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Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies

Name: Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies
Director: Daisuke Nishio
Released: 1986
Duration: 50 min

Representation Score

2.0/10

Minimal

1986

TV-PG

Director

Daisuke Nishio

Runtime

50 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies is a conventional shonen adventure that prioritizes genre clichés over social subversion. While the fantasy setting offers a multicultural landscape through various species, the narrative remains anchored in traditional structures. The film provides some women's ability to drive the story through characters like Pansy, yet it does not challenge masculine leadership roles. It functions as a standard hero's journey, emphasizing moral clarity and communal protection rather than complex social or cultural critiques. Ultimately, the work lacks intentionality regarding the way different parts of someone's identity overlap or the inclusion of underrepresented identities, such as LGBTQ+ individuals or people with disabilities.

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Category Breakdown

Does Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any characters identifying as LGBTQ+ or depict same-sex relationships. Traditional heterosexual relationships are common in 1980s animation.

How does Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies portray gender?

Fair

Female characters like Pansy and Launch play key roles in driving the plot. However, the story maintains typical genre clichés without challenging traditional gender roles.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies?

Fair

A diverse cast of humans and anthropomorphic beings creates a multicultural fantasy setting. This variety serves as standard world-building without critiquing racial hierarchies.

How does Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies represent religion and culture?

Limited

The story follows a binary struggle between good and evil. It lacks critiques of institutions, focusing instead on traditional concepts of communal stability and righteous heroism.

Does Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no representation of visible or invisible disabilities. No characters are portrayed with neurodivergence or physical impairments as part of their arcs.

Present on Screen

The film features a multicultural fantasy setting populated by a diverse array of humans and anthropomorphic beings.
Female characters like Pansy have enough ability to act to drive the central plot and initiate the adventure.

Limited or Absent

The narrative lacks representation for LGBTQ+ identities and non-assuming gender matches what was assigned at birth gender expressions.
There is no depiction of characters with physical or neurodivergent disabilities.
The story adheres to traditional gender hierarchies and binary moral structures rather than challenging them.

Official Synopsis

The great King Gurumes is searching for the Dragon Balls in order to put a stop to his endless hunger. A young girl named Pansy who lives in the nearby village has had enough of the treachery and decides to seek Muten Rōshi for assistance. Can our heroes save the village and put a stop to the Gurumes Army?

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