Summary
- Broly's origin story in Dragon Ball Super gives him a more sympathetic backstory on the harsh planet Vampa.
- His character is more layered with a gentle side, showing capacity for kindness and friendship.
- Broly's rivalry with Goku in DBS is based on mutual respect rather than just revenge, evolving his character.
Broly, one of the most iconic characters in the Dragon Ball franchise, has undergone massive changes between his original appearance in Dragon Ball Z and his newest version in Dragon Ball Super. First introduced in the 1993 movie Dragon Ball Z: Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan, Broly quickly became a fan favorite as he became known for his immense power and rage, receiving two sequels to his initial movie. His backstory and motivations were simple and centered on his deep-seated hatred for Goku.
In 2018, Broly returned in the movie Dragon Ball Super: Broly with a more complex backstory which finally made him canon to the main storyline of the franchise. While his character remains the same, the changes made to his origin, personality, and relationships significantly alter the Legendary Super Saiyan fans come to know. This renewal integrated his character into the Dragon Ball canon, making him a permanent character in the series.
Dragon Ball's Strongest Saiyan Ever, Broly, Was Actually Inspired By The Worst Super Saiyan Transformation
Broly has become a classic element of the Dragon Ball franchise, but his original inspiration happens to be one of the worst forms in the series.
10 Broly's Origin Story Is More Detailed in Dragon Ball Super
Now He Hates Goku For a More Valid Reason
One of the major differences between DBZ Broly and DBS Broly lies in their origin stories. In the original movie, Broly’s backstory was relatively straightforward; he was born with an abnormally high power level that led to King Vegeta perceiving him as a threat and ordering his execution. However, Broly survived and grew up to have a deep resentment toward Goku, who cried next to him as a baby in his nursing cradle. This simple backstory made Broly a one-dimensional character, driven by his overwhelming rage and desire for revenge.
Dragon Ball Super rectifies this by giving Broly a more detailed and sympathetic origin, where he is exiled to the harsh planet called Vampa because King Vegeta feared Broly’s potential and hated that Broly was stronger than his own son. Growing up on the wasteland planet, Broly became shaped by survival instincts rather than hatred. His youth is explored in greater depth, adding layers to his character that were absent in the original movie.
9 Broly’s Overall Personality Is More Layered
He Is Not Only Driven by Just Rage
Broly’s personality in the DBZ movies focuses on his anger and bloodlust, with nearly no emotional depth beyond his hatred for Goku. His personality was simplistic, and he barely spoke in the movie, which further portrayed him as a destructive force driven by an almost animalistic rage. This left him feeling like a one-dimensional character with a singular defining trait.
In the most recent Broly movie, he was presented in a completely different light. He was shown to have a gentle side and to be a bit naïve when he wasn’t in battle. His time with Cheelai and Lemo revealed a softer side to Broly, especially when he spoke about his childhood friend, Ba. This scene showed audiences that he has a capacity for kindness and friendship, making Broly a more sympathetic character.
8 Broly’s Connection to Goku Is Deeper in Dragon Ball Super
The Two Become Rivals Who Respect Each Other
In the eighth movie, Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan, a central aspect of Broly’s character is his hatred for Goku, rooted in their infancy. His hate stems from Goku’s constant crying as a baby, which seemed to have traumatized Broly and left a long-lasting impression. This grudge became the driving force behind Broly’s actions, leading to Broly’s uncontrolled transformation and their explosive battle.
This is completely changed in Dragon Ball Super: Broly, which completely dismantles Goku’s original place in Broly’s lore. Instead, Broly and Goku meet for the first time as adults, with Goku trying to initially befriend Broly as he recognizes his immense power and potential. In this version, Broly’s feelings towards Goku are less about revenge and more about mutual respect as they become rivals at the end of the movie.
7 Broly's Transformation Is Significantly Changed
Broly Now Becomes Stronger as He Experiences Battle
Broly’s power and transformation are defining traits of his character in both versions of the movie, but are portrayed very differently. In the original films, Broly is introduced as the Legendary Super Saiyan, someone whose strength is unmatched. In the movie, it is clear that Broly was always capable of this transformation, and it wasn’t a new power that he had recently gained. Rather, it was his raw and unchecked power that became unleashed when Paragus lost control of his power.While Broly’s power is still immense in his Super movie, his transformation is part of the growth he experiences, undergoing multiple stages of power increase. His strength is still tied to his emotions and battle instincts, but his initial transformation into a Super Saiyan is triggered on screen instead of off-screen. Broly is also shown to adapt and evolve quickly during battle, pushing his limits further with each confrontation.
6 Broly's Relationship with His Father Is Still Key
Paragus Is Still the Most Important Figure in Broly's Life
In both versions of Broly's story, his relationship with his father, Paragus, plays a crucial role in his development. However, in the original movie, Paragus is shown to be a power-hungry and manipulative figure who uses mind control to keep Broly’s power in check. Their relationship is one that centers around control and exploitation, with Paragus showing little to no concern for Broly’s wellbeing and instead focusing on his own desire for revenge against King Vegeta. This dynamic contributes to Broly’s instability and rage, adding to his image as a mindless monster driven by fury.
In Dragon Ball Super: Broly, Paragus and Broly’s relationship is depicted differently. In this version, Paragus is still a controlling figure, but his motivations are more complex and a genuine, albeit twisted, desire to protect his son. The mind control device is replaced by a ring and crown with a shock collar, which Paragus uses reluctantly to keep Broly’s power in check out of fear of the destructive potential of his own son.
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5 The Significance of the Legendary Super Saiyan Title
Dragon Ball Lore Has Already Expanded This Title Beyond Broly
The title of “Legendary Super Saiyan” holds a significant weight as it refers to a mythic warrior who appears once every thousand years with an unmatched and destructive power. When Broly comes along in his original movies, the heroes find that he is the embodiment of this legend, and it sets him apart from the other surviving Saiyans. This revelation strikes Vegeta the hardest as he is the one most familiar with the legend, and he becomes immobile with fear of the destructive power Broly possesses.
In the Dragon Ball Super movie, the title still holds importance but is treated with more distinction. The focus shifts from Broly being a destructive force to exploring his upbringing and his untapped potential as he struggles to control his impressive power. The title of “Legendary Super Saiyan” was extraordinary, but it did not strike paralyzing fear in the heroes as Broly was not portrayed as a mindless force of destruction.
4 Broly's Motivation and Purpose Change Dramatically
Broly Becomes a Warrior of Justice
Broly’s original motivation and purpose were particularly focused on Goku and his own rage-centered representation. In the original movie, he was little more than his status as the Legendary Super Saiyan, making him a flat and straightforward character. Broly’s role and main purpose was to showcase his power against the Z fighters and prompt a dangerous battle between Goku and his friends and family.
Broly’s motivations and purpose were widely built upon in his reimagining, where he is not shaped by a desire for destruction but instead the harsh environment of Planet Vampa and the manipulations of Paragus. His motivation is initially rooted in survival and loyalty to his father, but at the end of the movie his purpose evolves into finding his own place in the universe. His motivations shift to loyalty to his new friends, and a rivalry with Goku and Vegeta, pushing Broly to train to increase his own power.
3 Broly's Combat Style Has Evolved
Broly Is Now a "Prodigy" Rather Than a Mindless Wrecking Machine
Broly’s combat style in Dragon Ball Z is depicted with brute force and sheer power with little emphasis on technique or strategy. Broly was capable of overpowering his opponents with his unrelenting aggression and chaotic fighting style. This mirrors Broly’s unstable mental state and uncontrollable rage as his battles show him to be a near-mindless force of power.
In Dragon Ball Super: Broly, his combat style is given more depth and variation as he evolves during battle. Broly still relies on his immense strength, but as he battles against Goku and Vegeta, he quickly adapts to their fighting style throughout their battle. This turns Broly into a prodigy, making him dangerous and unpredictable as he quickly alters and adjusts how he fights to turn the tables in his favor and keep the heroes on their toes.
2 Broly's Defeat Is Completely Different
In Dragon Ball Super Broly's Defeat Is the Chance to Introduce Another Non-Canon Character
In the original Dragon Ball Z movie, Broly is ultimately defeated by the combined effort of the Z Fighters until Goku lands the final blow. After an intense battle, Goku gathers energy from his comrades and delivers the final punch to Broly’s abdomen, ending the battle once and for all. This attack marks the end of Broly and shatters his seemingly invincible strength.
Broly’s defeat in his most recent movie comes at the hands of Gogeta, a fusion of Goku and Vegeta, who also makes his canon debut in the series. He gets pushed to his limits by Gogeta’s relentless assault, but before the final blow can be dealt, Cheelai uses the Dragon Balls to wish Broly back to Planet Vampa where he would be safe. This ending offers Broly a chance at redemption instead of writing him off as a complete villain who must be defeated at any cost.
1 Broly’s Place in Dragon Ball Canon
Broly's Popularity Made Him a Canon Character 25 Years After His Debut
Finally, in Dragon Ball Z: Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan, Broly only exists in his film trilogy and does not have a place within the Dragon Ball Z canon. Even as an iconic, fan-favorite character, he was largely self-contained within the non-canon movies, making his impact on the series limited. Even as the Legendary Super Saiyan, Broly does not influence the main storyline or the development of other characters.
In Dragon Ball Super: Broly, however, the series changes this completely and officially integrates Broly into the franchise's canon. The movie works as a reintroduction to Broly’s character and ends by tying him into the narrative, turning him into a permanent character and offering Goku and Vegeta a new rival. The beginning of this rivalry is even shown in the most recent Dragon Ball movie, Super Hero, as Broly trains alongside Goku and Vegeta, proving that he is now a cemented character in the Dragon Ball universe.
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Dragon Ball Z
- Release Date
- 1989 - 1996
- Network
- Fuji TV
- Directors
- Daisuke Nishio, Shigeyasu Yamauchi, Osamu Kasai
Cast
Kazuyuki SogabeToma (voice)-
Kozo ShioyaToteppo (voice)
WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingBUYDragon Ball Z follows Goku, who lives a peaceful life with his family until the arrival of Raditz, a mysterious warrior claiming to be Goku's brother. This revelation unveils their true heritage as Saiyans, a formidable warrior race known for conquering planets.
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Dragon Ball Super
7/10- Release Date
- 2015 - 2018-00-00
- Network
- Fuji TV
- Showrunner
- Tatsuya Nagamine
Cast
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Hisao EgawaAnilaza (voice)
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Koichi YamaderaBeerus (voice)
WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingBUYDragon Ball Super is an anime series set after Majin Buu's defeat. It follows Son Goku, now a radish farmer, as peace prevails until Beerus, the God of Destruction, appears. Seeking to challenge a legendary warrior, the series revisits events from two Dragon Ball Z films before exploring alternate universes.
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