List of the fillers that you're willing to accept

[Let's Go Fearless!]

There are some that can connect to the manga without contradicting it. List them boys!

Here is my list:

1. Gohan's journey before Saiyan arc
2. Humans Vs the Saiyans
3. Humans Vs Ginyu Force
4. Kaioshins Vs Pure Boo
5. Vegeta's flashback from Frieza's planet

 

[Classic Adamas]

Goku and Pikkon.

 

[Boo Brand Milk]

Fake Namek

 

[Captain Cadaver]

* Pilaf's gang playing a more active role in the first arc - It helps establish their personalities even more and adding some good comedy.
* Goku adventures in the 3 year timeskip for the 22nd TB - Helps fill out his training and help justify his great increase in strength more. It's also very fitting with the tone of the original Dragon Ball such as homages to typical kung-fu films, eastern mythology and references to Journey to the West. It also does a far better job establishing Tenshithands' character than his manga introduction.
* Goku's training with Popo. Aside from the time travel episode, it's otherwise a good way at showing the details of Popo's training through more than just dialogue.
* Gohan's training during the Saiyan Arc - Actually gives him a development arc rather than instantly doing a 180 between chapters.
* Goku falling off Snake Road - Having it mentioned that falling off leads one to Hell seemed like a pretty big Chekhov's Gun that the manga never utilised. You could say Goku not falling was an allegory for his purity, though that seems like a weak explanation for an in-universe element that had no reason being added if it was never used.
* Goku and Piccolo's driving test - Inoffensive fun that doesn't contradict anything. It's fine.
* Cell doing some warm ups prior to the Cell Games - Given what we know Freeza's genes can do, it makes Cell less of a compulsive liar in saying Trunks' strength surpassed his Perfect form if you assume the power of his FP self was from smashing a few rocks with what we now know from Super. It worked well enough for Boo too.
* Great Saiyaman filler - It doesn't have much to offer, but it at least doesn't contradict anything and is a change in tone and focus that isn't too jarring when considering the more comedic elements of the series.

 

[withheldforprivacy]

-Vegeta/Nappa on Arlia: A good introduction of the new enemies' brutal nature.
-Nappa vs Navy: Same reason as above.
-Goku's underwater dream (Freeza): One of the most emotional/dramatic moments.
-Otherworld tournament: Nice battles and it's less dark to see that villains still have bodies.
-Party at Bulma's (after Buu Saga): The perfect happy ending. I wish the series had ended there with no EOZ.

 

[SSJ2]

Popo versus SSJ Goten and Trunks is the only one worth taking seriously.

 

[SSJ2]

Nah, but literally none of them. I stick purely to the manga and interviews from Toriyama, so even if the filler could potentially make sense, I ignore it.

 

[Captain Cadaver]

Nah, but literally none of them. I stick purely to the manga and interviews from Toriyama, so even if the filler could potentially make sense, I ignore it.

What about filler Toriyama was involved with, such as the Saiyans' history with the Tsufurians?

 

[SSJ2]

If it’s not in the manga then no.

 

[Papasmurf]

Nah, but literally none of them. I stick purely to the manga and interviews from Toriyama, so even if the filler could potentially make sense, I ignore it.

What about filler Toriyama was involved with, such as the Saiyans' history with the Tsufurians?

He designed filler characters like Paikuhan and Gregory but they don't exist in the manga continuity clearly, so....

 

[Let's Go Fearless!]

Nah, but literally none of them. I stick purely to the manga and interviews from Toriyama, so even if the filler could potentially make sense, I ignore it.

What about filler Toriyama was involved with, such as the Saiyans' history with the Tsufurians?

You mean the one where King Kai told Goku about?

 

[Pyro]

None. Filler is filler and is meaningless.

 

[Fantastische Hure]

The character designs obviously don't count by that logic all the old DragonBall movies'd be canon too. The stories were written by someone not AT. AT wrote a layout for the Saiyans' back-story. It comes from the brain of the creator so it holds a bit more water in my opinion.

Also I personally' consider (especially before) the two TV-Specials canon (or in a different way now). The first TV-Special was a story done by the anime team taken from some of the lore and back-story established in the manga.

 

[GreatSaiyaman123]

1. Goku training for the 22nd and 23rd Budokai (Sans the part where he time travels and gets his ass handed to Mutaito. That's fucked up);
2. Gohan training Piccolo and Humans vs Saiyans;
3. Fake Namek
3. Goku and Piccolo learning how to drive;
4. Kaioshins vs Pure Boo if Toyotaro doesn't contradict that next chapter.

There's also some small 2 second filler like Gohan having a flashback of killing Cell when Goku tells him to get angry or Trunks comparing MSSJ to Grade 3 that adds to clarity as well.

Designing characters to

What about filler Toriyama was involved with, such as the Saiyans' history with the Tsufurians?

I think it depends, he also was involved with the filler scene of Piccolo splitting and fighting even though it contradicts the implications that only Tenshinhan can use the technique. Depending on how guidebooks and new material treat it, I think it might be canon.

He designed filler characters like Paikuhan and Gregory but they don't exist in the manga continuity clearly, so....

There's a difference between designing a new character and writting backstory for characters we already know, though.