Dragon Ball is without a doubt the most influential piece of Japanese animated media ever produced, even if it has faded from its former glory in the eyes of many recently. However, that growing malaise towards Dragon Ball was briefly washed away, and suddenly everything felt shiny and new again with the release of Dragon Ball Super: Broly, back in 2018. Taking an old idea and bringing it to life in a new light, it follows Goku and his friends (mostly just Vegeta though) as they face off against a new threat; a heretofore unknown warrior named Broly who bears incredible power but lacks the knowledge or will to use it. Broly, however, is basically a tool to be used by his father, who himself is a servant to the evil tyrant Frieza who wants nothing more than the eradication of his arch-enemies, the Saiyans. It is a heartwarming story about found-family, and it does a great job at framing its titular character, Broly, as a tragic main character, which in and of itself is a step away from the usual Dragon Ball format where Goku and friends are otherwise always the protagonists.
The animation? Spectacular, a feast for the eyes and a true display of why certain things can only really be accomplished in the 2D space. The story? Surprisingly thoughtful and emotional for what is essentially 40 straight minutes of fighting framed by the narrative set-up. The voice acting? Phenomenal, and as is so rarely the case, it can be enjoyed in either its subbed Japanese dub or its English dub without the usual hit to quality that often accompanies anime dubs. It even manages to carry the signature humor of Akira Toriyama, always ready to remind us that Dragon Ball is predominantly about having fun, action-packed adventures that aren't bogged down too much by logic or intense drama. It's an easy recommendation for anyone who is a fan of Dragon Ball, or otherwise just generally enjoys well-animated movies.
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