Dragon Ball Z 'It's Over 9,000!' Cosmovisiones en colisión

by Derek Padula

Dragon Ball, creado por Akira Toriyama, es la serie manga y anime más reconocida de todo el mundo que destaca por haber entretenido a millones de fans de todo el globo. La rivalidad legendaria de los dos últimos Saiya-jins de sangre pura, Goku y Vegeta, es el ejemplo emblemático de un conflicto vitalicio que llena de inspiración a los fans, animándoles a traspasar sus propios límites personales.

Con los prólogos de Ryo Horikawa (la voz japonesa de Vegeta) y Ana Cremades (la voz en castellano de Goku, Gohan y Goten durante la niñez), Dragon Ball Z “It’s Over 9,000!” Cosmovisiones en colisión se convierte en el primer e-book que explica de dónde viene la expresión “It’s Over 9,000!”, cómo el vídeo original se expandió, recibiendo más de 7 millones de reproducciones, y por qué continúa siendo una frase tan popular y pegadiza.

Mediante este e-book, que muestra un intenso análisis de las cosmovisiones en colisión de Goku y Vegeta, el lector comprenderá mucho mejor por qué el conflicto es necesario para el desarrollo de los personajes y el crecimiento personal.

Derek Padula, autor del libro y el blog The Dao of Dragon Ball, toma como referencia los sistemas de creencias del este asiático y los paradigmas de la tecnología del futuro, proporcionando una compresión más profunda de esta historia épica junto a los valores inherentes que podemos encontrar en ella.

Este libro cambiará para siempre nuestra manera de contemplar Dragon Ball Z.

- Esta es la traducción al español de 'It's Over 9,000!' When Worldviews Collide.

Genres: Nonfiction

112 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 26, 2012

About the author

Derek Padula is the author of The Dao of Dragon Ball website and book series; the first to reveal the deep history, philosophy, and cultural roots of the world's #1 anime and manga.

Derek's journey begins when he sees the Dragon Ball anime in 1997. His love for the series inspires him to start martial arts training in Shàolín gōngfu, tàijí-quán, qìgōng, karate, and Fǎlún Dàfǎ meditation. He earns his B.A. in East Asian Studies and a minor in Chinese from Western Michigan University. Then he studies abroad in Běijīng, China where he trains with the Buddhist Shàolín monks and a Dàoist tàijí sword master. After returning home he begins his life's work.

He is now an authority on Dragon Ball and loves to share his understanding of this profound series that changes lives.

Reviews

[Koffi St.cyr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have so many notes to take and I already know that I'm going to be rereading this. In one book he was able to completely philosophically and psychologically validate why I spent countless hours of the formative parts of my childhood fighting over the control of the tv with my big sister and making sure that my homework was done so that I could completely and absolutely engross myself in this cartoon without any sort of interruption. To see something that you feel you know inside and out broken down from such an intellectual and philosophical point of view is totally and completely awesome.

[Isseicreek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a native Japanese and grew up watching Dragon Ball series. I have an MA in history of philosophy. I have always wanted to write a coherent paper that captures its fundamental message in a philosophical light, and I have done that after years of research. Derek Padula also encapsulates the fundamental messages embedded in the story of Dragon Ball in a different way from mine but reached the very same conclusion. My paper is tedious and academic, whereas Padula's is easy to read, and he uses relatable concepts for all people and I am pleasantly surprised how skillfully he handled the issue that is very complicated in essence. He writes very well and I wish I had an access to his book when I wrote my piece in 2008-2014. I highly recommend his book for anyone who wants to understand the reality Dragon Ball series captures.

[Summer Seeds · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for any Dragon Ball fan!

Honestly, I bought this as a joke, but it was actually really good. Padula goes in depth and offers a whole new way to view not just "It's Over 9000!!!" but the entirety of the DBZ universe.

[Tara van Beurden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up watching Dragon Ball Z. My first favourite character was Trunks, son of Bulma and Vegeta – the biggest plot twist in the story’s hundreds of episodes/manga chapters. In my late teens, I loved Videl, the feisty daughter of the lying-but-has-his-heart-in-the-right-place Mr Satan, and then Bulma, super genius, richest women in the world, main female character, and then finally, I settled on Vegeta, the story’s main anti-hero, the antithesis to main character Goku. Vegeta has always appealed to the part of me I keep very tightly locked up – the angry, bitter, opinionated part of me that I’d rather didn’t exist. He’s a Prince, a mass murderer, a man fueled by competition, pride, and a desire to be the very best. And out of the blue, he has a child with the main female character, the feisty, super smart, female lead, Bulma – one of the few characters able to strike fear into the hearts of fiercest warriors in the universe (and these days, in the new series, able to frighten the crap out of the Gods!). Their relationship is initially very much of the ‘we share a kid and that’s about it’ nature, but in time, they marry, and its Bulma that seems to anchor Vegeta to this group of crazy super heroes. In time, it is evident that he is devoted to her in a way that comes to be quite contrary to his dead race. On the other side, Goku, the hapless hero loves everyone and no one at the same time. The man portrayed as a Japanese Superman in the American adaptation (and with a back story pretty much ripped straight from Superman!) is not as noble as he appears in the original Japanese cut, makes sometimes terrible decisions, is an absent father and husband, but gets away with it all because he’s so damn loveable (and he saves the world on a regular basis). Anyway, the rivalry between Goku and Vegeta, each other’s opposite, has in time become the cornerstone of the Dragon Ball franchise, to the point where they now effectively co-headline the new series Dragon Ball Super. This book is an analysis of these two very different characters and what drives them, and how they evolve throughout the series. It’s an interesting read, something like a thesis, though it is quite repetitive. It focuses on the belief systems that underpin the Dragon Ball series (and its inspiration ‘Journey to the West’) in order to explain the challenges both men face, and how they come to be who they are by the end of the series (the book is written pre-Dragon Ball Super, so there’s a certain level of character development that’s not covered, as well as a few factual errors). For a fan, it’s an interesting read, even with its repetitiveness. Definitely recommend for Dragon Ball Z fans, but a fascinating read if you’re a fan of interesting character dynamics, or East Asian culture and belief systems.

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somehow this guy took one scene from an incorrect DBZ dub and turned it into a book that didn't suck. Some parts were pretty redundant and other parts were over-analyzed (this coming from someone who over-analyzes everything in DBZ), but I kept on reading. I kept reading because he gets into a lot of things like spirituality and nature vs nurture that you don't even spend 5 minutes thinking about when you're watching the show or reading the mangas. He looks at Dragon Ball Z from a lot of different angles and I enjoyed reading his perspective.

A review on Amazon said it is "surprisingly deep" and I agree. This little book is just jam-packed with character analysis and I really, really liked how it tied everything together at the end. I'm encouraged now to read his other Dragon Ball book when it comes out since this one was so dang good.

NOTE: I actually read the real life paperback, but I don't want to delete this now so whatever.

[Wayward Child · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a long-time fan of Dragon Ball, I’ve known for at least the last fifteen years that the original manga line is actually ’over eight-thousand’, not ’nine-thousand’. Even though I enjoy the (deliberate?) mistake in its execution, as well as the subsequent meme that’s entered the popular lexicon of an entire generation, I have to admit I don’t care for it all that much. I think that Brian Drummond gave a fantastically over-the-top performance when recording that line for the Ocean Dub, arguably the only reason that scene reached the heights of popularity that it did, but that’s about the extent of it for me.

What I’m far more interested in is that second part of the title or the subtitle – When Worldviews Collide. As an unapologetic Vegeta fan-girl, I never tire of analyses of his character, his motivations, his beliefs, the core of his being and his overall arc. He is undoubtedly the single most complex and developed character in Dragon Ball, bar none. His journey takes him from the highest highs to the lowest lows. Over the course of the franchise, Vegeta matures, adapts, suffers relapses, experiences crushing defeats and humiliations and matures some more till, at the end of the day, he finally discovers something truly worth fighting for. His character arc perfectly reflects the whole literary want vs. need development.

He is such a lovable bastard, so beautifully complex (and complicated!) that I sometimes have a very hard time believing he came from the pen of a creator as mercurial as Toriyama Akira. Just as Shylock is famously said to have been the character who “got away from Shakespeare”, so too do I think the same can be said of Toriyama and Vegeta. Dragon Ball, for the most part, is comedic and light-hearted, and the kinds of stories it tells are predominantly simple. By all accounts, Vegeta shouldn’t belong here. And, yet, he does. He fits in the storyline so perfectly and occupies such a large, central space in it that it’s sometimes easy for fans to forget that there ever was a Dragon Ball without Vegeta.

Whilst I found this book slightly repetitive and while there were some annoying typos and other grammatical errors here and there, I still enjoyed the deep dive into the central characters’ psyches. There are some wonderfully poignant lines in it that really make you stop and think about all the underlying messages of this seemingly simple story about muscular meatheads screaming and powering up. Padula says that Vegeta and Goku’s first battle is “the result of their different worldviews colliding, the prelude to an epic rivalry, and the fundamental source of their growth”. I wholeheartedly agree with all three of those statements, especially the last one.

Growth is a fundamental part of Dragon Ball. Change is ever-present and constant. The first chapter opens up on a kid Goku, whereas the last presents us with Goku in his forties, a grandfather. We watch these characters age and grow, start families and constantly shift from one role to another. There is no status quo. Change is a chief component of Dragon Ball and is something that I really appreciate about it and that I don’t see nearly often enough in other Japanese manga and anime. Usually, the storyline ends, and it is only in the very closing chapters or the epilogue or the sequel that we learn these characters actually grew older, got married, had kids. These other stories are basically telling us that the adventures end once you settle “down” and that nothing fun, important or exciting can ever happen to you again.

In an action-based, martial-arts-oriented story such as Dragon Ball, this change and growth naturally occur through combat. Combat and conflict are what allow the characters to push through their limits and achieve ever wilder and crazier hairdos. As Padula points out – Dragon Ball inspires. Characters such as Vegeta, lucky enough to get a second chance at life, lucky enough to suffer both a literal and a metaphorical death and be reborn as something different, something better, inspire.

As the author says, Vegeta, Goku and the rest of the characters continuously push themselves because they are aware of the key behind success and self-fulfilment: “Suffer the pain of discipline or suffer the pain of regret” . And that is some powerful shit right there! It’s something we should all remind ourselves of whenever we don’t feel like that morning jog, whenever we do feel like a cigarette, whenever the declension of adjectives of the language we’re currently learning becomes so complicated we start thinking we may as well just give up.

Padula also briefly touches upon the very real, tangible impact Dragon Ball has had on people’s personal lives. The most touching of these stories is the one about a fan named Joshua who contemplated suicide before this show pulled him away from the edge. People often sneer at the love we have for certain fictional content, not really capable of understanding how something fictional can touch us so deeply. In my experience, people like that deserve only pity. As in – if a great narrative can’t move you, what can? Humans, after all, are a narrative-driven species. It’s like that meme of Vegeta telling the audience that there’s no shame in letting an anime inspire you to exercise and live healthier. Why would there be?

The author makes several references to Taoism and how its teachings helped shape both Journey to the West and, subsequently, Dragon Ball. For this reason, I’ve decided to read Tao Te Ching next and learn what the Old Master himself had to say about life and happiness.

[David]

This is the most factual and well written book on this subject that has ever been published. The level of insight, knowledge and proven research is tremendous. I suspect that you might sense a modest bias in my opinion, but once you begin to read this book, you'll quickly realize that the author is an expert on the subject of DBZ and many, many topics in the supportive fields of religion, philosophy and other related areas of knowledge.
Having read it once in August, I'm now reading it again, simply because I'm learning more about different cultures and philosophical variances between belief systems. I suspect I'll be reading it again as my mind absorbs each new nuance of factual information.
Dave Padula

[Angela Mondragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished reading this, and a few small grammatical errors aside, it was a great insight into the mindsets of Goku and Vegeta, and how they compare and contrast, as well as what message the DBZ phenomenon has sent to the youth who have grown up with it. A definite must-read for anyone who is a fan of the series!

[Darin Padula · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never realized the depth to which DBZ could go, on a psychological and metaphysical level. This book helped open up my eyes and it will for you, too. It's a quick but engrossing read, and you can't beat the price! Do yourself a favor, and learn a bit about yourself while you learn about DBZ in a way that you never imagined.

[Lionkhan-sama · Rating 4 out of 5]

An unexpected book, in many degrees.
It stimulates incredibly complex and innate questions within ones self and soul.
For these reasons, I found this book to be surprisingly beneficial.

A fantastic read for any fan of the Dragonball series, but especially useful for those who are open-minded and searching for ways leading to personal improvement and development.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!

It's power lever is OVER 9000!

[Nenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great little insight on the perspectives of these two. I especially enjoyed the nature/nurture aspects, though barely touched upon. Definitely buying Dao of Dragon Ball.

[Nisa' Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

I already had some points in mind when reading this, some are completely new thoughts, so it's a good read overall, can't wait the complete book of the dao of dragonball.

[Dennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

ENGLISH REVIEW:

Derek Padula analyzes from a cultural, philosophical and psychological perspective the Dragon Ball anime in a masterful way. This book in particular focuses on the well-known meme "It's Over 9000!" that appears in Dragon Ball Z, its meaning and the depth of the relationship between the characters of Goku and Vegeta and the evolution of both throughout the story. An enjoyable and interesting book that every fan of this anime should read if they want to delve deeper into it. Willing to read the rest of the author's books about this cult work.

REVIEW EN ESPAÑOL:

Derek Padula analiza desde una perspectiva cultura, filosófica y psicológica el anime de Dragon Ball de forma magistral. Este libro en concreto se centra en el conocido meme "It's Over 9000!" que aparece en Dragon Ball Z, en su significado y en la profundidad de la relación entre los personajes de Goku y Vegeta y la evolución de ambos a lo largo de la historia. Un libro ameno e interesante que todo fan del anime debería leer si quiere profundizar en él. Dispuesto a leerme el resto de libros del autor sobre esta obra de culto.

[Luis F. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Si alguna vez, viendo Dragon Ball, te ha llamado la atención la extrema ética del autosacrificio de la que hace gala Songoku para conseguir la excelencia en las artes marciales, o la obsesión de Vegeta por ser el más fuerte, este es un curioso estudio de los valores de la cultura oriental detras de las "cosmovisiones en colisión" de ambos personajes. Si estás interesado en conocer el trasfondo que hay detrás de iconos de la cultura popular como este, puede que te guste. Puestos a buscarle alguna pega, quizás peca un pelín de reiterativo en su tesis, y no le habría ido mal sintetizar un poco, pero aún así, es recomendable si te gustan estas cosas.

[Eric Esqueda · Rating 4 out of 5]

it's not bad. I want to say the author probably hadn't written anything before, but the recommendation can straight from the DBZ community so it's solid.

[Dita di Polvere · Rating 2 out of 5]

Una buona riflessione sull'universo di Dragon Ball e sul meme più conosciuto della saga. Pecca un po' di ripetitività, ma merita la lettura.

[Vincent Waasdorp · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice read that makes you think differently about the show, i agree with other comments that some parts are redundant and overanalysed.

[Christine Craft · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic short read that’s Informative and well-written. I read it last year and enjoyed reading the history of the “It’s over 9,000!” meme along with the in-depth analysis between Goku and Vegeta’s different perspectives. Great read! I highly recommend this book to DBZ fans!

[Casey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought the book was very insightful. The author made you think about things especially about Vegeta (who is clearly his favorite character ) specifically about how he was able to become SSJ that was completely different from Goku's path. There are some errors in the book that I noticed e.g. calling grandpa Gohan Goku's adopted father and the worst offense saying GT was cannon. The one thing I did find annoying and is why I gave the book a lower star rating was that the author had a section dedicated to advertising another book.
:(

[Zion · Rating 4 out of 5]

i like it

[Ed · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read like a colleague essay but impressed by the author’s clear passion for all things dragonball. Also saw vegeta in a new light.

[Cheryl Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

A trip down memory lane of one of my favourite shows from my teenage years.