Just how well known is Dragon Ball/Z with the general public?

[DBZAOTA482]

I like to believe it's still big with the average folks but I'm not sure. I don't go out of my way to talk to people about it.

Does anyone else know?

 

[KyuubiAhri]

People in my area think that Anime is just like Cartoon,intended for young children

 

[Boo Brand Milk]

People my age KNOW it. Just don't talk about anything past Cell. (They know Buu exists, but don't remember Dabura/Babidi/thatwholeshittyplot)

 

[Papasmurf]

Everyone and their mother knows what it is

 

[Super Saiyan Overlord1007]

It's well known amongst my age group, heck my parents and sister are fans of DBZ. We'd watch it everyday after school or one of them would fill us in if we missed an episode (Good times, good times). However a good chunk of the people who know about it, I'd say are casual fans. They grew up watching it on Cartoon Network, they love it but absolutely despise Dragonball Kai for the sole reason that it isn't the original Dragonball-Z and use whatever reason possible to undermine it, even though it's the EXACT same thing.

 

[Let's Go Fearless!]

DBZ is like Superman/Batman in terms of recognizable names. That's just how insane the franchise is along with Naruto and Bleach. Thanks to the GOAT

 

[Jerk Store]

The fact that 9 times out of 10 people compliment my DB shirts and say they're bad ass, then we proceed to discuss it and most of them are also keeping up with current sub Super, tells me at least 50% of any given towns citizens at least know what it is if not big fans. And I'm talking people from 15 to 60 years old.

I love getting compliments on my shirts, especially my Freeza and Vegeta shirts.

To give you an idea of the difference, not NEARLY as many people compliment me on my Bleach Aizen shirt, or even my band shirts like my Disturbed shirt or stuff like my Heath Ledger Joker shirt, which actually got a compliment a few days ago, but that was the first comment anyone made about the Joker shirt since the Dark Knight first came out.

 

[DBZAOTA482]

DBZ is like Superman/Batman in terms of recognizable names. That's just how insane the franchise is along with Naruto and Bleach. Thanks to the GOAT

Naruto and Bleach are mostly known to the anime interested crowd. I don't think they are deeply etched into pop culture like that.

 

[Let's Go Fearless!]

DBZ is like Superman/Batman in terms of recognizable names. That's just how insane the franchise is along with Naruto and Bleach. Thanks to the GOAT

Naruto and Bleach are mostly known to the anime interested crowd. I don't think they are deeply etched into pop culture like that.

Maybe, but when it comes to anime Naruto and Bleach are up there in terms of recognition.

 

[DBZAOTA482]

DBZ is like Superman/Batman in terms of recognizable names. That's just how insane the franchise is along with Naruto and Bleach. Thanks to the GOAT

Naruto and Bleach are mostly known to the anime interested crowd. I don't think they are deeply etched into pop culture like that.

Maybe, but when it comes to anime Naruto and Bleach are up there in terms of recognition.

True but if you're gonna mention those then One Piece should at least get a mention. They're called the "Big Three" for a reason.

 

[Jerk Store]

They are, as is One Piece and pretty much most anime featured on Toonami, at least in the states. But plenty of fans for OP, Naruto, and Bleach worldwide.

Not quite sure if they are quite as popular as DB because they are not as old. Popularity + Time = FABULOUUUUUSSSSS!!!!! But no really, when it comes to series that are all mega popular, the oldest one will be more recognizable.

Some exceptions exist of course. Whether it be the games, anime, or both, Pokemon is even more recognizable than any of them, DB included. But both DB and Pokemon are older than the other 3.

 

[DBZAOTA482]

They are, as is One Piece and pretty much most anime featured on Toonami, at least in the states. But plenty of fans for OP, Naruto, and Bleach worldwide.

Not quite sure if they are quite as popular as DB because they are not as old. Popularity + Time = FABULOUUUUUSSSSS!!!!! But no really, when it comes to series that are all mega popular, the oldest one will be more recognizable.

Some exceptions exist of course. Whether it be the games, anime, or both, Pokemon is even more recognizable than any of them, DB included. But both DB and Pokemon are older than the other 3.

On a worldwide scale (particularly in North America) Naruto, One Piece, and Bleach definitely don't compare to Dragon Ball or especially Pokemon during their heydays.

Spoiler

Spoiler

No other anime ever came close to touching this kind of status.

 

[Jerk Store]

That DB article is dumb as hell!

 

[Let's Go Fearless!]

Also OP is popular but not as popular as DBZ.

 

[Jerk Store]

I when people and articles say OP is more popular than DB! :bitch

 

[Let's Go Fearless!]

I really don't understand the appeal of OP. It feels like it appeals to the nerds who don't have a muscles and dreamt one day they'll be a pirate lol.

 

[Captain Cadaver]

I really don't understand the appeal of OP. It feels like it appeals to the nerds who don't have a muscles and dreamt one day they'll be a pirate lol.

More consistent writing than DB, slightly more of a power balance and both excellent world building and foreshadowing, that's what. It's far from being perfect though, since whilst it's characters are entertaining, DB has it beat as far as character development amongst it's main cast goes along with butchering it's attempt at tonal transitioning after Marineford through repeating similar plotlines of previous arcs. It's also nowhere close to being the Greatest Shonen of all time, let alone greatest manga as some fanboys herald it as. *cough*Yoshit*cough* It's easily the best 40+ volume manga out there that I've seen other than JoJo, though there are definitely more series, even within the Shonen genre, worth checking out more.

Just a quick overview of it there for ya, so the appeal seems more apparent.

On topic, DB/Z is still probably the most recognisable anime/manga series in the west aside from perhaps Pokemon, seeing as how it managed to keep a fanbase founded around two decades there alive. BoG and FnF are the only anime movies aired on Sky Movies, which says a lot. As far as general popularity in it's fanbase there, however, it's become somewhat niche in my experience, since most of the anime casuals I've met tend to only recognise characters from the series and not much of the actual story.

 

[Let's Go Fearless!]

No wonder why OP isn't that popular than DB in the west or around the world like they are in Japan.

 

[Captain Cadaver]

No wonder why OP isn't that popular than DB in the west or around the world like they are in Japan.

From a sales perspective, it's not, likely due to there being more Japanese animation on TV in most countries than at the time when DB aired, therefore giving it more competition than DB or Z had with the general public, along with the poor reception of the 4kids' dub damaging it's marketing in English speaking countries. It still has more critical acclaim than any of the DB series though, and rightfully so, as apparent from looking on any major anime database

 

[Jerk Store]

I really don't understand the appeal of OP. It feels like it appeals to the nerds who don't have a muscles and dreamt one day they'll be a pirate lol.

Lol, well I dont quite look at it that way, but I just don't like the art style, and I think it's boring and a bit too corny. So I think it sucks, but if others like it, more devil fruits for them!

I do acknowledge that it is pretty damn popular, maybe nearing close to being on par with DB as far as pure fan popularity goes, but as pointed out, sales and shit included, no. Now perhaps if OP re-released a different edit of the OP anime as much as Funi milked that shit with DB, it may be closer too, who knows!

I think Bleach (at least until the end of Aizen, after that Bleach sucks) is better than OP, but I know it's not as popular as OP, and I know guys like my nigga Cadaver thinks it's retarded. Quite honestly their criticisms are spot on, but at least the first two arcs, for me, was better than the episodes of Naruto and OP that I have seen over the years. And to be fair, I did watch quite a few episodes in order for both, between the two at least 100+ and neither Naruto or OP could gain my interest.

Bleach and DB however, I saw one episode from each, not even the beginning of an arc, the middle of a fight (still remember, it was Ichigo Vs. Kenpachi, and for DB, the fellas fighting Nappa) and I was hooked from there, so watching something from the very beginning isn't even required for me to instantly like something. If I like it, I will be sure to watch it from the beginning at some point and see everything from start to end.