original dragonball = wizard of oz?

[theroyalfalcon]

Hey guys,

So I am rewatching the original series from the start, and I have noticed that Bulma, Goku and crew have some distinct resemblances to Dorothy and her crew. Given that they are all in search of some person betterment and all see the Dragon as the equivalent to the Wizard. Anyways, I may be in left field but it just kind of struck me.

[Feor]

Hey guys,

So I am rewatching the original series from the start, and I have noticed that Bulma, Goku and crew have some distinct resemblances to Dorothy and her crew. Given that they are all in search of some person betterment and all see the Dragon as the equivalent to the Wizard. Anyways, I may be in left field but it just kind of struck me.

It's supposed to be a very loose adaptation of "Journey to the West", an ancient Chinese myth/legend/novel. It's a fairly standard "epic journey to find the power being who can fix your problems" archetype overall though. Most cultures have something like it. Wizard of Oz follows a similar archetype.

It's like how Avatar "ripped off" Pocahontas. It's a fairly standard literary archetype, that just happens to be shared by a more prominent story.

[theroyalfalcon]

that makes sense, it was also when the thought crossed my mind it was too entertaining to not share.

[Zamfir]

who knows what Dragonball Z was ever supposed to be like...its so hollow and yet so memorable

[theroyalfalcon]

who knows what Dragonball Z was ever supposed to be like...its so hollow and yet so memorable

rewatching that as well since it is on Saturday mornings on the WB as Dragonball Z KAI (which is the normal Z but with some of the tangeant story arcs and power up scenes removed)

[Zamfir]

I didn't like a lot of the voice changes in that one