The Anniversary Brothers TV Podcast: Dragon Ball & Dragon Ball Z

Aaron and Josh Sarnecky are here for the September installment of
their TV retrospectives. This time they’re discussing two shows,
Dragon Ball, celebrating the 35th anniversary of its Japanese
premiere and the 20th of its first time on Toonami, and Dragon
Ball Z, which is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its U.S.
premiere.


Dragon Ball premiered in Japan in 1986 and was later succeeded by
Dragon Ball Z in 1989. Both anime are based on the manga Dragon
Ball by Akira Toriyama. The more action-focused Dragon Ball Z
found success in the United States first, debuting in syndication
on September 13, 1996, before eventually moving to Cartoon
Network’s Toonami block. Its series finale aired on April 7,
2003. Dragon Ball premiered on Toonami on August 20, 2001, with
its finale airing on December 1, 2003.


Dragon Ball follows the martial artist Goku from boyhood till
manhood, after which Dragon Ball Z picks up with grownup Goku and
introduces his son Gohan. It’s during his adulthood that Goku
learns that he’s an alien from another planet, taking the
previously fantasy story into science fiction. Both shows feature
an array of memorable characters, including Goku’s friends Bulma
and Krillin, his rivals Piccolo and Vegeta, and the evil Frieza.
A key element of both series is the Dragon Balls, which summon a
wish-granting dragon when all seven are gathered.


Goku has had many voices. His most famous in English is Sean
Schemmel (Pokémon). As a boy he voiced by Stephanie Nadolny (OK
K.O.! Let’s Be Heroes), who also voices Gohan as a child.
Christopher Sabat (My Hero Academia) plays both Vegeta and
Piccolo. The Pop Break interviewed Schemmel and
Sabat for the premiere of the movie Dragon Ball Z:
Resurrection ‘F’.


Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z were vital in cementing anime’s
popularity in the United States and around the world. They have
spawned video games, animated and live action movies, the
follow-up series Dragon Ball GT and Dragon Ball Super, and Dragon
Ball Z Kai, a re-edit of DBZ closer to the manga. With Dragon
Ball Super expecting another movie next year, the franchise is
alive and well.


Aaron and Josh talk about both series’ premieres, as well as the
shows’ plots, characters, action, and humor. The brothers also
discuss the Dragon Ball franchise’s place in their childhood and
its enduring legacy.


For a podcast on another martial arts show, you can listen to
Josh and Aaron talk about the finale of
Jackie Chan Adventures.


Dragon Ball and Dragon
Ball Z are streaming on Funimation.