See Dragon Ball with new eyes. This book is your cultural tour guide of Dragon Ball, the world’s most recognized anime and manga series. Over 11 years in development, at over 2,000 pages, and featuring over 1,800 unique terms, Dragon Ball Culture is a 7 Volume analysis of your favorite series. You will go on an adventure with Son Goku, from Chapter 1 to 194 of the original Dragon Ball series, as we explore every page, every panel, and every sentence, to reveal the hidden symbolism and deeper meaning of Dragon Ball. In Volume 1 you will discover the origin of Dragon Ball. How does Akira Toriyama get his big break and become a manga author? Why does he make Dragon Ball? Where does Dragon Ball’s culture come from? And why is it so successful? Along the way you’ll be informed, entertained, and inspired. You will learn more about your favorite series and about yourself. Now step with me through the doorway of Dragon Ball Culture.

Goku begins a new adventure, and this time the quest is to conquer thyself. In Dragon Ball Culture Volume 3: Battle, you’ll discover the origin of Goku’s training mentality. You’ll see how Akira Toriyama combines thousands of years of martial arts history and modern cinema together to create the Tenkaichi Budōkai. And you’ll hear how Dragon Ball almost gets cancelled, but then changes its format to become the world’s most recognized anime and manga series. Travel alongside Goku as he becomes the disciple of the world’s greatest martial artist, meets his new training partner, and competes in the largest tournament on Earth. Will this wild monkey boy gain the discipline he needs to become the champion? Volume 3 explores Chapters 24 to 53 of the Dragon Ball manga. Let the battle begin!

Son Goku's adventure begins! Join me in Dragon Ball Culture Volume 2, as we travel along with Goku on his epic journey for greater strength. With each step that Goku takes, you'll discover more of the hidden spirituality and symbolism in Dragon Ball that makes the series so successful. You'll see how author Akira Toriyama synthesizes Chinese culture, Western technology, and Buddho-Daoist philosophy to create a series that speaks to your humanity. Not because of the action or the humor, but because it reminds you of what it means to be alive. Along the way you'll learn of Goku's ancient origin. You'll hear how the legend of a wild monkey-man begins in India, evolves across 2,000 years of Chinese and Japanese history, and leads to the Goku you know and love. I'll walk you through the journey from the first page to the last. And by the time we're done, you will be an expert on Dragon Ball's culture. Volume 2 explores Chapters 1 to 23 of the Dragon Ball manga. So let's take our first step with Goku!

With the mighty Kaio-ken amplifying his strength, Goku fights Vegeta in a desperate battle to save the world, only to find that the elite Saiyan warrior is even stronger than his own techniques! Goku calls on the Genki-dama, the “spirit ball,” drawing power from every living thing around him. But alone, even Goku is not enough. The last worn-out survivors, Gohan, Kuririn and Yajirobe, rush back into the fray to try and stop the unbeatable Vegeta from destroying the planet Earth itself! -- VIZ Media

Goku meets god! In Dragon Ball Culture Volume 6, we’ll reunite with Goku as he ascends to heaven, trains with Kami for 3 years, and battles the reincarnated Demon King Pikkoro! When Goku reaches heaven he is greeted by the always-controversial Mister Popo. But who is Mister Popo, and why does he look so strange? His ancient cultural origin will finally be revealed! From there we’ll explore Kami’s roots in Japanese Shinto and Chinese Buddhism. You’ll discover how Kami and Pikkoro are related on a spiritual level, how reincarnation works within the Dragon World, and what it means for the new demon king to be the ‘son of the father who was cast down from heaven.’ Afterward, we’ll enter the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai! But will Goku’s friends recognize him, and will he be strong enough to persevere?! Who is this green-skinned man who calls himself “Ma Junia,” and why is he such a grave threat to Goku and the world?! Discover the amazing truth behind these new characters, with surprising mystery’s and reveals from your old friends, as we take a cultural tour through the final volume of the original Dragon Ball manga! It’s a battle of life and death, and Goku’s the only one who can save us!! Volume 6 explores Chapters 162 to 194 of the Dragon Ball manga. It’s time to face god!

Will an alien invasion of Earth hold Arale's attention? Will she ever be her loopy self again after a cricket shorts her brain functions and turns her into a normal girl? And what will the local police station do, now that she's started turning in lost-and-found items that nobody wants found--like poop?! -- VIZ Media

Dragon Ball Culture Volume 7 is your cultural tour guide to the Dragon Ball anime! In Volume 7, Gokū travels the world in a series of anime adventures, and we will explore the culture of every episode and movie, and delve into the origin of their production. This book features exclusive interviews with the Japanese musicians behind Dragon Ball's opening and ending themes, including lyricist Yuriko Mori, composer Takeshi Ike, and vocalist Ushio Hashimoto. Do you prefer the anime over the manga, or would you like a guide for watching the series and how it compares to the original work by Akira Toriyama? Then this is the book for you! Volume 7 concludes the world's first scholarly analysis of Dragon Ball's culture that took over 20 years to write. You're guaranteed to learn something new. Along the way you’ll be informed, entertained, and inspired. You will learn more about your favorite series, other people, and yourself. - Explores Dragon Ball episodes 1 to 153, and the movies. Genre: Non-fiction and literary criticism. Topics: Akira Toriyama; Dragon Ball; The Journey to the West; Chinese culture; Japanese culture; Western culture; Chinese language; Japanese language; manga; anime; comic books; fandoms; history; philosophy; spirituality; religion; Buddhism, Daoism, Shinto; legends; folk tales; cinema; kung fu movies; Bruce Lee; Jackie Chan, the Monkey King; 20th Century history; World War II. Images: Not present. *** NOTE: This is an Early Access edition book. Here is the current content: Opening and Ending Themes OP: Makafushigi adobenchā! ED: Romantikku ageru yo OP and ED Culture Filler Anime Saiyūki Arc (Pilaf Arc) Appendix -Eyecatch Culture -Title Card Culture Page Count: 205 New content will be added in the months ahead, and you will receive free updates when it is published. The price will increase as new content is added, up to $9.99. So the earlier you buy, the more you save. When the ebook is complete, the book will be published in paperback and hardback. You can help shape the direction this book takes by providing feedback to me as you read it; including what you'd like to read about next. Thank you for supporting my writing, and enjoy your anime adventures with Gokū!