Dragon Ballresonates with so many people for numerous reasons, and while more than just a few fans will likely agree with the vast majority of them, one that oftentimes gets overlooked but serves as a major foundation that helped shapeDragon Ball’s iconic world isthe influence of Chinese and Japanese folklore. Undoubtedly, the most widely recognized of these influences is howthe 16th-century character Sun Wukong inspired Son Goku.
But, like that example, howDragon Ballincorporated these influences for decades was very specific. Creator Akira Toriyama would always reinterpret them in such a way that they essentially became his own creations that wereonly loosely based upon the original source material. In other words,Dragon Ball’s Son Goku was never written to be the actual Sun Wukong. He just shared many characteristics.
However, Toriyama made a drastic change withDragon Ball Daimaby incorporatinga real folktale from Japan that serves as a story that’s told to a character inDragon Ball’s universe. I was greatly shocked by this moment just because Toriyama had never done this before. Moreover, ifDaimafollows the example of other anime that have used folktales in this way, the effects would be very interesting.
A Classic Japanese Folk Tale Makes Its Appearance in Dragon Ball Daima
The Story of the Red Ogre and the Blue Ogre Is Known Even in the Demon World
InDaimaepisode #5, a Majin nanny taking care of a kidnapped baby Dende reads the little Namekian a story that includes a Red Ogre. The fact there’s a Red Ogre brings to mindThe Story of the Red Ogre and Blue Ogreeventhough the Blue Ogre is missing.In that tale, the Blue Ogre helps the Red Ogre befriend human children who were once afraid of him, but the Blue Ogre’s methodology requires him to leave the Red Ogre forever. This marks an incredible shift in how the franchise incorporates folklore into its story.
Although Toriyama always incorporated folktales into his story like with Sun Wukong, one that better underscoresDaima’s monumental deviation from the norm is a moment from the anime adaptation of theDragon Ball Zmangawhen Goku meets a red ogre named Mez and a blue ogre named Gozat the Home of Infinite Losers. Aside from the fact they’re ogres and are both red and blue, Mez and Goz share nothing with the eponymous Red and Blue Ogres from Japanese lore.
An argument could be made that Mez is like his red counterpart since he helps Goku get back to Snake Way, for his actions could be interpreted as Mez showing kindness to Goku much like how the Red Ogre wanted to be friends with humans. However, it’s still very different, since Mez only helps Goku because he lost a race against him.
Other Anime Used the Same Folk Story Effectively
The Blue and Red Ogre Appear In Many Anime
Other anime have used real-life folktales as powerful metaphors for their fictional characters who represent certain aspects of the original story. One of the best examples isMy Love Story!!, which also used the Story of the Red Ogre and the Blue Ogre. For the first few episodes, the ape-like protagonist Takeo Gōda had always seen himself as the Red Ogre for never being able to get a girlfriend. He only viewed his best friend and popular chick magnet Makoto Sunakawa as the Blue Ogre because he didn’t seem interested in girls. But in later episodes, there’s an incredible revelation where Takeo learns that Makoto is more like the Blue Ogre than he thought because of the heartbreaking sacrifices he would have to make on his behalf.
Natsuki Subaru fromRe: Zeroalso mentions the story of the two ogres, which has particular relevance in the series because Natsuki interacts with two girls of the Oni race, Rem and Ram, who have blue and red eyes and hair, respectively. Once again, a popular folk tale is used to enhance important narrative themes in an anime, showing just how engrained this medium has become in Japanese culture over time.
As of now,Dragon Ball Daimahas only referenced the Red Ogre and Blue Ogre story once but it will be intriguing if the series brings it back with deeper meaning, perhaps to highlight the relationship between two characters. As of now, it’s anybody’s guess who could represent the Red and Blue Ogres.Dragon Ball Daima’s reference is so uncharacteristic of the franchise overall but maybe it will become just as effective a metaphor as for other anime.
Dragon Ball DAIMA
Cast
Dragon Ball Daima sees Goku and his allies inexplicably shrunk into miniature forms, prompting a journey to the Demon Realm. This animated adventure, part of the Dragon Ball franchise, explores their mission to solve the mystery and restore their original statures. Released in October 2024.
