A really good question - the entire Dragon Ball-fan base have repeatedly asked themselves - is about the 1996 released anime Dragon Ball GT which is de facto regarded as invalid - due to the fact that it has been overwritten by the events of the anime Dragon Ball Super which has been aired since 2015. Thus, the initial question is: Belongs Dragon Ball GT to the main story line? Or should it be regarded entirely as non-canon?
In the frame of the never ending discussion which has already found his way into the fan-base, I wanna give a food for thought. Besides, in the PS below, you find a link about the frequency asked questions about GT for further reading.
Anyways, without further ado, let us begin:
At first, it was originally regarded as sequel for DBZ, so here are the arguments which are in favor that GT is canon:
The GT-character designs for Gohan, Vegeta, Goten and Trunks |
First encounter between Trunks and Android 17 in Dragon Ball Super vs. Encounter between Trunks and Android 17 in Dragon Ball GT |
For instance, Goten and Trunks met Android 17 in the Universe Survival-arc from DBS. In GT, it's really strange that Trunks talks to Android 17 (during their encounter) as if he knew him. Thus, this plot hole has been filled by the encounter of Goten & Trunks with Android 17 in DBS before the beginning of the Tournament of Power.
3. Furthermore, Gogeta has been canonized in the movie DBS: Broly. At the time of his appearance in GT, he was non-canon. But the question if the transformation Super Saiyan 4 will be ever canonized one day is another matter.
In other words, belated canonizations could make a difference in the question if GT is canon or non-canon.
4. Master Roshi may overcome his pervert desires in DBS during the Universe Survival-arc but at the beginning of GT and the end of DBZ as well indicate that he might have relapsed. Of course, redressing an addiction is not a thing which can be done overnight.
Master Roshi during his voyeuristic peeking in the end of DBZ |
Thus, let's go to the arguments which contradicts the canon-status of GT
1. In Dragon Ball Super (whose story board was - unlike GT - written by Toriyama himself), many things which makes GT invalid happened:
While Master Roshi is a pervert in GT, he overcomes and defeats his desires in DBS, so he's not a lecher anymore. In the frame of his training, he wanted eradicate his horny addiction which would've been - otherwise - a obstacle for him during the Tournament of Power. Regardless of his rrelapse in the end of DBZ, he admitted during the Tournament of Power in DBS that it was a big mistake wasting his time in following his pervert desires instead investing time in his martial arts skills' improvement in order to get more stronger. It has really sounded like a serious resolution. A fault confessed is half redressed.
Thus, that relapse in the end of DBZ was maybe the only one.
Futhermore, the DBS-villains let the GT-villains look like complete fools. For instance, the both Zamasu entities (i.e. Goku Black and Future Zamasu) would have defeated the Tuffle Baby, Super 17 and Omega Shenron ten times in a row. Especially Goku Black who benefitted from the Zenkai Boost everytime.
And by the way, Pilaf and his subordinates have turned into children by using the Dragon Balls, as they stated in DBS. Thus, it doesn't make sense anymore that there are oldtimers in GT. |
The fusion Kibitoshin (i.e. the fusion between Shin, the Universe 7's Supreme Kai and his servant Kibito) has been dissolved by the Namekian Dragon Balls in DBS while it was maintained in GT. Let us be honest: Why Shin should fuse with Kibito again? What would be the purpose?
2. Unlike in GT, the power creep could be levered out in DBS - ever since the Universe Survival-arc. I suppose, no more words needed concerning the fact that Goten, Gohan and Piccolo were nothing but cannon fodder in GT. Though it has been confirmed by the databook GT Perfect Files that Gohan has trained during the five years between the 28th Great Tournament and the beginning of GT but it doesn't indicate about the quality of his training. That is why it's more gratifying that Gohan has gotten really strong again in DBS (by Piccolos special training, notabene).
And other fighters like Piccolo, Tien and Master Roshi was become more stronger; the last-mentioned one has moreover shown himself as MVP during the Tournament of Power.
In Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, Piccolo and Gohan respectively got new transformation: The former got the Orange Piccolo form and the latter got the Beast Mode.
2. Unlike in GT, the power creep could be levered out in DBS - ever since the Universe Survival-arc. I suppose, no more words needed concerning the fact that Goten, Gohan and Piccolo were nothing but cannon fodder in GT. Though it has been confirmed by the databook GT Perfect Files that Gohan has trained during the five years between the 28th Great Tournament and the beginning of GT but it doesn't indicate about the quality of his training. That is why it's more gratifying that Gohan has gotten really strong again in DBS (by Piccolos special training, notabene).
And other fighters like Piccolo, Tien and Master Roshi was become more stronger; the last-mentioned one has moreover shown himself as MVP during the Tournament of Power.
The Universe Survival-arc is verily one of the best arcs heretofore in DBS |
3. The Super Saiyan 4 is no match to some of the transformations invented in DBS. Don't get the wrong idea: I like the transformation Super Saiyan 4 too but is there really any necessity for it? After the appearance of
- Super Saiyan Red
- Super Saiyan Blue (also Blue + Kaioken)
- Super Saiyan Blue Evolution (that form of Vegeta)
- Ultra Instinct
- the Mastered Ultra Instinct
- Ultra Ego
Though, Whis states in the Dragon Ball Xenoverse-games to Goku (as Super Saiyan 4) that he would be a perfect Destroyer Deity but it cannot be concluded if Super Saiyan 4 is equal to the red or blue power. Indeed, the both levels of Ultra Instinct are ahead by nose. Same goes for Vegeta's Ultra Ego form.
4. No words needed about the fact how pathetic it was turning Goku into a child again in GT.
Of course, there were other reason too why Goku was turned into a child in GT but this was really unnecessary.
Result: Concluding from all these aspects mentioned, it seems Dragon Ball GT has already gotten invalid - despite it was originally considered as part of the main story. The only thing which you can do with it: Recycling some character designs from this series; improving them and moreover, implementing them in Dragon Ball Super. In this frame, the Super Saiyan 4 could be canonized too. Otherwise, you cannot take anything anymore from GT.
Of course, I could go into details about the end of DBZ and how to deal with it but it would only go beyond the constraints of this article.
And now, I'm really interested in your opinion: Are you like "Indeed, GT isn't canon anymore" or are you more like "The problem concerning the consistency in the main story-line is not in GT but in DBS"? Please feel free writing it in the comments.
PS: Here is the link to the frequency asked questions and some interviews concerning Dragon Ball GT, e.g. why Goku turns into an adult while transforming into Super Saiyan 4 and how involved Toriyama was in the production of GT:
- An interview with Dragon Ball GT producer Kōzō Morishita (English)
- Atsushi Maekawa Story Q&A (FAQ about GT) (English)
4. No words needed about the fact how pathetic it was turning Goku into a child again in GT.
A really pathetic justification, isn't it?. Why they didn't make the villains more stronger instead nerving Goku by turning him into a child? |
It was a good idea if the Super Saiyan 4 could be implemented in DBS and thus, be canonized |
Of course, I could go into details about the end of DBZ and how to deal with it but it would only go beyond the constraints of this article.
And now, I'm really interested in your opinion: Are you like "Indeed, GT isn't canon anymore" or are you more like "The problem concerning the consistency in the main story-line is not in GT but in DBS"? Please feel free writing it in the comments.
PS: Here is the link to the frequency asked questions and some interviews concerning Dragon Ball GT, e.g. why Goku turns into an adult while transforming into Super Saiyan 4 and how involved Toriyama was in the production of GT:
- An interview with Dragon Ball GT producer Kōzō Morishita (English)
- Atsushi Maekawa Story Q&A (FAQ about GT) (English)