'Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero' star breaks down the film's most exciting moments (2024)

Warning: This article contains spoilers about Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero.

After so many years, Dragon Ball feels as popular as ever. The latest film in the franchise, Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, was No. 1 at the U.S. box office last weekend — 36 years after the Dragon Ball anime first premiered on Japanese television. In that time, the franchise has attracted multiple generations of fans, and the new film pays tribute to that long, rich history while also adding new characters to the mix.

EW caught up with American voice actor Chris Sabat (who voices both Piccolo and Vegeta, and is voice director for the English dub) to break down the most exciting moments from Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero.

'Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero' star breaks down the film's most exciting moments (1)

Piccolo and Pan

Piccolo has always been a gruff mystic, and it's clear at the start of Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero that if he had his way, he'd spend all day meditating and training his mind. And yet, Piccolo is constantly called upon by his former student Gohan (Kyle Hebert) to look after his daughter Pan (Jeannie Tirado), picking her up from school when her dad's too busy with scholarly research. Although he acts annoyed, the film makes clear that Piccolo cares deeply for Pan — not least because he can now train her in the same ways he once trained a younger Gohan.

"It became very clear that Piccolo is a big part of their family," Sabat tells EW. "I may have leaned on this as a father, I may have leaned on this even harder than Japan did, but I loved the idea that they asked Piccolo to pick up Pan more than Piccolo wanted to. I got the impression that he does this all the time. So there's a moment when Piccolo apologizes to Pan's teacher. In the Japanese script, it's just 'sorry about this, ma'am.' We did 'sorry about this, Janet.' I thought Piccolo knowing Pan's teacher on a first-name basis implies for the audience that he does this all the time."

'Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero' star breaks down the film's most exciting moments (2)

Goku vs. Vegeta — but different this time

As Dragon Ball went on, the power levels of the villains kept escalating to the point that it felt like the only heroes who could contribute to the plot were the Saiyan warriors Goku and Vegeta, who could always achieve another stage of Super Saiyan transformation. Super Hero switches things up by keeping Goku and Vegeta off on their alien planet with Whis (Ian Sinclair) and Beerus (Jason Douglas). Goku and Vegeta just spend their time having an epic sparring match while Piccolo and Gohan overcome the Red Ribbon Army.

"I found it interesting that they put Vegeta and Goku in time-out, a little bit," Sabat says. "There's also the interesting element of Vegeta being the one who was methodical, focused, and chill for the first time."

Don't forget to watch the film's post-credits scene to see how the sparring match ends!

"There's nothing more exciting than Vegeta finally getting a win, even if it's in the most hysterical way possible," Sabat says.

'Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero' star breaks down the film's most exciting moments (3)

Orange Piccolo

One reason the heroes are able to defeat their enemies without Goku and Vegeta is that Piccolo figures out a way to boost his own power. By assembling the Dragon Balls, Piccolo wishes for the dragon Shenron to enhance his dormant abilities the same way the Namekian elder once did for Gohan and Krillin (Sonny Strait) way back in the "Namek Saga" of Dragon Ball Z. It's a fun callback for longtime fans.

"Piccolo's never been the focus of anything before, but I think he makes a really good lead character," Sabat says. "It was interesting to watch him sitting there figuring out what to do and going through his whole Rolodex to solve this problem. 'I'll go see Korin; I'll go see Dende.'"

So what to call Piccolo's new form — Super Namekian? Super Piccolo? The characters themselves come up with a simpler adage.

"Any upgrade that Piccolo can get is fine by me," Sabat says. "When he rises up out of the ground surrounded by the whirlwind of special effects looking like the Hulk, I almost started crying the first time I saw it. I'm sure the audience felt the same way."

Sabat continues, "And I love how casually he and Gohan chat about it towards the end. 'Oh, I see you turned orange.' 'Yeah.' 'What are you gonna call it?' 'I guess, Orange Piccolo.' Like yeah, that tracks!"

'Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero' star breaks down the film's most exciting moments (4)

Gohan takes after Piccolo

A familiar climax takes shape at the end of Super Hero: Once more the android Cell is threatening the world, and only Gohan can stop him. But whereas Gohan once destroyed Cell with a massive Kamehameha blast, the technique he inherited from his father Goku, this time he takes a different approach.

Gohan has always learned a lot from Piccolo — even in Super Hero, his battle outfit is still identical to that of the Namekian warrior — and he proves that definitively when he finishes Cell off with Piccolo's signature move, the Special Beam Cannon.

"That's one of those moments that just takes the audience's breath away," Sabat says. "When I first saw that, my mouth dropped. It was very cool of creator Toriyama to allow the audience to really, truly experience that that was happening. Around that time, the music drops out, it's just silence in the theater, and you hear Gohan's voice: 'Special Beam Cannon!' I mean, I'm actually getting a little choked up talking about it."

Sabat adds, "It's a creator finally making good on his promise of 20 years that Gohan was going to be a valuable asset. At the same time that it's the climax of this film, it's also a miraculous callback, with Piccolo holding Cell just like Goku held Radditz. Except this time he did it right, and moved out of the way! And Gohan's smart enough to aim higher."

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'Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero' star breaks down the film's most exciting moments (2024)

FAQs

Is Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero inappropriate? ›

Parents Need to Know

Violence includes fighting, kicking, and punching, plus characters getting flung through the air and smashed into things. Guns are brandished and shot, and a character is killed.

Was Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero a flop? ›

Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero received positive reviews from critics with praise for its nostalgia factor, characterization, fan service, action sequences and humor. The film grossed ¥13.8 billion (about US$102.5 million) worldwide, thus becoming the second-highest grossing Dragon Ball film to date.

Who is the most powerful character in Super Dragon Ball Heroes? ›

Goku remains a dominant figure due to his love of fighting and ability to surpass others with his ever-growing strength. The series features diverse characters like Vegeta, Gohan, Frieza, Beerus, Whis, and Zeno, each contributing uniquely to its enduring legacy.

How much time passed in Dragon Ball Super Hero? ›

Super Hero Takes Place One Year Before Dragon Ball Original's Ending. Pan was stated to be three years old in Super Hero, and with her being four in her original appearance in Dragon Ball, that meant that Super Hero should have taken place one year before the original ending, at most.

Is Dragon Ball GT inappropriate? ›

Parents Need to Know

Expect tons of onscreen animated violence including brutal beatings, explosions, stabbing, and disintegration. GT has a few villains who have plenty of creepy moments. Sexual humor is also present, and the uncut version of the series has the occasional curse words such as "damn" and "crap."

Is Dragon Ball Z ok for children? ›

Still, there's no shortage of violent scenes; characters get hurt, unconventional weapons are used, and the dialogue includes language about killing, decimating, and destroying. While the show is massively appealing to anime fans, parents need to be aware that the strong violent visuals may frighten some kids.

Is Gohan stronger than Goku? ›

Yes, he is. The answer to the previous question was made simple by the creator of the Dragon Ball franchise and Dragon Ball Super, Akira Toriyama. While promoting the DBS: Super Hero last year, he mentioned in an interview that Gohan is now the strongest Z fighter even stronger than UI Goku and Ultra Ego (UE) Vegeta.

Is Beast Gohan canon? ›

Gohan reaches his ultimate transformation in chapter 99 of Dragon Ball Super, finally making the Saiyan's peak form from the movie fully manga canon. The concept of Ultimate Gohan actually foreshadows Gohan's mindset during the Tournament of Power.

Is Android 21 a cannon? ›

Dragon Ball Super's Super Hero Arc Proves Android 21 Is Canon.

Who is the strongest Saiyan in Dragon Ball Super Super hero? ›

Currently, the title of the strongest Saiyan in Dragon Ball Super goes to Gohan. During the new Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero movie which has been declared canon, Gohan was stated to have surpassed Goku and Vegeta.

Who is the strongest villain in Dragon Ball Super heroes? ›

Beerus has been set as the ultimate obstacle, and so far no matter how strong Goku has gotten, Beerus is always seen as just a little bit stronger. Since Goku has defeated nearly all of his enemies, it makes sense that Beerus ranks higher than everyone else in the franchise.

Who is the No 1 powerful character in Dragon Ball Super? ›

Gohan, son of Goku, is the strongest mortal in the entire Dragon Ball franchise. After the introduction of his newest form, Beast Gohan, while fighting Cell Max in Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, Gohan rose in the ranks of strongest heroes.

How old is Pan in Super Hero? ›

Pan appears in Super Hero as a major character. She is a kindergarten student and although she is only 3 and a half years old, she has been training under Piccolo and shows signs of having great potential.

How old is Pan in End of Z? ›

According the end of DBZ, there was a ten year time skip. Pan was 4. Goten and Trunks appeared to be 18. But in Super, Pan is currently a baby, while goten and trunks look to be the same age they were during the buu saga.

How old is Goku in DBS hero? ›

I'm talking about Goku at the End of Z. I also want to know how old he is during DBS Super Hero. Chronologically, he's 47 at the end of Z, and biologically he's about 43, and during Super Hero, he should be about 45 chronologically and 41 biologically.

Is Dragon Ball Super Super Hero kid friendly? ›

Great TV show but not for little kids

This title has: Too much violence. Too much sex. Too much swearing.

Is superhero movie inappropriate? ›

"Superhero Movie" is rated PG-13 for countless sex and drug references, crude humor, and adult language.

What super hero show is rated R? ›

R-rated TV shows like Gen V and Daredevil break the traditional superhero mold with gritty realism and intricate characters. Genre-bending shows like Legion and Preacher challenge superhero norms, offering visionary storytelling and insightful themes.

Why is Dragon Ball Super Hero PG-13? ›

Rated PG-13 for some action/violence and smoking.

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