Final Forum: A Dragon Ball Podcast

Jelli and Bekinney take a break from breaking down Akira Toriyama's worldwide manga and anime phenomenon, and pivot away from tearing into the manga and anime that are the most crucial parts of the Dragon Ball franchise to have a little themed fun! In this episode: It's TOURNAMENT SEASON! Kick off your shoes, relax, and listen as we break down 64 of Dragon Ball's most popular (?) characters and di...

On this episode of Final Forum, we discuss the recent, unfortunate, and untimely passing of Akira Toriyama, and do our best to talk about what his works, from Dragon Ball, to Dr. Slump, to Dragon Quest, to Chrono Trigger, meant to us, and attempt to parse this news as best we can.   We were joined on this episode by our friend Lux Edwards ( Soulmass218 Linktree ).

Jelli and Bekinney continue breaking down Akira Toriyama's worldwide manga and anime phenomenon Dragon Ball by breaking down episodes 110, 111, 112 and 113, , "Piccolo Closes In," "Roshi's Gambit," "King Piccolo's Wish," and "Siege on Chow Castle." We continue on with Demon King Piccolo Saga, and discuss the "man" of the hour himself: Great Demon King Piccolo (orPiccolo Daimao). In this episode: J...

Jelli and Bekinney continue breaking down Akira Toriyama's worldwide manga and anime phenomenon Dragon Ball by breaking down episodes 108 and 109, , "Goku's Revenge," and "Goku vs. King Piccolo." We continue on with Demon King Piccolo Saga, and break down Piccolo's Children, Tambourine, Cymbal, Drum and Piano (and more). In this episode: Jelli and Bekinney are trying to find a way off the planet w...

Jelli and Bekinney continue breaking down Akira Toriyama's worldwide manga and anime phenomenon Dragon Ball by breaking down episodes 105, 106 and 107, "Here Comes Yajirobe," "Terrible Tambourine," and "Tien's Atonement."  We continue on with Demon King Piccolo Saga, and introduce a new character, Yajirobe. In this episode: Jelli digs Bekinney out of the cold, cold ground We recap the episodes and...

Jelli and Bekinney continue breaking down Akira Toriyama's worldwide manga and anime phenomenon Dragon Ball by breaking down episodes 102, 103 and 104, "Enter King Piccolo," "Tambourine Attacks!" and "Mark of the Demon."  We leave the 22nd Budokai Tenkaichi behind, and delve into the Demon King Piccolo Saga, starting out with the idea of the Evil Containment Wave, or the Mafuba. In this episode: J...

Jelli and Bekinney have no time to continue breaking down Akira Toriyama's worldwide manga and anime Dragon Ball. In this episode: The climactic battle! Join us and find out if we will ever continue to uncover the cultural meanings, publication facts, inspirations and more behind the wildly popular Dragon Ball franchise, and unspool what we all love so much about Goku, the Dragon Ball franchise, t...

Jelli and Bekinney take a break from format and Akira Toriyama's worldwide manga and anime phenomenon Dragon Ball by pivoting and talking about the life and personality and career of one of the most influential creative minds behind Dragon Ball: Akira Toriyama's first editor Kazuhiko Torishima. In this episode: Jelli and Bekinney are fired upon! We have already discussed the life and career of Aki...

Jelli and Bekinney continue breaking down Akira Toriyama's worldwide manga and anime phenomenon Dragon Ball by breaking down episode 101, "The Fallen" and then jumping into comparing the Dragon Ball anime to the Dragon Ball manga. We continue discussing the 22nd Budokai Tenkaichi, and delve into the topic of Tien and his third eye. In this episode: Jelli and Bekinney are on their way to a new plan...

What kind of sense does it make for a being with three eyes to be a "human"? Jelli and Bekinney continue breaking down Akira Toriyama's worldwide manga and anime phenomenon Dragon Ball by breaking down episodes 96, 97 ,98, 99 and 100, "Tail's Tale," "Final Match: Goku vs. Tien," "Victory's Edge," "Tien's Insurrection," and "The Spirit Cannon."  We continue discussing the 22nd Budokai Tenkaichi, an...

Everything you never knew about Chiaotzu! Is he the darkest character in Dragon Ball? Let's discuss! Jelli and Bekinney continue breaking down Akira Toriyama's worldwide manga and anime phenomenon by breaking down episodes 91, 92, 93, 94, and 95, "Counting Controversy," "Goku Enters the Ring," Tien Shinhan vs. Jackie Chun," "Stepping Down," and "Goku vs. Krillin"  We continue discussing the 22nd B...

Welcome to Final Forum's Dragon Ball-oween Spooktacular! In this special Jelli-only mini-sode we take a complete break from format, and from breaking down Akira Toriyama's manga and anime smash success to continue our October/Halloween Festivities and on this episode, it's all about FEAR, because it's almost Halloween and there's nothing like a good scare to get you ready for the season. So, who w...

Would Jackie Chan have been the best live-action Goku? Welcome to Final Forum's Dragon Ball-oween Spooktacular! In this episode, Jelli and Bekinney are joined by Trevor Snyder of the Failure to Franchise Podcast as well as Days of Future Podcast Examining the X-Men for a fun break from format and into the world of kung fufilms. It's part of our October/Halloween Festivities where we're taking a br...

Welcome to Final Forum's Dragon Ball-oween Spooktacular! In this special Bekinney-only mini-sode we take a complete break from format, and from breaking down Akira Toriyama's manga and anime smash success to continue our October/Halloween Festivities and on this episode, it's all about FEAR, because it's almost Halloween and there's nothing like a good scare to get you ready for the season. So, wh...

Does Master Chief have anything to do with Dragon Ball? Can we make that tenuous connection? Welcome to Final Forum's Dragon Ball-oween Spooktacular! In this episode, Jelli and Bekinney break down the Halo franchise, with specific focus on three pieces: the short film Halo Landfall, the animated anthology Halo Legends, and the new Paramount+ streaming show, Halo. It's part of our October/Halloween...

Why did flying get introduced to the Dragon Ball universe? What's the deal with characters who can fly vs those who can't? Jelli and Bekinney continue breaking down Akira Toriyama's worldwide manga and anime phenomenon by breaking down episodes 87, 88, 89, and 90, "Yamcha vs. Tien," "Yamcha's Big Break," "Full-Moon Vengeance," and "The Dodan Wave."  We continue discussing the 22nd Budokai Tenkaich...

What happens when Akira Toriyama takes inspiration from an ancient animal kingdom rivalry to bring a new foe into Dragon Ball? Jelli and Bekinney continue breaking down Akira Toriyama's worldwide manga and anime phenomenon by breaking down episodes 83, 84, 85 and 86, "Which Way to Papaya Island?" "Rivals and Arrivals," "Preliminary Peril," and "Then there Were Eight."  We begin discussing the 22nd...

What's the deal with these Dragon Ball movies? Would they have been fun theatrical experiences?  Jelli and Bekinney continue breaking down Akira Toriyama's worldwide manga and anime phenomenon by ...jumping off the manga and onto our second feature film commentary! In this episode: Jelli and Bekinney roast some food over a crackling fire We sync up our audio commentary for the listeners We discuss...

Our shortest run of manga-anime comparison ever! Will we have enough material to do a full episode? Jelli and Bekinney continue breaking down Akira Toriyama's worldwide manga and anime phenomenon by breaking down episodes 78, 79, 80, 81 and 82, "The Eternal Dragon Rises," "Terror and Plague," "Goku vs Sky Dragon," "Goku Goes to Demon Land," and "The Terror of InoShikaCho." We continue discussing t...

Is this the most emotionally charged moment in Dragon Ball history? Jelli and Bekinney continue breaking down Akira Toriyama's worldwide manga and anime phenomenon by breaking down episodes 74, 75, 76 and 77, "The Mysterious Fifth Man," "The Strong Ones," "True Colors of the Masked Man," and "Pilaf's Tactics."  We continue discussing the Fortune Teller Baba mini tournament and break down the ident...

Is Dragon Ball in the Universal Monsters pantheon? Is this a crossover?  Jelli and Bekinney continue breaking down Akira Toriyama's worldwide manga and anime phenomenon by breaking down episodes 71, 72, and 73, "Deadl Battle," "Goku's Turn," and "The Devilmite Beam." We continue discussing the Fortune Teller Baba mini tournament and break down the identities of four of Baba's five champions. In th...

Did Fortune Teller Baba inspire John Wick? Did she? Let's be honest about it... Jelli and Bekinney continue breaking down Akira Toriyama's worldwide manga and anime phenomenon by breaking down episodes 69 and 70, "Who is Fortune Teller Baba?" and "We are the Five Warriors." We pick up the trail of the final Dragon Ball and start to bridge Dragon Ball into the afterlife. In this episode: Jelli and...

Everyone loves a good fit. Why are they IMPORTANT in Dragon Ball though? Jelli and Bekinney continue breaking down Akira Toriyama's worldwide manga and anime phenomenon by breaking down episodes 65, 66, 67 and 68, "Confron the Red Ribbon Army," "A Real Bind," "The End of Commander Red," and "The Last Dragon Ball." We put a bow on the Red Ribbon Army, get into breaking down the manga as it compares...

What do tasty snack treat towers have to do with all-knowing cat hermits? Jelli and Bekinney continue breaking down Akira Toriyama's worldwide manga and anime phenomenon by breaking down episodes 61 62, 63 and 64 , "Korin Tower," "Sacred Water," "The Return of Goku," and "The Last of Mercenary Tao." We continue discussing the Red Ribbon Army, and dig deep into the character of Master Korin (or Kar...

THE. SINGLE. GREATEST. MOMENT. IN. DRAGON. BALL. HISTORY?!?!? Jelli and Bekinney continue breaking down Akira Toriyama's worldwide manga and anime phenomenon by breaking down episodes 59 and 60, "The Notorious Mercenary," and "Tao Attacks." We continue discussing the Red Ribbon Army, and dig deep into the character of Mercenary Tao. In this episode: Jelli is punishing Bekinney for his insubordinat...