Ever since “DragonBall Z” first aired some 6 to 7 years ago here in the United States as an early morning, low ratings cartoon, it has sparked a phenomenon like no other. “DragonBall Z” has become a multi-million dollar industry, with products ranging from action figures, to wristwatches, to bed sheets. People across the country know the name and watch the series “DragonBall Z”, whether they like to admit it or not. “DragonBall Z” has helped bring Japanese Animation into the mainstream, so that now the most avid “Bugs Bunny” viewer knows what is being talked about when they hear the word “anime”. When speaking of the Internet, “DragonBall Z” has single handedly sparked a revolution. Type in any word having to do with “DragonBall Z”, and you will most assuredly get millions of results. “DragonBall Z” websites are some of the most frequently visited among websites dealing with a means of entertainment, with the exception of maybe only video game sites. They are by far the most frequently viewed type of anime website. “DragonBall Z” is everywhere you turn, but that all may soon come to an end.

With the final 15 episodes or “DragonBall Z” airing March 17 and ending on April 7, the long, 291-episode journey is almost over. This brings the question to many fans of the series, “What will happen to DBZ’s popularity?” or the one question on the minds of many reading this editorial, “What will happen to ‘DragonBall Z’ on the Internet”. These are all questions that need to be addressed, which is the purpose of this editorial. So, without further adieu, I answer these questions in my personal first shot at an editorial entitled, “The future of ‘DragonBall’: On the Internet and beyond”

The first question that needs to be concentrated on, deals with DBZ’s popularity once the series has finished airing. Many feel that “DragonBall Z” will completely die once the series is done airing, however, this is not the most likely of cases. To begin with, there are still 60+ episodes or “DragonBall” to air along with all 64 episodes of “DragonBall GT”. There are six movies from “DragonBall Z” left, one from “DragonBall” and a T.V. special from “Dragonball GT”. That totals 124 episodes and eight movies (including the “DragonBall GT” feature). That’s more movies then what have been released for “DragonBall Z” thus far, and almost half the amount of episodes in “DragonBall Z”. Not to mention the numerous video games in development, a line of merchandise still going strong, a hugely popular Collectible Card Game, and worst or best of all, the Live Action “DragonBall” movie on the horizon. The “DragonBall” series in general has many years of longevity still ahead of it. This length of time gives opportunities to new fans for getting into the series. Once these new fans get into “DragonBall” or “DragonBall GT”, they’ll want to know what happens between the two. They’ll want to know all 291 episodes of the series all over again. So, will the end of “DragonBall Z” series affect the popularity of the show? In one opinion, which happens to be the opinion I agree with, the popularity of the show will not die, at least, not for a while. I say “DragonBall” in general will be dying down by the time the average DBZ fan today (14 to 15 years old) goes to college.

Others however, view the end of “DragonBall Z” as the point where it all ends for the popularity of the “DragonBall” series. They feel that “DragonBall” and “DragonBall GT” may turn off most of the current fans that like “DragonBall Z” with them being such different shows that “DragonBall Z”. This is a valid argument, as there is quite a difference between “DragonBall Z” and the other series’. “DragonBall Z” has more of the fighting and martial arts in it, whereas the other two, while still including martial arts elements, are mainly adventure oriented. Now, this may end up being the case with SOME of the fans, but once you’re a fan, you’re a fan and the end of the show doesn’t make you stop being a fan.

Now, onto the bigger question, “What will happen to ‘DragonBall Z’ on the Internet?” It’s no secret that DBZ’s popularity has been greatly affected by its strong online presence. There are literally thousands upon thousands upon thousands of “DragonBall Z” sites on the Internet. These sites range from those that get 10 hits a day, to those that get 10,000+ hits a day. Needless to say, without these sites, “DragonBall Z” would not be nearly as popular. In fact, I’d venture to guess that the Internet helped to spark your very own DBZ fandom back when you were first learning of the series. Since around late 1995 to early 1996 when you saw the first big “DragonBall Z” sites go up, the face of the Internet has changed drastically. You can see the changes with your very eyes looking at what has taken place in the “DragonBall Z” sites. We started out with simple graphics, and what are now considered “everyday sections” (although they were superior back then) to what today is eye-popping, though sometimes annoying graphics to more advance scripting and user interactivity that goes way beyond the simple Bulletin Boards of the old days. Throughout it all, “DragonBall Z” has grown on the Internet at an avalanche pace, and I don’t think it shows any signs of slowing down. The same people who visit the sites today, will continue to visit the sites once “DragonBall Z” has stopped airing, whether out of habit, or just for pure love of the site or the continued love for the show. I think that this popularity will not die along with the ending of the show. As long as there is Internet, there will be “DragonBall Z”.

With time, a fan’s wants and needs change. When we take a look back at the old days, there were just a handful of great sites that could still be considered some of the best ever. They were all very close knit and all great. They had simple layouts and detailed content. Their graphics consisted of things made in Paint. It was simple, but it got the job done. The fans back then were rabid for content and info. As times progressed, the needs of fans changed. They began to discover places that had multimedia, beginning with simple pictures. Those pictures turned into Movie Clips, and those movie clips turned into Full Episodes. The graphics were changing too. Back then, everyone was on 56k, so it was hard for the average Webmaster to go and find a pirated copy of Photoshop, and if they did, it would take them forever to download (and admit it, most webmasters out there know that their copies of Photoshop are not something they purchased). Once people began to get into graphics design, fans wanted more high tech and pleasing graphics. Through it all, “DragonBall Z” on the web is still going strong, as I suspect it will continue to do. In the end, we arrive at our current situation on the Internet. The only thing to think of now, is what is ahead of us.

The future of “DragonBall Z” on the Internet brings up many more specific questions. Such questions as “Will information become obsolete?” or “Should DBZ sites move to include multiple anime?” or a question that is asked all the time anyway “What should DBZ sites do to make sure that if popularity should die, their visitors don’t disappear?” I have many opinions on these subjects, as I’m sure many of you do. First of which, the question on whether or not information will become obsolete once the whole of the series has been shown. I believe, that information will not become obsolete, because it is one of the key reasons that people visit sites. Almost all sites out there have strictly “DragonBall Z” content with maybe a small bit on “DragonBall” and “DragonBall GT”. When “DragonBall GT’ starts, webmasters will begin to make content oriented towards that series, which is what people will want to see. They’ll want to find out about the series before watching it just as they did with “DragonBall Z”. Before information dies, I think that Full Episodes will die. People want Full Episodes (*note* On a personal note, I hate Full Episodes *note*) so that they can see what will happen next in the series. However, once all the “DragonBall Z” episodes have finished airing, there will be no reason for people to see what’s coming next, because there won’t be anything coming next. Now, they may be interested in getting “DragonBall GT” Full Episodes, which may keep the Full Episode sites around a bit longer, but once people see “DragonBall GT” who are fans of “DragonBall Z” they may not want to download any “DragonBall GT” episodes as it is quite a different series than “DragonBall Z”. Most likely I think they will stick to watching “DragonBall GT” on Cartoon Network. However, I could always be wrong, but I would suggest to Full Episode sites to make sure to bulk up on interactivity and information if they want to be around the scene longer. Information and originality I believe will still be the key to success. With the untapped resources of information that lie within “DragonBall” and “DragonBall GT”, there is still much to be had from what is yet to be seen.

Now to the question of “DragonBall Z” sites including other animes in their information line-up. This is more of a webmasters choice than anything else. If a Webmaster feels that it would benefit his/her site to include more types of anime, there is nothing wrong with that. However, I’m not a big fan of sites with “DragonBall Z” names or that claim to be strictly “DragonBall Z” that become more focused on other animes. I prefer it if a Webmaster prefers to expand his/her site beyond the realm of “DragonBall”, that he/she make another site for this. Although I do understand that this is not always a possibility for a lot of webmasters. When I go to a “DragonBall Z” site though, I want to see updates about “DragonBall” only. I get turned away when I see update after update having to do with some other anime (news and the occasional DVD review are exceptions). So, to sum up the question, it is completely up to the opinion or needs of the Webmaster. You should not have to move to include other animes because “DragonBall Z” is dying in popularity. I do not think that they should alienate their fans by focusing their energies on other projects dealing with other animes, but instead they should focus on what their fans want to see, which is “DragonBall” oriented content and updates.

Webmasters will definitely need to do something to make sure their fans stay around, and what exactly they should do is a concern. I say to them to do what they always do. If they are getting visitors that continue to come back, they are obviously doing something right so there is really no reason to change. With the changing times, I believe they do need to adjust. Such adjustments include more content oriented to “DragonBall” and DragonBall GT”. If they really want to keep the fans, webmasters need to work hard on things never before seen. More interactivity would be nice, as one thing that will definitely keep fans around is seeing things based on their opinions. Ask fans what they want to see. They’ll stick around to see it delivered to them. One big thing “DragonBall Z” sites can do, is remain enthusiastic. This may be hard for some Webmasters who’s love for the series died and only run sites for the fun, but if you are enthusiastic about the series in your updates and e-mails that attitude will rub off on the fans. Everyone needs to be reminded of why they fell in love with the series to begin with.

To conclude, “DragonBall Z” as a series may be coming to an end, but that does not mean there has to be an end. There are still some great-unseen things to come from the land of “DragonBall” and I think it’ll be enough to keep the fans around for some time. Just remember one thing, you fell in love with the “DragonBall” series for a reason, and just because “DragonBall Z” is coming to an end, doesn’t mean your love has to come to an end too.