Dragon Ballhas grown into one of the most influential anime franchises of all time with its blend of martial arts, humor, and fantasy, with high-stakes action and intricate lore.At the heart of the series are the Dragon Balls, mystical artifacts with the power to summon a dragon to grant wishes.Over the years, the origins of the wish-granting orbs have been explained in the canon as linked to Namekians with special abilities.
However, the franchise didn’t always provide a clear explanation for the Dragon Balls. In the early days of the original series,there was a completely different story regarding their origin.It was rooted in a moral story that explored themes of greed and consequence, shaping how viewers perceived the Dragon Balls before their Namekian origins were revealed.
Dragon Ball Once Told a Very Different Origin Story
The Origins of the Dragon Balls Were Far More Mystical
In theearly episodes ofDragon Ball, the series was still finding its footing and used filler episodes to occupy narrative space. In Episode 33, fans learn about the origins of the Dragon Balls from Master Roshi, who reveals that they were once a single, divine artifact bestowed upon humanity by the gods. However,when humans grew greedy and war broke out over the orb’s power, the gods divided it into seven pieces to limit its potential.This tale, grounded in morality, served as a cautionary lesson for the series.
This version of events was never revisited in the series, and the manga and later episodes presented a different explanation for how they came to be. In Chapter #162 and Episode 123,Korin reveals that the Dragon Balls were created by a singular God. Audiences discover this “God” isn’t truly a deity, but rather the Earth’s guardian, who is a Namekian with mystical abilities. This reframes the creation of the Dragon Balls as less divine and more grounded. While the idea of a benevolent power bestowing magic orbs remains, the myth from Episode 33 was overwritten by a stronger backstory.
Namekians Creating the Dragon Balls Grounded the Story
Dragon Ball Benefited in the Long Run With Namekian Involvement
AsDragon Ballexpanded, its mythology evolved alongside the series. The Dragon Balls were eventually revealed to have been created by gifted Namekians, specifically Earth’s Guardian, Kami, and later Dende. This revelation is introduced in the manga and later confirmed in the anime,transforming the Dragon Balls into magical artifacts with tangible origins rather than a divine mystery.The Dragon Balls were powerful magic tools crafted by a race with an expansive history, making the original story of them being gifts from omnipotent gods feel more mystical but disconnected from the current series.
Grounding the Dragon Balls in Namekian lore added depth to the series and contributed to the expansion of its universe.It introduced plausible rules and limitations and better facilitated the concept of multiple Dragon Balls across different planets and realms.This shift helped solidifyDragon Ball’stransition from a fantasy adventure to a more robust interplanetary narrative. The idea that any capable Namekian could theoretically create a new set of Dragon Balls offered the series a fresh twist that opened the doors to many future possibilities.
Decades Later, Namekian Lore Is Still Growing
The Latest Installment of the Franchise, Dragon Ball Daima, Gave the Namekians a Stronger Backstory
What began as a mysterious explanation for the creation of magical wish-granting artifactsevolved into one ofDragon Ball’smost developed and intriguing aspects of its world-building.The Namekians were initially introduced as a convenient answer to who created the Dragon Balls, but over time, their culture, lore, and abilities became significantly more crucial to the series’ development. From Kami and Piccolo’s split to the introduction of Planet Namek and the Grand Elder, the series gradually expanded on Namekian lore. By the timeDragon Ball Zfully explored Namek, it had become a necessary pillar of the franchise’s universe.
Even decades later, Namekian lore continues to grow and evolve. The latest installment of the franchise isDragon Ball Daima, where the history and true origins of the Namekians are brought to light. The fact that theNamekians were originally from the Demon Realm and fled to escape oppression from the Demon Kings, who abused their ability to create Dragon Balls, adds new layers to the narrative.With the introduction of Neva, the Namekians gain greater historical significance within the series, making them one of the most well-developed races in the entire series.
It’s Not the First Time Dragon Ball Filler Has Clashed With Canon
Dragon Ball Is Known To Have Plot Holes and Inconsistencies, but That’s Part of Its Charm
Dragon Ballis known for its expansive catalog of filler episodes, providing fans with extra adventures and character moments that deviate from the manga’s storyline. However,expanding the story often comes at the cost of continuity, leading to plot holes or inconsistencies that feel strange.A notable example involves Krillin’s family. In afiller arc inDragon Ball Z, Krillin’s ex-girlfriend is named Marron, the same name later given to his daughter. This overlap creates awkwardness in the anime’s storyline; however, it stems from Toriyama’s penchant for puns in character names that overlap with the anime’s filler content.
These discrepancies happened because the anime needed to fill episodes while waiting for the manga to progress, leading to side stories created by different teams who weren’t always in tune with Toriyama’s vision.
Filler sometimes introduces elements to the storyline that clash with established or future canonical lore. Power levels fluctuate inconsistently, timelines tend to become muddled, and sometimes backstories don’t align with the original manga, such as Broly’s, who was an anime original untilSuperintegrated him into the series’ main continuity. These discrepancies happened because the anime needed to fill episodes whilewaiting for the manga to progress, leading to side stories created by different teams who weren’t always in tune with Toriyama’s vision. While filler episodes oftenprovide entertaining and memorable moments, they can also create gaps within the story.
The series continues to evolve, and with these expansions, there may be discrepancies within the plotline. Early filler episodesremind fans that the franchise has always been flexible with its history and developments.While later canon provides clarity and depth, it may confuse anime-only fans. Despite this, the variations and flexible plot make the series as engaging as it is, becoming a memorable aspect. The Dragon Balls themselves may have experienced such a transformation, but in the end,Dragon Ballthrives on its ever-expanding lore.
