When I was growing up, I watched a lot of Dragon Ball Z. I thought it was one of the coolest shows I knew. Occasionally I'd come across it's counterpart, Dragon Ball, and watched a whole of two episodes before declaring it dull and boring and not as awesome as DBZ. Years later, after watching the entirety of Dragon Ball, I was terribly wrong about it. It was fantastic! It's easily become one of my favorites.
I remember hearing old fans complain about how DBZ wasn't nearly as good as Dragon Ball and I just thought they were talking out of their ass. After seeing much of both, I have to agree with them. Dragon Ball just out plays DBZ. It really does. I can't even believe that I feel that way, but hell, I do.
First of all, it kills the feeling of watching filler. Some of the major fights in Dragon Ball are dragged out for the sake of pumping the tension into it, but for the most part, it's incredibly tame compared to Z. They're still just as fun to watch and you'll be with them the whole way through. And somehow I was laughing while watching all of this. How Dragon Ball pulls off ass-kicking action and moments that should clearly be serious, but still amuses you to the point of laughter, I don't know how. But one of the most important things I think is that they make other characters useful in their own regard. Okay...remember Yamcha? Tien, Master Roshi, Puar, Krillin and all the others they showed to you in Z and you were too busy saying "Screw them I don't care about what they're doing!"? You will actually LIKE them in Dragon Ball. Really really. But why do I think it's better than Z?
Personally? I think it's all because Dragon Ball isn't afraid of having fun. It has it's share of light-hearted and dark-hearted moments (especially when Piccolo comes in) but it's a wonderful ride and one you won't forget.
Easily changed my opinion
When I was growing up, I watched a lot of Dragon Ball Z. I thought it was one of the coolest shows I knew. Occasionally I'd come across it's counterpart, Dragon Ball, and watched a whole of two episodes before declaring it dull and boring and not as awesome as DBZ. Years later, after watching the entirety of Dragon Ball, I was terribly wrong about it. It was fantastic! It's easily become one of my favorites.
I remember hearing old fans complain about how DBZ wasn't nearly as good as Dragon Ball and I just thought they were talking out of their ass. After seeing much of both, I have to agree with them. Dragon Ball just out plays DBZ. It really does. I can't even believe that I feel that way, but hell, I do.
First of all, it kills the feeling of watching filler. Some of the major fights in Dragon Ball are dragged out for the sake of pumping the tension into it, but for the most part, it's incredibly tame compared to Z. They're still just as fun to watch and you'll be with them the whole way through. And somehow I was laughing while watching all of this. How Dragon Ball pulls off ass-kicking action and moments that should clearly be serious, but still amuses you to the point of laughter, I don't know how. But one of the most important things I think is that they make other characters useful in their own regard. Okay...remember Yamcha? Tien, Master Roshi, Puar, Krillin and all the others they showed to you in Z and you were too busy saying "Screw them I don't care about what they're doing!"? You will actually LIKE them in Dragon Ball. Really really. But why do I think it's better than Z?
Personally? I think it's all because Dragon Ball isn't afraid of having fun. It has it's share of light-hearted and dark-hearted moments (especially when Piccolo comes in) but it's a wonderful ride and one you won't forget.