TVTropes Now available in the app store!
Open

Follow TV Tropes

Following

Dragon Ball Z Abridged

Go To

Nightwire Since: Feb, 2010
#24701: Feb 6th 2017 at 12:17:17 AM

Well I thought it was funny. Apparently I'm the minority here.

SonOfSharknado Love is Love is Love Since: Oct, 2013 Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
Hylarn (Don’t ask)
#24703: Feb 6th 2017 at 12:46:45 AM

It was the worst of these shorts, but still somewhat funny

Paying attention to SF lore probably wouldn't have helped though— Most people are barely aware it has lore

Tomodachi Now a lurker. See you at the forums. Since: Aug, 2012 Relationship Status: Yes, I'm alone, but I'm alone and free
Now a lurker. See you at the forums.
#24704: Feb 6th 2017 at 3:02:38 AM

It was a decent short. But just that, decent.

The funniest moment is Cell taking the Demon technique seriously and started screaming.

To win, you need to adapt, and to adapt, you need to be able to laugh away all the restraints. Everything holding you back.
Soble Since: Dec, 2013
#24705: Feb 6th 2017 at 5:25:47 AM

I was fine with it. Cell's acknowledging that he was being rendered in 3D, Ryu's end match quotes used as actual dialogue, and Cell's bafflement at the Shun Goku Satsu were all funny. Everyone's reading too much into these shorts.

The point isn't whether it can be explained but the complete lack of f*cks given about it. It's reduced to a brief visual gag based on role-reversing Cell and Dark Ryu's positions in the special move, because the entire video is a completely shallow parody based purely on gameplay.

In short, there was absolutely no effort put into writing it and it shows, especially in contrast to the YYH and Yu-Gi-Oh clips.

The amount of controversy over this is staggering. It was a brief visual gag, nothing more. Cell's reaction is what's funny because nobody ever reacts to the SGS because almost no one ever survives it, as far as I know. If you saw somebody perform it and everything went black and suddenly the victim was on the ground you'd wonder what just happened too. Explaining how the SGS works would have killed the joke.

In contrast to the YYH and Yugioh clips? The joke with the YYH clip was that Yusuke and Kuwabara are far below anyone in Dragonball, and Cell mocks the fact that they're children - Yusuke and Kuwabara brag about how their powers work, and Abridged Kuwabara never even made it to the point where he got the Dimension Sword, nor did Yusuke make it to the point where he was killing S-Class demons (nor did he, he never did that in canon). If you want to scrutinize it, zero f'cks were given about those jokes either. It was a nice Call-Back to an abridged series they should've finished, but that was it, nothing exceptionally clever about it.

And the Yugioh one was just Yugi on the receiving end of Loophole Abuse. Admittedly the writing was punchier.

edited 6th Feb '17 5:31:30 AM by Soble

I'M MR. MEESEEKS, LOOK AT ME!
KnownUnknown Since: Jan, 2001
#24706: Feb 6th 2017 at 5:43:01 AM

I'm pretty sure nobody said they needed to explain exactly how the SGS. Just that they themselves knowing how it works would have enabled them to make a better joke. Parody and satire, like a lot of creative things, is like an iceberg: the more there is below the surface, the stronger what little we see will be.

Also, you seem to be confusing "controversy" with criticism.

Soble Since: Dec, 2013
#24707: Feb 6th 2017 at 5:54:45 AM

Just that they themselves knowing how it works would have enabled them to make a better joke. Parody and satire, like a lot of creative things, is like an iceberg: the more there is below the surface, the stronger what little we see will be.

But there was nothing wrong with the gag in the first place.

For instance, the Shun Goku Satsu. It's that move Ryu used on Perfect Cell at the end of the video. The screen goes black, a bunch of strikes are seen in the darkness, and then it ends with Akuma/Dark Ryu standing over the defeated body of the foe. IIRC, it's a one-hit kill if it lands

But what you don't know unless you actually read into the lore is that the reason it's a one-hit kill is that it murders the recipient by unleashing the karmic balance of their sins upon them. It doesn't matter how powerful you are, because the move is powered by your own evil. It's kinda like the Devilmite Beam in that regard.

However, it can be rendered completely ineffective by:

  • clearing one's mind of one's burden of guilt.
  • It doesn't work against artificial lifeforms.
  • It can and has been beaten by a regenerator.

There are plenty of reasons for Cell to withstand the Shun Goku Satsu and come out victorious. They used none of these, opting for "LOL CELL WINS JUST 'CAUSE.

And that is the joke. No part of this is contradicted by what we saw. There's no enhancing that. If you know the lore you get why it doesn't work. If you don't, it's funny because Ken's Super failed completely and Cell really is just that strong. Then you have Cell's reaction to Ryu suddenly screaming and charging at him, and Cell going right along with it, just like he did against Yugi.

I'm pretty sure nobody said they needed to explain exactly how the SGS.

Someone did.

  • There are plenty of reasons for Cell to withstand the Shun Goku Satsu and come out victorious. They used none of these, opting for "LOL CELL WINS JUST 'CAUSE

"The joke wasn't funny because they didn't use any of the logical reasons for beating the SGS."

  • Counter-point: they didn't need to, really.
    • None of the logical reasons were addressed (that would kill the joke), nor were they contradicted (so why does it matter?) LOL CELL WINS is exactly what all those reasons add up to - Cell can No-Sell the attack because he doesn't feel guilt over his crimes, he's artificial, and he regenerates.

What, was Cell supposed to quip, "Oh, so it's a move that destroys your soul? Too bad I sold that yesterday."

Or actually get hit by it but then regenerate a second later?

edited 6th Feb '17 8:31:43 AM by Soble

I'M MR. MEESEEKS, LOOK AT ME!
Zelenal The Cat Knows Where It's At from Purrgatory Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Maxing my social links
The Cat Knows Where It's At
#24708: Feb 6th 2017 at 8:05:44 AM

Yeah, I know basically nothing about the Street Fighter lore and everyone describing how the Shun Goku Satsu works just makes me wonder how you think they could have made the joke better without describing how it works and thus killing the joke.

No one's even mentioning Ken's bit. From what little I know about the lore, if I'm recalling it correctly, Ken's a bit cocky so his lines make sense. He goes up to Cell and unleashes probably his strongest move on him, it does no damage, it does absolutely no damage, and Cell Shoruukens him into the air. The short ends with him falling back to earth.

I don't see what else can be done with that that wouldn't require either knowledge of the lore that most people wouldn't have or them taking their time to explain something which would kill the pacing. The only thing they might have been able to do is have Ken make a comment in regards to his acting career, since I think that's decently common knowledge, but it's no big loss.

People keep saying that they could have done better if they had known more of the lore but they fail to say how they could have done better. I'd like to remind people that constructive criticism is not just pointing out the flaws but either also pointing out how they could have done better or pointing out the good with the bad. In this case, giving an example of how they could have done better would be fantastic and works far better than "They just could."

Let the joy of love give you an answer! Check out my book!
Moth13 Since: Sep, 2010
#24709: Feb 6th 2017 at 8:21:36 AM

It wasn't even that it did no damage, Cell street fighter 3-parried his super, which is pretty difficult to do by all accounts.

edited 6th Feb '17 8:25:33 AM by Moth13

Enlong Court Dragon from The Underground Facility Since: May, 2011 Relationship Status: is commanded to— WANK!
Court Dragon
#24710: Feb 6th 2017 at 8:31:21 AM

His parry game is Perfect.

I have a message from another time...
Prime_of_Perfection Where force fails, cunning prevails Since: Jun, 2009 Relationship Status: Maxing my social links
Where force fails, cunning prevails
#24711: Feb 6th 2017 at 8:59:33 AM

I laughed. Especially with Cell's comment that at least someone finally threw a punch.

Improving as an author, one video at a time.
VeryMelon Since: Jul, 2011 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
#24712: Feb 6th 2017 at 9:00:40 AM

I was waiting to laugh, but I never did. The whole video was bland to me.

Larkmarn Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Hello, I love you
#24713: Feb 6th 2017 at 9:08:35 AM

Yeah, it was a bit flat. That said, I really loved the end where he just cried out in confusion. Shallow, sure, but it's still funny.

Found a Youtube Channel with political stances you want to share? Hop on over to this page and add them.
Soble Since: Dec, 2013
#24714: Feb 6th 2017 at 9:17:28 AM

I mean, low-brow? Sure.

edited 6th Feb '17 10:10:59 AM by Soble

I'M MR. MEESEEKS, LOOK AT ME!
Thebrawlbro Since: Aug, 2013
#24715: Feb 6th 2017 at 10:08:09 AM

So, any ideas for who should be next, and how it should go?

VeryMelon Since: Jul, 2011 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
#24716: Feb 6th 2017 at 10:18:53 AM

Guts next, then Kirito. Don't know who they'd handle it, but the familiarity should help.

Soble Since: Dec, 2013
#24717: Feb 6th 2017 at 10:40:11 AM

I suppose Eren and Mikasa are out of the running.

I'M MR. MEESEEKS, LOOK AT ME!
VeryMelon Since: Jul, 2011 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
#24718: Feb 6th 2017 at 11:01:51 AM

Especially not with AOT Season 2 coming up.

Enlong Court Dragon from The Underground Facility Since: May, 2011 Relationship Status: is commanded to— WANK!
Court Dragon
#24719: Feb 6th 2017 at 12:33:02 PM

Send in Cloud. He'll probably **** up, though.

I have a message from another time...
BaconManiac5000 Since: Nov, 2013 Relationship Status: Baby don't hurt me!
#24720: Feb 6th 2017 at 1:33:20 PM

I doubt this would happen, but I wanna see Genos take a shot at Cell.

edited 6th Feb '17 1:33:38 PM by BaconManiac5000

what do you mean I didn't win, I ate more wet t-shirts than anyone else
KnownUnknown Since: Jan, 2001
#24721: Feb 6th 2017 at 8:18:17 PM

People keep saying that they could have done better if they had known more of the lore but they fail to say how they could have done better. I'd like to remind people that constructive criticism is not just pointing out the flaws but either also pointing out how they could have done better or pointing out the good with the bad.

Criticism doesn't become not-constructive unless the person criticizing it presents a superior idea. The whole "if you want to criticize it, why don't you come up with something better" bit is fallacious.

And in any case, that's why people have been criticizing it in comparison with their other works in this series rather than just slamming it outright.

As for Soble, you're misunderstanding what Drake meant - at least, I took it entirely different way (he's criticizing the flatness of the joke, not the lack of lore involved). It's up to him to verify that, though.

edited 6th Feb '17 8:20:58 PM by KnownUnknown

BaconManiac5000 Since: Nov, 2013 Relationship Status: Baby don't hurt me!
#24722: Feb 6th 2017 at 8:23:36 PM

Isn't constructive criticism constructive?

If you're not suggesting improvements, then i just becomes criticism.

what do you mean I didn't win, I ate more wet t-shirts than anyone else
KnownUnknown Since: Jan, 2001
#24723: Feb 6th 2017 at 8:32:14 PM

(Nearly all of this post is off topic, so ignore it if you just want to talk about DBZA)

Constructive criticism is in positive input - in approaching the one being criticized faults and respectfully confronting why they are or are not a problem. Helping to find a good solution is part of that process, but that's exactly what people have been doing by pointing out that TFS' hits their humor stride better when they're more familiar with the things they're parodying.

However, depending on who you ask actively introducing your own ideas instead of criticizing what the topic itself is trying to do can be negative, which is why a lot of workshops and such suggest people avoid it in serious criticism. And either way, I can't agree with the idea that constructive criticism is only available to those who can actively do better, rather than being something that can come from general review, reaction and response

edited 6th Feb '17 8:37:26 PM by KnownUnknown

Weirdguy149 Former King from Lumiose City Since: Jul, 2014 Relationship Status: I'd jump in front of a train for ya!
Former King
#24724: Feb 6th 2017 at 8:39:26 PM

Is A Slap On Titan's Eren fair game?

The legend has returned.
TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#24725: Feb 7th 2017 at 6:54:38 AM

As for Soble, you're misunderstanding what Drake meant - at least, I took it entirely different way (he's criticizing the flatness of the joke, not the lack of lore involved). It's up to him to verify that, though.

Verified. There's no substance to it, and that's the issue.

This short is not for Street Fighter fans, nor is it for people unfamiliar with the concept. It's for that slim margin of people who care just enough to have played the games and seen the mechanics being used, but not enough to actually know who any of these people are or what they're actually doing.

Which is why I related it to Dragon Ball parodies of golden-haired brutes powering up for five minutes and shooting Kamehamehas at each other. It's rooted more in pop-culture osmosis than in the actual material being parodied. TFS, of all people, should know better; the level of passion and care about the source material that they bring to Dragon Ball Abridged is what put them above other abridged series in the first place.

edited 7th Feb '17 6:56:06 AM by TobiasDrake

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.

Total posts: 40,340
Top