Introduction
Dragon Ball Super Broly is not your typical anime movie—it’s a game-changer. The 2018 film breathed new life into the Dragon Ball franchise, introducing a canon version of Broly while featuring jaw-dropping action, deep storytelling, and eye-popping animation. Fans worldwide were left speechless as Goku and Vegeta fought a reimagined Broly, setting a new standard for the franchise.
Let’s dive into what makes Dragon Ball Super: Broly one of the greatest Dragon Ball films of all time!
The Return of the Legendary Saiyan Dragon Ball Super Broly
Broly was a fan-favourite character for decades, debuting in Dragon Ball Z: Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan (1993). His origin, however, was non-canon and not developed. Dragon Ball Super: Broly reintroduced him into the canon narrative with an emotional and intense origin that built him into more than just a mindless brute.
This version of Broly is raised in exile on Planet Vampa, where he develops immense power but no mastery over it. He’s trained by his father, Paragus, with a bitter and vengeful mindset, and a shock collar is employed to restrain him. This Broly is not evil by nature—unlike his previous incarnation, he’s a tragic figure forged by circumstances beyond his control.
A Story That Adds Depth to Dragon Ball
The film delves deeper into Dragon Ball lore, offering a fresh perspective on the demise of Planet Vegeta. We see King Cold relinquishing leadership to Frieza, the ill-fated fate of the Saiyans, and a longer look into Bardock, Goku’s dad, as he stages a heroic attempt to save his son.
This background gives depth to the world of Dragon Ball Super Broly, and the Saiyans become real people rather than a warrior race. Broly’s tale, woven into this background, gives the film an emotional complexity the other Dragon Ball movies lacked.
Animation That Sets a New Benchmark
One of the biggest highlights of Dragon Ball Super: Broly is its stunning animation. Directed by Tatsuya Nagamine and featuring animation supervisor Naohiro Shintani’s fresh art style, the film moves away from the stiff designs of Dragon Ball Super and brings a fluid, dynamic aesthetic that makes every fight sequence mesmerizing.
The battles are a spectacle—fast, explosive, and fierce. The back-and-forth between Goku and Vegeta’s base forms and Super Saiyan and, later, Super Saiyan Blue forms is seamless. Broly’s transformations are brutal and animalistic, his untamed power translates in a thrilling way.
The action choreography is some of the best in the franchise, with rotating and zooming camera angles for every punch, energy blast, and transformation. It’s nothing less than exhilarating to watch Goku and Vegeta struggle against Broly’s crushing might.
Goku, Vegeta & Broly – A Clash of Titans
The pièce de résistance of the film, naturally, is its monumental battles. Goku and Vegeta, despite their overwhelming power, are outmatched by the raw, untamed power of Broly. The melding of classic Dragon Ball brutality with modern animation makes these battles some of the most visually spectacular in anime history.
And who can forget the return of Gogeta? People were thrilled to witness the merge of Goku and Vegeta once again, this time in his Super Saiyan Blue form. Gogeta vs. Broly is a breathtaking, dimension-shattering battle that solidifies why this movie is a work of art.
Frieza’s Role – More Than Just a Villain
Dragon Ball Super Broly One of the most unexpected but clever things about the movie is Frieza’s role. Unlike other instalments where he’s the main villain, here he’s more like a cunning, manipulative figure. His decision to use Broly to battle Goku and Vegeta is a testament to his classic tactics, but he quickly understands that Broly is too intense—even for him!
The comedic yet sadistic sequence where Frieza recreates the iconic “Krillin death” scene to trigger Goku’s transformation is both shocking and funny. It serves to point out that while Frieza remains a despicable character, he is also a source of unintentional humour.
The Soundtrack – An Electrifying Experience
Music plays a huge role in elevating the intensity of the movie to the next level. The soundtrack, thanks to Norihito Sumitomo, features high-energy orchestral pieces with pumping chants that echo the names of the fighters. The background score when Broly transforms and during the final fights makes every moment larger than life.