Why Is Dragon Ball GT So Disliked By Fans?

In February 1996, the Dragon Ball fandom was introduced to what is now said to be the franchise’s most controversial additions. Following the popular Dragon Ball Z show, Toei Animation debuted Dragon Ball GT on Fuji TV and left fans scratching their heads. The brand-new anime had legions of fans cautiously optimistic before it premiered, but that hope drained away by the first episode’s end. Today, there are fans who refuse to even utter the anime’s name. And, if they say its name, they only do so with contempt and channel their inner Chi-Chi when it comes to yelling.

While Dragon Ball GT only lasted a year, the anime did untold damage to the franchise and its fandom. Some fans did and still do rally behind the show as a fun-filled romp, but the overwhelming majority of viewers seem to hate Dragon Ball GT as much as Broly hates Goku. Here at ComicBook.com, we’re digging in and listing out five reasons why fans scorn the once anticipated series.

What Wasted Potential!

First and foremost, fans look back on the show with anger because of its wasted potential. Dragon Ball GT came out when the franchise was still at peak popularity thanks to Dragon Ball Z. As a sequel, the new anime could have brought the franchise in a while new direction, but it chose to regress it instead. The first arc of Dragon Ball GT is basically a rehash of Dragon Ball; Goku, who has been de-aged into a child, goes on a intergalactic mission with Pan and Trunks. While the structure might have been permissible, the arc’s Black Star Dragon Ball premise left fans bored, and it even dared to revive one of the lamest villains from Dragon Ball Z.

Talk about disappointing. A few episodes into the show, fans were talking less about its action-packed stories and more about its cash-grabbing capitalization.

Unmemorable Characters

With no new direction to go in, Dragon Ball GT floundered to create characters who were memorable or even likable to fans. None of the show’s primary antagonists stood up to flavorful villains like Freeza or Cell. And, when the show attempted to better flesh out characters like Pan or even Bulla, their shallow characterization made them annoying to say at the least. Terrible fights were the least of Dragon Ball GT‘s concerns in the end because fans could not even bring themselves to care about the warriors waging onto the battlefield in the first place.

The Goku Show

Dragon Ball GT failed to introduce any memorable characters to the franchise, so fans hoped the anime would at least do justice to its stars. Sadly, Goku and Vegeta were left hanging. Without even addressing the latter’s mustache, Vegeta was often used for ill-time jokes. As for Goku, the Saiyan had a slew of oddly paced storylines that gave fans whiplash. The first arc saw Goku inexplicably turned into a child which left fans wondering where their beloved Z-Fighter had gone. Then, as the series moves on, Goku becomes so important to the show that former characters like Krillin, Gohan, and even Vegeta are all but forgotten.

SS4S

Though it may seem like a trivial concern, fans of Dragon Ball were gobsmacked by Goku’s new Super Saiyan transformation – and not in a good way. Since the franchise is so closely associated with the all-powerful state, fans were enraged to see the transformation messed with on a fundamental level. Super Saiyan 4 does strike a positive chord with some fans, but most were dismayed at its apish looks. The underwhelming state saw Goku tap into his Super Saiyan abilities and great ape heritage at the same time. The result gave the hero ringed eyes, pink fur, and a massive lack of gravity-defying blonde hair.

The Question of Canon

If you are new to the Dragon Ball fandom, then you may have caught onto its obsession with canon. Akira Toriyama’s long-running franchise has lots of moving parts, and fans have been known to squabble over what is considered official versus personal canon. When it comes to Dragon Ball GT, the series gets a hard no when it comes to canonicity. Toei Animation created the new anime without any input from Toriyama, and the creator has said he views the project as an unrelated aside of his overall timeline. Since the franchise’s creator is willing to overlook the anime, fans see their anger as justified and have all but scrub Dragon Ball GT from their minds.