Synopsis
Released in 2013 as the first canon film since 1995 in the Dragon Ball franchise, Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods is a feature film creation of Akira Toriyama, the franchise’s original creator. This film serves as a epic creation of Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Super.
The film is set after the world is at peace after the defeat of Majin Buu. Z Fighters can take a break and return to a more mundane existence. Goku, the esperanto speaking the series champions, is still at King Kai’s planet, and still at work training. Peace in the Dragon Ball world during the Buu’s saga is a world.
Beerus, the God of Destruction emerges from a long sleep. He is a whimsical and powerful being at the same time, and can destroy universes and planets at will. God of destruction is not evil, as he sees destruction as a order of the cosmos. He is a universal being, and holds planets causing distress to the cosmos. He comes awake from a long sleep and remembers a prophecy of the indomitable wit, and a opponent. A Super Saiyan God to face.
Motivated by curiosity, Beerus wishes to search for the unknown fighter. Beerus and his attendant, the wise and polite Whis, roam the universe and get to Earth, where they find Goku, Vegeta, and the rest of the Z Fighters having a family celebration for Bulma’s birthday and engaging in merriment.
Beerus tries to challenge the Z Fighters and is received like a guest of honor, but the situation turns awkward when Goku decides to challenge Beerus and is immediately put in his place, resulting in a tense situation for all involved. Beerus is determined to find out if the famous “Super Saiyan God” really is a thing.
To get Beerus’s curiosity off and to protect Earth, the Z Fighters pull off a special ancient spell to transform Goku into the Super Saiyan God. Goku, in his new level of divinity, acquires a new form with the power of the 5 kind-hearted Saiyans, plus 5 in their divine form of Super Saiyan God, and with calm divinity, Goku fights Beerus, engaging him in what is described as a spellbinding display of power in the form of a Sky battle.
Although Goku cannot claim victory over the God of Destruction, this encounter is neither rooted in hatred nor in hostility. It becomes instead an exhibition of strength, spirit, and respect. Goku’s tenacity and goodwill charm Beerus, who, in the end, decides to spare the Earth—not for its power, but for the character of its people.
The film concludes with Goku seemingly having a renewed sense of purpose and a lingering curiosity about the gods of the Dragon Ball universe. Beerus and Whis leave in a peaceful manner, suggesting new adventures and new truths are on the way.
Main Characters & Voice Cast
Goku / Super Saiyan God Goku – Voiced by:
Masako Nozawa (Japanese)
Sean Schemmel (English)
Goku’s growth as a person and as a fighter is profound. His Super Saiyan God transformation is less about the acquisition of brute power and more about the attainment of inner peace and balance.
Beerus (God of Destruction) – Voiced by:
Koichi Yamadera (Japanese)
Jason Douglas (English)
Beerus is a marvelous new character in the franchise. He is both intimidating and humorous, and also brings new dimensions to the universe with the introduction of a divine hierarchy and order to the cosmos.
Whis – Voiced by:
Masakazu Morita (Japanese)
Ian Sinclair (English)
Whis is Beerus’s martial arts teacher and attendant. He is self-assured and cheerful. He became a favorite due to his enigmatic demeanor and unusual hidden strength.
Vegeta – Voiced by:
Ryo Horikawa (Japanese)
Christopher Sabat (English)
Vegeta has some humorous moments in this film, and we see him take pride and show family affection, particularly in his efforts to appease Beerus to protect his family.
Other characters like Bulma, Piccolo, Gohan, Trunks, and Goten also help in creating a relaxed, community spirit in the film.
Themes & Tone
The tone of the film is undoubtedly one of its most prominent characteristics. ‘Battle of Gods’ intertwines old-action Dragon Ball Z with lightheartedness and warmth. It is not trying to be an extreme high-stake world-ending storyline. It captures the audience to the joy of Dragon Ball universe by character moments and exploring new levels of powers and divine concepts.
Key Themes:
Growth through Challenge: Goku’s craving to face stronger opponents is not about ego, it is about evolving as a person. He is learning something valuable in every loss.
Balance of Power and Wisdom: Beerus knows how to control his power. He knows how to enjoy the silence and understands that real power is not brute force.
Friendship and Celebration: Joy and community are best portrayed in Bulma’s birthday celebrations. Her birthday highlighted the community and relationships between former rivals.
Respect and Humility: Goku’s humility in defeat and Beerus’s respect for Goku’s character are refreshing, especially in a genre often defined by endless battles.
Animation & Music
Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods features a bright, clean animation style that feels modern while keeping the essence of the original series. Character expressions are more detailed, the action sequences flow seamlessly, and the transformation of Goku into Super Saiyan God is beautifully rendered with glowing colors and a graceful energy.
Norihito Sumitomo’s score combines orchestration with more contemporary themed changes for action sequences. He added emotional depth with score in more quiet moments of the film, while heightening tension in pivotal moments. The ending theme, “Hero (Kibou no Uta)” by FLOW, capped the film with a closing of celebration and heroism.
Reception and IMDb Rating
The film has an IMDb score of about 7.1/10, and, by and large, viewers and reviewers provided favorable assessments. Highlights include:
Its light-hearted atmosphere,
The introduction of new and interesting characters, particularly Beerus and Whis,
Goku’s new transformation,
The action and the humor,
Toriyama’s hands-on involvement in the narrative.
It also did well commercially, particularly in Japan, and its global reach refreshed interest in the franchise, sparking the production of the Dragon Ball Super animated series.
Conclusion
Unlike other films in the series, Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods intertwines entertainment elements and narrative methods to pay homage to the series. Personally, I value the Dragon Ball franchise, as this film places focus on character development and humor, infuses new elements of universal lore and animation, and provides an adventure that has real joy and substance, to not only devoted followers of the series, but also to recent audiences.
In a literal sense, Battle of Gods epitomizes the philosophy that real power is not the ability of an individual to enforce their will. Rather, it is the ability to grow, to be a true friend, and to harmonize with others.
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