Dragon Ball Super: Broly (2018)
ドラゴンボール超 ブロリー
Film details
Action · Science Fiction · Animation · Tatsuya Nagamine · 1h 39min
Synopsis
Earth is peaceful following the Tournament of Power. Realizing that the universes still hold many more strong people yet to see, Goku spends all his days training to reach even greater heights. Then one day, Goku and Vegeta are faced by a Saiyan called 'Broly' who they've never seen before. The Saiyans were supposed to have been almost completely wiped out in the destruction of Planet Vegeta, so what's this one doing on Earth? This encounter between the three Saiyans who have followed completely different destinies turns into a stupendous battle, with even Frieza (back from Hell) getting caught up in the mix.
Verdict
Very intense anime violence and strong language for PG rating.
In-depth analysis
The Dragon Ball franchise arrived in the West labeled as children's content, but was never conceived as such in Japan. Dragon Ball Super: Broly makes this clear from the opening minutes: the latter half of the film is an almost uninterrupted combat sequence, with a visual intensity that far exceeds the standard for violence in a PG rating. The slow-motion blows, the faces distorted by impact, the destruction of entire mountains, and the annihilation of Planet Vegeta construct a spectacle that, though animated and without explicit gore, can prove overwhelming for young viewers. Anime violence possesses its own language: constant screams, power transformations, and battles that literally traverse dimensions. It is not visceral realism, but it is exhausting due to its sheer accumulation. The language also surprises: nearly a dozen English expletives ('damn', 'hell', 'bastard') and irreverent use of God's name, uncommon for its rating. On a deeper level, the work is ideologically neutral: the fantastical mythology of the Super Saiyans, gods of destruction, and wish-granting dragons is genre embellishment, not a philosophical agenda. For adult fans of the franchise, it offers expected entertainment. For parents considering taking their young children, it would be prudent to review the content carefully.