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Dragonball Evolution

Name: Dragonball Evolution
Director: James Wong
Released: 2009
Duration: 85 min

Representation Score

2.8/10

Limited

2009

Director

James Wong

Runtime

85 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Dragonball Evolution is designed as a mainstream genre film that emphasizes broad appeal over complex social issues. The reliance on traditional Western storytelling structures limits its engagement with diverse perspectives and identities. By shifting the setting to a Western context, the film loses the opportunity to explore its East Asian cultural roots, thus missing out on meaningful cross-cultural representation. While some characters play significant roles, the overall narrative structure remains conventional, leading to a lack of representation for underrepresented groups.

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Category Breakdown

Does Dragonball Evolution have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or identities that go beyond the assumption that everyone is straight or cisgender.

How does Dragonball Evolution portray gender?

Fair

Bulma contributes significantly through her technical skills and intelligence, but the story focuses mainly on the male hero’s journey.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Dragonball Evolution?

Limited

The film adopts a modern Western style that diverges from the original Japanese setting, reinforcing a predominantly white, Anglo-centric perspective.

How does Dragonball Evolution represent religion and culture?

Limited

The story follows typical fantasy conventions, focusing on the hero's journey and battles with villains without questioning established Western storytelling norms.

Does Dragonball Evolution include disability representation?

Minimal

Physical and mental disabilities are not explored in depth. Instead, unique traits are presented as standard fantasy elements without addressing their complexity.

Present on Screen

Bulma is shown to have strong technical skills and intelligence.
The female lead avoids the typical damsel in distress stereotype.

Limited or Absent

The film does not represent LGBTQ+ characters or identities.
The narrative does not connect with the cultural origins of the source material.
There is a lack of nuanced portrayal of physical or neurodivergent disabilities.
The storytelling relies on a homogeneous, Anglo-centric framework.

Official Synopsis

On his 18th birthday, Goku receives a mystical Dragonball as a gift from his grandfather. There are only six others like it in the whole world, and legend has it that whoever possesses all seven will be granted one perfect wish. When the arrival of a dark force triggers a tragedy, Goku and his companions are propelled into an epic quest to collect the seven Dragonballs and save the Earth from destruction.

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