The latest film in the popular manga and anime series Dragon Ball is a fun addition to the franchise. With playful characters and an intense battle scene, it’s sure to please fans of the series.
This new film follows Piccolo as he takes on the Red Ribbon Army, who have reformed and seek vengeance against Goku and his friends. The film is directed by Tetsuro Kodama and features Masako Nozawa, Toshio Furukawa, Yuko Minaguchi, Ryo Horikawa and Mayumi Tanaka as Japanese voice actors.
Storyline
Dragon Ball has always been more of a comfort watch for cool fights than a story, but the latest film, Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, mixes it up. While it doesn’t have a lot of familiar characters (as it’s set in the 2250s), it does introduce a new enemy with an interesting backstory.
The evil Red Ribbon Army has made a comeback after supposedly being defeated by Goku in DBZ’s Cell Saga, and their leader, Dr. Hedo, has unleashed a pair of android warriors to fight back.
While Piccolo and Gohan are helping Pan learn to fight, they are interrupted by a mysterious android warrior claiming to be a superhero, created by Dr. Hedo and aided by the Red Ribbon’s commander, Magenta, and staff officer Carmine.
This enticing plot gives the film a chance to explore some new ideas. For one, we’re given a chance to see Piccolo and Gohan train together side-by-side, something they haven’t done since they first met. And it also gives them a chance to work together in an emotional way that will be very gratifying for fans of the franchise.
Characters
The Dragon Ball series often relegates Goku and Vegeta to the sidelines, but Super Hero is all about the heroes that don’t get enough screen time. It’s a bold choice that pays off with a strong focus on Piccolo (Sabat), Gohan (Kyle Hebert) and their young daughter Pan (Jeannie Tirado).
The villains in the movie are two of the best in recent “Dragon Ball” history, despite having relatively few scenes. They’re Gamma 1 and Gamma 2, Androids built by Dr. Hedo to help him take over the world and secure Red Ribbon’s hegemony.
They’re far more complex than the typical movie Androids and come with a lot of personality. They’re also a lot stronger than previous versions, and they’re guided by a strict moral code.
The film’s CG animation is also a welcome change from the oversaturated and cartoon-like work of Tadayoshi Yamamuro, who created the original Super and Broly. His return to the studio suggests that he’s trying to innovate the classic shonen series by introducing less shading and character faces more reminiscent of the Z-era anime.
Streaming options
Dragon Ball is a classic anime that has long fascinated fans worldwide. The series is based on Akira Toriyama’s manga and has spawned a media empire that includes films, video games, and multiple anime series.
The latest movie in the franchise, Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, is releasing on August 19 in theaters. But it’s also being distributed internationally by Crunchyroll, and so fans are asking whether this film will stream online.
We don’t know when it will reach Crunchyroll, but we expect that it will eventually find its way onto the streaming platform. After all, many anime movies head to Crunchyroll following their theatrical run.
There are plenty of ways to watch Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero online for free, though. 123movies, Reddit, and Google Drive all have the film available for streaming. You don’t even need to register or provide credit card information! Just click the play button below to get started! Whether you’re new to the series or are a longtime fan, you’ll enjoy Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero!
Reviews
Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero is a nostalgic throwback to the original series, and for fans of the series, it’s a must-watch. The film arrives on the eve of the franchise’s 40th anniversary and boasts the adventure, comedy and violence that Dragon Ball fans appreciate.
The story revolves around the next generation of the Red Ribbon Army, a tyrannical organization that was thwarted by Goku and the heroes of past series. But the focus of this movie isn’t on Goku or Vegeta; instead, it’s on two other characters who are trying to navigate their own legacies — Piccolo (Toshio Furukawa) and Gohan (Masako Nozawa).
As a result, the stakes feel much lower than those seen in previous Dragon Ball films. In fact, the movie’s most interesting moments come from its dialed-down scope. Some of the humor is cute, like a pair of scenes that feature a hilarious misunderstanding between Gamma 2 and another Android character, but others can be off-putting.
