History YMMV / DragonBallZ

* SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic:
** The three intro songs used by [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmUNaXIDZc8 the Ocean dub,]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2c8FzDm4Gbo Funimation dub,]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9RKjZi85g4 the original]] all have the distinction of being equally awesome.
** Practically any of the insert songs from ''DBZ'', such as [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMYt9sGOcTU Battle Point Unlimited]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lm77VCkf_do Solid State Scouter]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4v9XIi674I Mind Power... Ki]]
** The first ''DBZ'' movie, ''Return My Gohan!/Dead Zone'': when Goku and Piccolo attack Garlic Jr. together, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GP0ZglinbEM#t=7m32s you get this]] - a mix of Goku's and Piccolo's themes.
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpkeAQG6kQw Perfect Cell's Theme]] also deserves a mention. It sounds like an evil techno/metal fusion. If only they actually played this version in the show. That said, the version they ''do'' have in the show that loops over and over is an ear worm.
** Hironobu Kageyama's "Unmei no Hi: Tamashii tai Tamashii" (translated as "Day of Destiny ~Spirit vs. Spirit") was played during [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfyeud94JnQ Gohan's SSJ2 Transformation,]] and even amongst those who are more familiar and/or prefer the dub appreciate its value.
** The various ''DBZ'' composers are considered a BrokenBase by their respective fanbases. The original composer [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlenEgnLZPo#t=08s Shunsuke Kikuchi]], the [=FUNimation=] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92v5Ysik8Wo Falconer Productions]] composer team, and even [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhqsTy0W9sk Kenji Yamamoto]] who composed ''Kai'', most of the video games, and several insert songs for the original ''DBZ''.
** Vegeta's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GpeZBqKQWU Hell's Bells]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrogZTkvRxs Super Saiyan Theme]]. It goes without saying that these two themes are easily the most recognizable themes in all of the English Soundtrack, most due to how they would ''always'' play whenever something epic happened in the show, whether it was Vegeta or non-Vegeta related. They're also awesome tracks on their own.
** The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3s2Ksz7rpck Super Saiyan 3 Power Up Theme]]. Yet another theme that would always play when something epic would happen and was a great standalone theme on its own.
** While being nothing but a FillerVillain in the actual series after his BigBad status in the movie, Garlic Jr. was given [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQCIqnmibhg a pretty bitchin' leitmotif]].
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Es9Fk6v5n-0 Ginyu Transformation]] theme, which was first used in the Namek Saga, but would be subsequently used for some of the series' most epic moments, such as the demises of Frieza and Cell, and the androids waking up.

*** Of course, this sort of gets shot in the foot when you realize just how many battles were decided solely on who has the higher powerlevel. Be it Nappa vs The Z-warriors, who never really stand a chance despite all their tactics. Goku Vs Nappa, who just flattens the older, more experience warrior and breaks his back. The Ginyu force vs Vegeta/Krillin/Gohan comes down on strict Powerlevel lines. But then Goku comes in with his higher powerlevel and just flattens them. Zarbon nearly kills Vegeta, which in turn gets him killed because of how much it raised Vegeta's powerlevel. Goku and company give their all against Freeza, using everything from hit and run, to Piccolo willingly taking a massive beating to give Goku time to gather power for the Spirit Bomb. But all of it was absolutely useless until Goku transformed into a Super Saiyan and finally had the higher powerlevel. Even Cell vs Gohan came down to Goku's gamble that Gohan would achieve a higher form of Super Saiyan, which would raise his powerlevel much higher than Cell's own.

* CreatorWorship: Fans love to make fun of Toriyama's lack of planning, forgetfulness, and his tendencies to leave behind his human characters. Despite this, the fanbase loves him and are skeptical of any work that doesn't have his involvement. This love extend to other manga authors like Eiichirō Oda, who practically worships him.

* {{Padding}}: To prevent the anime from [[OvertookTheManga overtaking the source material]], Creator/ToeiAnimation had to create an immense amount of filler and had frequent use of {{Padding}} and {{Filler}}, up to and including flashbacks from episodes prior, even usage of scenes from the original ''Dragon Ball'' anime to pad material long enough for the manga to forge ahead. The Namek Arc is the most notorious example with constant cuts to other characters, several of which weren't vital to the current storyline such as Chi-Chi and Roshi on Earth trying to fly a ship to Namek or the Ginyu Force on King Kai's Planet to battle Tien, Yamcha, and Chiaotzu.

* {{Padding}}: To prevent the anime from [[OvertookTheManga overtaking the source material]], Creator/ToeiAnimation had to create an immense amount of filler and had frequent use of {{Inaction Sequence}}s up to and including flashbacks from episodes prior, even usage of scenes from the original ''Dragon Ball'' anime to pad material long enough for the manga to forge ahead. The Namek Arc is the most notorious example with constant cuts to other characters, several of which weren't vital to the current storyline such as Chi-Chi and Roshi on Earth trying to fly a ship to Namek or the Ginyu Force on King Kai's Planet to battle Tien, Yamcha, and Chiaotzu.

* SelfFanservice: Fans tend to make Android 18 much more curvier than she actually is in fanart, often putting her on Bulma's level, if not higher.

** In the Buu arc, Goku and Vegeta escape from Earth's destruction leaving their children and Piccolo to die. Th next chapters goes back to Mr. Satan gags with Goku and Vegeta stoic about saving the guy instead. This is averted in the anime where Vegeta vents his anger on Goku.

* OnceOriginalNowCommon: Nowadays, ''DBZ'', while still beloved in many parts of the world, especially Latin America, is more known for its writing problems, especially in the later parts, and the fact the series is more about spectacle than an actual story. While the manga has remained hugely influential in the shonen demographic since the '90s, many can agree its successors took ''DBZ''[='=]s strengths alongside other genres to make it more compelling and even influential. The degree of the effect has generally ranged from "it's kinda boring compared to stuff now" to "it flat out ''sucks''". Overlaps with CondemnedByHistory.

* EvilIsCool: Many villains are considered to be this. Nappa, Vegeta, Garlic Jr., Frieza, Zarbon, Captain Ginyu, Recoome, the Androids, Cell, Cooler, Broly, Zangya, Super Janemba, and even Super Buu.

** The Great Saiyaman was, at least in the West, very divisive when the series aired overseas. For some, this was the exact opposite direction they thought Gohan would go in after his climatic battle with Cell. Finding that they "ruined" Gohan by making him this dorky LargeHam that didn't match up to the idea of what was wanted for Gohan. Nowadays, the Great Saiyaman is received much more positively, fans learning to accept that Gohan was always a goofy kid, and that this was how he chose to express himself, which was the intention from the beginning. Similarly, Gohan's lack of fighting spirit and decisions to not keep up his training in the Buu arc was also criticized and met with disappointment in the West, but come the 2020's, there's FAR more fans being completely understanding as to why Gohan wouldn't want to pursue something he didn't enjoy and was undoubtedly traumatized by.

** The Great Saiyaman was, at least in the West, very divisive when the series aired overseas. For some, this was the exact opposite direction they thought Gohan would go in after his climatic battle with Cell. Finding that they "ruined" Gohan by making him this dorky LargeHam that didn't match up to the idea of what was wanted for Gohan. Nowadays, the Great Saiyaman is received much more positively, fans learning to accept that Gohan was always a goofy kid, and that this was how he chose to express himself, which was the intention from the beginning.