Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero

Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero (ドラゴンボール スーパーヒーロー) is a 2022 Japanese animated martial arts fantasy adventure film and the sequel to Dragon Ball Super: Broly (2018). It is the twenty-first animated feature film in the Dragon Ball franchise, the second to carry the Dragon Ball Super branding, the first to be produced mainly using CGI animation, as well as the fourth and final animated Dragon Ball film to be produced under the supervision of franchise creator Akira Toriyama before his death in March 2024.[5][6] In the film, Piccolo and his former student Gohan head on a mission to save the world from the newly reformed Red Ribbon Army.

The film was originally set for release in Japan on April 22, 2022, but was instead released on June 11 due to a cyberattack at Toei.[7][8][9] Internationally, including the U.S. and the U.K., it was released on August 19, 2022, in both English dubbed and subtitled versions.[10][11][12][13]

Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero received positive reviews from critics with praise for its nostalgia factor, characterization, fan service, action sequences and humor.[14] The film grossed ¥13.8 billion (about US$102.5 million) worldwide,[15] thus becoming the second-highest grossing Dragon Ball film to date.

Plot

Commander Magenta, CEO of Red Pharmaceuticals, seeks to revive the Red Ribbon Army previously led by his late father Commander Red before it was ultimately destroyed by Goku over three decades prior. Magenta and his assistant Staff Officer Carmine seek to recruit Dr. Gero's surviving grandson Dr. Hedo, a superhero-obsessed mad scientist who was released from prison after serving a lengthy sentence for grave robbing. Despite his initial reservations, Hedo accepts the offer after Magenta convinces him that Bulma's Capsule Corporation is an evil organization, which is bent on world domination.

While Goku, Vegeta, and Broly are training under Whis on Beerus' planet, Piccolo is annoyed over Gohan wasting his potential while training the latter's daughter Pan. Piccolo is attacked by a Red Ribbon android Gamma 2, but manages to evade the android and follows him to the Red Ribbon Army's base. Piccolo disguises himself as a soldier to infiltrate a meeting, where he learns that Gamma 1 and 2 were created by Hedo to defeat Capsule Corporation and their superpowered allies. Hedo also reluctantly used his grandfather's schematics on Cell to create an improved version, known as Cell Max. Piccolo asks Bulma to make contact with Whis to alert Goku and Vegeta to the threat, but she is unable to reach him, so Piccolo asks Shenron to unlock his full potential, while Bulma uses the remaining two wishes for a butt lift and longer eyelashes. However, after Shenron leaves, Piccolo and Bulma realise they could've used the dragon balls to wish for Goku and Vegeta to be brought back to Earth. After getting into an argument with Bulma, Piccolo goes back to the Red Ribbon Army's base, where he learns of Magenta's scheme to kidnap Pan in order to lure Gohan into a trap.

Piccolo volunteers himself for the kidnapping and after Pan finishes school, he directs Pan to play along. Enraged upon learning of Pan's abduction, Gohan is finally pushed over the edge, getting to the point where he transforms into Super Saiyan and launches a full-scale assault on the Red Ribbon base. He then fights Gamma 1 in his normal and Super Saiyan forms and when he sees Piccolo pretending to hurt Pan (Much to his shock and Gamma 2's anger), he transforms into his "Ultimate" form to overpower Gamma 1, while Piccolo faces Gamma 2 again. Piccolo's full potential manifests in a new form dubbed "Orange Piccolo" and finally pushes Gamma 2 over the edge to the point he starts yelling at him in anger. Both Gohan and Piccolo damage both their outfits and the Gammas' costumes and capes during their battles. Piccolo manages to convince Gamma 2 that Magenta is lying about Capsule Corporation and the Gammas realize that the true villains are the Red Ribbon Army, ending their relationship with the Red Ribbon Army and befriending Gohan and Piccolo. Carmine is knocked out by Pan after attempting to kill her, while a furious Magenta activates Cell Max before being killed by Hedo.

Cell Max emerges as a giant, rampaging monster. Dr. Hedo sends the call to the Gammas, who charge into the fight in rage. Bulma arrives with Goten, Trunks, Android 18 and Krillin as reinforcements. Gohan, Piccolo, Gamma 1, Gamma 2, Android 18, Goten, and Trunks battle Cell Max, throwing everything they got at Cell Max. Pan finally learns how to fly with the help of Krillin and Bulma despite getting scratches on herself and her school uniform. Goten and Trunks try to fuse into Gotenks, but their fusion technique is imperfect, resulting the return of Fat Gotenks. However, Gotenks does manage to crack Cell Max's skull, revealing that he does not have a regeneration ability like the original Cell. Krillin jumps into the fight, and Gamma 2 sacrifices himself in an attempt to kill Cell Max, but only succeeds in destroying Cell Max's left arm. After Piccolo is defeated by Cell Max, Gohan's inner rage manifests into a new "Beast" form and he fires a "Special Beam Cannon", killing Cell Max with Piccolo holding him in place with a little help of their friends. Gohan is reunited with his still scratched daughter Pan, while Bulma gives a repentant Hedo and Gamma 1 positions at Capsule Corporation. With Cell Max gone for good, Pan happily flies around everyone.

In a post-credits scene, Vegeta defeats Goku in a lengthy sparring match on Beerus' planet, by landing the match's final blow before collapsing himself.

Voice cast

Production

Production of Super Hero began before the release of Dragon Ball Super: Broly.[17] It is the first film in the franchise to be produced largely in CGI,[5][18] and the fourth to have heavy involvement from series creator Akira Toriyama, who provided the original concept and character designs. The use of CGI visuals was a decision made by Kodama, who is experienced with using them.[19]

To differentiate the movie from prior films, Piccolo and Gohan were made protagonists (as opposed to Goku and Vegeta) and the Red Ribbon Army were brought back as villains. Toriyama personally designed the characters of the Red Ribbon Army, as well as their vehicles. Kodama explained the narrative would further explore human drama, most notably the idea of Gohan being a warrior and a scholar at the same time.[19] Toriyama said that he wanted the plot to focus on the Gohan-Piccolo relationship, given Piccolo motivates Gohan to fight even more than his father, Goku.[20]

The film introduces new transformations for Gohan and Piccolo. Gohan Beast (孫 悟飯・ビースト), a form unique to Gohan, is based on the awakening of his powers ("the wild beast", per Toriyama) as a boy. Toriyama attempted to draw Gohan Beast with a "scary face", but finding this did not fit his character, gave him upturned hair as well.[21] Orange Piccolo (オレンジ・ピッコロ), which Toriyama considers Piccolo's first transformation, was made orange and extremely muscled to distinguish him from Piccolo's regular form.[21]

Hiroshi Kamiya and Mamoru Miyano voice the androids Gamma 1 and Gamma 2. Miyu Irino voices their creator, Dr. Hedo. Kamiya was surprised by his casting, as he was a fan of Miyano, and also because the two would be a duo of villains. Despite the similarities of both androids, Kamiya looked forward to potential differences in their personalities, as it would bring an element of surprise to the narrative.[22]

Marketing

Release

Reception

External links