Dragon Ball, in its many forms and installments, is one of the most popular and successful anime and manga franchises in history. Akira Toriyama’s originalWeekly Shōnen Jumpmanga series spawned countless different spin-offs, sequels, and video games. Though new releases can sometimes be hit or miss with fans,the power ofDragon Ball’sname ensures their success.
Arguably, the most divisive installment in theDragon Ballseries is 1997’sDragon Ball GT, the franchise’s first attempt at moving forward without the guiding light of Toriyama’s source material.
From the jump, fans couldn’t agree on how they felt about the series, and it seems those in charge felt much the same, officially labeling it as a non-canon work with the release ofDragon Ball Superin 2015. Time hasn’t been overly kind toDragon Ball GT,but there is one thing most fans agree was done well: the finale.
Dragon Ball GT Has Its Fair Share of Ups and Downs
The Most Divisive Dragon Ball Series Isn’t All Bad
Dragon Ball GT’s shortcomings are well-documented. Early on, the series struggled with pacing and very clearly was experiencing a sort of identity crisis. With the decision to once again make Goku a child, a plot point the franchise has played with on a number of occasions, it was clear the series intended to return toDragon Ball’s roots.
However, without Akira Toriyama supplyingDragon Ball GTwith the sort of magic his manga became known for, the series largely failed to capture the adventurous, whimsical spirit and sense of wonder that defined its early sections. Instead, what resulted were messy and mostly unengaging, tedious adventures inGT’s opening arc.
Quickly, the anime switched gears, and action once again became the focus. The introduction of Baby brought along one ofDragon Ball’s greatest villains, and another concept that was revisited duringDragon Ball Super’s Goku Black arc. It also brought one of themost beloved transformations inDragon Ball: Super Saiyan 4.
In several ways,Dragon Ball GTshowcased some excellent ideas, but it often failed to execute them. However, its finale remains one of its strongest points, and fans generally agree that it’s one of the best conclusions in anyDragon Ballproduction.
Dragon Ball GT Stumbled But Stuck Its Landing
The Finale of the Series More than Makes Up For Any Shortcomings
EvenDragon Ball GT’s Shadow Dragon Sagahad its issues, but the premise of the characters' over-reliance on the Dragon Balls giving way to evil dragons was an interesting spin on the series' titular artifacts. The final battle gave fans a glimpse at Super Saiyan 4 Gogeta, before Goku’s Universal Spirit Bomb finally put an end to Omega Shenron.
It’s after that final blow thatDragon Ball GT’s finale becomes a bit less straightforward. Without saying as much, it can be inferred that Goku didn’t survive the battle, and departs with Shenron before the Dragon Balls become forever unusable. 100 years later, the descendants ofDragon Ball’s two leading Saiyans face-off at a Tournament as Goku watches on.
The final moments ofDragon Ball GTdon’t end with a bang, but rather the series uses its time to reflect on the heroes and their impact on the world, and showcases the old fighting spirit living on through an entirely new generation of heroes. For Goku, there could be no better end than the spirit ofDragon Ballhimself flying away with the series' central dragon.
For a character like Piccolo, to whom the Dragon Balls were once explicitly tied, his fate of going down with the planet his prior self once guarded is poetic. From being the spawn of the Earth’s greatest terror, to dying alongside the planet his previous incarnation swore to dominate—there could beno better end forDragon Ball’s main Namekian.
It’s that focus on the characters, and the determination to bring the series to a true close, that separatesGT’s ending from the more open-ended conclusionsDragon Ballrelies on today.
It isn’t explicitly shown, but it can be inferred that Vegeta lived out his life with his family, another perfect fate for a warrior once driven by selfish desire and rage. All was right forDragon Ball’s main cast of fighters, as they and their loved ones, for once, appeared able to enjoy times of peace following the final battle.
Dragon Ball GT Is No Longer Canon, But Its Spirit Lives On
Dragon Ball Daima Took Heavy Inspiration From Dragon Ball GT
In 2024, Akira Toriyama’s final project,Dragon Ball Daima,aired and revealed itself to bethe spiritual successor toDragon Ball GT. Goku and company were once again turned back into children and were sent on an exciting new journey across dimensions, before a new-look Super Saiyan 4 appeared and won the day.
Perhaps the biggest difference between the two series, however, comes in their endings.Dragon Ball Daimaleft itself open-ended, asDragon Ballhas become in recent years, always leaving the door open for a new, never-ending adventure.Dragon Ball GTgave its characters definitive, final conclusions, wrapping up their personal arcs in perfect resting points.
Dragon Ball GTremains the most divisive installment in the iconicDragon Ballfranchise, but the series did far more good than it’s often given credit for. Its worst aspects have become glaring issues in the years since its release, but its best parts, namely its finale, still hold up well.
Dragon Ball GT
Cast
Dragon Ball GT is the third series in Akira Toriyama’s most famous anime franchise. However, it is the first one not to adapt a manga storyline. Set after the events of the Buu Saga, Dragon Ball GT sees Goku and the Z-Warriors battle powerful villains such as Baby, Super 17, and the Shadow Dragons. 18 years after the 64-episode show was met with a lukewarm reception, Dragon Ball Super replaced it in the anime’s official continuity.
