In Praise of Dragonball

 
The original Dragonball is a series with strong appeal. Though it's the reason we're all here, and despite its obvious popularity, I can't help but feel that sometimes it is quite an underrated series. An anime rich with culture, the series is loosely based on "Journey to the West," an incredibly famous Chinese novel written in the mid 1500s. Remaining one of the most popular fables in eastern culture for over 400 years, it is an allegorical interpretation based upon how Buddhism came to China. The two main characters of the story are the Buddhist monk Trip taka and the Monkey King. Together, they journey throughout Asia in search of Western Heaven's sutras, so that they may bring authentic versions of Buddha's teachings to China. While these two are both main characters, the true protagonist of the tale, most agree, is the Monkey King, and it is because he embodies the underlying theme of the story: a truly rebellious spirit can defy even the most powerful of authority figures.

Already, I'm sure you see a few similarities to Toriyama's manga, with the Monkey King being the most obvious. Over the course of his journeys, he rides a cloud, carriers a powerful staff, meets a pig very much like Oolong, and the objective of his journey, much like Goku's first, is based around the premise of finding a holy relic/s. It is no real wonder that, with ancient themes encouraging individuality and rebelling against oppressive (feudal) authority, and a basis in one of the most popular and longest lasting stories in all of eastern culture, that the series became so beloved and so meaningful to so many people.

Although the series began to deviate from the "Journey" theme after the introduction of Emperor Pilaf, Toriyama's love of fables and mythology remained as prevalent as ever. Nearly every character introduced in the series was based upon an equally legendary or romantic concept: Tien, a demi God; Yamcha, a famous thief; Piccolo, a demon king; Yajirobe, a famous wandering swordsman, and so on. The villains are no different, and this is probably the only show you'll ever see in which the protagonist will fight an evil Chinese mercenary (Tao) and then later on a mummy (One of Baba's henchman). And notice the character names, as well. Practically every single one is named after either food, a musical instrument or something equally nonsensical. (The aforementioned Tao Pai Pai, for example, basically means "Peach, white, white.") This mixture, a basis in legend and in Toriyama's bizarre sense of humor, represents the show's dual nature very well, a true marriage of the classic mythological and the modern ridiculous.

The diversity of styles is not relegated only to the storytelling alone. Toriyama's art is also a heavy mix of eastern and western influences, and is distinctly and uniquely individual, something that rarely can be said in this age of quick-buck, cash-in derivatives. The aesthetics of everything from the clothing (like the outfits worn by Kami and King Piccolo), to the architecture (like Korin's tower and Kami's lookout) are quite stunning, and interesting to look at.

All these things lend the show a very charming and whimsical texture. It's so unabashedly fun and carefree, I can't help but be reminded of what it's like to be a kid when I watch it. All too often, I feel that some modern entertainment strives so diligently to be gritty and sullen, almost seeming to forget completely that its job is to entertain people, not depress them. Dragonball, despite its rich amount of cultural texture and influences, never once mistook "pretension" for "entertainment." It always remained quirky, idiosyncratic, humble, honest and fun. The storylines, revolving around Goku (and the gang's) wild adventures in search of the magical dragonballs, and on Goku's attempts to learn how to live so far away from his home, always interested and delighted me. They also contained some very positive messages. One shows us that people can change for the better. Dragonball presents a world where redemption and forgiveness are not only possible, but prominent. Yamcha, and Tien especially so, went from being two of Goku's greatest rivals to two of his best friends and strongest allies. Of course, Goku doesn't recruit every enemy he fights, but enough are recruited to demonstrate the fact that we all have the ability to change ourselves and our relationships for the better. The second emphasizes and teaches the value of hard work, as Goku and friends wouldn't be nearly as powerful as they are if it weren't for their focus and dedication on training.

And even though much of the show was focused on humor and adventures, there were also some amazing battles to keep fans of the action happy. Each of the three world tournaments (21st, 22nd, 23rd) provided a welcome break from hunting for the dragonballs and adventuring across the world, and featured plenty of off-the-wall battles. They got better and better as they went on in terms of drama and excitement, and the last one may very well be the finest saga in the entire series, featuring an epic confrontation between a pupil and one of his former masters (Tien and Tao), a confrontation between Kami and Piccolo that is truly amazing, an excellent rematch of the finals of the previous tournament (Goku vs. Tien), and the ultimate showdown of the series, Goku vs. Piccolo. (If you're a DBZ fan who's never given much through to DB, I encourage you to check out the 23rd Budokai. I think anyone who appreciates DBZ will enjoy it as well.)

It is clear that Toriyama's deep appreciation and respect for culture, western and eastern, new and old, his honest, no holds barred style of art and storytelling, and his incredible marriage of fantasy and comedy, the real and the unreal, have created a stunning piece of art that to this day is loved by millions. Is it a "dumb" show? Sure it is, but it's that kind of innocuous fun in which anything is possible, and it flows forward with a dreamlike logic. It is unabashedly bold, and like any true artist, Toriyama didn't subvert his work to make it more acceptable or appealing to the mainstream; he made what he wanted to make, and allowed others to bask in its simple charms. With all this in mind, one thing is clear to me: Dragonball is indeed a true piece of modern art.

 Ten.