I’ve been mulling over this subject for weeks now, ever since Nicktoons started playing twelve hour blocks* of Dragon Ball Z Kai. Okay, so maybe that’s a little bit of an exaggeration. But seriously. Nicktoons only plays about four shows ever. It’s all part of a promotion for “their” “new” series, Dragon Ball GT, but that’s not what we’re here to talk about today.
Today, I’m listing the top ten reasons the Dragon Ball series’ are a rare exception in the world of anime: they actually have strong female characters who are great examples for young girls. At the very least, here is why I’ve always thought they were great role models.
1. The smartest person on the planet is a girl.
Bulma isn’t only the smartest person on the planet, she’s also not afraid to admit her smarts. Sure, she’s pretty too, and probably holds the record for most hairstyle changes ever, but it’s not her looks that get her the dragon balls. Bulma has her “weak” moments that provide plenty of comic relief, but she ultimately keeps her focus on the task at hand.
2. The men in the series are utterly hopeless without the women telling them what to do. When Goku isn’t thinking about food or fighting, and when Vegeta isn’t thinking about… well, fighting Kakarot, they would probably forget to go to the bathroom if there wasn’t a woman around reminding them. I can’t count the amount of times Chi-Chi reminds both Gohan and Goten to do their homework, and sometimes I wonder whether Krillin even exists when he’s not with Android 18.
3. They fight alongside their men. I don’t know that this one requires further explanation. Both Chi-Chi and Videl are trained from the time they are young to fight along with the best of the men.
4. They have lives outside of their respective man buddies. Bulma, Chi-Chi, Videl and Android 18 all have lives before and after love. When Bulma and Yamcha don’t work out, she moves on. Yes, Chi-Chi is sad when her husband Goku “dies”, but she has things to do besides sit at home and cry.
5. Guess who wears clothes? Unlike some other anime series, the women featured in the Dragon Ball shows, for the most part*, cover up. Their costumes go for function over sexiness. When Bulma is stuck wearing her bunny costume it’s a joke rather than an every-day accepted way of being, and Videl’s haircut happens specifically so that she can fight better.
6. And guess who doesn’t put up with being oogled? In fact, Roshi is constantly and even out-of-contextually chastised for objectifying women. The girls don’t put up with his perverted attitude (again, with an almost singular exception when Bulma flashes him in exchange for a dragon ball.) and he is frequently punished for it.
7. They’re only human. These women make mistakes (see above re: Bulma and a dragon ball), they get messy. They’re no June Cleaver– they are well-rounded women who often have to rely on themselves. When they trip, no one catches them besides themselves. In other words, they don’t live on a pedestal.
8. Ladies can be funny, too. The women on the show are hilarious, and not just as the butt of the joke. They know that they live in a ridiculous world, and have fantastic senses of humor about it.
9. They don’t have to be super human to be super heroes. None of the women (except Android 18) are anything more than regular people who use their abilities to achieve greatness. They train, they work hard, and they come out on top.
10. They are likable characters. Many female characters in anime are stereotypes, or they’re riddled with faults that require men to save them. These women are well-developed, most spanning more than one series, and they end up being incredible characters with detailed lives. Their complexity makes them interesting, likeable women who are more than just a pretty face.
Colorado Anime Fest Wrap Up
Viz Media Announces Free Streaming Anime!
Sub Cultured is Headed to Colorado Anime Fest!
Aniplex of America to Stream New Slice of Life Comedy, Slow Start, on Crunchyroll in January 2018
Nan Desu Kan 2016 – Recapping Rocky Mountain’s Biggest Anime Convention!
BOO-It-Yourself Halloween Costumes – Misa Amane
Anime is currently getting the flack that most people reserve for comics in that it’s labeled as cartoons for children. Sure, there are animes or anime influenced cartoons out there strictly geared toward children, but let me ask you this – How often have YOU caught yourself singing the Pokemon theme song? Didn’t you cry watching Avatar: The Last Airbender series finale? The characters may be drawn, but anime is a medium that has the potential to touch people in a lot of different ways. In no particular order, here are ten anime titles that are great places to start if you’re new to the genre!
DRAGON BALL Z
Goku and his son Gohan have to deal with the all the trials of life in addition to various alien enemies and Goku handles the everyday issue of becoming comfortable in one’s skin VERY well. Dragon Ball Z because it’s iconic and easily recognizable by all. It’s goofy and utterly charming throughout its 250+ episodes so start at the beginning and get lost in the adventure!
AKIRA
Set in futuristic Tokyo, an experiment (a child) escapes and becomes involved with motorcycle gang member Tetsuo who is turn captured and experimented on. It’s frightening and thrilling to watch. Akira is the only entry on my list that is a movie and not a series but I think a series would have been too much for the visual hurricane that is Akira.
FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST: BROTHERHOOD
This series follows two brothers trying to make amends after breaking the rules of alchemy. Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood really excels at painting the horrors of actions and their inevitable repercussions. Make sure you watch Brotherhood and not the original series, as Brotherhood follows more closely to the original manga.
NANA
A story of the friendship between two girls who meet by chance on a train with the same name. These women are at two different ends of the spectrum but find a way to help each other through their hardships. Nana is touching, complex, and covers a friendship in the most realistic way. Truly one of my favorites.
NARUTO
A lengthy adventure following a young ninja who is ostracized by his village for unknowingly saving it. Whilst you moan and groan, please take into account that I mean the Japanese version. As with any anime, there is dubious amounts of filler past episode 200 but some of it is enjoyable. The American voice acting can be grating at times and a lot of stuff is omitted from the story. Watch the Japanese uncut version if you have access to it.
DEATH NOTE
Death Note revolves around Ryuk, a bored shinigami (god of death or “death spirit”) who drops his notebook to Earth where an intelligent teen picks it up and begins to use it. When a name is written in this particular notebook, the person dies. This leads to a clever game of mental chess between the teen (Light) and the young detective bent on catching him (L). Great concept, a lot of thrill, definitely worth at LEAST a one time viewing.
SAILOR MOON
Usagi (or Serena, depending on which language you watch it in) is the reincarnation of the Moon Princess and therefore must triumph over evil along with her besties, the Sailor Scouts. Classic and fantasy anime at its absolutely best, Sailor Moon is good throughout the ages. My adolescence is tinged in Sailor Moon goodness so at the very least, its nostalgic value alone makes it a special anime for me. Lengthy but oh, so worth it.
TEKKAMAN BLADE
Futuristic Earth is under attack from the Radam and their Tekkaman leaders and it’s up to the Space Knights to thwart it. The arrival of a strange boy, dubbed D-Boy, who can transform into a Tekkaman puzzles them all. For many, Tekkaman Blade was their first foray into mecha anime and the tormented and mysterious story of Blade is something that sucks you in immediately.
BECK: MONGOLIAN CHOP SQUAD
Koyuki is a normal teenager whose life changes after saving the dog of a guitarist named Kyuusuke. After seeing Kyuusuke’s band play live, Koyuki is given a guitar and the anime follows his life as the band gets popular. Another great slice of life tale of a boy finding out who he is and experiencing love for the first time.
BIBLE BLACK
A teenage boy finds a book of magic and begins practicing the spells inside not knowing his school is the base for a coven of witches. I included this… risque anime purely because it’s ridiculous. If it’s your first foray into anime, it would be remiss to not include a hentai title for the experience alone. Seeing it once puts everything hentai in one bag so you can experience it all including a fairly decent plot. This is not for kids AT ALL (hell, I’m hesitant on saying it’s for adults at all) and it will most likely make you say “Goodness me!” and clutch your pearls. You have been warned.
What would you include in your Intro to Anime?
Colorado Anime Fest Wrap Up
Viz Media Announces Free Streaming Anime!
Sub Cultured is Headed to Colorado Anime Fest!
Aniplex of America to Stream New Slice of Life Comedy, Slow Start, on Crunchyroll in January 2018
Nan Desu Kan 2016 – Recapping Rocky Mountain’s Biggest Anime Convention!
BOO-It-Yourself Halloween Costumes – Misa Amane
Get those wallets out, guys, because FUNimation has managed to once again turn out our pockets to buy a scrubbed up version of something we already own. But this time, it’s definitely worth it.
June 28th, get ready for Part Five of the 20th anniversary DBZ remake, Dragon Ball Z Kai. Unless you’re one of the lucky sunnvabitches who preordered to avoid natural sunlight. In which case, bravo.
Left with a terrible yet expected cliffhanger back on Namek, Part Four abruptly ends with megabaddie Frieza going toe to toe with the blindly raging, freshly dyed-blonde Super Saiyan Goku. Part 5 will pick up back on Namek as they duke it out to the backdrop of a dying planet and continue on through Episodes 53-65, where we will learn the mysterious past of Trunks, the origin of the Androids and ultimate finish with femme fatale #18 kicking some serious Saiyan butt.
Like this ever happens in real life.
But wait, we’re at episode 53 and Namek is already combusting? Shouldn’t we still be watching Dende become an orphan, Bulma’s underwater escapades, or Zarbon prancing around in leg warmers? Don’t worry, there was more than enough filler to chop while managing to leave the story intact without feeling rushed. For the 20th anniversary of DBZ, Toei Animation went to work cutting down from 291 episodes to 99 in order to more closely follow the manga, resulting in a faster paced story. FUNimation took their cue and sat down to redub the dialogue, which is being treated with more respect than ever before for an English dub of a Dragon Ball product. Episode titles are faithful translations of original Japanese titles and the DVD versions are all uncut, which means blood and profanity galore. Redubbed, revised, and remastered? Totally down, even if it means Goku’s childlike innocence is shattered by no-no words.
Following the story as Toriyama originally planned could mean that we end with Epic, but wont see our favorite Fail stay puft, Majin Buu. Call it filler, but The Adventures of Buu & Mr. Satan! were hilarious in that fork to the eye kind of way. Mixed feelings on my part, but that’s what I have my original Drag-On orange box sets for, so I’ll be happy either way.
Still not convinced? Check out the Part Five trailer and tell me you’re uninterested. I dare ya.
Colorado Anime Fest Wrap Up
Viz Media Announces Free Streaming Anime!
Sub Cultured is Headed to Colorado Anime Fest!
Aniplex of America to Stream New Slice of Life Comedy, Slow Start, on Crunchyroll in January 2018
Nan Desu Kan 2016 – Recapping Rocky Mountain’s Biggest Anime Convention!
