Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero (English) Review {2.5/5} & Review Rating
The anime series Dragon Ball has been releasing as a feature film for a while now. After the last instalment in the Dragon Ball Super series in the form of Dragon Ball Super: Broly, the next release is DRAGON BALL SUPER: SUPER HERO. Directed by Tetsuro Kodama, produced by Toei Animation and written by the series creator Akira Toriyama, the new film is the fourth venture in 24 that have released to be feature Toriyama's direct involvement. But will the new DRAGON BALL SUPER film manage to entice the anime audience is the question.
DRAGON BALL SUPER: SUPER HERO picks up after the happenings in DRAGON BALL SUPER: BROLY with Goku and Vegeta away training with Whis on Beerus' planet alongside Broly. Now, Earth faces a new threat with the resurgence of the Red Ribbon Army. Originally destroyed by Goku, the new CEO of Red Pharmaceuticals, Magenta looks to re-establish his father’s legacy by enrolling the grandson of Dr. Gero, who originally assisted Magenta’s father in developing the Androids, Dr. Hedo. Between Magenta and Dr. Hedo, they manage to develop two new androids, Gamma 1 & Gamma 2 and a successor to Cell, termed as Cell Max. With Magenta set on destroying the Z Fighters and Capsule Corp, with his newly reformed Red Ribbon Army, the Gammas and Cell Max, a new threat looms. Will Picolo, Gohan, Goten, Trunks, Android 18, and the rest of the team manage to overpower Magenta and Cell Max? Will Goku and Vegeta return in time to save the planet? Or will Magenta re-establish the power structure after his victory… These are the questions that form the rest of the film.
DRAGON BALL SUPER: SUPER HERO continues with the same animation style that fans have come to know and love. Toriyama's direct involvement in the project, the film does not stray from the original and retains the essence of the Dragon Ball series. In terms of direction, Tetsuro Kodama keeps the happenings short and crisp, not wasting time on setup he get right to the point. With on point action, and humour DRAGON BALL SUPER: SUPER HERO makes for a fun watch for those who have been fans of the series.
However, it isn’t all rosy, the film does have its share of drawbacks in the form of the main villain Cell Max being heavily underutilized. From the understanding that Cell Max is better than Cell, the audience expect a full-blown fight between the Z Fighters and Cell Max. Unfortunately, the main villain makes an appearance only in the end, with a single battle that seemed too short.
From the perspective story, DRAGON BALL SUPER: SUPER HERO does not require prior knowledge of the series or films. In fact, one can view the film as a standalone experience and still enjoy it. Similarly, the visual experience of the animation is seamless and executed to perfection, while the background score keep the viewers in their seats, while complimenting the onscreen proceedings well.
On the whole, DRAGON BALL SUPER: SUPER HERO makes for a fun watch for the uninitiated, while fans of the series might find that the film stays true to its crux. At the box office though, the film will face a hard time, with a limited release, low-key awareness, and non-existent promotions DRAGON BALL SUPER: SUPER HERO will have to rely heavily on strong positive word of mouth.