Dragon Ball has always been a Goku and Vegeta show. We know it. We've accepted it for decades. But then 2022 happened, and Toei Animation decided to pivot, giving us a film that felt like a love letter to the fans who grew up during the Cell Games. If you haven't taken the time to watch Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, you’re honestly missing out on the most refreshing entry in the franchise since Battle of Gods. It’s weird. It’s funny. It uses CGI in a way that actually works—mostly.
Most people expected another Broly-style extravaganza with planet-shattering power levels and endless screaming. Instead, we got a slice-of-life superhero flick that remembers Gohan and Piccolo are actually the heart of this universe.
The Red Ribbon Army’s Weird Obsession
Let’s talk about the plot because it’s kind of a throwback. The Red Ribbon Army is back, again. I know, it feels like they’ve been defeated more times than Team Rocket, but this time it’s different. Magenta, the son of Commander Red, is running a pharmaceutical front while trying to rebuild his father’s legacy. He recruits Dr. Hedo, the grandson of Dr. Gero. Hedo is a genius who’s obsessed with "superheroes," which explains the aesthetic of the new antagonists, Gamma 1 and Gamma 2.
The stakes feel personal. They kidnap Pan. That’s the catalyst.
When you sit down to watch Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, you’ll notice the tone is lighter than the Moro or Granolah arcs in the manga. It’s got that Akira Toriyama quirkiness. Remember when Goku was a kid and things were just... bizarre? That energy is here. Dr. Hedo isn’t a typical villain; he’s a quirky kid who wants to build cool robots and eats convenience store snacks. The conflict isn't about the end of the multiverse; it's about a misunderstanding fueled by Magenta's propaganda.
Why the CGI Actually Matters
This was the big controversy. The movie is 3D.
Purists hated the idea. Honestly, I was skeptical too. We’ve all seen bad anime CGI that looks like a PS2 cutscene. But Shueisha and Toei clearly dumped a massive budget into this. The cel-shading is gorgeous. It allows for camera angles that 2D animation struggles with. During the fight between Gohan and Gamma 1, the "camera" pans around them in a way that feels cinematic and fluid.
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The expressions are the real winner here. Piccolo’s face has never been more emotive. You can see the frustration in his eyes when he’s trying to get Gohan to focus on his training instead of his academic papers on ants. It works. It’s not "better" than Shintani’s style in Broly, but it’s a valid evolution for a standalone story.
The Piccolo and Gohan Dynamic We Needed
Goku and Vegeta are off-world. They’re training with Broly on Beerus’ planet, which is a clever way to keep the "God Tier" characters out of the way so the stakes actually matter on Earth. This is Piccolo’s movie. It really is.
Piccolo is the babysitter, the mentor, and the tactical genius. He realizes that Gohan has grown soft. Gohan is wearing glasses and obsessing over his research, neglecting his ki. It’s a recurring theme in Dragon Ball, but here it feels more grounded. Piccolo literally goes on a stealth mission, infiltrating the Red Ribbon Army base in a disguise that is objectively hilarious.
If you decide to watch Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero for the action, stay for the Piccolo power-up. We finally get "Orange Piccolo." It’s a name he literally makes up on the spot because he’s not great at branding. It’s the first time he’s been relevant in terms of raw power since he fused with Kami in the Android Saga. It was long overdue.
The Beast in the Room
We have to talk about Gohan Beast.
Without spoiling the exact trigger—though we all know how Gohan triggers work by now—this transformation is polarizing. The hair is huge. It’s a throwback to the Super Saiyan 2 look from the fight with Cell, but cranked up to eleven. Some fans think it looks ridiculous. Others, like me, think it’s the exact kind of "over-the-top" nonsense that makes Dragon Ball fun.
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The "Beast" form represents Gohan finally embracing the rage he’s been suppressing to be a scholar. It’s the realization that he can’t just rely on his dad to save the world. He has to be the one who stands on the front lines.
Where to Find It and What to Look For
Right now, the best way to watch Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero is through official streaming platforms like Crunchyroll or Hulu, depending on your region. It’s been out long enough that the 4K Blu-ray is also widely available, and honestly, if you have a high-end TV, the 4K version is the way to go. The colors in the final battle—purples, oranges, and deep reds—pop in HDR in a way that the compressed streaming versions can't match.
Watch the dub. Or the sub. Usually, I’m a sub-only person, but Christopher Sabat’s performance as Piccolo in this movie is probably some of his best work in twenty years. He brings a weariness and a fatherly warmth to the character that really anchors the film.
Common Misconceptions About the Timeline
Is this canon? Yes.
There was some confusion because the manga was doing its own thing, but the Super Hero arc was eventually adapted into the Dragon Ball Super manga (Chapters 88-100). Interestingly, the manga adds a lot of context that the movie skips. It spends more time on Goten and Trunks as "Great Saiyaman" style heroes before the movie’s events kick off.
If you’ve already seen the film, I’d actually recommend reading those manga chapters. They bridge the gap between the Granolah the Survivor arc and the movie's timeline perfectly.
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The Verdict on the Big Bad
The final boss is Cell Max.
It’s not the sophisticated, charming Cell we remember. It’s a mindless kaiju. A giant, screaming, red version of Second Form Cell. This is the one part of the movie where people tend to split. If you wanted a deep, philosophical villain, you won't find it here. Cell Max is a force of nature. He’s a ticking time bomb.
The fight is a group effort. Watching the Gamma androids, Krillin, 18, and even Fat Gotenks (yes, they messed up the fusion again) scramble to take down a giant monster is pure chaos. It feels like a raid boss in an MMO. It’s messy, loud, and incredibly fun.
Actionable Steps for the Fan
If you're ready to dive back into the world of Z-Fighters, here is how to maximize the experience:
- Check the Pacing: Don't skip the first 20 minutes. The exposition about Dr. Hedo and the Red Ribbon Army's history sets the stage for the humor later on.
- Look for the Easter Eggs: The movie is littered with references to the original Dragon Ball. Look at the items in Dr. Hedo's lab and the photos on the desks.
- Stick Around for the Credits: There is a post-credits scene involving Goku and Vegeta that finally answers a long-standing debate about who would win in a straight-up sparring match without transformations.
- Compare the Manga: After you watch Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, read chapters 91 through 100 of the manga. The slight differences in the "Beast" transformation and the interaction between the characters add a nice layer of depth.
Dragon Ball doesn't always have to be about saving the entire multiverse from an erasure-happy deity. Sometimes, it’s just about a grumpy green alien trying to make sure his best friend’s daughter gets to school on time and happens to save the world in the process. Super Hero is a reminder that this franchise still has a soul, even when it’s trying out new toys like 3D animation. It’s light, it’s vibrant, and it finally gives Gohan the win he deserved thirty years ago. Go watch it. Stop overthinking the CGI. Just enjoy the Special Beam Cannon.