Dragon Ballhas been well-loved and celebrated by fans for decades, but it is a product of its time, and as such, it has some flaws here and there. One of these flaws is the seeminglyendless amount of filler and non-canon contentthroughout the anime adaptation. However, not all of these arcs were bad; instead, they offered more to the series, whether through the intriguing narrative or the unique characters that were introduced.
Dragon Ball Zhas multiple arcs and movies that only offer fan enjoyment rather than adding to the lore of the overall story. Some storylines were supposed to expandDragon Ball’suniverse but were later retconned by newer narratives. However,there are still several arcs that should have become canondue to their memorability, impact on character development, and, of course, simply because the stories are amazing.
5Cooler’s Revenge And The Return Of Cooler
Adding Cooler To The Canon Could Create A Greater Threat That Goku Has To Take On
Dragon Ballmovies five and six followed the story of Cooler, Frieza’s older brother, who, as the title suggests, seeks revenge against Goku after Frieza and King Cold’s defeat.Cooler doesn’t share Frieza’s flare and instead is calmer and more calculated, making his presence the most imposing between the two.Cooler’s character inDragon Ballis further set apart by his unique fifth form, giving him a more intimidating appearance compared to the fourth form fans saw from him and Frieza.
Bringing Cooler into the canon storyline would add layers of depth to Frieza’s family and could lead to further exploration of the rivalry between Cooler and Frieza and their desire for power and legacy. Cooler’s disdain for his brother and his drive to prove himself superior is a dynamic that fits intoDragon Balland places Cooler in a league besides Frieza. Like Frieza, he is cold and prideful and would do anything to gain the upper hand in a battle.
It’s True: Dragon Ball’s New Majin Buu Is Part Saibaman
Dragon Ball Daima has introduced an all-new Majin Buu, and he is created using the seeds that grow Saibamen, one of Dragon Ball Z’s oldest enemies.
InThe Return of Cooler, he undergoes a transformation that somewhat mirrors Frieza’s journey by becoming Meta-Cooler. After his defeat by Goku and the Z-Fighters, Cooler returns through mass-produced cyborg clones, and their power is enough to nearly overtake Goku and Vegeta. In the end, Cooler is defeated for a second time, but just as Frieza comes back into the story and takes his place as a powerful foe,Cooler could present the same challenge to Goku and the Z-Fighters. Cooler is a memorable character with a great design, and adding him to the canon builds upon existing characters.
4Garlic Jr. Saga
Garlic Jr. Gave Other Z-Fighters A Chance To Show Off Their Strength In Goku’s Absence
The Garlic Jr. Saga is unique because it references the first movie,Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone, and centers around Garlic Jr.’s return from it withplans to conquerDragon Ball’sEarth using Black Water Mist to corrupt humanity. This saga has a darker tone and brings the Z-Fighters together to take down a threat without Goku present. With Earth on the line and Goku MIA,the Z-Fighters are given an opportunity to take the stage andprove that they are just as worthy of being called Earth’s heroes.
The saga also stands out for giving Kami screen time as Earth’s guardian. In order to cure humanity from the Black Water Mist, Kami had to undergo a battle of wills against the former Earth guardians before he was able to utilize the air currents to save humanity before it was too late. This inclusion adds to the lore surrounding Earth’s guardians and allows Kami to directly serve the people of Earth rather than being a figurehead overlooking humanity.
3Otherworld Tournament Saga
The Kai’s And Pikkon Would Make An Interesting Addition To The Lore In Dragon Ball
The Otherworld Tournament Saga after the Cell Gamesexplores the afterlife and the Kais to a greater extent. The afterlife proves to be true heaven for Goku after he joins a tournament full of other legendary fighters and those from galaxies away. During this saga, Pikkon, a disciplined warrior from the West Galaxy, is introduced as Goku’s most formidable opponent.
All in all, the match was impressive, and having a powerful character who is as memorable as Pikkon become canon to the series would only add to the story and build Goku’s character.
Despite being introduced as a non-canon character in the afterlife, Pikkon remains a memorable addition, andDragon Ballfans would love to revisit his character. Pikkon, like Goku, is motivated and driven to be stronger, and he balances Goku’s carefree attitude with his calm focus and discipline. In the end, Goku manages to defeat Pikkon, but due to Goku touching the ceiling, Grand Kai declares it a draw. All in all, the match was impressive, and having a powerful character who is as memorable as Pikkon become canon to the series would onlyadd to the story and build Goku’s character.
The Otherworld Tournament stands out inDragon Ballbecause its conflicts are not centered around life and death but rather about finding who the most powerful warrior in the afterlife could be and winning a chance to train with the Grand Kai. This sagaadds to the lore surrounding the West, East, and South Kaiand builds King Kai’s (North Kai) status within the universe. Making the Otherworld Tournament canon could offer deeper insight into the spiritual realm and the afterlife and the Kai’s role in overseeing their respective sectors.
2Bojack Unbound
Bojack Unbound Would Have Solidified Gohan’s Role As The Next Guardian Of Earth
Dragon Ball Z: Bojack Unboundis another film that introduces one of the most dangerous threats in the series. Goku brings Cell to King Kai’s world before he explodes, destroying King Kai’s planet and setting loose a galactic conqueror and his criminal allies. Bojack sets his eyes on Earth andwith Goku out of the picture, it is up to the Z-Fighters to protect Earth, despite many still reeling from Goku’s sacrifice.
Bojack and his allies take on the Z-Fighters one by one after infiltrating a martial arts tournament with the goal of obliterating Earth’s warriors. After a battle between Future Trunks, Piccolo, and Vegeta, it’s Gohan who delivers the final blow and destroys Bojack for good. Had the movie been canon, it could haveserved to solidify Gohan’s position as Earth’s heroin Goku’s absence.Despite still reeling from his father’s death, he was able to overcome the odds and defeat an enemy that neither Vegeta nor Piccolo was able to take down.
According to Akira Toriyama,Gohan actually did surpass Goku and VegetainDragon Ball Super: Super Hero.
Gohan’s battle against Bojackforces him to tap into the same power he had used during the Cell Games, despite his fear of doing so. Goku himself had to send a message from the afterlife to push Gohan into acting before it was too late. However, that only adds to Gohan’s character. Gohan, while powerful and full of potential, has always been a bit timid and viewed Goku’s power as unattainable. InBojack Unbound, Gohan comes face to face with this fact and overcomes it, showing hisGohan’s steady growth into Earth’s next protector inDragon Ball.
1Bardock: Father of Goku
Bardock’s Special Gave Insight To How The Saiyans Lived Before Frieza Destroyed Them
The original special,Bardock: Father of Goku,told Bardock’s storyas a lower-class warrior who gained the ability to foresee the future and witness the destruction of Planet Vegeta at Frieza’s hands. Despite knowing the inevitable, he strives to change it and makes a one-man stand against Frieza and his forces. His final stand displayed his bravery and the spirit of his character. When Frieza ultimately killed Bardock, he died knowing that his son would one day face Frieza, making his story come full circle.
Bardock’s original story has been changed in recentDragon Balladditions such asSuper, and while the new story is good and introduces Gine, Goku’s mother, his original story was much more climatic.
Bardock’s original story has been changed in recentDragon Balladditions such asSuper, and while the new story is good and introduces Gine, Goku’s mother, his original story was much more climatic. His original story was more intriguing because itoffered a glimpse into how the Saiyans lived and their interactions with one another. Even Bardock himself was more of a self-serving fighter before he became a symbol of resistance. When he tries to convince other Saiyans of the danger befalling them, they all shrug it off despite knowing how tyrannical Frieza could be.
Every Single Dragon Ball Movie (In Chronological Order)
With more than 20 entries, viewing the Dragon Ball movies in order is a big experience, and keeping track of them all can be difficult.
Canonizing Bardock’s original story allows a deeper and more meaningful insight into whom the Saiyans were as a race of warriors. Despite conquering planets under Frieza’s command and being labeled as a race of ruthless warriors, Bardock and his team were clearly close, and he mourned their loss. By making Bardock’s original story canon,fans can examine the relationships between the Saiyans more closelyand have greater insight into their race as a whole before Frieza destroyed Planet Vegeta.
Dragon Ball
From the creative mind of Akira Toriyama, Dragon Ball is a mega multimedia franchise that spans back to the 1980s. Dragon Ball expanded quickly, starting as a serialized manga for Weekly Shonen Jump in Japan. It made its way overseas via manga and an anime adaptation that is enjoyed worldwide. Dragon Ball was the initial starting animated series that followed the adventures of the young Son Goku as he sought after the Dragon Balls. These mystical orbs would grant the wish of any who gathered them together. Then, the series would branch off into the immensely popular Dragon Ball Z, which followed Goku as an adult and featured high-intensity battles and Goku’s never-ending search to be the strongest. The series has also enjoyed several popular video game adaptations and continues to release several new animated series and theatrical films up to the recent popular Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero.
