Dragon Ball Z's Super Saiyan Transformation (Tiktok Video Script)

Tiktok video link: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMS3pkQgG/

Script:

(For the record everything in brackets is for visual choices I wanted to make for my video when making the video for tiktok. I was going to remove them but I thought they would be neat to include.)

Dragon Ball Z’s Super Saiyan Transformation is no longer legendary, and let me tell you why!

(Red background, Image flashes on screen.)

(Captions play on ‘and let me tell you why’)

I just got done watching all of Dragonball Z Kai and by the end of the original Z the Super Saiyan transformation no longer felt special.

(Close up of anime image of dragon ball Z kai)

For most of Z this is not the case. The idea of transforming to ascend past your capabilities did not exist at the beginning of Z, the strength of characters were based on who they were and the techniques at their disposal.

(anime footage)

 The Kaioken technique may be regarded to be an exception to this however, kaioken can only be used for a limited time and has many physical drawbacks. 

The Super Saiyan transformation and forms that follow don’t.

(Manga chapters of goku using Kaioken technique)

In the Namek Saga it is revealed that Freiza, said to be the most powerful character in the universe, destroys the Saiyans in fear that a legendary warrior may rise. The Super Saiyan warrior.

(another manga panel)

For a first time watcher, there is no indication of what the form looks like, you just know that the most powerful character in the series has destroyed an entire race of people to prevent its existence.

(anime clip)

In his encounter with Freiza at the battle’s apex, all seemed lost. Goku has exhausted all of his energy, Piccolo is on death’s door and Krillin is killed by Freiza. Something sparks in Goku. This raw intensity causes him to exude so much power that he shakes the very earth itself. The yellow lightning in the background slowly transfuses Goku’s entire being. And then…he arrives, the legendary Super Saiyan warrior prophesied to defeat Freiza. He looks at him with this intensity in his eyes, and nothing else in dragon ball has ever replicated what it felt like to witness Goku’s first transformation.

(anime clip)

The transformation is more commonplace in the cell saga but not yet trivialised. The androids and cell are built up well to be considered grave threats that push the limits of the super saiyan transformation. 

(two flash image of the androids and cell)

Gohan’s mastery of it despite his age is not strange either, because the greatness in his abilities were built up from the beginning of Z. (Manga panel for variety again) His transformation into Super Saiyan 2 was much deserved payoff for his character, achieving a level of power Goku was incapable of reaching at the time. (clip of him transforming in the anime)

The Buu Saga is when the form is treated with less respect. Goku and Vegeta’s sons Goten and Trunks are able to transform into Super Saiyans with little effort, not remaining consistent with how the form was represented in the earlier arcs.(anime clip in the background when flashing images of goten and trunks)

 Vegeta puts it best (“When was it that the transformation to the legendary warrior of the Saiyan race was reduced to a child’s plaything”), no effort or screaming goes into transforming for them either. It makes sense for Goku, Gohan and Vegeta because of the time they’d already spent training with the form. (anime clip or manga chapter not decided yet)Goku and Gohan even did explicit training to lessen the energy they expend transforming to become Super Saiyans.

In Dragon Ball Super’s Battle of the Gods movie after Goku transforms out of his God form and turns super saiyan Piccolo says this (“he’s transformed back into a mere super saiyan”) when did being super saiyan become this ‘mere’ transformation.

(Battle of the Gods anime clip)

This persists in ‘Super’, which is obsessed with different forms like: Golden Freiza, Super Saiyan Blue and Ultra Instinct. (flash on screen dragon ball super logo with all the different forms) These forms are representative of how powerful characters have become but also further trivialises the original Super Saiyan form.

Which is why it is no shock that…