Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero Review Roundup

16/8/2022

As seen with the recent Jujutsu Kaisen and Demon Slayer Movies, once you are a mega-popular anime series (especially in the west), it's a foregone conclusion that it will be accompanied by a big theatrical feature film. The Dragon Ball series can now be seen as the granddaddy anime, and despite a staggering 20 theatrical films, Toriyama is at it again with the new movie Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero. Are we finally at DB fatigue? Here's what critics had to say about the film:

IGN (Kambole Campbell)
'The more things change in this series, the more they stay the same, but Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero mostly manages to successfully thread the needle between past and present, both showing love for the now codified personalities of its characters and finding a new path for them. Better still, it does so with an exciting sense of style, pushing the franchise into new aesthetic territory that actually works for the most part, despite some growing pains. While reminders of the franchise’s history sometimes undermine adjustment to these visuals, it’s hard not to be won over by it in the end.'

For the full review please visit here.

VARIETY (Michael Nordine)
'Whether you prefer subs or dubs — one of anime’s longest-running, most foundational debates — “Super Hero” won’t disappoint, as it’s being made available in both formats. (This writer prefers the subtitled version, for what it’s worth.) Longtime devotees are unlikely to be disappointed regardless, as the film, while nothing groundbreaking, mostly finds a sweet spot between fan service and narrative heft. And though not especially friendly to the uninitiated, it’s so damn out-there that even novitiates may find themselves motivated to seek out more “Dragon Ball” lore once it’s over — such is the appealing strangeness of this ever-expanding world.'

For the full review please visit here.

THE WRAP (Simon Abrams)
'So in short, existing franchise fans will probably get the most enjoyment from “Dragon Ball Hero: Super Hero” since they’re more likely to care, for instance, when Goten (Masako Nozawa/Robert McCollum) and Trunks (Takeshi Kusao/Eric Vale) use a fusion attack to fight Cell Max. Diehard fans will also be the only ones to understand allusive references to Piccolo’s villainous past, back when he fought Goku and had a split personality. Still, while this new “Dragon Ball” spinoff may not be all things to all viewers, it’s also a thrilling showcase for Toriyama’s beloved characters.'

For the full review please visit here.

COMICBOOK.COM (MEGAN PETERS)
'Despite its pacing issues, Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero shines thanks to its fun story that's filled with nostalgia. From forgotten foes to new transformations and long-awaited close-ups, this movie was made with fans in mind. The story is easy enough to follow for newcomers, but longtime lovers of Dragon Ball will revel in all its easter eggs. Not even its shift from Goku registers as strange, and if anything, audiences will be glad to root for Piccolo or Gohan for a change. Its ambitious animation proves Dragon Ball is willing to learn new tricks even after decades on the screen. And as fans sit down to watch this new movie, they better prepare to revisit the roots of Akira Toriyama's classic shonen.'

For the full review please visit here.

POLYGON (Cezary Jan Strusiewicz)
'The movie has no shortage of humor, midair battles, and energy blasts, set against the backdrop of expansive locales. On paper, the settings and fights here shouldn’t compare to the galaxy-sized canvas of Dragon Ball Super. But Kodama uses every animation trick in the book to make, say, one building feel like one of the hugest things in the entire Dragon Ball franchise. Appropriately for a movie with two uses of “super” in its title, everything in this DB film looks and feels supersized. It’s a ton of fun to watch on the big screen.'

For the full review please visit here.

EMERGENCY AWESOME (VIDEO REVIEW)

In the end, the film amassed a critical score of 100% from 13 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. Ok...so that perfect score is eye-catching, but 13 reviews is obviously a small sample size. Nevertheless, the movie does seem to accomplish what all anime movies set out to do...satisfying the diehards (and somehow making Gohan cool again).

I can't wait to watch it.