WARNING: LIGHT SPOILERS FOR DRAGON BALL SUPER MANGA
TheDragon Ball Superseries changed the franchise forever, but withGTofficially considered canon, the story has certain plot developments that need to be addressed to make sense. After theDBZanime concluded, Toei Animation and Shueisha decided to capitalize on its popularity by creatingDragon Ball GTwithout heavy involvement with author Akira Toriyama. ButDragon Ball Super, which took place before that sequel series, introduces many elements that currently conflict with future events inDBGT’s timeline.
According to Shuiesha, the company that oversees and publishes theDragon Ballfranchise,Dragon Ball GTis officially part of the overarching timeline. However, this official status brings to light several inconsistencies and significant world-building elements that are absent fromDBGT. These are the very elements thatDBSneeds to address in its final arc, a crucial phase that could reshape the franchise’s future.IfDBGTis indeed canon, elements fromDBS, including power-ups, character development, and divine figures, may need to be erasedfor the timeline to make sense.
5Super 17 Destroys The Android’s Super Happy Ending
The Super 17 Saga Takes Place InDBGTEpisodes #41 - #47
While the first fewarcs ofDragon Ball Super’sanime featured a lot of intense confrontations with characters like Goku and Vegeta, it wasn’t until Universe 7 had to prepare for the multiversal Tournament of Power that they had to recruit not only friends but former enemies to help prevent the universe from being erased. Android #17 was one of those foes who became a valuable ally during the beloved arc, but as fans ofDBGTknow, Android #17’s character does not get a happy ending.
“Dragon Ball Superbrought #17 back into the story and completely redeemed his character.”
Dragon Ball GThad several arcs, but one of its shortest, the Super 17 Saga, featured the catastrophic team-up between Dr.Gero and Baby’s creator, Dr. Myuu. The two mad scientists serving in hell for their dastardly deeds combined their minds to create another Android #17 who managed to make it to Earth and combine with the original to become Super Android #17. The most powerful android kills Krillin and many others before giving Goku a lot of trouble with his body, which could absorb all energy attacks.
DBGTcontinued to make Android #17 a villain, complete with a tragic ending, butDragon Ball Superbrought #17 back into the story and completely redeemed his character. After helping save his universe and all the other universes that took part in the Tournament of Power, #17 was given a massive cruise ship he wanted to use to travel the world with his family. Unfortunately,DBGTsees Android #17 take a much darker turn that now feels like a slap in the face after hisDragon Ball Superending.
4Divine Characters and Transformations Are Not Part Of The Picture InDBGT
Beerus, God of Destruction, and the Angel Whis, Are Introduced InDragon Ball SuperEpisode #1
One aspect ofDragon Ball Superthat significantly expanded Akira Toriyama’s franchise was the introduction to Beerus, the God of Destruction, and his Angel attendant Whis. The celestial hierarchy expanded even further when it was revealed that they both serve the King of All, who rules over all twelve universes. With Goku and Vegeta interacting and training with the Gods, they earned several considerable upgrades with transformations that utilized Divine Energy to surpass their current limits. However,DBGTlacks those gods, the other universes, and the transformations Goku and Vegeta used.
Each ofDragon Ball’s twelve universes is assigned a God of Destruction who receives an Angel attendant, who is often stronger than the Destroyer Gods they monitor.Dragon Ball Zbroke its one universeinto four quadrants, withDBSsignificantly expanding the size of Toriyama’s franchise by introducing the other universes, the fighters that reside in them, and the Omni-King Grand Zeno, who erases entire universes with a single thought. Since none of those appear inDBGT, they either exist in the background during its events or have been completely erased inDragon Ball Super’s final arc.
Every Dragon Ball TV Show In Order
Seven different series have told the overarching story of Goku, Vegeta, and the other iconic Dragon Ball characters, inspiring fans for years.
Sincethe gods are all missing fromGT,Dragon Ball Supermust explain what happenedto the franchise’s newest additions.DBSwas not even a thought whenDBGTwas crafted, so it makes sense that the new characters and forms don’t exist in the older series. Shueisha establishing thatGTis still canon raises questions about why transformations like Ultra EgoVegeta and Ultra Instinct Gokuwere not used duringDBGT’s most perilous confrontations. Still, the two pure Saiyans are not the only ones whose drastic and recent power-ups disappeared.
3Gohan and Piccolo’s Super Hero Boosts
The Super Hero Saga Takes Place InDragon Ball SuperChapters #91 - #103
To the disappointment of fans excited for a new manga arc after Black Frieza dramatically ended the Granolah Arc, the latest story saw an adaptation of the stellarDragon Ball Super: Super Heromovie. The film treated fans to one ofGoku and Vegeta’s best fights in theDragon Ballfranchise, but it also provided stunning new power-ups for both Gohan and Piccolo. However, their newly unlocked transformations were not included in any ofDBGT’s storylines, and they would have been incredibly useful.
Piccolo unlocked his significant orange transformation by wishing for Shenron to unlock his potential, which the dragon did without hesitation while providing an additional power boost. The moment was a brilliant twist of irony due to the former villain and his father’s desire to use the Dragon Balls to gain more power. However, it wasn’t as satisfying as Gohan learning to channel his latent powers further to manifest the extravagant Beast Gohan form. The two made short work of the Super Hero arc’s villains but are noticeably missing those levels of strength whenDBGTbegins.
The events ofDragon Ball Super: Super Herotake place around six years beforeDBGTbegins.
The Orange Piccolo and Beast Gohan transformations made visually stunning impressions on fans who were hungry for the pair to become relevant to the franchise’s overarching plot once again. BothGohan and Piccolo proved to be incredibly helpful duringDragon Ball Super’s latest arcs but reverted to their underwhelming power levelsand failed to help against Baby or the Shadow Dragons inDBGT. Judging by Beast Gohan’s battles against Ultra Instinct Goku, his power would have been more than enough to handle most of the foes that threatened Earth in the future.
2The Pilaf Gang Have Some Serious Aging To Do
Emperor Pilaf and His Gang Debuted InDragon BallEpisode #3
The introduction of Gods of Destruction and Angels was a brilliant way to expand theDragon Balluniverse, but the start ofDBSfeatured some questionable inclusions like a mysteriously de-aged Emperor Pilaf and his friends Mai and Shu. Goku first encountered the mischievous trio during his youth, but likeDragon Ball Super,GTalso began with the surprising appearance of the former antagonists. However, they were much older than when Goku last saw them and even older than fans have seen inDBS.
Pilaf’s gang somehow wished to become young with the Dragon Balls before the events ofDBS, but it’s an event that has yet to be revealed if it ever will. If that’s the case, it’s a testament to the troublemaker’s lack of smarts because they could have easily made a more clever wish that would have assisted in Emperor Pilaf’s desire to gain wealth, fame, and power. With the trio appearing elderly during their confrontation against Goku on Kami’s lookout atDBGT’s start, they will need to find a way to age dramatically quickly.
1The True Death Of Frieza
Black Frieza Made His Debut InDragon Ball SuperChapter #87
Being arguably theDragon Ballfranchise’s most iconic villain, Friezahas found many ways to return to the spotlight in the Z Warriors adventures. Most of the time, when the galactic tyrant was brought back to life, it was to cause more trouble for Goku, butDragon Ball Supersaw the snarky villain earn another shot at life with his help saving the universe in the Tournament of Power arc. Still, duringDBGT’s Super 17 Saga, both Cell and Frieza are shown to be dead and waiting in Hell.
After playing a dramatic role in winning the multiversal Tournament of Power, Frieza has been making the best of his new life. While anime viewers have yet to be able to see the moment animated, the powerful foe has unlocked an entirely new transformation known as Black Frieza that’s capable of taking out Goku and Vegeta in a single blow, even while in their new Ultra Instinct and Ultra Ego forms.Frieza mysteriously spared Goku and Vegeta’s lives, but the clash was a mere tease of his plans forDragon Ball’s universe.
Dragon Ball’s universe has grown dramatically over the years, and no matter how large it grows, Frieza’s appetite to rule over all of it has increased to match it. After seeing Super Saiyan Blue Gogeta defeat Broly and discovering The King of All who rules over all Universes, Frieza trained and plotted for an entire decade in a space similar to the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. Fans are excited to see whatDragon Ball Super’s writers have in store for his character and how it will all come tumbling down with Frieza once again stuck in Hell duringDragon Ball GT.
Dragon Ball Super
Cast
Dragon Ball Super is an anime series set after Majin Buu’s defeat. It follows Son Goku, now a radish farmer, as peace prevails until Beerus, the God of Destruction, appears. Seeking to challenge a legendary warrior, the series revisits events from two Dragon Ball Z films before exploring alternate universes.
Dragon Ball GT
Dragon Ball GT is the third series in Akira Toriyama’s most famous anime franchise. However, it is the first one not to adapt a manga storyline. Set after the events of the Buu Saga, Dragon Ball GT sees Goku and the Z-Warriors battle powerful villains such as Baby, Super 17, and the Shadow Dragons. 18 years after the 64-episode show was met with a lukewarm reception, Dragon Ball Super replaced it in the anime’s official continuity.
Dragon Ball
From the creative mind of Akira Toriyama, Dragon Ball is a mega multimedia franchise that spans back to the 1980s. Dragon Ball expanded quickly, starting as a serialized manga for Weekly Shonen Jump in Japan. It made its way overseas via manga and an anime adaptation that is enjoyed worldwide. Dragon Ball was the initial starting animated series that followed the adventures of the young Son Goku as he sought after the Dragon Balls. These mystical orbs would grant the wish of any who gathered them together. Then, the series would branch off into the immensely popular Dragon Ball Z, which followed Goku as an adult and featured high-intensity battles and Goku’s never-ending search to be the strongest. The series has also enjoyed several popular video game adaptations and continues to release several new animated series and theatrical films up to the recent popular Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero.
