Dragon Ball GT Really Isn’t All That Bad

Dragon Ball is one of the most successful and storied franchises ever, having left Japan to become a worldwide phenomenon in the early 2000s, and eventually transcending the medium of anime and manga altogether decades later. Fans turn out to every new release in droves, thankful for any opportunity given to experience Goku and company in action, never shy to voice their undying support. But as successful as Dragon Ball has been over the better part of 40 years, the franchise has taken its share of missteps.

Since Akira Toriyama relinquished full control of the franchise with the end of his Dragon Ball manga, the IP has had a difficult time pleasing everyone. A large period of inactivity led to a live-action adaptation of the series so laughably unfaithful, it motivated the legendary manga artist to step in and provide a large amount of the writing for 2013’s Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods. The resulting Dragon Ball Super enjoyed both highs and lows, with its more recent films garnering wide-spread acclaim.

However, no Dragon Ball production has ever been more divisive than 1996’s Dragon Ball GT. The franchise’s first venture into a world without Toriyama at the helm, GT aimed to recapture the early adventurous spirit of the series while embracing the action which defined it in its latter half. The Toei-led anime would go on to make quite a few lasting contributions to the franchise, though it landed with a thud upon airing. The years since have not been kind to GT, though it’s become difficult to say the series is deserving of its overwhelmingly negative reputation.

GT Isn’t Perfect, but It Also Isn’t Bad

The Series Has Its Flaws, but Isn’t Worthy of Its Overwhelmingly Negative Reputation

Dragon Ball GT‘s flaws are well documented. Pacing issues plagued a large portion of its early goings, while the writing continuously stepped all over itself. Fights were often needlessly dragged out, and the series’ downtime was spent meandering through unnecessary conflict or exposition. Goku is firmly in the spotlight, which might offend some fans of the franchise’s many other iconic characters, while the heavy inclusion of Trunks and Pan is well documented for rubbing other fans the wrong way.

The series is in no way perfect, but many of the major complaints lobbied against it are concerning the execution rather than the narrative itself. Dragon Ball GT is packed to the brim with fantastic ideas, and whether they land or not is where the majority of the anime’s issues stem from. Attempting to return to the franchise’s roots is seemingly an ongoing theme, as seen in the most recent, currently airing Dragon Ball Daima.

However, as Dragon Ball GT progresses, it quickly becomes apparent that Toei wasn’t entirely married to the concept. Nevertheless, the series’ opening Black Star Dragon Ball Saga is a mixed bag that, in its best moments, is a highly entertaining journey through worlds which could only belong to Dragon Ball. The shift to action which follows during the Baby Saga is arguably the highlight of GT, introducing the fan-favorite Super Saiyan 4 into a showdown with one of the franchise’s very best villains.

Every time the form appears on-screen, the series comes alive. Epic, memorable moments are scattered throughout the Baby Saga, which can stand among the best Dragon Ball has to offer. The brief Super #17 Saga that follows is largely hit or miss, while the Shadow Dragon Saga that closes the series offers far more good than bad. And what lies at the heart of these story arcs is also a strength of GT.

GT Is Home to Excellent Villains

Goku’s Opponents Are a Major Highlight of the Anime

Dragon Ball‘s heroes are iconic, but many of its villains are just as instantly recognizable. Frieza, due in large part to his revival in Dragon Ball Super, has made himself integral to the series, joining Goku and Vegeta as a core member of the cast. Though none of Dragon Ball GT‘s main villains are quite as popular as those featured in Akira Toriyama’s original manga, they are entertainingly evil. And none are better than Baby.

The prototype for what would become Super‘s Goku Black, Baby encapsulates everything which makes a Dragon Ball villain excellent. The last of the Tuffle race exacting his revenge on the Saiyans who exterminated his kind is a backstory that takes a little from Cell and Broly respectively, in order to create a villain that is twistedly sympathetic. His abilities also make for incredibly entertaining action, and his demise while parading around in the body of a Saiyan prince makes Baby an unforgettable addition to the franchise’s cast of bad guys.

Super #17, while headlining one of the more divisive sections of the series, is a wonderful contrast to Android #18, and her assimilation into the main cast of heroes. The Shadow Dragons aren’t all memorable, though the main trio of Eis, Nuova, and Syn all have their moments of greatness. Omega Shenron is a formidable final enemy for the series, addressing the negatives that come with the excessive use of the Dragon Balls for often selfish wishes. And if nothing else, we’re treated to Super Saiyan 4 Gogeta during the battle.

GT’s Spirit Lives On In Dragon Ball Daima

Goku’s Newest Adventure Attempts to Right GT’s Wrongs

Dragon Ball Daima premiered in October 2024, and from the series’ very first episode, its similarities to Dragon Ball GT were clear. This time around, however, Goku is joined by the rest of the main cast in becoming a child due to a wish. Like its predecessor, Daima introduces new worlds in which Earth’s heroes search for the Dragon Balls in order to reverse that wish. The series has enjoyed a successful run, and is approaching its finale in the coming weeks.

What has allowed for Daima‘s success in the areas GT failed can largely be chalked up to pacing and focus. The latest anime has only 20 episodes to work with, not allowing for any wasted time on plot threads which aren’t immediately integral to the plot. Though it is also GT‘s influence which has led to Daima‘s best attributes, proving that the anime offered moments of greatness, even if it takes enduring some lows to find it.

Since Dragon Ball‘s revival in the 2010s, the perception of Dragon Ball GT has shifted within the franchise’s fan base, and is largely regarded as a dismissable, non-canon entry that is better off forgotten. However, if fans are willing to look for it, there is gold to be found within Dragon Ball‘s most divisive anime, and its influence is still being felt today.