Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero Review
Three years following the previous film in Akira Toriyama’s popular franchise, Dragon Ball Super: Broly, was released at cinemas across the UK and it gave some fans a chance to see the famed fighters on the big screen. But the Z Fighters have finally returned with Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero and as well as returning fan favorites and some exciting newcomers, it’s also the first in the series to be fully computer animated.
With a new form of animation to explore and new foes to fight, does it prove to be their most exciting and ambitious title yet or will it be no match for the series’ past installments?
Set a few years after the events of Dragon Ball Super: Broly, the villainous organization The Red Ribbon Army have returned and set its sights on revenge after Goku and his allies were able to defeat them from the series. With a new generation of antagonists leading the revived group and creating a new threat in the form of two powerful androids, it’s up to the Z Fighters to stop them and save the day.
Changing the focus away from protagonists Goku and Vegeta, the story instead tells the story of Piccolo and Gohan and is a refreshing change of pace, especially with how much they have been downplayed throughout the Dragon Ball Super show. Not also does it see them having to handle the situation head-on, but rebuilds the chemistry between the two as former master and student while also building on parts of the series’ lore in some creative ways.
As for the new villains, androids Gamma 1 and Gamma 2 are easily one of the biggest standouts as they aren’t the conventional villains that many have seen in Shonen Jump anime shows before as they truly believe themselves to be the heroes. But as the film goes along, they start to question the objectives that make them surprisingly compelling characters rather than just simply fighting against the true heroes of the story as huge obstacles to overcome.
While the story does a great job at being entertaining for those who have stuck with the series after all these years, how much does it fair as the series’ first foray into computer animation?
It may not be the best when compared with the likes of Disney and Pixar, but the animators did bring these characters seamlessly well into 3D and with the use of cel-shading, they were able to use the technology to recreate the designs effectively. Unfortunately, at times, the emotions through conversations and subtle movements during the film’s quieter moments do look stiff compared to the animation from previous installments.
But when it comes to the brawls and intense scenes, the animation goes into full gear as the animators and director were able to create some of the best brawls seen in the series. With the technology of the animation and the brilliant choreography, the fighters flawlessly fly and exchange blows as the camera moves around and follows the action without breaking the pace. And the sharp colour palette, lighting, and shadows all make the film look that much more appealing and engaging to watch. Hopefully, future releases will be able to adopt and build on this film, but it was a pleasing series of fights and character journeys to watch with this animation.
Despite some of the animation’s odd stiffness, the focus on Piccolo and Gohan as well as exploring the series’ lore with a fresh coat of paint makes it a refreshingly fun and enjoyable adventure that will surely please fans. While it may not be a great entry point for newcomers, the high octane and well-choreographed action sequences might be enough to keep them entertained from start to finish.