How a bad anime adaptation ended up benefiting Dragon Ball

Dragon Ball has been a beloved anime franchise since it first aired in Japan in 1986. It has gained a massive following worldwide, with its exciting action, complex characters, and epic story arcs. Over the years, it has spawned several movies, TV specials, and video games, and even a live-action adaptation. Unfortunately, that adaptation, Dragonball: Evolution, was widely criticized by fans and critics alike.

The movie’s problems were numerous, from the casting of non-Asian actors in several key roles to the poorly executed action sequences. However, one of the most significant issues was the portrayal of Piccolo, one of the franchise’s most iconic villains. In Dragonball: Evolution, Piccolo was portrayed by James Marsters, who is perhaps best known for his role as Spike in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Marsters’ Piccolo was a far cry from the menacing alien Namekian/demon king fans knew from the anime and manga.

One of the biggest changes made to Piccolo’s character was his connection to Oozaru, an ape-like god in this continuity. This tied him to Goku, the franchise’s protagonist, and also robbed him of much of his power and menace. Marsters’ performance as Piccolo was also lackluster, with the actor failing to capture the character’s devilish charisma.

Despite the criticism of Dragonball: Evolution, James Marsters would eventually find redemption in the eyes of Dragon Ball fans. Years later, he would be cast as the voice of Zamasu, one of the primary villains in Dragon Ball Super. Zamasu was a Supreme Kai apprentice who despised mortals and saw them as inferior to gods and other higher beings. His calm and collected demeanor, combined with his dark mentality, made him one of the most memorable villains in the entire franchise.

Marsters’ performance as Zamasu was a marked improvement over his portrayal of Piccolo. His calm, robotic voice was a perfect fit for the character, and he was able to convey a sense of menace and threat that had been lacking in his previous performance. In a way, Marsters’ redemption as a voice actor mirrored the redemption arc of the classic Piccolo in the anime and manga, even if it was for a different character.

Overall, while Dragonball: Evolution may have been a misfire, it did bring James Marsters into the Dragon Ball universe, where he was able to make a much more significant impact as the voice of one of the franchise’s most memorable villains.

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