Overthinking Dragon Ball
Goku Thinks Deep Thoughts
I prefer to write all of my own content and create original posts. That’s why sometimes it takes a little while for a new article to find its way to the blog. But I just discovered some gems of Dragon Ball related philosophy that had to be shared.
These beauty’s are from the Overthinking.com site:
- Why Overthink Dragon Ball?
- On Chosen Ones and Super Saiyans
- Metonymy and Metaphor
- Dragonball Abomination Z
All the articles are written by the same author, Fenzel, and they each explore a different aspect of the Dragon Ball series.
They are also poignant because sometimes I am accused of over thinking Dragon Ball. Now I know there is at least one other person out there willing to take the time to write articles like this. I’m not alone!
On their podcast he said there would be 48 posts, but so far there are only 4. Luckily they are well written and thought provoking.
Why Overthink Dragon Ball?: Fenzel discusses the inherent value of the Dragon Ball series and how it does so many things well that are often overlooked.
On Chosen Ones and Super Saiyans: The “Chosen One” story path and the concept of determinism are discussed in light of pop culture stories like Star Wars, The Matrix, and why Dragon Ball is a prime example of how to do it right.
Metonymy and Metaphor: An educational lesson on advanced literary techniques espoused through the lens of DBZ.
Dragonball Abomination Z: Here Fenzel analyzes the Dragonball: Evolution movie and talks about the ways he felt it failed.
All of them are worth reading for a deeper look at the series.
Unfortunately their comments are disabled on older posts. So, if you feel like sharing, then please do so in the comments below. There’s certainly a lot of fuel for the fire.
I’d say it’s better to overthink something at least one time than to underthink it all the time.
:)
Will you please, please, please do a blog on the evolution of Kuririn?
Please specify what you mean by "evolution." There are a lot of different ways I could understand your request. Is there something in particular you would like to know more about?
And for the record to anyone else that is reading, I’m totally open to taking requests. If there’s something about the series you want to know, then please request it.
Well, I’ve always found Kuririn to be a very interesting character. One thing I’ve noticed is the irony of Goku starting off with a family and then leaving it for a monastic life, and Kuririn’s eventual settling down with a family after leaving monastic life, and the theme that we don’t always get the situation we want, we have to attain it. Kuririn is very allegorical to every human in DBZ; he represents the emotions we as a spectator of Goku ourselves have. He is also interesting due to the fulfillment of his character not as a martial artist but as a husband. His entire drive to join martial arts was to get girls to like him, and then he retires after Cell once he marries and has a child. In many ways he represents the "eros" and human side of Goku, whereas characters like Vegeta, Piccolo and Buu represent his "thanatos". He is also undoubtedly Goku’s best friend despite the fact that Goku doesn’t see him as an equal; this is interesting because his other friends all start as his equal in fighting, but Kuririn was never quite there. It’s interesting how he appears so frequently in the comics, as he never really fights, yet is given equal screen time to characters like Vegeta and far more than characters like Ten or Yamucha, who are on par with his skills. It’s also interesting how he is the base for Neko Majin Z (according to an interview I read online).
I guess my point is, Kuririn is an often overlooked character, but I think he has a very symbolic representation as Goku’s best friend and is, in essence, the representation of humanness and flaw within us. Out of all the enemies turned good, he by far becomes the most pure-hearted, even being the only char besides Goku (and arguably Gohan) to handle the Spirit Bomb. There are also interesting moments in his relationship with Yajirobe (who is voiced by the same VA) and there might be something symbolic behind his being the last one to lay a punch on Goku (in GT).
I just really enjoy your blog because I am a huge DBZ nerd and when I try to explain to people it’s not just a beat-em-up cartoon, they act like I’m nuts. I really have enjoyed your blog for a few months now, and would love to see your take on Kuririn, as he is my absolute favorite character (followed aptly by Vegeta, then Chichi.)
I think you covered most of it already! At least the main points. The book does contain a section devoted to Krillin, in the Side by Side chapter. I discuss many of the points you mentioned.
From your perspective, what do you believe the significance of Krillin being the last one to strike Goku is? Aside from their special moment, of course. Also interesting is that Piccolo is actually the last person to touch him, as he shakes his hand in Hell.
Hmm…give me a minute on that, but I do want to say I think it’s interesting you point that out. There seems to be a very special relationship between Piccolo and Kuririn that develop, as they are usually the only two non-Saiyan characters who manage to be present at every major battle. Both become somewhat adoptive caregivers for Gohan (Piccolo before the Saiyans arrive and Kuririn on Namek), both are turned to stone by Dabura, both have their own storyline in each saga despite their ineffectualness in battle and the first battle Piccolo ever had is at the Tenkaichi Budokai with Kuririn, where Kuririn really surprises him (by not dying, what a lame way to do it.) There seems to be an inadvertent closeness there.
You really described good Krillin. By any chance, are you also doing these kind of analysis on Neon Genesis Evangelion?