'Dragon Ball Z: Light Of Hope' Proves Live-Action 'Dragon Ball' Can Be Done

If you have heard about Dragon Ball Z: Light of Hope, there's a good chance you stumbled upon the series on Youtube. A few years back, Robot Underdog released its pilot episode of the fan-made adaptation of 'The History of Trunks,' and fans rallied to raise money for a full short film.

Well, the film has finally debuted, and fans agree that the production gives a look into what a good Hollywood adaptation could do for Dragon Ball.

The film, which can be seen above, distills Future Trunk's origins into an enjoyable nugget of lore. While it feels a bit too serious at times, the adaptation pays respect to Akira Toriyama's franchise in ways Dragonball Evolution did not even touch upon.

Dragon Ball Z: Light of Hope handles Super Saiyan Gohan in a way that doesn't make fans cringe, and his orange uniform doesn't become an eyesore. The films starts en media res, but fans are filled in with some overhand dialogue explaining what has befallen Earth. Fans of the anime will fit things together quite easily while newcomers struggle, but what the film does is prove that a Saiyan v Android showdown is possible.

For years, Dragonball Evolution made fans think no one could do the franchise's effects and action sequences justice. While Light of Hope does work on a much smaller budget, its final fight sequence pays homage to some of Dragon Ball Z's classic sequences. The hits are clean, the punches are brutal, and more than a few mountains did demolished when Android 18 curb-stomps Gohan. The film brought on actors who trained diligently to make their fighting believable, and Robot Underdog delivered one intense finale.

With anime becoming more and more popular, Hollywood's view on the industry is changing. Japan has a wealth of series in pocket which have built-in fans. Series like One Piece and Naruto are being courted by Hollywood right now, and it is only a matter of time until its studios figure out how to adapt anime series so that they please new and old fans. When that happens, enough time may have passed to lessen the sting of Dragonball Evolution, and fan-films like this could point Hollywood in the right direction.

So, what do you think about this live-action venture? Hit me up on Twitter @MeganPetersCB to let me know and talk all things anime!