jason.thompson, Author at Gizmodo

The Spawn of Dragon Ball

If this weekend’s release of Dragonball: Evolution has left you in the mood to look up some similar manga and anime, we’ve rounded up some of the stories that followed in Dragon Ball’s footsteps. Shônen manga, aka boys’ manga (the #1 category in the unapologetically gender-targeted world of Japanese comics), has always involved action and…

io9 Jason.thompson Apr 11

The Colorful Art of Dragon Ball

Before there was Dragonball Evolution, there was Akira Toriyama‘s crisp, colorful art. His work seems taken from children’s books rather than a gut-punching martial-arts tale, but incongruity is what makes his manga appealing. Gallery below. Toriyama used only very few assistants compared to most manga artists, so his work lacks the stiffly drafted backgrounds and…

io9 Jason.thompson Apr 10

Dragon Ball 101

The movie Dragonball: Evolution opens Friday, and complaints among fans make the arguments about Watchmen look like nitpicks about Dr. Manhattan’s genitals. What’s the story on this flick, and the manga phenomenon that inspired it? Dragonball: Evolution is the live action adaptation of Akira Toriyama’s manga Dragon Ball. Fans of the original manga and anime…

Movies Jason.thompson Apr 8

What is Dragon Ball?

In its original form, Dragon Ball is a manga (Japanese comic) written and drawn by Akira Toriyama from 1984 to 1995. Published by Shueisha, one of the three biggest Japanese publishers, it was the most popular series in Weekly Shônen Jump, a 400+ page comic anthology which features about 20 ongoing serials by different artists.…

io9 Jason.thompson Apr 8

What is Dragon Ball Z/Dragon Ball GT/Dragon Ball Kai/etc.?

In Japan, the original manga is, and always has been, Dragon Ball. (The original Japanese title is the phonetic English words “Dragon Ball,.”) However, when the series was optioned for TV, things got complicated. The original Japanese anime series, based on the manga, was also called Dragon Ball. It ran from 1986 to 1989, and…

io9 Jason.thompson Apr 8

So is it Science Fiction or Fantasy or What?

The quick answer is: (1) yes, (2) both and (3) as long as your definition of “science fiction” isn’t too particular. The world of Dragon Ball is full of high technology, most notably the convenient pocket-sized capsules (as seen in the trailer) which pop open into motorcycles, houses, guns or what have you. Several of…

io9 Jason.thompson Apr 8

Isn’t Dragon Ball just a bunch of speedlines and ripped dudes with bad hair screaming “It’s over 9,000!”

Yes. No. Sort of. Many of the stereotypes about Dragon Ball come not from the original manga but rather from the anime adaptations, particularly Dragon Ball Z. The anime, like many popular anime TV shows including Bleach and Naruto, was not produced in “seasons” like American shows; it was produced continuously, one episode a week,…

io9 Jason.thompson Apr 8

Bulma, Goku, Piccolo, Chichi – what’s up with the names?

Silly names, usually involving foreign words, are a trademark of Japanese manga for children. It’s sometimes easy to forget that Dragon Ball was originally printed in a magazine for junior high students (the average age of Weekly Shônen Jump readers is approximately 12-14). Furthermore, Toriyama had his comedy background to consider. Here’s a few of…

Movies Jason.thompson Apr 8

What do Dragon Ball fans think of the live-action version?

With any movie adaptation of a popular story, there are criticisms. One fairly thorough list of differences between the anime and manga is here. Here are some of the main points: * In the film, Goku is a semi-normal high school student, rather than a childish monkey-boy with a tail who lives in the woods.…

io9 Jason.thompson Apr 8

What exactly are the Dragon Balls? (Minor Spoilers)

The Dragon Balls are seven magic orbs about the size of baseballs, each with a number of tiny glowing stars in them, from one to seven. An ancient legend explains their powers: when the seven Dragon Balls are gathered together and the correct invocation is made, a mighty dragon appears and grants any one wish…

Movies Jason.thompson Apr 8

jason.thompson

The Spawn of Dragon Ball

The Colorful Art of Dragon Ball

Dragon Ball 101

What is Dragon Ball?

What is Dragon Ball Z/Dragon Ball GT/Dragon Ball Kai/etc.?

So is it Science Fiction or Fantasy or What?

Isn’t Dragon Ball just a bunch of speedlines and ripped dudes with bad hair screaming “It’s over 9,000!”

Bulma, Goku, Piccolo, Chichi – what’s up with the names?

What do Dragon Ball fans think of the live-action version?

What exactly are the Dragon Balls? (Minor Spoilers)

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