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Step into an infinite world of stories

Listen and read

Padula Derek

See Dragon Ball with new eyes. This book is your cultural tour guide to Dragon Ball, the world’s most recognized anime and manga series.

Over 11 years in development, Dragon Ball Culture is a 7 Volume analysis of your favorite series. You will go on an adventure with Son Goku, from Chapter 1 to 194 of the original Dragon Ball series, as we explore every page, every panel, and every sentence, to reveal the hidden symbolism and deeper meaning of Dragon Ball.

In Volume 1 you will enter the mind of Akira Toriyama and learn the origin of Dragon Ball. How does Toriyama get his big break and become a manga author? Why does he make Dragon Ball? Where does Dragon Ball’s culture come from? And why is it so successful?

Along the way you’ll be informed, entertained, and inspired. You will learn more about your favorite series and about yourself.

Now step with me through the doorway of Dragon Ball Culture.

Padula Publishing LLC

Dragon Ball Culture

Dragon Ball Culture: Origin

Derek Padula

Son Gokū’s adventure begins! Join me in Dragon Ball Culture Volume 2, as we travel along with Gokū on his epic journey for greater strength.

With each step that Gokū takes, you’ll discover more of the hidden spirituality and symbolism in Dragon Ball that makes the series so successful. You’ll see how author Akira Toriyama synthesizes Chinese culture, Western technology, and Buddho-Dàoist philosophy to create a series that speaks to your humanity. Not because of the action or the humor, but because it reminds you of what it means to be alive.

Along the way you’ll learn of Gokū’s ancient origin. You’ll hear how the legend of a wild monkey-man begins in India, evolves across 2,000 years of Chinese and Japanese history, and leads to the Gokū you know and love.

I’ll walk you through the journey from the first page to the last. And by the time we’re done, you will be an expert on Dragon Ball’s culture.

Volume 2 explores Chapters 1 to 23 of the Dragon Ball manga. So let's take our first step with Goku!

Dragon Ball Culture: Adventure

Gokū begins a new adventure, and this time the quest is to conquer thyself.

In Dragon Ball Culture Volume 3: Battle, you’ll discover the origin of Gokū’s training mentality. You’ll see how Akira Toriyama combines thousands of years of martial arts history and modern cinema together to create the Tenkaichi Budōkai. And you’ll hear how Dragon Ball almost gets cancelled, but then changes its format to become the most recognized anime and manga series on Earth.

Travel alongside Gokū as he becomes the disciple of the world’s greatest martial artist, meets his new training partner, and competes in the largest tournament on the planet. Will this wild monkey boy gain the discipline he needs to become the champion?

Volume 3 explores Chapters 24 to 53 of the Dragon Ball manga.

Let the battle begin!

Dragon Ball Culture: Battle

Goku goes west! His grand adventure begins anew as his martial arts master tells him to travel the world to increase his power. But what will happen when this naïve boy enters the real world and meets people who want to harm him? Will he be able to find his grandpa’s 4-Star dragon ball, or will the villainous Red Ribbon Army get to it first?!

In Dragon Ball Culture Volume 4, you’ll discover the origin of the Red Ribbon Army in Western cinema. You’ll see how author Akira Toriyama brings Western concepts into his Eastern world and fuses them together, creating the Dragon World that we know and love. And you’ll learn how monster movies, witches, and magical dragons mix together to tell a story about a young boy with a dream of becoming stronger.

Volume 4 explores Chapters 54 to 112 of the Dragon Ball manga. So let’s hop on our magic cloud and head west with Goku!

Dragon Ball Culture: Westward

Son Goku battles the demon king! In Dragon Ball Culture Volume 5 we’ll reunite with Goku and his friends as they compete in the 22nd Tenkaichi Budokai. Then we’ll join them as they fight in a life or death battle against the Demon King Pikkoro!

Akira Toriyama starts us off by introducing three new characters into the story. These are Tenshinhan, Chaozu, and their evil master, Tsuru-sennin. This book reveals each of their cultural backgrounds. That’s right, if you’ve ever said to yourself, “Why does Tenshinhan have a third eye?” and, “What the heck is Chaozu?!” then this is the book you’ve been waiting for.

Toriyama then takes the Dragon Ball story to new depths by adding demons and gods into the mix. He increases the intensity of the series and makes it so Goku has no choice but to train harder in order to enact his revenge. And the way Goku does it is straight out of secret Daoist meditation practices of ancient China. Inside these pages you’ll discover the true origin of the demon king, find out how Goku learns to sense the energy of his opponents, and understand the full power of the world famous senzu.

This book contains hundreds of new revelations about your favorite characters and their adventures through the Dragon World.

Volume 5 explores Chapters 113 to 161.

It's time to face your demons!

Dragon Ball Culture: Demons

Goku meets god!

In Dragon Ball Culture Volume 6, we’ll reunite with Goku as he ascends to heaven, trains with Kami for 3 years, and battles the reincarnated Demon King Pikkoro!

When Goku reaches heaven he is greeted by the always-controversial Mister Popo. But who is Mister Popo, and why does he look so strange? His ancient cultural origin will finally be revealed!

From there we’ll explore Kami’s roots in Japanese Shinto and Chinese Buddhism. You’ll discover how Kami and Pikkoro are related on a spiritual level, how reincarnation works within the Dragon World, and what it means for the new demon king to be the ‘son of the father who was cast down from heaven.’
Afterward, we’ll enter the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai! But will Goku’s friends recognize him, and will he be strong enough to persevere?! Who is this green-skinned man who calls himself "Ma Junia," and why is he such a grave threat to Goku and the world?!

Discover the amazing truth behind these new characters, with surprising mystery’s and reveals from your old friends, as we take a cultural tour through the final volume of the original Dragon Ball manga! It’s a battle of life and death, and Goku’s the only one who can save us!!

Volume 6 explores Chapters 162 to 194 of the Dragon Ball manga.

It’s time to face god!

Dragon Ball Culture: Gods

Dragon Ball Culture Volume 7 is your cultural tour guide to the Dragon Ball anime!

In Volume 7, Gokū travels the world in a series of anime adventures, and we will explore the culture of every episode and movie, and delve into the origin of their production.

This book features exclusive interviews with the Japanese musicians behind Dragon Ball's opening and ending themes, including lyricist Yuriko Mori, composer Takeshi Ike, and vocalist Ushio Hashimoto.

Do you prefer the anime over the manga, or would you like a guide for watching the series and how it compares to the original work by Akira Toriyama? Then this is the book for you!

Volume 7 concludes the world's first scholarly analysis of Dragon Ball's culture that took over 20 years to write. You're guaranteed to learn something new. Along the way you’ll be informed, entertained, and inspired. You will learn more about your favorite series, other people, and yourself.

- Explores Dragon Ball episodes 1 to 153, and the movies.

Genre: Non-fiction and literary criticism.
Topics: Akira Toriyama; Dragon Ball; The Journey to the West; Chinese culture; Japanese culture; Western culture; Chinese language; Japanese language; manga; anime; comic books; fandoms; history; philosophy; spirituality; religion; Buddhism, Daoism, Shinto; legends; folk tales; cinema; kung fu movies; Bruce Lee; Jackie Chan, the Monkey King; 20th Century history; World War II.
Images: Not present.

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NOTE: This is an Early Access edition book. Here is the current content:

Opening and Ending Themes
OP: Makafushigi adobenchā!
ED: Romantikku ageru yo
OP and ED Culture
Filler
Anime
Saiyūki Arc (Pilaf Arc)
Shugyo Arc (Training Arc)
Appendix
-Eyecatch Culture
-Title Card Culture

Page Count: 235

New content will be added in the months ahead, and you will receive free updates when it is published.

The price will increase as new content is added, up to $9.99. So the earlier you buy, the more you save.

When the ebook is complete, the book will be published in paperback and hardback.

You can help shape the direction this book takes by providing feedback to me as you read it; including what you'd like to read about next.

Thank you for supporting my writing, and enjoy your anime adventures with Gokū!