The most recent Dragon Ball Super film includes flashbacks to the show's

When Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero first debuted in Japan, this review of the film was published at the same time. For the theatrical release in North America, it has been revised and reissued.

The second Dragon Ball Super film, titled Super Hero, which was originally scheduled for release in Japan in April, was postponed until June 11 as a result of Toei Animation becoming the target of a ransomware assault.

The fact that the movie's revised release date put it squarely around Father's Day is if there is a silver lining in what must have been a dreadful situation for the production firm. The fact that the movie Super Hero honours one of the most well-liked father figures not just in the Dragon Ball universe but also in all of anime—the alien-slug fighter Piccolo—made it feel all the more meaningful.

Since the film not only emphasises fatherhood but also appears to have been created expressly for dads who have been too busy to keep up with Dragon Ball past the 1990s GT series, it is rather surprising that the release of Super Hero wasn't planned for Father's Day all along.

Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero is amazing because it doesn't assume any prior knowledge of the 2015 revival series Super. It is a 99-minute homage to the first-generation Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z anime.

Dragon Ball episodes

To enjoy the movie, even those who have never watched a Dragon Ball episode just need to be aware of the following: There are warriors of the alien race who occasionally search for wand-granting magic orbs. When they are fighting, they scream a lot. When they get more powerful, they occasionally change colour. That’s basically it.

The new movie, which was directed by Tetsuro Kodama (who previously contributed to the first Dragon Ball Super movie, Broly), occurs after the Granolah Saga in the Super series manga. By including Goku, Vegeta, Beerus, Whis, and Broly in a few sequences, Super Hero pays homage to the events of Dragon Ball Super.

However, their appearances hardly go beyond the expected cameos. They bear no resemblance to the primary plot, which centres on Piccolo and Gohan battling a formidable force from the past known as the Red Ribbon Army.

The villainous organisation

The villainous organisation, which Gohan's biological father Goku is said to have vanquished in the 1980s, appeared to be making a reappearance in Dragon Ball Z when Red Ribbon Army scientist Dr. Gero escaped and unleashed a number of his android creations on the globe.

In Super Hero, the RRA has awoken from the dead and enlisted Gero's brilliant grandson Hedo—both of their names, incidentally, imply "vomit"—to aid in conquering the world.

There is more to the story, including the unexpected reappearance of a well-known antagonist in a new form and a brand-new chapter in Piccolo's persona that, one hopes, will continue into the Dragon Ball Super series and subsequent films.

In contrast to DBS, which has seen characters merge with the Earth, gods of devastation, and entire universes vanish from existence, the stakes here feel incredibly modest overall. In contrast, Dr. Hedo in Super Hero is horrified by the mere existence of aliens. His worries seem so archaic now. But the movie's greatest strength is actually its scaled-back perspective.

Consider the movie Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero as a break. It offers a break from lengthy plots where the fabric of reality is on the line as well as a chance to unwind and relive your favourite Dragon Ball moments.

3D animation in Super Hero

The inclusion of 3D animation in Super Hero, a first for a Dragon Ball film, is the only thing that throws off that dynamic. The aesthetic gives the movie a strange appearance that is similar to a Nintendo Switch game. But compared to the story the viewer receives, it's a tiny price to pay.

Piccolo, who Dragon Ball fans have long lauded as one of the greatest anime fathers ever, is without a doubt Super Hero's shining star. He was the one who previously gave his life to keep Gohan safe. (He improved.)

Throughout the Cell Games Saga, he was the one who expressed the most worry for Gohan's security. He was also the one who collaborated with Gohan during the Universe Survival Saga when Goku was gone exploring on his own.

Piccolo's affection

Yes, Piccolo's affection for Gohan has frequently been described as "difficult," especially when they initially began working out together. Piccolo accomplished more to prepare the youngster for life's trials than Goku ever could, even in a universe where there are creatures capable of destroying entire planets.

In Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, Piccolo continues to look after Gohan as an adult and even serves as a role model for Pan, Gohan's daughter. The Gohan-Piccolo bond is still the movie's true heart, despite how adorable the Piccolo and Pan scenes are.

Super Hero contains two sequences that perfectly capture their connection. In the first, Piccolo comes up with a straightforward plan to increase Gohan's power level, demonstrating his remarkable insight into the thinking process of his stepson.

Near the end, Gohan is forced to make a decision that could either honour Goku or Piccolo. This is the second instance. Naturally, he chooses the latter because Piccolo is fundamentally a dad, and he is smart enough to grasp the difference between a father and a dad.

Dragon Ball creator

Because of this, Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama makes a wise choice with this script by showcasing Piccolo's non-warrior side, such as how he interacts with his adopted family and lives during his downtime.

But since this is still a Dragon Ball narrative, there aren't just retro flashbacks and advice for superhero parents. The film is filled with humour, aerial combat, and energy blasts against a backdrop of vast locations.

On paper, the locations and battles here shouldn't be comparable to Dragon Ball Super's galactic backdrop. But to make, say, one building seem like one of the biggest things in the entire Dragon Ball franchise, Kodama employs every animation trick in the book.

Everything in this DB movie appears and feels supersized, which is appropriate for a picture with two uses of the word "super" in its title. On a big screen, it's a tonne of fun to see.