon Army. Red Ribbon have created new androids, believing they are superheroes to fight the evil that is Goku and his friends. 

Despite being one of the most successful manga and anime series of all time, looking at recent media, there is the worry that Dragon Ball is struggling to stay relevant. From a storytelling standpoint, Toriyama’s Super Hero is all about evoking the past, with a Red Ribbon Army that rarely opposes as a threat. There are new androids, but even then, there is a sense of déjà vu going on. No doubt that longtime fans will feel nostalgic towards its history, but Toriyama isn’t saying anything new, and definitely not capturing that same lightning in a bottle that was his original manga and its anime adaptation, both of which were game-changers for their respective formats. 

Since neither Goku or Vegeta serve as main protagonists – though there is a whole fan service sequence of them sparring – it was good that the focus was towards Gohan and Piccolo, who have been neglected in recent years. While one can respect the arcs the two characters are going through – notably Gohan, who has been so devoted to work that he has had no time for training or even spending time with his daughter Pan, who gets kidnapped in the process – the stakes don’t seem that high. There is a great deal of talking in this movie, with Toriyama trying to put emphasis on comedy. Whenever Dragon Ball becomes dialogue-heavy, you just wish for someone to blast a Kamehameha at someone else. 

After the stellar hand-drawn animation of the Broly movie, which is the best that Dragon Ball has looked in years, Super Hero’s decision to go 3D was always going to be worrisome. Directed by Tetsuro Kodama, who has previous experience with CGI visuals, there are some stunning shots and it certainly looks better than the majority of 3D anime, but there is still a stiffness that comes across the character designs that don’t feel as expressive. No matter how much the 3D camera sings around the super-powered figures, the action lacks the impact that you would expect from this much-loved property.

With a weak story and a visual style that’s too different from what we expect from the series, Super Hero is a disappointing addition that shows Dragon Ball may be losing its relevancy.

'Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero' is super disappointing
‘Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero’ is super disappointing
Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero
With a weak story and a visual style that’s too different from what we expect from the series, Super Hero is a disappointing addition that shows Dragon Ball may be losing its relevancy.
Reader Rating0 Votes
0
A honorable attempt of making Gohan and Piccolo the heroes, instead of Goku.
There are some stunning visuals from the 3D animation...
...but there is still a stiffness that makes the characters less expressive and the action not as impactful.
Since the story doesn't have much stakes, the narrative relies on a lot of filler scenes for the purposes of fan service and comedy.
Akira Toriyama is just not bringing anything new – the storytelling relies on things you've seen before.
5
Average

Join the AIPT Patreon

Want to take our relationship to the next level? Become a patron today to gain access to exclusive perks, such as:

  • ❌ Remove all ads on the website
  • 💬 Join our Discord community, where we chat about the latest news and releases from everything we cover on AIPT
  • 📗 Access to our monthly book club
  • 📦 Get a physical trade paperback shipped to you every month
  • 💥 And more!
Sign up today
Comments

In Case You Missed It

WWE SmackDown preview, full card: March 1, 2024 WWE SmackDown preview, full card: March 1, 2024

WWE SmackDown preview, full card: March 1, 2024

Pro Wrestling

AEW Dynamite preview, full card: February 28, 2024 AEW Dynamite preview, full card: February 28, 2024

AEW Dynamite preview, full card: February 28, 2024

Pro Wrestling

AEW Rampage preview, full card: March 1, 2024 AEW Rampage preview, full card: March 1, 2024

AEW Rampage preview, full card: March 1, 2024

Pro Wrestling

Marvel unveils the new villains Bloodcoven appearing in 'Blood Hunt' Marvel unveils the new villains Bloodcoven appearing in 'Blood Hunt'

Marvel unveils the new villains Bloodcoven appearing in ‘Blood Hunt’

Comic Books

Connect
Newsletter Signup