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Dragon Ballhas a storied history of iconic antagonists who steal the show. From Vegeta and Piccolo to Frieza and Majin Buu, each villain in the series has been unique and intriguing, both in character setting and animation style. It might be due to a creative block of Toriyama’s, but it has been a while since a proper villain has shown up.
Instead, the recent trends in its storytelling inDragon Ball Super and Dragon Ball DAIMAshow a troubling overreliance on past villains. Majin Kuu, the latest threat inDAIMA, is based on the previous villain, Majin Buu, leaving many fans questioning when the franchise lost its creative abilities.
Let us delve in and understand how the running trend of theDragon Ballfranchise to reuse its past villains with little changes is affecting its popularity.
Revisiting past villains is a double-edged sword
The pattern of reviving past antagonists inDragon Ballgained its ill-reputation with Frieza’s return inDragon Ball Super. Frieza was once celebrated as one of the series’ most ruthless and feared villains, but his complete story and setting were shaken when he was brought back with minimal innovation.
His transformation into Golden Frieza might be visually striking, but it lacked the depth and care that was visible in the Z days. The revival came across as an act of plagiarism or just reusing the old ideas and content, possibly to evoke nostalgia from long-time fans.This re-usage of villainspersisted as even Frieza reappeared multiple times in subsequent arcs, even in his “Black Frieza” form.
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Although it might be nostalgic and visually attractive, none of those can hide the important factor that the minds behind the series are going through a creative block.
Important arcs like the Tournament of Power, while action-packed, relied on reintroducing existing characters that felt like temporary fill-ins. The fame of the series might have become a burden on its ability to risk doing something new.
Missed opportunities for fresh characters
Majin Kuu’s debutinDragon Ball DAIMAreinforces these concerns. While the character may introduce some unique elements to the existing and known template of Majin Buu, the underlying idea seems needlessly derivative. Majin Kuu was created by Marba to obey and serve Arinsu.
Being an advanced species with inestimable knowledge and technology, it is strange that theyreutilize Majin Buu.The majority of villains in recent times are rooted in ideas from the franchise’s history.
This approach diminishes the excitement and stakes; there is no thrill and it just feels the same. Goku and the team grow strong to defeat a threat; they keep growing stronger, and suddenly, the threat is resurrected, and they have to defeat it again.
The aspect of suspense cannot be evoked by watching the same events repeat multiple times. Using an old villain equals a missed opportunity to introduce newer and unique villains to strengthen the franchise’s more extensive lore.
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ForDragon Ballto maintain its legacy, it must prioritize creativity over nostalgia. Introducing villains with unique styles and crafting intricate backstories could reinvigorate the series. The series should not lose what made it a fan-favorite in the first place. It has been far too long, and it is time to remind the fans whyDragon Ballvillains once stood at the pinnacle of all antagonists.
You can streamDragon Ball DAIMAon Crunchyroll.
Chandra Shekhar
Anime Writer
Articles Published :856
Chandra Shekhar is an Anime Writer at FandomWire with over 800 published articles under his belt. A law student by training but a storyteller at heart, he blends his sharp analysis with a deep love for all things anime. From the old-school Yu Yu Hakusho to the eldritch horrors of Lord of the Mysteries, his knowledge spans decades and genres. When he’s not writing, he’s likely buried in webnovels, silently hoping his favorite ones get the anime adaptation they deserve.
