We all frequent message boards and online forums (such as alt.fan.dragonball), and we all contribute as much as we can. Unfortunately, we don't KNOW of all the places people post questions, so it's impossible for us to reach everyone. However, if you're reading this, you at least know where WE are, so it's possible for you to ask us directly.

What we're going for here is sort of an "Answerman" or "Ask John" (from Anime News Network and Anime Nation, respectively). We'd like you to e-mail in whatever questions you may have, so long as it somehow relates to the world of DragonBall; be it the manga, the anime, merchandise.. whatever. We've been around for a few years, now, and we know the ropes... we like to think we know our stuff.

And we want to help. E-mail your questions to VegettoEX@aol.com with the subject "Ask VegettoEX." We'll try to update this section every weekend with at least one question straight from the fans. Thanks!

[ Last Updated: Sunday, 4 April 2004 ]
[ Past "Ask VegettoEX" Archives ]

Q. Whenever the Saiyan incident is referred to later on in the series (i.e. - Kuririn explaining to Saichôrô-sama how Piccolo died), the killings committed are always pinned on Vegeta. Nappa was the one who had actually killed Piccolo (as well as indirectly killed Tenshinhan and Chiaotzu). Vegeta, meanwhile, simply stood back and watched the slaughter. Why is it that Nappa is apparently forgotten? - End Reshiki

A. It's really just a plot device. It's convenient to pin it all on Vegeta, because that then allows them to wish all the characters back to life in the same way. If you really wanted to get nitty-gritty about it, you could saw that since Vegeta had such an immense influence on Nappa and his actions, Vegeta's indirect influence could be seen as another stop on their way to death, so yeah... he is responsible for their deaths, albeit in an indirect way. - VegettoEX

Q. What was the point in adding "Z" after "Dragonball" for the TV series when this was never done in the manga? - FreezaFan

A. Apparently, Toei wanted to rename the series after the Piccolo arc to reflect its new, more dramatic tone and larger scope. Toriyama was the one that suggested adding the "Z." Although it doesn't really stand for anything by itself, Toriyama admitted the reason in an interview for the American edition of Shonen Jump: since it's the last letter in the alphabet, he was hoping that people would think it was almost over! - Julian

Q. What was the name of the move Gogeta did in DBZ movie 12? - GrLocki

A. Sparkly ball of energy with three knees/kicks !! - VegettoEX

Q. Would it be legal for Toriyama to make a new manga that takes place in the same time frame as GT and thus basically overrides it, like it never happend? - neo anderson

A. Would it be "legal" for him to do so? Umm... we have no real way of knowing. He can probably write whatever he wants, since it's his own franchise. Would he ever do it? I highly doubt it, with the possible exception of more Neko Majin Z. - VegettoEX

Q. When Trunks was explaining to Goku the circumstances of Bulma and Yamucha's breakup, he blushed and said that Yamucha was "not always faithful" or "something of a playboy." Obviously, Trunks wasn't alive when this happened, and I'm sure he never had a chance to discuss this matter with Yamucha since he was dead from the time that Trunks was a baby. He had to have gotten this story from his mother. We all know that Bulma and Yamucha fought all the time in the course of their relationship, and that Bulma would always blame Yamucha as the cause.

The only fight that we ever learn anything about is during the Red Ribbon Saga, which was also over the subject of Yamucha being faithful. Bulma's mother explains to Goku that Bulma got jealous that other girls were fawning over Yamucha, while it seems that Bulma herself believes that it's Yamucha's fault. And, of course, when Goku wishes Bulma to have a healthy baby, Yamucha gets excited over the possibility of settling down with Bulma.

Anyway, it doesn't seem like the kind of attitude of a guy who wasn't faithful to his girl. So did the future Bulma bias her story in her favor when she told her son? Did Toriyama ever express an opinion on this matter or did he simply write that as the easiest way to get Bulma and Vegeta to hook up? What do you think? (Whoo, this was a long question...) - LanceESR2

A. Bulma likes to talk big; this we know, and have seen on many an occasion. I'm sure that Yamcha never quite got a fully-accurate story when told to Trunks.

In reality... it was just Toriyama getting a new Saiyan into the mix. - VegettoEX

Q. Is it just me or does the animation around the second half of the Freeza saga really start to get... bad? It doesn't look bad at all in the manga. Toriyama's drawing style is obviously changing a lot during this time, but it doesn't look warped like in the anime. A lot of the color seems bland, the character's faces (especially the eyes) look really jerky and sporadic, a lot of the ki blasts look like yellow paint blobs splattered on the screen, and both my girlfriend and I have noticed that (in the Japanese version) a lot of the voices are off-sync with the animation. Is there a reason why this particular part of the series looks so weird? Or am I just crazy?- LanceESR2

A. Yeah, it really does. If you want some specific examples, take a look at the episode right after Goku goes Super Saiyan for the first time. His hair is about the height of his entire body; it's pretty ridiculous.

Most of the time, this can really be attributed to different studios working on the animation for that week's episode. We have to remember that these shows are on constantly in Japan, running every single week for years on end. These "bad animation days" (as we fans tend to call them) are usually the ones out of low-budget Korean studios (yes, even Japan outsources).

In terms of audio being out of synch the video, one thing to remember is that the Japanese tend to care very little about matching mouth movements with with the voices (something that American dubbing companies absolutely strive for). My favorite example is actually in DBZ movie 6 after Vegeta lands and starts mouthing off his traditional "Don't misunderstand..." rant; his mouth keeps flapping away way after he's done talking.

There's also another huge difference between American and Japanese animation companies; we record the audio first; they do the animation first (traditionally, anyway). One of the biggest violations of this tradition is the fanboy classic Akira. You'll notice that the lip flaps in said movie are extremely intricate; they were actually animated to go specifically with the Japanese dialogue. This is why (both) dubs of the movie were so difficult to do... the animation was made for the Japanese dialogue, and English words / translations just don't match up with the same mouth movements. - VegettoEX

Q. When Goku and Chi-Chi met, was there ever any real romance between them? I know Chi-Chi was obssessed, but what about Goku? Did Goku ever really fall in love with Chi-Chi, or (as I remember reading somewhere) does he not fully understand the concept of marriage, perhaps thinking it's some kind of food? - Makankoposo

A. Not that it wasn't possible for Goku to experience "love"... but c'mon... there's no way he loved Chi-Chi in any way when they first met. She was just another person, a girl, and his Grampa Gohan said to be nice to girls! Yep, Goku thought marriage was some type of food... which absolutely devestates Chi-Chi. However, Goku's a man of his word, and if he said he'd marry Chi-Chi, so be it...! - VegettoEX

Q. My favorite character is vegetto. He is a cool Super Saiyan. - arturogon41

A. He sure is. - VegettoEX

Q. I need some help finding out the name of a BGM song. Daizenshuu EX has some awesome music and song lists on it, so I was wondering if you could help me out.

There is this BGM song that plays in several parts of DBZ. One part is where Goku and Majin-Vegeta are throwing a flurry of punches during their fight, then they start attacking and blocking with their knees while holding on to each other. The same song plays in Movie #8 when Vegeta is talking to himself, saying that it's impossible to beat Broli and at the same time, everyone else is getting pounded by Broli.

I know it's pretty vague, but if anyone can help me it's you. Thanks. - Mike Hudak

A. I'm fairly sure I know exactly which piece you're talking about; there's only so man from DBZ movie 8's soundtrack that appeared in the TV series, as well (mostly tracks 8 & 15). I do believe it's track 15 that you're thinking of, "Akuma no Burorî" ("The Demonic Broli"). Before anyone goes and says how insane I am for remembering this... it's one of my favorite pieces of BGM in the entire series, so yes, I remember which CD it's on :P.

Then again, I could be completely wrong. Didn't actually CHECK... - VegettoEX

Q. Do you guys think there's going to be a new DBZ (or DBGT) game? with flying ability? - Sam Cooper

A. Technically you can fly in the Budokai games, but only when you happen to get knocked up into the air.

The latest GameBoy Advance game, Bukû Tôgeki (or Supersonic Warriors as it will be called in the US) allows for pretty much free-movement. You can fly anywhere you want on the screen without needing to press a button to switch to just a two-level playing field a-la the Super Butoden games on SNES. - VegettoEX

Q. This is really just another fanboy question, but who are you guys' favorite heroes and villains in DB and DBZ? The reason I separated them is in case they change from DB to DBZ. - Wassup2

A. My favorite villain in DragonBall is Pilaf, hands-down. He's absolutely incompetant, never learns from his mistakes, and is just such a cliche villain... if it weren't for the fact that he was a puny, blue, dwarf, alien-type thing with a tall female and dog for minions. He's absolutely amazing, and I welcomed him back every time he returned in the series.

My favorite hero in DB was just little ol' Goku. Yeah, yeah... he's the main character... but he's amazing, let's admit it. No matter what the circustances were, he overcame them in the end. Even with his two losses in the 21st and 22nd Tenka-ichi Budokai, he used them as reasons to further himself and his goals. Plus... he's freakin' cute.

My favorite villain in DragonBall Z is, without a doubt, Freeza. You can't cannot match the absolute ruthlessness of this guy. He killed children, adults, and his own minions without any hesitation. At the same time, he was absolutely polite about everything he did. Freeza just had a charm and quality about him that I don't see in any of the other villains.

My favorite hero in DBZ is definitely Gohan. Just like Goku in DB, Gohan grows so much over the course of the series; his growth in terms of maturity just astounds me, sometimes. Look at the difference between Gohan during the Nappa fight and Gohan vs Super Buu. While fighting Nappa, the poor kid freezes up and runs away behind a rock. When it comes to the Buu fight, he slowly walks right up into Buu's face, no expression on his own face, with the most determination I've ever seen in a character before. Sure, he didn't win, but it was fun while it lasted! ^_~ - VegettoEX

A. My favorite villain in DB is most definitely T'ao Pai-pai. I mean, what more can you want from him? He's badass, and damn good at his job. Who else could kill a man in so many different, expertly-executed ways? I certainly don't see anyone else in the series who's killed someone with just their tongue. Or their shoe. Plus, he's the only real working-class villain of the series. He has no high ambitions of personal glory or world domination; he just loves his job. Although he's pretty pathetic after Goku beats him, he's one damn cool guy beforehand.

As for my favorite hero in DragonBall, it's gotta be Tenshinhan. He was the first of the real conflicted types to enter the series. Trained by Tsuru-Sen'nin to be a ruthless killer, he finds compassion for Goku, his first worthy opponent. Overcoming his disgust at himself for ever placing his faith in his former mentors, and learning to use his powers for the good of others, he really earned his spot amongst the good guys. I mean, he even stood up to Piccolo, and later on, Nappa, and then Cell. It's a shame Toriyama didn't use him more after that. -_-

For my favorite villain in DBZ, I second Mike's opinion. Freeza's just awesome. He'll do anything, kill anyone to get what he wants... and yet he'll still maintain that air of polite condescension. (At least until Goku starts beating the crap out of him, that is.) Just... awesome.

My favorite DBZ hero is Vegeta. Although it's certainly not an original pick, he just exudes personality. He's the archetypal anti-hero: he doesn't get along with the other do-gooders, and he certainly isn't doing things for anyone else but himself (at least, not until the Buu arc). He also has a convincing character arc, going from a heartless killer with bottomless pride, to something a little more sympathetic. That's why he's got my vote. - Julian

THIS WEEK'S MESSAGE BOARD DISCUSSION:

Here we are in the latest week of this new feature! I think it's a really neat thing to add to the section, and I'm glad to see people are getting involved. Please feel free to contribute to the discussion, and even start up your own!

Q. This is it, folks. We're telling you EVERYTHING. All your IHOP are belong to us.

Yes, DragonBall AF was a prank (as if you couldn't figure it out from being April 1st, and all!). Yes, we spent a crapload of time on it. Yes, we're gonna give you complete translations of E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G (the print-ad, the commercial... anything you want, we've got).

I think the first title card in the commercial spells it out the best:
"What the hell is this crap!?" – Akira Toriyama

So here it is... the complete, un-edited, full-length, translated... blah blah blah, yadda yadda yadda... here it is, folks. Have a fuckin' blast~!!!

Let us know what you thought. Did you manage to translate any of it yourself? Have any further questions we can answer? Did your 8 year old sibling believe it to be truth, and even though we've now got all this stuff up, they're never going to believe that AF is not real? Discuss~~~!!! - VegettoEX

A. Read over the discussion, here! Besides... what else would we have had you talk about, after this week?! :D.

We're trying to stay with our weekly schedule for the section... so... e-mail us your questions for next week's update! We love getting all these questions, each week, so the more you send us, the more we can (try to) answer for you!

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