Apr 23, 2023
Akira Toriyama might be the author to the most influential Shōnen Battle series, yet his true calling has always been comedy. While "Dragon Ball" might be famous for its planet busting action, its heart is 100% comedy. Where "Dragon Ball Super: Broly" was a beautifully animated omage to the action in the "Dragon Ball" series, "Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero" is a love letter to what is uniquely and distinctly "Dragon Ball". A master of his craft, Toriyama has created a movie that had me laughing from the opening sequence to the very end. He plays the common super hero tropes and clichés we are
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so intimately familiar with like a fiddle, flipping and twisting the super hero story into something that feels both "Super" and "Dragon Ball".
"Super Hero" also feels like a return to what Toriyama wanted to create post Cell Saga, to let Gohan take over as the main character with Piccolo at his side. Considering Gohan’s history as the great Saiyaman and the inclusion of the Red Ribbon army, Androids and Cell, there’s a certain sense of nostalgia to that time. Before multiple universes and galaxy bending beings of mass destruction, a time when "Dragon Ball" felt like it flowed with much more grace than it does now. As much as I love Goku, it’s certainly fresh seeing a "Dragon Ball" story omit him entirely in favor of its side characters. Both Gohan and Piccolo especially feels neglected considering they sit firmly in Goku’s and Vegeta’s shadow within the rest of the "Dragon Ball" canon. Gohan has always been my favorite character of the cast since his showdown with Cell, so to see him get a sort of redemption was a joy. Having been relegated to the boring family man, this movie aims to elevate him to new heights, where he can be both scientist "and" warrior. Piccolo has barely had any agency since the Frieza Saga, and he shows in this movie that he has plenty of capacity to lead a "Dragon Ball" story, both as a warrior and a comedian.
The elephant in the room to many is the 3D animation. Many felt a surge of disappointment when they saw that this movie was in 3D, especially considering *Broly*’s absolutely stellar 2D animation. I for one think this movie was beautiful, and I think the 2D effects pop of the screen due to the contrast with the 3D animation. The fights are fluid and they utilized the freedom of camera movement well to justify the choice they made. I also think Toriyama’s style is uniquely fitting for an adaptation into 3D. Its simpler character designs and rounder shapes makes the transition from the classic 2D much less jarring, and with the decades of "Dragon Ball" fighting games to back it up it’s fair to say this series has the 3D transition figured out. I must also mention the soundtrack, as I absolutely loved the music in this movie and how it set the mood for each scene and elevated every fight.
To conclude, this movie feels like a return to form for Toriyama. Not saying he lost his ability over time, I just feel like he never got the chance to truly flex his narrative and comedic muscles since the conclusion of the Cell Saga over 30 years ago. Every joke lands and parodying the super hero genre this well almost makes it possible to hear Toriyama’s own laughs as he sits in his chair writing the movie through the screen as you’re watching. A famously free spirit, this is what happens when a genius is allowed free reign over his own property, a comedic action masterpiece more than worthy of the legacy helmed by the "Dragon Ball"-franchise.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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