Broly Arc
The Legendary Super Saiyan rises to challenge the universe's strongest warriors.
Dragon Ball Super: Broly is the 20th animated feature in the franchise and the first bearing the Dragon Ball Super branding. Released on December 14, 2018, this film serves as a canonical reimagining of the character Broly from earlier non-canon films into the main continuity. Set after the Universe Survival Saga, it chronicles the turbulent history of three Saiyans with different destinies: Goku, Vegeta, and the exiled Broly. The story brings together the series creator Akira Toriyama's personal supervision to explore the Saiyan race's past while introducing new allies like Cheelai and Lemo. It stands as a box office success, grossing over $124 million worldwide.
- Subject
- Broly
- Affiliation
- Vampa / Earth Allies (Post-Canon)
- First Canonical Appearance
- Dragon Ball Super: Broly
- Status
- Alive and Active
- Power Source
- Legendary Saiyan Bloodline
Lore & Background
In Age 732, King Cold informed King Vegeta that their race would serve Frieza. During this time, a commoner infant named Broly was found in an elite-only nursery. His power level vastly exceeded that of Prince Vegeta, causing King Vegeta to fear he was a threat. Consequently, the king exiled Broly and his father Paragus to the distant planetoid Vampa, hoping the infant would die there. Meanwhile, Bardock grew suspicious of Frieza's intentions to exterminate the Saiyans due to the Super Saiyan legend. He sent his son Kakarot to Earth just before the genocide began. Forty-three years later, in Age 780, Broly and Paragus were rescued from Vampa by low-class Frieza Force soldiers Cheelai and Lemo, who brought them to Frieza to defeat Goku and Vegeta.
In Their Own Story
On Earth, Broly and his father faced off against Goku and Vegeta. Broly's adaptive fighting abilities allowed him to overwhelm the Saiyan Prince in Base, Super Saiyan, and Super Saiyan God forms. When Goku challenged him with similar transformations, the battle intensified until Frieza covertly killed Paragus, intending to awaken Broly's latent powers. This triggered a mindless, rage-fueled state where Broly overwhelmed both heroes in their Super Saiyan Blue forms. Goku used Instant Transmission to escape with Vegeta to learn the Fusion Dance from Piccolo. After two failed attempts resulting in Veku, they successfully formed Gogeta. The fused warrior dominated Broly until Frieza was defeated and Whis intervened. Ultimately, Cheelai and Lemo summoned Shenron to wish Broly back to Vampa for his safety.
Reader's Guide
The narrative begins with the theft of Dragon Balls by Frieza Force soldiers, leading Bulma, Goku, Vegeta, and Whis to an arctic region. Simultaneously, Cheelai and Lemo recruit Broly from Vampa. A critical turning point occurs when Cheelai breaks the remote controlling Broly's aggression before they reach Earth. The conflict escalates as Frieza manipulates the situation by killing Paragus to force Broly into his full power state. To counter this, Goku and Vegeta perform the Fusion Dance after initial failures, creating Gogeta with golden vest trim, an aqua sash, and jet-black hair. Gogeta defeats Broly using Meteor Explosion and a powerful Kamehameha. The resolution involves Cheelai and Lemo wishing Broly to Vampa, where Goku later arrives to offer supplies and express his intent to spar and teach him control.
Did You Know?
- The film grossed over $124 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing Dragon Ball film ever.
- At the time of release, it was the third highest-grossing anime film in the United States and Canada.
- Gogeta successfully formed after two failed attempts that resulted in the fat and skinny Veku forms.
- Cheelai stole and broke the remote Paragus used to keep Broly submissive before they crossed paths on Earth.
- The film was the final Dragon Ball film co-distributed by 20th Century Fox following Disney's acquisition of 21st Century Fox.
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