Product Description
-------------------
NTSC/Region1. In 1986, the animated adaptation of Akira
Toriyama's manga Dragon Ball debuted on Japanese television,
launching one of the most popular franchises in anime history.
Dragon Ball introduced a special mixture of male bonding,
rigorous training, martial arts fighting, slapstick comedy, and
sci-fi action that scored a huge hit with boys and led to the
follow-ups Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball GT.
.com
----
In 1986, the animated adaptation of Akira Toriyama's manga
Dragon Ball debuted on Japanese television, launching one of the
most popular franchises in anime history. Dragon Ball introduced
a special mixture of male bonding, rigorous training, martial
arts fighting, slapstick comedy, and sci-fi action that scored a
huge hit with boys and led to the follow-ups Dragon Ball Z and
Dragon Ball GT--and numerous imitators. A small boy from another
planet, Goku commands super-human strength, but he was raised in
the remote ains by an old man and he knows little of the
world. Goku meets Bulma, who's trying to assemble the seven
magical Dragon Balls so she can wish for a boyfriend. The naive
boy and the hot-tempered girl join forces, then form a
quarrelsome alliance with Oolong, the shape-shifting pig, and
Yamcha, a dashing bandit with a metamorphic familiar, Puar. The
heroes compete for the Dragon Balls against the pint-sized
Emperor Pilaf (who wants to rule the world). After defeating
Pilaf, Goku goes to study martial arts with Master Roshi, a
lecherous but extraordinarily skilled old man. Goku and fellow
student Krillin develop formidable powers that they use in the
World Martial Arts Tournament. These episodes set the pattern for
Dragon Ball and numerous other series: humans and creatures of
all description train endlessly, then gather to pound the ramen
out of each other before an audience. Naturally, the hero wins in
an extended final match. The first adventures are lighter in tone
and more broadly comic than the beginning of the darker Red
Ribbon Saga. For years, the first13 episodes of Dragon Ball were
only available in the U.S. in the heavily edited set Saga of
Goku, to the chagrin of the fans. Following their successful
release of the complete Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball GT,
Funimation is presenting Dragon Ball uncut and digitally
restored. The series probably looks better now than it did when
it premiered, as it was reportedly filmed in 16mm. Note: The
of the prepubescent Goku and Krillin running around naked
doesn't bother Japanese audiences. (Rated TV 14, but appropriate
for ages 12 and up: nudity, risqué and toilet humor, cartoon
violence, ethnic stereotypes, alcohol and use) --Charles
Solomon
(1. Secret of the Dragon Balls, 2. The Emperor’s Quest, 3. The
Nimbus Cloud of Roshi, 4. Oolong the Terrible, 5. Yamcha the
Desert Bandit, 6. Keep an Eye on the Dragon Balls, 7. The Ox-King
on Fire ain, 8. The Kamehameha Wave, 9. Boss Rabbit’s Magic
Touch, 10. The Dragon Balls Are Stolen, 11. The Penalty Is
Pinball, 12. A Wish to the Eternal Dragon, 13. The Legend of
Goku, 14. Goku's Rival, 15. Look Out for Launch, 16. Find That
Stone! 17. Milk Delivery, 18. The Turtle Hermit Way, 19. The
Tournament Begins, 20. Elimination Round, 21. Smells Like
Trouble, 22. Quarterfinals Begin, 23. Monster Beast Giran, 24.
Krillin's Frantic Attack! 25. Danger From Above, 26, The Grand
Finals, 27. Number One Under The Moon? 28. The Final Blow, 29.
The Roaming Lake, 30. Pilaf and the Mystery Force, 31. Wedding
Plans?)