Current Events > Does it matter if the writing in DBZ was questionable ?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I wonder how important the quality of writing is in DBZ. As an aspiring writer myself, I have a deep admiration for DBZ, which was one of my favorite things ever. But when I look at it more critically, I notice some flaws in the writing. For instance, the sudden introduction of the Saiyan ability to gain huge power boosts after recovering from near-death injuries. This seems like a convenient way to keep Vegeta relevant in the story, even though he was clearly outmatched at the beginning. But none of that mattered to the fans. They tuned in every week, eager to see what would happen next and just enjoying the show. So maybe writers should focus more on creating emotions than logic or anything else. However, I still cant ignore the fact that Vegeta just as much of monster as Frieza. (lol)

It does when the fighting is not very entertaining

Not to defend AT's writing too much, but zenkai boosts have been there since the very beginning. People always marveled at how Goku always came back from fights just getting stronger and stronger and stronger. It wasn't until the saiyans were introduced and some of the finer points about saiyan physiology were being explained by Raditz and Vegeta do we finally have an explanation behind how Goku's Gokuness are actually just traits possessed by all saiyans. AT has a lot of whiffs in his writing, but not that one.

Creating compelling characters and relationships are the most important aspects in writing, dialogue is key.

Imagine watching a show like Dragon Ball and expecting good writing. This is like me watching a drama show and expecting Ip Man level of kung fu action.

DBZ has some rough edges for sure but thats to be expected with a weekly drawn and produced manga. Also there is editor input that comes in a bit heavier than other media due to that hectic cycle.

Some editor changes Ive heard for DBZ is that both the original 19 & 20 androids were suppose to be the ones Trunks talked about but the designs didnt hit so 17 and 18 were the course correction. Also, Ive heard, that Toriyama liked Cells adult middle adult form the best but his editor once again wasnt into the design as much so he revised the concept to evolve the character again.

VeggetaX posted...

Imagine watching a show like Dragon Ball and expecting good writing. This is like me watching a drama show and expecting Ip Man level of kung fu action.

Really just goes to show just how much better FMA and HxH are than everything else.

nope. if fans have proven anything, it's that they don't have standards, so you can get away with basically anything if your product is popular enough, and the way to get popular isn't good writing, carefully written story arcs or compelling villains, nope. it's hype and flashy shit and just fuckloads of pointless transformations.

A_Good_Boy posted...

Not to defend AT's writing too much, but zenkai boosts have been there since the very beginning. People always marveled at how Goku always came back from fights just getting stronger and stronger and stronger. It wasn't until the saiyans were introduced and some of the finer points about saiyan physiology were being explained by Raditz and Vegeta do we finally have an explanation behind how Goku's Gokuness are actually just traits possessed by all saiyans. AT has a lot of whiffs in his writing, but not that one.

He would get beat then he would train and get better. Vegeta just got rock and now can beat the people who beat him with ease that never happen with little Goku.

Of course it does. Its why Buu Saga is shit and why Cell Saga was beginning of dumb.

Let's not pretend that the beginning of dumb didn't start at Android

The poorly written parts stand out so much because the stuff that is solid, umm is solid.

Writing is all about your work and the audience. Would DBZ's writing win awards? No. Is the writing good enough to keep its fans engaged and not detract from the show's strengths? Yes.

If you are an aspiring writer, you shouldnt be using shonen anime as inspiration.

A DBZ fight happens : *dudes vanishing while fighting*

"It's hard to keep up!"
"Not for me"

*knee* *hammerfist* *kick*

"Gonna have to use that move"

Its actually pretty incredible that Dragon Ball turned out as good as it did when AT only ever planned a handful of chapters ahead. This is nothing like modern mangas like One Piece, Naruto, MHA where the author has a long term plan and an overall goal for the story he wanted to tell.

AT just wrote from the seat of his pants, then called it quits when he got tired of it

Zenkai was smart, if anything. It's a way to keep more characters relevant while raising the scale of threats, it doesn't contradict any previous information, establishes a reason as to why the Saiyans maintained any relevance in combat as a species, in a universe with countless other races for whom ki blasts and flight are no great mystery, and provides retroactive explanation for why Goku's strength has grown by leaps and bounds. It was great for Namek, as a way to keep shit moving along without needing everyone to stop and train, since there was no sensible way for that to happen in a situation where a world is being besieged by superpowered terrorists; later arcs were longer in scope, and had more room for development, so we got back to the ROTAS instead of having zenkai cheapen the stakes or necessitate deaths instead of near-deaths, with the convenient implication of zenkai just not scaling to these new power levels, and being made irrelevant.

I dont mind zenkai, but I do wish it were still more difficult to gain new transformations.

My other problem is that it seems like fights are over when AT wants them to be. Why did Cell recover from a self destruct, but a kamehameha did him in? And why did a spirit bomb work on Buu when it failed against Frieza?

EndOfDiscOne posted...

And why did a spirit bomb work on Buu when it failed against Frieza?

That can somewhat be explained. Been a while but IIRC Namek Saga Spirit Bomb was formed by pulling energy from Namek's flora and fauna and the Z fighters present as the population was extinct by then. Buu Saga Spirit Bomb was formed by the now massively more powerful Z fighters lending their energy, along with the entire population of Earth.

TheSavageDragon posted...

That can somewhat be explained. Been a while but IIRC Namek Saga Spirit Bomb was formed by pulling energy from Namek's flora and fauna and the Z fighters present as the population was extinct by then. Buu Saga Spirit Bomb was formed by the now massively more powerful Z fighters lending their energy, along with the entire population of Earth.

I think also the Sun? I was never clear on that.

you are an aspiring writer. Manga and anime are something different. You need to take inspiration from books.

Rai_Jin posted...

you are an aspiring writer. Manga and anime are something different. You need to take inspiration from books.

That's dumb. Inspiration isn't limited to medium.

Where else but DBZ could "five minutes" be three or four episodes?

_____Cait posted...

If you are an aspiring writer, you shouldnt be using shonen anime as inspiration.

Rai_Jin posted...

you are an aspiring writer. Manga and anime are something different. You need to take inspiration from books.

Don't listen to these clowns. Take inspiration from whatever inspires you.

I think it depends on what kind of story one wants to tell, what their goals are being a writer, and if they care on how their work is scene critically.

If you want to learn how to write, books would be more appropriate. I recommend Christopher Ruocchios Sun Eater. Hes my favorite prose writer, and its just brilliant, especially after the first book.

mario2000 posted...

Don't listen to these clowns. Take inspiration from whatever inspires you.

it's so common though. People just wanting to write fighting scenes nonstop when that just doesn't work in a book.

Rai_Jin posted...

it's so common though. People just wanting to write fighting scenes nonstop when that just doesn't work in a book.

Well, let's see if it works or not. If tc is willing, let them post an example of their writing.