Dragon Ball 10 Things You Miss By Only Watching The Anime

While watching the Dragon Ball anime provides fans with plenty of information and the audio to go with it, anime-only fans are missing valuable facts.

Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball remains one of the most celebrated anime series of all time and more than 35 years after its debut there’s still no end in sight for the popular shonen series. Dragon Ball has naturally evolved over time, but its focus has always been on Goku’s growth as a hero and his continued efforts to protect the Earth. Dragon Ball is especially big as an anime and there are even anime-only series in the franchise, like Dragon Ball GT.

Dragon Ball’s anime is an excellent adaptation of Toriyama’s series, but there are certain elements, characters, and stories that audiences will be oblivious to if they stick to the anime and never explore Dragon Ball’s video games, spin-offs, and other ancillary materials.

10 New Super Saiyan Transformations For Characters Exist

It’s always an exciting moment when a character in Dragon Ball achieves a new transformation, but the anime sometimes finds ways to skip over certain steps. Vegeta has become a Super Saiyan 4 and Super Saiyan God, but he’s never been a Super Saiyan 3 in the anime. The wealth of Dragon Ball video games are especially indulgent in this area and they don’t just present ideas like Super Saiyan God Trunks and Super Saiyan 3 Vegeta, but Super Saiyan versions of neglected Saiyans like Raditz and Nappa are also present.

9 There Are All Sorts Of New Fusions

Dragon Ball never runs out of methods for characters to get a boost in strength, but one of the more controversial procedures is fusion, which combines two powerful fighters into a new character with a mix of both individuals’ assets. Dragon Ball’s anime doesn’t get too out of control when it comes to fusion, but it’s an idea that’s gained a new life via video games. Dragon Ball Fusions is a title that’s entirely focused on new and radical fusions, some of which combine as many as five people together. Dragon Ball Fusions practically brings every possible fusion to life.

8 There Are More Saiyans Out There

Saiyans represent some of the most powerful characters in Dragon Ball and even though the warrior race is supposed to be endangered, there always seem to be new Saiyans who come out of the woodwork. Dragon Ball’s video games, and more recently Super Dragon Ball Heroes, have developed original Saiyan characters, like Cumber, who have become popular with audiences.

Cumber bears a lot in common with Broly, but he’s distinctly his own individual and gets pushed to uniquely disturbing places. It stands to reason that more original Saiyans will get introduced in future Dragon Ball video games.

7 The Further Exploits Following The Tournament Of Power

Dragon Ball Super started as an anime, not a manga, but the latter has gone on to surpass the anime’s story. Dragon Ball Super’s anime concludes with the Tournament of Power, but the series’ manga has progressed into Planet-Eater Moro’s reign of terror and the cataclysmic efforts of Granolah to become the strongest in the universe. Some major milestones have happened in this material and audiences are only getting part of the story if they stop at the anime’s Tournament of Power.

6 Deceased Characters Make Major Comebacks

Death usually isn’t the end in Dragon Ball and there are many deceased characters who find a way to permanently or temporarily come back to life. There are some very compelling characters from early in Dragon Ball Z’s story, like Nappa and Raditz, who more or less fade into obscurity and never get real chances at redemption. Dragon Ball Z video games don’t waste these characters and they’ve done some impressive things to flesh them out and make them relevant alongside the series’ heaviest hitters.

5 There Are A Lot More Androids Out There

In Dragon Ball Z, the deadly Androids are ultimately meant to be a fuel source for the larger threat, Cell, but they become their own characters and are a concept that Dragon Ball continues to explore. Dragon Ball’s main anime introduces Androids 16-20, as well as Android 8.

However, the seventh Dragon Ball Z movie brings Androids 13-15 into the picture, who have also served a greater purpose in video games. More recently, Android 21, who is also Majin, has become a popular video game character.

4 There’s Lots Of Activity From The Demon Realm

Evil entities are a constant in Dragon Ball, but the anime has only put a spotlight on the notorious Demon Realm in a few occasions. One of the more prominent representatives of this dark dimension is Dabura, who plays a major role during the Buu Saga. Dragon Ball Xenoverse and other video games have really fleshed out the Demon Realm and made its ruler, Demigra, a considerable foe. Demigra and the lore of the Demon Realm are put into action in video games and Super Dragon Ball Heroes, so it’s worthwhile information.

3 The Cell Juniors Are Still Alive

Cell proves himself to be one of Dragon Ball’s most intimidating villains in a number of ways, many of which see him biding his time and playing with Earth’s heroes. One of Perfect Cell’s tactics is to produce a litter of Cell Juniors, who are tinier, equally strong versions of himself. Gohan swiftly eliminates these enemies in the anime, but Dragon Ball Super’s manga features a fun chapter that shows that some have survived and hid in Android 17’s wilderness reserve. It turns into a good opportunity for Goten and Trunks to test their strength.

2 There’s A Heavy Focus On The Time Patrol And Xeno Characters

Time travel has been an important aspect of Dragon Ball ever since the arrival of Future Trunks, but it’s only been turned to in a few dire circumstances in the anime. Alternatively, Dragon Ball Xenoverse and other video games are heavily focused on the efforts of the Time Patrol, which brings forward Xeno versions of characters. The Time Patrol, Xeno characters, and the Supreme Kai of Time, Chronoa, all expand Dragon Ball’s history in satisfying ways. Super Dragon Ball Heroes has even started to turn to these characters and concepts like the Tokitoki bird.

1 Characters Meet Alternate Versions Of Themselves

Super Dragon Ball Heroes is a promotional anime series that’s really meant to help peddle its corresponding video game, but the non-canonical anime focuses on especially ridiculous battles. There are no limits in Super Dragon Ball Heroes, which means that multiple versions of characters can show up to join the fight. For instance, Super Saiyan 4 Goku meets Super Saiyan Blue Goku and the light series leans into spectacles that feel more like fan fiction. It’s likely at some point that two versions of the same character will fuse together.