23rd TENKAICHI BUDOKAI ARC (#133-#153)
Episode 133 (Arashi no Mae no Saikai) aired on November 9th, 1988.
Script by Takao Koyama, storyboard and direction by Yoshihiro Ueda and animation supervision by Katsumi Aoshima.
Key animation: Katsumi Aoshima, Hideko Okimoto.
-The first episode of the final time skip couldn’t start better, with Ueda providing some great boarding and direction.
-Despite now being a grown-up, Goku’s personality remains unfazed, as he still ignores the existence of lipsticks.
-I admit I wasn’t that fond of Masako Nozawa’s adult Goku voice many years ago, but if we exclude her experience in DBKai, her output has always been extremely consistent. I couldn’t imagine the character being voiced by another seiyuu. In fact, from this episode onwards she’d narrate the NEP with her adult Goku voice.
–This is precious. DB is apparently the only anime friendship is characterized better than any other kind of relationship, including marital relationships.
-It’s also nice they bring the Jackie Chun thing back. Unfortunately, he’ll never be mentioned ever again.
-It’s been around 30 years, and we STILL don’t know how Yamcha got those scars.
-I guess now it’s Krillin’s time to raise his arms in his red gi. Thankfully, Ueda kept the same perspective from the manga, unlike last time.
–M518 makes any scene better. It fits the first encounter between Goku and Piccolo Jr. so so well.
-This is the first episode to use Kikuchi M6XX (soundtrack from the third movie). Again, not a big fan of that soundtrack. Kikuchi composed better tracks.
-As much as I adore Piccolo’s badass entrance, I don’t really understand why he would care to save a woman and her son from being crushed by a clock.
-Speaking of which, slowing down the scene doesn’t make it more dramatic, but much more annoying. Seriously, what’s Aoshima’s purpose to slow down his episodes??
-I do buy Goku and the others not seeing Muten Roshi for 3 years, but what about Oolong and the others? They didn’t go training. Why would they disappear all of a sudden just to meet their friends 3 years later in a Tenkaichi Budokai? If they DID ever meet before that day, then I’d be able to understand. But it is never established, Goku’s friends are so sloppy.
-In actuality, Tenshinhan has no reason for saying this. He technically won the previous edition of the tournament. Goku may be stronger than him, but it’s Tenshinhan who got to win the final battle.
–Bulma is a turncoat.
-I mean, not if she was that interested in Yamcha’s solo training.
Episode 134 (Haran no Tenka’ichi Budōkai) aired on November 16th, 1988.
Script by Takao Koyama, storyboard and direction by Kazuhisa Takenouchi and animation supervision by Masayuki Uchiyama.
Key animation: Taiichiro Ohara, Akio Katada, Naotoshi Shida.
-I like to interpret this as a metaphor of the no-account of Goku’s opponent.
-First time hearing Toshio Furukawa as Piccolo. Can’t wait for him to yell ‘Makankosappo’.
–The first Waku Waku after the time skip.
-Where’s Goku’s undershirt?
-So, Chaozu uses his telekinesis to fudge the drawing lots, he’s pleased with the results, but still he doesn’t even get to the eighth finals. It sucks to be him. – states Toriyama.
–Goku not recognizing Chichi makes more sense in the manga, because Toriyama never implied that they met before the tournament. On the other hand, they shared a filler scene in episode 119, in which Goku actually comments on Chichi being taller, which definitely makes him appear as much dumber, since it would be abnormal not to recognize someone after only 3 years.
-About that, Krillin’s envy towards Goku appears in the manga, as well, but it’s a Koyama episode, so making him even more miserable is his job.
-Recycling characters is seldom a good idea. Bringing Tao Pai Pai back is a mistake:
1) This arc ALREADY has a better villain.
2) This subplot leads to absolute nothing, apart from keeping out Chaozu from the plot.
Episode 135 (Erabareta Hachinin) aired on November 23rd, 1988.
Script by Keiji Terui, storyboard and direction by Mitsuo Hashimoto and animation supervision by Mitsuo Shindo.
Key animation: Kazuko Hirose, Tadayoshi Yamamuro, Teruhisa Ryu, Noriko Shibata.
-Yajirobe is an underappreciated character, especially for his coarse manners.
–The guy he defeats is voiced by Yukitoshi Hori, who is also Dodoria and 19’s seiyuu. He doesn’t like skinny characters…
–Another Jackie Chun callback.
–The announcer’s reaction to Krillin being alive makes sense. Once again, solid continuity.
-I swear I’m going to use this when I see a lame fight.
-What’s with the 16:9 aspect ratio?
–Shindo’s corrections on Piccolo look very ugly. What’s with those bags under his eyes? He looks like someone who hasn’t been sleeping for 3 years.
–The birth of the gaping hole…?
–Goku stating Tao Pai Pai isn’t the main villain of this arc confirms my theory about recycling pointless characters.
–He’s so uninterested he even changes topic after Krillin asks him about Tao Pai Pai’s dangerousness.
-“Anyone could’ve been“.
-As much as I like Ryu’s impact frames, recycling Lunch’s sneezing gag to get free seats is a bit less effective than last time. That one had better reactions.
–WA WA WA.
Episode 136 (Koroshiya Tao Pai-pai no Gyakushū) aired on November 30th, 1988.
Script by Keiji Terui, storyboard and direction by Kazuhisa Takenouchi and animation supervision by Tomekichi Takeuchi.
Key animation: Tomekichi Takeuchi, Yoko Iizuka, Masako Misumi, Masahiro Shimanuki.
-Quite solid storyboarding and direction.
–This pose drives me insane.
-While I think the 22nd Tenkaichi Budokai arc needed it more than this one, I quite like that they showed how Tao Pai Pai trained Tenshinhan in a flashback.
-Why am I feeling this line foreshadows something?
–This Goku from (likely) Misumi is 100% in line with the model sheets, but there’s something off with it. Maybe it’s in his gigantic pupils.
–Oolong abuse IS NOT FUNNY. Stop it.
-The recap of last episode, supervised by Shindo, displays a shot of Piccolo corrected by Uchiyama from episode 134. A bit jarring.
-Oh, so he used to call Chichi ‘cutey’, before calling her obnoxious-frustrated-unpleasant-tiresome-housewife.
-Onto the infamous bit of the episode, Tao Pai Pai slashing Tenshinhan’s chest, causing a scar it will never, ever heal over. Considering Nappa will cut off his arm in the Saiyan arc, but for some reason it would eventually grow back, how come is his scar permanent? I got two points.
1) This scar might actually be considered a symbol of Tao Pai Pai’s traumatic influence on Tenshinhan during his early days. An indelible sign of pain.
2) Either that or Toriyama forgot to heal it over. Anything is possible.
Episode 137 (Son Gokū no Kekkon) aired on December 7th, 1988.
Script by Michiru Shimada, storyboard and direction by Yoshihiro Ueda and animation supervision by Masayuki Uchiyama.
Key animation: Taiichiro Ohara, Akio Katada, Naotoshi Shida.
–Oolong finds out Chichi’s identity before everyone else. Interesting.
-Shida’s got action speed.
-Normally I’d complain about reusing footages from previous episodes, but Akio Katada reanimated them, and I’m okay with it.
–How am I supposed to hate him???
–Chichi is a bizarre character. Then again, she fell in love with Goku after he kicked her crotch, so I shouldn’t be surprised.
–That’s simply the laziest proposal of any single piece of media. It’s like “I love you – ‘kay, thanks.”
-Ohara’s rotation in the end. Brilliant.
–It follows the continuity, but Goku still considers marriage some kind of meal. It’s a fact both Toriyama and Toei emphasize his intelligence only when it comes to fighting.
-Even 130 episodes later, this bit still remains awkward and unsettling.
–HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
–That’s a fairly good question. I used to think a fighter needed to focus his own ki to learn to fly. Goku did it while training at Kami-sama’s palace, but what about Krillin? He can float, and that is the only time we see him doing it before the Saiyan arc. Considering Krillin is also behind Goku’s level, he probably took more time to focus his ki in order to use the Bukujutsu.
Episode 138 (Nazo no Otoko · Shen) aired on December 14th, 1988.
Script by Toshiki Inoue, storyboard and direction by Daisuke Nishio and animation supervision by Yukio Ebisawa.
Key animation: Yukio Ebisawa, Mari Tominaga, Hiroshi Takeuchi.
-The 1st half has better storyboard and direction than the 2nd one. Good use of the environment to build up tension (pinwheel, wind, clouds).
–Smug bastard.
-*Insert an obvious Batman joke.
–Piccolo can extend his arm… a unique skill he’d use several times in this arc and only a few times in DBZ.
–Genuine empathy. I like it.
-Shen switching between being a comic relief and basically training Yamcha.
-Both fights are rather enjoyable, and as a whole, it’s very far from being the worst Studio Live material…
-… in spite of Ebisawa’s repetitive punch the camera trope.
-The worst part of this episode is Yamcha getting constantly humiliated. It’s like everyone has something against him, from Toei and Toriyama to the characters themselves. EVEN the announcer laughs at him. That’s so unfair and unprofessional.
–Forced WA WA.
–They gave Goku the wrong shoes in place of his boots.
Episode 139 (Gekitō Futatabi! Gokū Tai Tenshinhan) aired on December 21st, 1988.
Script by Hajime Satsuki, storyboard and direction by Minoru Okazaki and animation supervision by Minoru Maeda.
Key animation: Takeo Ide, Yasuyuki Shimizu, Masaki Sato, Hisashi Eguchi.
-The I.S.E. trio providing quality as always (Ide, Sato, Eguchi).
-Good lord, Sato’s art in this era.
-I always love it when they use M518 in the end.
-Well, Shen is technically an alien.
–Ask Toriyama.
-Goku isn’t the brightest out there, yet he’s the only one that figures out Shen’s real identity.
Episode 140 (Hontō no Chikara) aired on January 11th, 1989.
Script by Keiji Terui, storyboard and direction by Osamu Kasai and animation supervision by Masayuki Uchiyama.
Key animation: Taiichiro Ohara, Akio Katada, Naotoshi Shida.
-So many colorful backgrounds and light effects from Kasai’s board.
–Shida and his hands.
–Flash of kid Goku.
–What do you mean???
–HAHA. Even Lunch and Muten Roshi are embarrassed. And the announcer is chuckling.
-“He’s so full of promise I’ll yell at him every single time“.
-Again, Tenshinhan didn’t lose the last fight. It’s Goku who should’ve asked for a rematch.
Episode 141 (Yonin no Tenshinhan) aired on January 18th, 1989.
Script by Toshiki Inoue, storyboard and direction by Osamu Kasai and animation supervision by Katsumi Aoshima.
Key animation: Katsumi Aoshima, Hideko Okimoto.
-Despite being his second work in a row, Kasai‘s storyboarding is very good. Much like his previous episode, this one, too, showcases his quite creative and colorful backgrounds.
-Goku’s progression as a martial artist is emphasized during this fight. He anticipates Tenshinhan’s moves just like Mr. Popo did with him.
-I assume Goku will ask for Tenshinhan’s permission every time he’ll use the Taiyoken, right?
-The annoying slow-mo…
–Son Goku’s Redemption Day is wasted here.
-They didn’t fix Piccolo’s miscolored belt from the NEP.
-Good to know Lunch is dumb as her psycho self, as well.
–Even Goku points out Tenshinhan is too gullible in this episode for using the same move twice.
-In actuality, as confirmed by Krillin in a later circumstance, the Taiyoken isn’t too difficult to master.
-Not an error of the episode itself, but rather of questionable translation: what the shit does THUNK mean??? Didn’t they mean ‘THOUGHT’??
Episode 142 (Dotchi ga Tsuyoi!? Kami Tai Pikkoro Daimaō) aired on January 25th, 1989.
Script by Hajime Satsuki, storyboard and direction by Kazuhisa Takenouchi and animation supervision by Mitsuo Shindo.
Key animation: Kazuko Hirose, Tadayoshi Yamamuro, Teruhisa Ryu.
–Rather solid storyboarding.
-Wow. Back then Tenshinhan didn’t take defeat that well.
-This is the first time in the series the Piccolo-Kami-sama connection is ever mentioned. Kami-sama’s presence in the tournament comes full circle, as he’d use the Mafuba to seal his evil counterpart, so that killing him won’t be necessary.
-Piccolo and Shen (Kami-sama) talking to each other in an alien language. Pretty interesting foreshadowing.
–I don’t know. Have you ever seen a green-skinned lad with pointy ears?
–What the deuce happened to her?
-Bloody repetitions.
Episode 143 (Kono Yo no Unmei o Kakete!) aired on February 1st, 1989.
Script by Takao Koyama, storyboard and direction by Mitsuo Hashimoto and animation supervision by Tomekichi Takeuchi.
Key animation: Tomekichi Takeuchi, Yoko Iizuka, Masako Misumi, Masahiro Shimanuki.
-It’s difficult to overshadow Seigasha, but Hashimoto actually did it. Both his storyboarding and direction are fantastic. The drama around Piccolo is extremely well-developed through creative framings, imagery,coloring and dramatic harmony cels. This latter bit might sound a bit cheesy on paper, but it works.
–This is amazing. No words needed.
–A nostalgic spectator, I see.
-As much as I enjoy the direction, we could likely do without a minute long flashback of Goku defeating Piccolo Daimao. We read the manga, we saw the episode, we remember the event. We don’t need to have our memories refreshed.
–Why are these dolts cheering for Piccolo? Why is she blowing kisses at him???
–Why does Tenshinhan ask him this? Wasn’t he the only one (Goku aside) who recognized Piccolo before the tournament began?
–F.U.C.K. O.F.F. WHO the frig had the idea of thinking abusing a pig is actually funny? What were they thinking???
–This is a Goku time trope to all intents and purposes. I believe we’ll meet this trope again…
Episode 144 (Deta! Kyūkyoku no Chō-Kamehameha) aired on February 8th, 1989.
Script by Toshiki Inoue, storyboard and direction by Daisuke Nishio and animation supervision by Masayuki Uchiyama.
Key animation: Taiichiro Ohara, Akio Katada, Naotoshi Shida.
-I really like the representation of Goku and Piccolo’s auras like energy shields (red for Goku, blue for Piccolo). I’m not going to lie, but I like this idea better than the default white auras we see nowadays.
–Dedicated to those who think Last House were the most undetailed.
–A wild Waku Waku appears.
–I’m fairly sure we heard this line from Lunch in the recent past.
-Trust me, she will be worse than Lunch.
–The Super Kamehameha??? Wow. Is Goku going to use it??? YES. WE GET IT. STOP REPEATING IT.
-As for this infamous bit, I cannot blame Krillin for telling Goku to use the DBs to revive Kami-sama. However, I can easily blame Goku for overlooking this detail, since if he knows Piccolo and Kami-sama’s lives depend on each other, then he must know the rest, about DBs disappearing and all. This topic would be brought back a few episodes later, which confirms how Goku acted stupidly in this scene.
Episode 145 (Pikkoro Daimaō Chō-Kyoshinjutsu) aired on February 15th, 1989.
Script by Keiji Terui, storyboard and direction by Yoshihiro Ueda and animation supervision by Yukio Ebisawa.
Key animation: Yukio Ebisawa, Mari Tominaga, Hiroshi Takeuchi.
-Hiroshi Takeuchi’s action has better pacing and timing than Ebisawa’s. He’s a step up over him. He also animates Piccolo’s power up with a nifty impact frame.
–Tominaga’s Krillin shares a curious resemblance to early Kan’no. Her Piccolo looks actually closer to Studio Junio rather than Studio Live.
–Bulma praising the announcer’s professionalism.
–Goku still thinking about the competition is 200% in line with his personality. And yes, having him fight alone is also very him.
-I have to say the crowd running in fear after Piccolo’s “””reveal””” is actually more funny than intimidating. Krillin’s facepalm is a funny reaction, too.
-With that said, why is everyone so DUMB? They recognize Piccolo only because his antennas are showing. Yes, because a man with green skin and pointy ears is something 100% normal…
-As much as I like Piccolo’s annoyed response, it still makes no sense. That guy has green skin and pointy ears? It’s okay. That guy has antennas? HE’S A DEMON.
–WHAT A DISCOVERY. If only they knew Ma- stood for Mazoku, the demon family…
-Ebisawa’s pacing and movements are super stock and boring.
Episode 146 (Son Gokū no Wana) aired on February 22nd, 1989.
Script by Keiji Terui, storyboard and direction by Minoru Okazaki and animation supervision by Minoru Maeda.
Key animation: Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru, Takeo Ide, Yasuyuki Shimizu, Masaki Sato, Hisashi Eguchi.
-Once again, the Fantastic Four at their artistic best.
-This episodes show so many unique techniques, such as a feet-charged Kamehameha, an antenna beam or a homing energy wave.
–Kami-sama blocking his alter-ego’s punch is also cool.
–Goku’s excessive honesty is part of his personality. Totally believable.
-A Waku Waku description.
–Kami-sama lying about the DBs and Goku agreeing with him. This is still wrong.
-The fight is pretty conservative during the first half.
Episode 147 (Banji Kyūsu!!) aired on March 1st, 1989.
Script by Toshiki Inoue, storyboard and direction by Kazuhisa Takenouchi and animation supervision by Masayuki Uchiyama.
Key animation: Taiichiro Ohara, Akio Katada, Naotoshi Shida.
–Pretty good storyboarding.
–Gotta love the Meteor Combination.
–Does ‘My word’ mean ‘My God/My Kami/My Myself’?
-Well, it technically makes sense.
-As much as I dig the effects of Piccolo’s Chou Bakuretsumaha, this seems to begin the infamous trend of spending an entire half charging an attack or powering up. Sometimes to the point that it kills the tension.
-I know this cannot be considered Oolong abuse, but it’s still indirect.
-Once again, despite Kami-sama’s training, Goku never overcame his biggest weakness, lowering his guard.
Episode 148 (Yatta! Chikyūjō Saikyō no Otoko) aired on March 8th, 1989.
Script by Takao Koyama, storyboard and direction by Osamu Kasai and animation supervision by Katsumi Aoshima.
Key animation: Katsumi Aoshima, Hideko Okimoto.
-The big positive of this episode is Kasai’s storyboarding and direction. The only true thing it’s worth an arc finale.
–HAHAHA. Speaking of overreacting.
-The best aspect about this battle is the constant physical decline of both Goku and Piccolo. Here injuries and wounds have their considerable weight, and they are felt throughout this episode. Goku is seriously injured, and his copious blood loss makes his eyesight hazier, which is so so natural and realistic.
–Kami-sama’s sense of responsibility, as he asks Tenshinhan to kill him in order to stop his evil alter-ego.
-Even though we’ll get used to these strange and questionable strategies from Goku, him giving Piccolo a Senzu is in line with his personality. Not only in order to let Kami-sama live, thus being able to use the DBs, but also to have an enemy/rival to fight.
–Mayumi Tanaka speaking with herself.
-If I’m not wrong, this is the first time Goku actually feels embarrassment instead of causing it.
–In the manga, five bonus episodes in the anime.
-As a whole, the execution of the battle finale is quite disappointing. The action is conservative and bland, and having it slow down all the time isn’t a good idea. This is Aoshima’s main problem with his episodes.
-A few visual missteps here and there, like Goku and Tenshinhan missing their wristbands or Krillin celebrating barefoot. Why…?
-Speaking of Krillin, Koyama always likes to put him in a bad light. Krillin is a very good character, and yet, he makes him so whiny and complaining all the time. What’s with this hatred of his?
–Where’s the ring? It was blown up by Piccolo’s Chou Bakuretsumaha, so how could they tell Piccolo was actually out of bounds?
–Oh shut up. She doesn’t even know shit about DBs.
-I was probably wrong about Goku not knowing the fate of DBs after Kami-sama’s potential demise. So, there’s a possibility Goku bought what Krillin and Kami-sama himself (lying, of course) suggested about DBs reviving his creator. My only issue with it is that I don’t think Goku is THAT intuitive to realize the connection between the DBs and his creator.
Episode 149 (Honō no Naka no Uedingu Doresu) aired on March 15th, 1989.
Script by Takao Koyama, storyboard and direction by Daisuke Nishio and animation supervision by Mitsuo Shindo.
Key animation: Mitsuo Shindo, Tadayoshi Yamamuro, Teruhisa Ryu.
-The Wedding Dress filler mini-arc functions as a path between the end of the first canon DB series and the time skip leading to the Saiyan arc. It’s a decent way to show how Goku and Chichi’s wedding will be like.
–Nishio‘s storyboarding looks better in the 1st half.
–Goku’s hesitation in contrast with Chichi’s overeagerness.
-The Basho Fan is mentioned only once in the manga, during the first arc. The anime brings it back as a crucial item for this mini-arc. It’s a good idea, considering it’s never mentioned again in the manga.
-This mini-arc includes a village inhabited by Oolong lookalikes, who happen to be as perverted as he is.
–Top ten anime disappointments. Can you realize we don’t see Chichi more naked than this, fan-mangas aside?
-How could a compliant character like Chichi become a rigid and nagging housewife?
-How convenient Chichi’s mother’s wedding dress is just her size.
-How convenient Uranai Baba caught a cold for the first time in 200 years.
–Goku lacking of discretion, even as an adult.
Episode 150 (Maboroshi no Hi Kui Dori) aired on March 22nd, 1989.
Script by Keiji Terui, storyboard and direction by Yoshihiro Ueda and animation supervision by Tomekichi Takeuchi.
Key animation: Tomekichi Takeuchi, Yoko Iizuka, Masako Misumi, Masahiro Shimanuki.
–Good storyboarding.
–That’s sexy.
–HAHAHA. Chichi is too embarrassed to glance at Muten Roshi’s dirty magazines.
–Petting a wild beast to calm it down. They’ll make Goten do the same in the future, too.
–Chichi gets to fight, too. Nice touch.
-So, in the end Umigame’s book is only a bunch of nonsense. I’m not sure if it’s a waste of time, or just a hilarious situation, as Muten Roshi claims he wrote it while drunk.
–Maybe Pilaf was influenced by Piccolo Daimao’s title, who knows.
-On one hand, Chichi not caring about being abducted is kinda funny…
-… on the other, though, she falls for it so easily.
-Of course, I didn’t need to see Pilaf and his incompetent sidekicks once again.
–What’s with Takeuchi’s Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds pupils?
-So, he found an egg of the last Fire-Eater bird, which for some reason, never hatched in 40 years. I’m really not that sure of knowing how its gestation works…
Episode 151 (Chichi no Hanayome Shugyō no Okage Desu) aired on April 5th, 1989.
Script by Takao Koyama and Katsuyuki Sumisawa, storyboard and direction by Kazuhisa Takenouchi and animation supervision by Masayuki Uchiyama.
Key animation: Taiichiro Ohara, Akio Katada, Naotoshi Shida.
-The innate sexiness.
–Goku trolling.
-I’m aware of this not being canon material, but Chichi mistaking the Basho Fan for a dustpan is something Toriyama would come up with. So… congrats…?
-Always a good time for Son Goku’s Redemption Day.
–Let’s have a sincere talk: given that this is Toei’s exclusive material (thus not canon), they give a fair standpoint to Chichi as a newlywed. I desperately wonder what brought the writers to change her attitude as a wife/housewife/mother. Convenient stereotypes? Need to laugh? Plain boredom? Or simply they didn’t know what to do with her character?
–Goku asking Mai if she’s a girl. At the very least he stopped slapping people’s crotches…
-Maybe it’s me, but Goku carrying an ice ball reminds me of that animated short of Donald Duck asking for an ice skater’s autograph. Different contest, same result.
–Pilaf is like the worst boss ever. Even Mai realizes how terrible he is.
-Needless to say, he is also a big-league dumbass.
–That’s what I’m wondering, too. Thankfully, we won’t see this annoying character ever again in the original series. Unless of course you count DBGT, the franchise revival of the Battle of Gods movie and DBS…
Episode 152 (Isoge Gokū! Gogyōzan no Nazo) aired on April 12th, 1989.
Script by Takao Koyama and Katsuyuki Sumisawa, storyboard and direction by Mitsuo Hashimoto and animation supervision by Yukio Ebisawa.
Key animation: Yukio Ebisawa, Hiroshi Takeuchi.
-Some pretty great storyboarding, especially in the 1st half.
-This filler arc may not be that engaging, but I like they included Son Gohan one more time.
-Maybe it’s me, but the -chan suffix for an old man sounds bizarre.
–Ebisawa’s proportions are so messed up. Chichi’s head looks massive compared with her arm.
-As much as I like M318, it’s not properly placed here.
-I mean, why didn’t she tell them sooner? It looks like finding the Basho Fan was nearly a waste of time.
–Goku telling Chichi to jump high. How about using his Nyoibo like he did with Bulma in the Red Ribbon arc? Not if Chichi is as skilled as her husband.
–Hmm, way too specific.
Episode 153 (Moeru Furaipan Yama! Isshun no Kesshikō) aired on April 19th, 1989.
Script by Takao Koyama, storyboard and direction by Minoru Okazaki and animation supervision by Minoru Maeda.
Key animation: Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru, Takeo Ide, Yasuyuki Shimizu, Masaki Sato, Hisashi Eguchi.
-One of the first times Maeda’s corrections start approaching his DBZ era. Not necessarily for the best, but still.
–Goku is more aggressive than usual in this episode. I kinda enjoy this idea, of a crankier character in line with his origin. He pulls no punches.
-Still, he’s still as naive as ever.
–An octagon and honey are required for Goku’s mission. How convenient Chichi got both in the past weeks.
–Hmm, Chichi is right.
23rd TENKAICHI BUDOKAI ARC – FINAL THOUGHTS: 7,5/10
BEST EPISODE: episode 146 (very solid, Maeda’s team at their best, so many cool techniques from both Goku and Piccolo)
WORST EPISODE: episode 148 (well-directed, yet the execution could be much better and the background characterization is a bit sloppy. Again, no actually bad episodes in this arc, either)
BEST EPISODE OF THE SERIES: episode 102/episode 122 (the beginning and the ending of the Piccolo Daimao arc, this is what changed the franchise forever, by introducing a darker and more serious tone, a strong villain and a bloody conflict. Great storyboarding and direction, and Seigasha is a guarantee, animation-wise).
WORST EPISODE OF THE SERIES: episode 63 (DB isn’t the most perfect anime, and I tend to forgive a few of their missteps and/or plotholes. However, I cannot positively forgive boredom, on the specific a boring fight. Goku vs Tao Pai Pai is portrayed as a stock, dreary and dull showdown, with forgettable animation and boring choreography).
