As a child, I remember watching four Dragon Ball Z movies which were edited into two movies. One was called The Greatest Rivals which was a combination of Cooler's Revenge and Return of Cooler. Another one combined both The Return of Broly and Bio Broly. I didn't even realize that these movies aren't canon if you try to look at even the minor details. Please remember Dragon Ball Z specials like History of Trunks and Bardock: the Father of Goku are TV specials. Dragon Ball Z Anime also later managed to retcon Dead Zone from a non-canon film by creating the Garlic Jr. Saga. I wouldn't be surprised if some editing was done in the process.
So what's the purpose of the Dragon Ball Z movies? It seems to be a series of what-if scenarios. Let's think of some interesting what-ifs that were created by these movies. Here's what I could name of what-if scenarios that were made and here are the only ones I'm familiar with... and let's think of these entries like the "What If" comic series by Marvel Comics:
Dr. Wheelo
This is one obscure Dragon Ball Z movie and it obviously can't happen. No effort to retcon this guy was ever made for some reason. The movie premiered on March 10, 1990 -- something that should happen after the Saiyan Saga. Dead Zone was the first movie and Toei managed to create a filler. I think a bit of editing of Dead Zone's inconsistency concerning how Gohan was introduced.
If it was supposed to take place after the Saiyan Saga -- remember Piccolo had DIED. That means the Dragon Balls are disabled as Kami also dies. If Piccolo dies then Kami dies. That's why Piccolo and Kami later fused back together and Dende was made the new guardian. Like most films -- I think Dr. Wheelo's release was just too early. Was this guy supposed to be a prelude to Dr. Gero?
How would I make this work? I think Dead Zone should be released a little bit later. It might be best to put it in between the Android Saga and the Cell Saga. Dr. Wheelo's plot might do well with the Red Ribbon Army. Maybe, have his Bio-Warriors a prelude to the horror that Cell as a bio-warrior would be. Cell was referred to as a bio-android he was more of a modified organism or composite clone. Pretty much, it'd be better to go with releasing Dead Zone first then Tree of Might next.
Turles
The events in Tree of Might are pretty much a what-if scenario. It's what-if there were more Saiyans that survived Frieza's genocide. Turtles, a Saiyan, was portrayed to be one of Frieza's minions who defected. The movie could have fit in if the events happened after Frieza and Goku turned into a Super Saiyan. Goku acted as if he was still unable to go Super Saiyan. Characters who should've been DEAD after the Saiyan Saga are still alive at this point. This really shows that the show was just a what-if scenario. Goku defeats Turles with a miniature Spirit Bomb -- an attack that obviously failed to destroy Vegeta. Did Toei decide to give that failed attack some non-canon successes? IMHO yes they did.
The movie happened on July 7, 1990. That means the movie was given during the Name and Ginyu Saga. Was this movie made to give dubbers whose characters were temporarily killed off -- extra work? Maybe, maybe not. It would make sense why the Super Saiyan Goku never happened. Instead, the movie went for Goku hurling a smaller Spirit Bomb from the Tree of Might that Turles planted.
I think one way this movie could be canon is through these tweaks. Make the movie happen AFTER the Frieza Saga. Maybe, after a week or two and before the Android Saga leading to the Cell Saga. I think it'd be interesting if Vegeta was also there. Vegeta would probably still be unable to go Super Saiyan at this point. The final battle could happen if Goku goes Super Saiyan rendering the Tree of Might useless. It'd be interesting to have Vegeta seethe with envy as Super Saiyan Goku FRIES Turles. Have Goku turn Super Saiyan at will.
It would've been interesting if Turles were canonized into Dragon Ball Super. Instead, we have had Goku Black. Maybe, make Turles a Saiyan from another Universe. Then again, I think the Dragon Ball Z movies are from some unknown timeline --not the main timeline!
Lord Slug
Like Tree of Might -- the movie was released before Goku went Super Saiyan. The movie introduced the False Super Saiyan idea. The release date was on March 9, 1991. That would be during the Frieza Saga but before Goku could turn Super Saiyan. The movie showed Goku becoming a False Super Saiyan. Was this non-canon film meant to be a testing ground for the actual Super Saiyan idea in canon? Take note that Goku's Super Saiyan only premiered on June 12, 1991. The movie's release was months before Goku went Super Saiyan -- which explains why Goku never went Super Saiyan.
feel that the tiny Spirit Bomb used in the movie was Toei saying, "Okay, let's just give it another non-canon victory. While at it, let's see how Goku's False Super Saiyan will be received, and then let's see where it goes from there. Presumably, fans were enamored by the False Super Saiyan in non-canon that the True Super Saiyan was done IN CANON. I guess that's why the Frieza Saga had one incredible insult to injury -- Goku's huge Spirit Bomb FAILED to destroy Frieza. It was probably the only way that they would have an excuse to make Goku turn Super Saiyan!
I felt the movie should've taken place AFTER the Frieza Saga. It would be fun if Lord Slug himself arrived after the heroes returned from Namek. Have the whole movie take place during the three years arc. First, we'll have Turles trying to take over Earth after Frieza's supposed death. After that, Lord Slug arrives on Earth to cause trouble after a certain time. While at it, Goku finally goes Super Saiyan and beats off Lord Slug.
Okay, he does look Cooler than Frieza but he's not canon. So it's safe to assume that maybe Frieza is King Cold's only child in the canon. He's pretty much what if King Cold had another son. His power itself proves that there's some inconsistency. Remember, Frieza stated that his fourth form is his true form and that the first three forms were created to suppress his high levels of power. Another inconsistency is that Goku now had easy mastery of the Super Saiyan. Cooler angering Goku would have already triggered the Super Saiyan power. What's also disappointing is that Cooler's final form ended up getting wasted when Goku became a Super Saiyan. That alone makes Return of Cooler another what-if scenario, it fits well with the movies but not the Anime series. His cameo alone in Dragon Ball GT already proves GT to be an alternate continuity.
I think there could be ways for Cooler's Revenge to fit in. I think Gohan having a tail could be explained in the story. Piccolo cut it and later it grew again. I don't think it's much of an issue. Mistaking Goku for the one to kill Frieza instead of Future Trunks is another. It can be said that Cooler felt Frieza had died during that time. Cooler, having been an aloof big brother, may not be too concerned about Frieza. Maybe, have it that Salza mistakes Frieza to have died in Namek. Another way to fit in is that Cooler thinks Frieza died at Goku's hands when it's at Future Trunk's hands. Future Trunks can retreat for a while and so does Vegeta for it to work. Even more, I think Cooler can reveal that he's managed to add a boost to his base form in contrast to Frieza.
One issue I had with Cooler is this. Whatever coolness the fifth form had was undermined when Goku went Super Saiyan. Cooler underwent all that effort to show off his ultimate transformation. Cooler mentioned in both Funimation and the canon dub that he can transform one more time. Goku mentioned his ki is greater than Frieza's. It would've been better if Cooler transformed and gave Super Saiyan Goku more than enough trouble. Goku went Super Saiyan and almost got rid of Cooler instantly. Sure, Cooler could gather energy faster than Frieza. However, it would be a waste of transformation if Cooler couldn't give Super Saiyan Goku some trouble. Have Goku turn Super Saiyan at will but Cooler toys around. Goku then realizes that there's more than just being a Super Saiyan before hurling Cooler's Supernova back at him. Cool-looking transformation but it was wasted by the writers.
For Return of Cooler, Dende was already the Guardian of Earth when it happened. One way to make it canon is if Gohan could turn Super Saiyan. Have Vegeta jump in as well (and I think he should've been in Cooler's Revenge). I think the best way to deal with this is for Metal Cooler to brag that he could withstand more attacks. Maybe Gohan still learned the ropes of being a Super Saiyan -- something he managed to do better during the Cell games. Maybe, it'd be interesting if Gohan's rage suddenly was the cause of Cooler getting overloaded. Why weren't those given? It would be interesting if they used Cooler's attack on Namek as a chance to test their new abilities before the Cell Games.
The movie seems to be set in a lot of what-ifs. The movie felt like it was an alternate continuity where Cell is defeated, Goku lives and Android 13 is actually a remnant of Dr. Gero. If it were trying to fit in so where are Android 17, Android 18, and not to mention Cell in all of this? Gohan not going Super Saiyan here feels like it's what if his ability to become one didn't come until later. What's more interesting is that Dr. Gero's master computer is still intact even if it was destroyed in the series.
I think a good way to fit the Android 13 movie is this. Have Goku and the gang still watchful for any sign of Android 17 and Android 18. It's an ongoing hunt. Meanwhile, Dr. Gero created three androids to fight off Goku should the Master Computer be destroyed. I think it'd be interesting if Android 13 actually met Android 17 and Android 18 telling them to back off. Maybe, have some conflict between them. Android 13 should be berating Android 17 and Android 18. I'd have this fight happen before Cell even shows up.
Later on, Dragon Ball Super made canon Goku's Spirit Bomb absorption. Goku absorbed the Spirit Bomb into himself in Super Saiyan mode to defeat Android 13 at his strongest. It's a shame that the technique never made it into Anime canon until decades after this what-if movie was done.
This is yet another what-if scenario if you have an Omega Level Super Saiyan such as Broly going on. Broly had a total of three movies that fit with each other but not with the series. The movies are supposed to happen during the Cell saga but if it were so, where were Cell, 17, 18, and other important characters in the Cell Saga? It would have been cool if this Omega-level genocidal madman could have run into them. But again if he did Cell would have been totally obliterated by him. The androids would have been destroyed by him. Just the first movie alone already dismisses him from the canon. If Cell did get some of his DNA then I think either Cell will explode or would have become even stronger than before. Too bad his concept isn't even in the Anime.
I think the best way to deal with Broly in his first two appearances (and the Bio Broly plot) is through these methods. Have the first appearance of Broly happen BEFORE the Androids arrive. That means Vegeta shouldn't go Super Saiyan yet. Instead, it should be another time when Vegeta's still training to become a Super Saiyan. I think it was also very OOC of Vegeta to become a coward in the first Broly movie. Vegeta's my favorite Dragon Ball Z character so I felt Toei Ltd. slap my face with that scene.
The next two movies Broly Returns and Bio Broly should try to take place before the Buu Saga. I just don't see how it could fit in. The same goes for Broly: The Legendary Super Saiyan. I think it would be interesting if Videl still didn't learn to fly or how Broly becomes that threat. Maybe, have Goten and Trunks say, "Well at least, the greatest threat is over... for now." Maybe, that's before the end of the third film could foreshadow Majin Buu's return. Instead, the three films were practically not canon.
Decades later, Dragon Ball Super created a Broly movie retconning all three movies. I was wondering if the movie could be canon or not. The way Goku was sent to Earth felt out of place too. Why was Goku in Super Saiyan armor when he was sent to Earth? I felt changing the way Goku was sent to Earth was just weird. Come on, the canon media established it Goku was sent to Earth as a naked infant and not. Bardock: The Father of Goku and the actual TV series showed Goku was sent to Earth NAKED. That's why I refuse to buy into it that Dragon Ball Super's movie about Broly is canon.
Bojack Unbound supposedly happens after the Cell Saga. Though, I think some contradictions are there such as Future Trunks should already be back to his Days of Future Past type of timeline. Another thing is how Gohan, like Goku, still had to struggle to become a Super Saiyan, after he supposedly mastered holding it during the fight with Cell. I think Gohan should've been made to go Super Saiyan easily, have a hard time against Bojack, then defeat him. I felt both Cooler and Bojack were wasted by the Super Saiyan transformations too easily.
Janemba
In this case, I think this story could take place AFTER the Buu Saga. Maybe, have it that both Goku and Vegeta are back in the world of the living AGAIN. Maybe, have it where residues of negative energy from Kid Buu's death could've caused the trouble. Again, I'm a person who thinks the Buu Saga is the WEAKEST of the Dragon Ball Z sagas. So... I'll not discuss much either.
Hirudegarn
I think the movie could easily fit after the Buu Saga. I don't think many tweaks are needed to make it fit into canon. The only thing needed is that Shenron should be able to grant two wishes by now. The same could be done with the hairstyle of Future Trunks in Bojack Unbound. Also, a filler saga in the Anime had it that Garlic Jr. came into the series before the Android Saga.
Frieza got another non-canon treatment in the movie Dragon Ball Super: Resurrection of F. Granted, Frieza has made non-canonical what-if appearances in other non-canon films starting with the films where Cooler was in. Cooler was given the hypothetical fifth form against Goku in a what-if scenario. Frieza managed to acquire his ultimate transformation in Golden Frieza which quickly replaced the 100% Power Frieza. While Cooler looked cooler in his fifth form - I felt Frieza's golden form had the charm that it's simplistic design proves to be a very misleading facade.
The events of Resurrection of F seemingly ignore the other movies. For one, no mention of reviving Cooler is ever made at all. Cooler only gets mentioned in NON-CANON material like video games and the what-if movies. Here, it seems canon but at one detail - Frieza is in a cocoon and in his cyborg form for some reason while he hang from the tree. I kinda felt Frieza deserved his treatment of being hang in a portion of Hell where it looked serene. Frieza enjoys carnage and destruction so much that it's best to send him to that part of Hell where it doesn't appeal to him. The events were later rewritten for Dragon Ball Super where it fit more into the series. So, the whole movie got RETCONNED to fit into the series. So, the film itself has become non-canon as it was revised for the TV series.
I felt the same thing should've been done for several villains. I guess Frieza will remain an only child in canon.
___________________
Later, we had an OVA called Plan to Eradicate the Saiyans. It's where Dr. Lychee is the last survivor of the Truffles race and plans to eliminate the Saiyans. Obviously, so not canon based on the characters that appeared. Eventually, some of these villains made it into the not-surprisingly, non-canon, Super Dragon Ball Heroes, a web series.
_______
While you can still enjoy these movies but these are just a series of what-ifs. In short, I feel these characters were probably rejected for the main storyline. However, they decided to create what-if scenarios to test new concepts.
While you can still enjoy these movies but these are just a series of what-ifs. In short, I feel these characters were probably rejected for the main storyline. However, they decided to create what-if scenarios to test new concepts.
Updated on: July 5, 2024
Comments
Post a Comment