Dragon Ball GTobviously has its flaws, but I’ve come to appreciate the series' Shadow Dragons for the simple reason that they’re portrayed far more effectively than what they clearly influenced,Dragon Ball Daima’s Tamagamis. The obvious connections between them are that a Dragon Ball is embedded in their bodies and that in order for Goku and company to obtain the eponymous orbs,the Shadow Dragon or Tamagami must be defeated.
While vastly different in execution, these shared characteristics are enough to warrant a comparison. Fans began comparing both series as soon asDaimaannounced that Goku would become a kid again as he did inGT, and since all three Tamagamis have been defeated, it’s now fair to assume that their main part of the story is over and that a more definitive verdict can be made. And likemost of my other opinions onDaimaandGT, I prefer the Shadow Dragons over the Tamagamis.
GT’s Shadow Dragons Contribute More to Dragon Ball’s Lore
Dragon Ball Daima’s Tamagamis Are Fun, But Don’t Expand Our Understanding of the Series' World
Probably the most important aspect of the Shadow Dragons is how they serve asGT’s final innovation in the series' ingenious expansion of lore regarding the series' central artifacts. They’re not only thephysical manifestations of the Dragon Balls' overuse and built-up negative energiesthroughout the franchise but they were born from a specific wish. Even before the Shadow Dragons, the concept of the Black Star Dragon Balls was already an innovative spin onDragon Balllore, and the fact thatGTthen took it to an even more appealing level with the Shadow Dragons can’t be overstated.
Of course, this isn’t to say thatGT’s overall delivery of this concept was perfect. In fact, one of the most compelling twists is one that I take great issue with, and it’s ironically one that didn’t even have to happen for the arc to make sense. It’s the fact that each Dragon was born from a specific wish. The execution doesn’t work because each of the Dragon’s powers and overall identity don’t actually align with what birthed them when they should have. The result is an incredible idea that doesn’t quite live up to its full potential.
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One of the few Dragons that can loosely be connected to theirs is Oceanus Shenron. They were born from Oolong’s wish for a woman’s undergarment and is greatly embarrassed by this. The fact Oceanus hides their true personality could be connected with this, but it could have been more thoroughly explored, and it wasn’t.
By comparison,Daima’s Tamagamis don’t represent anything consequential, except why the mysterious Namek Neva created them. However, this is greatly minimized by the fact that theyare only part of the lore and culture of the Demon Realm, and this matters when comparing them to the Shadow Dragons, since they effectively replace them. The Shadow Dragons represent the Dragon Balls of Earth, where the vast majority of the franchise takes place. As a result, viewers are more emotionally invested in Earth’s Dragon Balls as opposed to ones from another realm.
Dragon Ball GT’s Shadow Dragons Solve A Major Issue in the Franchise
Dragon Ball Daima’s Tamagamis' just perpetuate the ubiquitous problem of power levels
How each Shadow Dragon battles and almost wins against Goku and Pan inGTalso solves a major problem in the overall franchise that has only been explored inDragon Ball Super.The majority ofGT’s Dragons are able to overpower Goku and Pan through means other than brute strength, while the franchise mostly focuses on power levels. Even the most pathetic of the Dragons, Haze Shenron, convincingly almost wins through his powers of pollution. The more Goku and Pan fight, the weaker they become. In fact, the two of them would have lost if Giru hadn’t intervened.
Each Tamagami only relies on strength and their fights aren’t that much of a nail-biter
InDaima, each Tamagami only relies on strength and their fights aren’t that much of a nail-biter. The one twist the Tamagamis provide is their extra challenge,butDaimadoesn’t make them consequentialand instead just uses them for comic relief.Daimadoes, however, offer a slight variation to its own short formula. Majin Kuu and Duu’s battles against their Tamagami were an ingenious way to showcase their skills and to differentiate them in terms of power. However, that only serves as a way forDaimato improve an already lackluster delivery in its own series, not to one-upGT.
The Tone of Dragon Ball GT’s Shadow Dragons Is An Issue
But it’s not enough to make them less appealing than Dragon Ball Daima’s Tamagamis
Of course,GT’s Shadow Dragon Saga isn’t without faults. In addition to ineffectively connecting each eponymous Dragon to the wish that birthed them, the saga has been rightfully criticized for its pacing and overall tone. Regarding the latter, the majority of the Shadow Dragons are treated more as B-level villains, save for Syn, resulting in many of them being portrayed as more comedic than genuinely threatening, which is a major criticism of the franchise despite being a staple ofDragon Ball.
Many fans have also been right to criticize the Shadow Dragon Saga’s overall pacing. LikeGT’s Super Android 17 Saga, it was expedited far too much. Of course,GT’s problem arises from the fact that there are seven Dragon Balls and, therefore, seven Shadow Dragons that Goku and Pan have to defeat. This could have easily led to a sprawling saga that matched the length ofDBZ,which would have been too much. Other series in the franchise, including the originalDragon Ball, initially solved this issue by having them found in the background, butGTdidn’t.
Probably the most upsetting of these faults is Oceanus Shenron. The Dragon’s control over their village is unique and deserves more attention, but it was condensed to one episode, and many of the situations needed further explanation to feel more convincing or as dramatic as they could have been. However, even thoughGT’s delivery of the Shadow Dragons and their saga was greatly flawed,the overall thought and concept behind it greatly outshines the simplicity ofDaima’s Tamagamis.
Neva Holds The Key to Saving Dragon Ball Daima’s Tamagamis
But it would likely be too little, too late
Despite all three of the Tamagamis having already lost,Daimacould bring them back very easily. Their creator, Neva, has already proven that he’s quite capable and even willing to bend his own rules for his own mysterious reasons. The most relevant example is when he beefs up the strength of the second Tamagami during its battle against Vegeta after hearing that Saiyans enjoy a more exciting fight. So, it’s not beyond the realm of possibility to assume that Neva could call upon their services once more during a pivotal battle.
Maybe I wouldn’t be so critical if these Tamagamis weren’t obvious replacements for the Shadow Dragons
While this could greatly expand upon their story and improve their appeal, I find it highly unlikely that any prospective future role the Tamagamis could ever play could make them more effective than the Shadow Dragons. They would need to be somehow related to Earth’s Dragon Balls and their pasts be more intricately connected to the Dragon Balls they once protected rather than just being the creations of the mysterious Neva. Maybe I wouldn’t be so critical if these Tamagamis weren’t obvious replacements for the Shadow Dragons.
The only way I feel like I would be fine with the Tamagamis is ifDragon Ball GTended up being revisited to match the amazing visuals ofDragon Ball Daima. Maybe that’s something we can all agree on.
Dragon Ball GT
Cast
Dragon Ball GT is the third series in Akira Toriyama’s most famous anime franchise. However, it is the first one not to adapt a manga storyline. Set after the events of the Buu Saga, Dragon Ball GT sees Goku and the Z-Warriors battle powerful villains such as Baby, Super 17, and the Shadow Dragons. 18 years after the 64-episode show was met with a lukewarm reception, Dragon Ball Super replaced it in the anime’s official continuity.
