7 Ways Dragon Ball Super: Broly Has Stood The Test Of Time, 7 Years Later

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The series’ popularity and worldwide recognition have made it a leader in both manga and anime, and the franchise has consistently achieved success with its movies. With over a dozen Dragon Ball Z films already made, it wasn’t surprising when Dragon Ball Super announced it would continue this tradition to extend the anime’s storyline. The 131th and final episode of Dragon Ball Super first aired in Japan on March 25, 2018. While fans were disappointed that the weekly Dragon Ball anime had ended, they wouldn’t have to wait long for more – the first Dragon Ball Super movie, Dragon Ball Super: Broly, was released in theaters less than nine months later.

Dragon Ball Super: Broly reimagines one of Dragon Ball Z‘s most popular films-Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan-presenting a story with more emotional depth. Dragon Ball Super: Broly established a strong benchmark for future Dragon Ball movies, and so far, only one proper sequel has been released: 2022’s Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero. Now seven years after its release, the impact of Dragon Ball Super: Broly on the franchise is increasingly evident. Many fans still consider Dragon Ball Super: Broly to be the best Dragon Ball movie ever made.

Dragon Ball Super: Broly’s Rebranded Approach To Canon Expands the Story

I remember that Dragon Ball had already put out nearly 20 movies before Dragon Ball Super: Broly came out in theaters. People were pretty familiar with seeing Dragon Ball stories on the big screen. But up until then, those movies mostly told completely new, standalone stories. They were enjoyable, over-the-top adventures, but you didn’t *need* to watch them to follow the main anime and manga. Dragon Ball Super decided to do things differently with its films. They started acting as official additions to the main anime storyline – like they actually *expanded* on what was happening in the core series.

With no new Dragon Ball Super anime series currently planned, the movies have become the main way to continue the story. While it might not seem like a big change, Dragon Ball‘s move to making movies that are officially part of the story reflects a wider trend in the anime industry over the last ten years. There’s been a growing preference for movies that add to the ongoing narrative, rather than just being self-contained events. Dragon Ball hasn’t gone back to making standalone films, which shows how well this approach has worked.

The Battle to Defeat Broly Pushes The Franchise’s Visuals To Impressive Heights

Because anime is a visual art form, viewers expect a high level of quality in its animation, just as much as they do in its story. Poor visuals can ruin a series, and movies are often judged even more harshly because they usually have bigger budgets. The anime version of Dragon Ball Super has received mixed reviews regarding its visuals, particularly in its earlier arcs. Fortunately, Dragon Ball Super: Broly addresses these concerns, bringing together a skilled team that delivers some of the most beautiful animation ever seen in the Dragon Ball Super franchise. The film is directed by Tatsuya Nagamine, who is well-versed in Dragon Ball, having previously worked on Dragon Ball GT, Dragon Ball Z Kai, and Dragon Ball Super. He’s also contributed to other popular Toei Animation series like One Piece and Saint Seiya.

Naohiro Shintani, known for his work on Dragon Ball: The Return of Son Goku and Friends!!, Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai, and The First Slam Dunk, directed the animation. The movie showcases incredible passion and creativity in its exciting action sequences, especially during the fight between Gogeta and Broly which feels like it shatters reality. While Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero is visually appealing, its CG style doesn’t quite match the traditional animation of Dragon Ball Super: Broly. This film proves that Dragon Ball can be a stunning visual experience, and Broly‘s animation remains impressive even now.

Dragon Ball Super: Broly Doesn’t Have Any Other Adaptations

A subtle strength of Dragon Ball Super: Broly is that it remains a story unique to the film itself. While this might not seem significant, Dragon Ball has recently shown a tendency to re-tell movie stories as extended TV arcs. Both Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods and Resurrection ‘F’ were later expanded into longer story arcs within Dragon Ball Super. In contrast, Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero also received a TV adaptation. This gives viewers choices in how they enjoy these stories, and many fans actually prefer the longer, non-movie versions.

Except for one brief scene in the manga, Dragon Ball Super: Broly is only available as a full-length movie. This makes the film more significant because understanding Broly‘s story relies on experiencing the movie and its plot. Dragon Ball Super: Broly hasn’t been altered or simplified like some other films, and it remains a powerful standalone work. However, Broly‘s story is so compelling that fans have requested it be reimagined as both a TV series and a manga.

The Prologue to Broly’s Story Provides A Deeper Look Into Planet Vegeta & Bardock

Dragon Ball Super: Broly culminates in a massive battle on Earth between Broly, Goku, and Vegeta. But the movie starts with a lengthy introduction that goes back in time to show the last moments of Planet Vegeta. Broly leaving Planet Vegeta as a young child is central to the plot, and it also lets the film revisit familiar faces like Vegeta, Raditz, the Ginyu Force, and Bardock. The way Bardock is portrayed is strongly influenced by the Dragon Ball Minus manga.

Dragon Ball Super: Broly allows for a fresh look at existing story elements and creates a more consistent version of the character Bardock within the current narrative. The Bardock we see in Dragon Ball Super: Broly is the same compassionate Saiyan shown in the flashback to his battle with Gas within the Dragon Ball Super manga. This detailed exploration of Planet Vegeta’s history is unusual in Dragon Ball Super. Broly offers a chance to expand on important background information and build a foundation for future Dragon Ball stories.

Dragon Ball Super: Broly’s Fight Sequences Go Above & Beyond With Zero Filler

Dragon Ball consistently delivers for its fans, and it’s no surprise that the exciting fight scenes are what people love most. Often, Dragon Ball movies include too many unnecessary battles against weaker opponents, seemingly just to make the movie longer. However, Dragon Ball Super: Broly avoids this issue by focusing only on the essential fights, making for a more streamlined experience.

This results in a “less is more” style, which actually benefits the movie by removing unnecessary elements. The cast is intentionally small, focusing the action on battles between Broly and Goku, Vegeta, and Gogeta. Dragon Ball Super: Broly also manages to show moments where the latter receives a severe beating. Because there are fewer fights overall, each one features imaginative choreography and smart tactical choices. The film’s cold, icy environment also provides a refreshing change, allowing Dragon Ball to explore a new style of fighting compared to its usual approach.

Dragon Ball Super Reinvents Broly Without Getting Bogged Down In Baggage

Dragon Ball Super: Broly adds the famous Legendary Super Saiyan to the story, but long-time Dragon Ball fans already knew Broly well before this film. He originally appeared in the eighth Dragon Ball Z movie – Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan – and then showed up in two sequels, Broly – Second Coming and Bio-Broly. Broly remained a popular character, appearing often in Dragon Ball fighting games, even in titles where his inclusion didn’t quite fit. Dragon Ball Super: Broly had the challenge of presenting a fresh take on the character while still staying true to the Broly fans knew and loved from Dragon Ball Z.

Dragon Ball Super: Broly really succeeds by portraying Broly as a more vulnerable and unfortunate character, a victim of his situation. He doesn’t come across as a typical villain, but rather as someone who simply needs support and guidance in controlling his abilities. Dragon Ball Super: Broly ensures the Legendary Super Saiyan survives, and he’s now become a key member of Dragon Ball‘s main group of characters. This reimagined Broly is more enduring than his previous incarnation, and there’s no ambiguity about that. Video games have cleverly incorporated and celebrated both versions of the character, instead of ignoring one in favor of the other.

Gogeta Sets New Standards For Fusion in the Fight Against Broly

Dragon Ball Super: Broly was a huge deal because it officially made Broly part of the main storyline. But the movie didn’t stop there – it also established another popular character from the Dragon Ball Z films, Gogeta, as canon. We’ve seen fusions several times in Dragon Ball Super, like with Gotenks, Vegito, and even Kefla from Universe 6. While those were all powerful, they don’t quite measure up to what Dragon Ball Super: Broly achieves with Gogeta.

Gogeta Blue is more powerful than any previous fusion seen in Dragon Ball Super, and his strength nearly overwhelms the movie. The experience is initially unsettling, which highlights how Dragon Ball Super: Broly builds tension and anticipation through Goku and Vegeta’s early, unsuccessful fusion attempts. This makes the eventual success feel even more rewarding. Unlike Vegito’s creation using the Potara earrings, there’s a real sense of achievement with Gogeta Blue. He remains the peak of fused power in Dragon Ball Super – even today – and truly deserves the impressive display we see on screen.

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2025-10-03 04:45