Dragon Ball GT
1996
Original language: Japanese
- animation
- action & adventure
- sci-fi & fantasy
The story
Ten years have passed since Goku left his friends and family to hone his skills. But Goku soon finds himself helpless against the mystical power of the Dragon Balls and an accidental wish made by the devious Emperor Pilaf. The wish; that Goku once again become a child! Goku, together with Trunks, and his own granddaughter Pan, blast off into the outer reaches of space in search of the mysterious Black Star Dragon Balls. But these Dragon Balls have a fatal secret: if not collected within one year Earth will be destroyed.
What it’s like
Bright, saturated cel animation with flat, primary-coloured skies, glowing energy beams and wide starfields that give way to alien planets with strange colour palettes. Power-ups arrive as long, radiant glows that fill the frame, and fights are staged with big swooping camera moves and exaggerated impact. The score leans on upbeat synth-and-brass themes that swell into rock-tinged battle cues, and the sound design is loud and punchy, with every blast and crash given weight. The pacing is episodic and jokey, with slapstick breaks and sudden bursts of intensity, and the mood is cheerful adventure with a steady undercurrent of looming doom. Violence is frequent and cartoonish: bodies are thrown through rock and buildings, and planets are threatened, but there is almost no blood or gore. The emotional register is warm and nostalgic, following a family of fighters who squabble, bond and keep pushing on. It suits a Saturday-morning mood, background viewing while doing something else, or a comfort rewatch, and it is for shounen fans who want big, colourful action with a light touch.
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