See Dragon Ball with new eyes. This book is your cultural tour guide of Dragon Ball, the world’s most recognized anime and manga series. Over 11 years in development, at over 2,000 pages, and featuring over 1,800 unique terms, Dragon Ball Culture is a 7 Volume analysis of your favorite series. You will go on an adventure with Son Goku, from Chapter 1 to 194 of the original Dragon Ball series, as we explore every page, every panel, and every sentence, to reveal the hidden symbolism and deeper meaning of Dragon Ball. In Volume 1 you will discover the origin of Dragon Ball. How does Akira Toriyama get his big break and become a manga author? Why does he make Dragon Ball? Where does Dragon Ball’s culture come from? And why is it so successful? Along the way you’ll be informed, entertained, and inspired. You will learn more about your favorite series and about yourself. Now step with me through the doorway of Dragon Ball Culture.
Son Goku's adventure begins! Join me in Dragon Ball Culture Volume 2, as we travel along with Goku on his epic journey for greater strength. With each step that Goku takes, you'll discover more of the hidden spirituality and symbolism in Dragon Ball that makes the series so successful. You'll see how author Akira Toriyama synthesizes Chinese culture, Western technology, and Buddho-Daoist philosophy to create a series that speaks to your humanity. Not because of the action or the humor, but because it reminds you of what it means to be alive. Along the way you'll learn of Goku's ancient origin. You'll hear how the legend of a wild monkey-man begins in India, evolves across 2,000 years of Chinese and Japanese history, and leads to the Goku you know and love. I'll walk you through the journey from the first page to the last. And by the time we're done, you will be an expert on Dragon Ball's culture. Volume 2 explores Chapters 1 to 23 of the Dragon Ball manga. So let's take our first step with Goku!
Goku meets god! In Dragon Ball Culture Volume 6, we’ll reunite with Goku as he ascends to heaven, trains with Kami for 3 years, and battles the reincarnated Demon King Pikkoro! When Goku reaches heaven he is greeted by the always-controversial Mister Popo. But who is Mister Popo, and why does he look so strange? His ancient cultural origin will finally be revealed! From there we’ll explore Kami’s roots in Japanese Shinto and Chinese Buddhism. You’ll discover how Kami and Pikkoro are related on a spiritual level, how reincarnation works within the Dragon World, and what it means for the new demon king to be the ‘son of the father who was cast down from heaven.’ Afterward, we’ll enter the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai! But will Goku’s friends recognize him, and will he be strong enough to persevere?! Who is this green-skinned man who calls himself “Ma Junia,” and why is he such a grave threat to Goku and the world?! Discover the amazing truth behind these new characters, with surprising mystery’s and reveals from your old friends, as we take a cultural tour through the final volume of the original Dragon Ball manga! It’s a battle of life and death, and Goku’s the only one who can save us!! Volume 6 explores Chapters 162 to 194 of the Dragon Ball manga. It’s time to face god!
A comprehensive hardcover art book in a collector’s slipcase, showcasing the work of Akira Toriyama’s best-selling manga series, Dragon Ball. A comprehensive art book showcasing manga art, additional promotional material, creator commentary and notes/sketches/posters, from throughout the history of the original Dragon Ball series, all featured in a beautifully slipcased hardcover book with a dust jacket. Featuring stunning full-color artwork, exclusive creator commentary and rarely seen sketches, Dragon Ball: A Visual History is the definitive journey through the artwork of one of the most influential and popular manga series of all time, Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball.
Akira Toriyama's groundbreaking, iconic, best-selling series now in an omnibus edition! Dragon Ball introduces a young monkey-tailed boy named Goku (a wry update of the classic Chinese "Monkey King" legend), whose quiet life changes when he meets a girl named Bulma who is on a quest to collect seven "Dragon Balls." If she gathers them all, an incredibly powerful dragon will appear and grant her one wish. But the precious orbs are scattered all over the world, and Bulma could use the help of a certain super-strong boy... Legend has it that if all seven of the precious orbs called “Dragon Balls” are gathered together, an incredibly powerful dragon god will appear to grant one wish. Unfortunately, the orbs are scattered across the world, making them extremely difficult to collect. Enter 16-year-old Bulma, a scientific genius who has constructed a radar to detect the exact locations of the Dragon Balls. She’s on a mission to find all seven orbs, but first she must convince young Son Goku to join her on her quest. With a monkey tail, superhuman strength and a magic staff for a weapon, Son Goku is ready to set out on the adventure of a lifetime…
Based on the much-beloved Dragon Ball manga, this series will introduce a whole new audience to the fantastic adventures of Goku and his friends. For the first time ever, young Goku is exploring the world beyond his quiet forest home, training all the while to be as strong as he can be. From flying clouds to wish-granting dragons, Goku's new life is filled with more wonder and adventure than he ever could have imagined! The Adventure Begins! Deep in a forest untouched by civilization, Goku lives a simple life. He trains hard every day, just like his grandpa taught him, never giving a thought to the wide world beyond his home. But when a stranger arrives with curious machines and tales of a wish-granting dragon, Goku's simple life is turned upside down. Now, for the first time, he's venturing outside his forest, on a quest for the seven mythical Dragon Balls. Is the world ready for Goku? And more importantly, will there be enough to eat?
Dragon Ball Culture Volume 7 is your cultural tour guide to the Dragon Ball anime! In Volume 7, Gokū travels the world in a series of anime adventures, and we will explore the culture of every episode and movie, and delve into the origin of their production. This book features exclusive interviews with the Japanese musicians behind Dragon Ball's opening and ending themes, including lyricist Yuriko Mori, composer Takeshi Ike, and vocalist Ushio Hashimoto. Do you prefer the anime over the manga, or would you like a guide for watching the series and how it compares to the original work by Akira Toriyama? Then this is the book for you! Volume 7 concludes the world's first scholarly analysis of Dragon Ball's culture that took over 20 years to write. You're guaranteed to learn something new. Along the way you’ll be informed, entertained, and inspired. You will learn more about your favorite series, other people, and yourself. - Explores Dragon Ball episodes 1 to 153, and the movies. Genre: Non-fiction and literary criticism. Topics: Akira Toriyama; Dragon Ball; The Journey to the West; Chinese culture; Japanese culture; Western culture; Chinese language; Japanese language; manga; anime; comic books; fandoms; history; philosophy; spirituality; religion; Buddhism, Daoism, Shinto; legends; folk tales; cinema; kung fu movies; Bruce Lee; Jackie Chan, the Monkey King; 20th Century history; World War II. Images: Not present. *** NOTE: This is an Early Access edition book. Here is the current content: Opening and Ending Themes OP: Makafushigi adobenchā! ED: Romantikku ageru yo OP and ED Culture Filler Anime Saiyūki Arc (Pilaf Arc) Appendix -Eyecatch Culture -Title Card Culture Page Count: 205 New content will be added in the months ahead, and you will receive free updates when it is published. The price will increase as new content is added, up to $9.99. So the earlier you buy, the more you save. When the ebook is complete, the book will be published in paperback and hardback. You can help shape the direction this book takes by providing feedback to me as you read it; including what you'd like to read about next. Thank you for supporting my writing, and enjoy your anime adventures with Gokū!
The villain Moro has released all of the vicious criminals from the Galactic Prison, and now they’re ravaging the galaxy in search of planets with exceptional life energy! When the Bandit Brigade, including the power-copying Seven-Three, comes to Earth, how will Piccolo and the others fare against this new threat without Goku around? -- VIZ Media
Goku goes west! His grand adventure begins anew as his martial arts master tells him to travel the world to increase his power. But what will happen when this naïve boy enters the real world and meets people who want to harm him? Will he be able to find his grandpa's 4-Star dragon ball, or will the villainous Red Ribbon Army get to it first?! In Dragon Ball Culture Volume 4, you'll discover the origin of the Red Ribbon Army in Western cinema. You'll see how author Akira Toriyama brings Western concepts into his Eastern world and fuses them together, creating the Dragon World that we know and love. And you’ll learn how monster movies, witches, and magical dragons mix together to tell a story about a young boy with a dream of becoming stronger. Volume 4 explores Chapters 54 to 112 of the Dragon Ball manga. So let's hop on our magic cloud and head west with Goku!
On the green skies and blue plains of Planet Namek, a war rages between two equally evil forces: Emperor Freeza, who wants to use Namek's Dragon Balls to become immortal, and Vegeta, last prince of the Saiyans, who has betrayed his former master in search of the same prize. Trapped between these two mighty enemies are the peaceful Namekians and Earth's heroes Kuririn, Gohan and Bulma! As Freeza's henchmen Dodoria and Zarbon trade blows with the ever-stronger Vegeta, the Earthlings put their own lives at risk to protect the Namekians until Son Goku's spaceship arrives. But can even Goku's new training regimen--under 20 times Earth's gravity--prepare him for what awaits on this alien world? -- VIZ Media
