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Dragon Ball was originally a comic that was serialized in the magazine, Shuukan Shonen Jump, or Weekly Boy's Jump starting in 1984. Later, due to popular demand, a cartoon TV series was launched, as well as Dragon Ball animated movies (14 in all). The TV series, which basically followed the book series but adding in more detail and some new plot, was initially called Dragon Ball and then was renamed Dragon Ball Z after Goku defeated Evil Piccolo Jr. and married Chichi. The movies also changed their name from DB to DBZ. After the comic series, which was always called "Dragon Ball," ended in 1995, the TV show and the movies wrapped up. A new DB TV series, based on totally new stories, aired at the same time slot, Dragon Ball GT. The main character of Dragon Ball is Son Goku, who starts off at the beginning of the story as a young boy. As the story unfolds through various adventures, we see him grow up and become an adult. He is learned in the art of kung-fu (gong-fu) from his step father, Son Gohan; and through his subsequent training (shugyou), he absorbs a tremendous amount of skills and special techniques. The characteristic features of Goku is his explosive hair and, in the beginning, his tail (he loses his tail later on). The story begins when he fatefully encounters a teen-age girl named Bulma. She is out in search for the legendary Dragon Balls, which are 7 crystal spheres with the corresponding number of stars in them. If one collects all of them and invokes the Shenlon, a large dragon appears, granting the discoverer one wish. After the wish is given, the balls shoot up in the air, scattering all over the world, and they turn into stone until they reactivate a year later. She coaxes Goku to come along on her journey. Thus begins the Dragon Ball saga. The story continues as Goku and company encounter many new adventures. They prevent a plot to take over the earth. Goku furthers his martial arts training and enters a championship martial arts tournament. He tangles with the world's most ruthless organization, the Red Ribbon Army. Later, he is faced with the evil Piccolo Daimao, who is planning to recreate a hell on earth. Afterwards, following more years of training, a grown-up Goku enters another tournament, and the final match becomes a matter of life and death for himself and the planet. It is during this game where Goku abruptly marries. |
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