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Dragon Ball Super: Broly (2019) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Dragon Ball Super: Broly (2019) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2019 · 100 min · Japanese
Echo score 80
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Directed by
Tatsuya Nagamine
Starring
Kôichi Yamadera, Toshio Furukawa, Katsuhisa Hôki, Christopher Sabat, Ian Sinclair, Colleen Clinkenbeard
Budget
$8.5M

Following the destruction of Planet Vegeta, three Saiyans' lives diverge. Two find refuge on Earth, while the third, Broly, develops a deep-seated resentment and immense power. Their paths eventually converge, leading to a confrontation that threatens the universe. Goku and Vegeta must join forces to face this formidable foe, testing their abilities in an explosive and decisive battle.

On this page (7)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (5)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (2)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Every angle
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5 main characters · contains spoilers

Dragon Ball Super: Broly Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Dragon Ball Super: Broly (2019), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Birusu

    played by Kôichi Yamadera

    Birusu, known as Beerus, is the powerful God of Destruction who possesses an aura of omnipotence and an insatiable appetite. Despite his intimidating power, he often exhibits a laid-back demeanor and a fondness for culinary delights. His character plays a crucial role in maintaining the balance of the universe.

    • 👑 God
    • ⚡ Power
    • 🍜 Food
  • Piccolo

    played by Toshio Furukawa

    Piccolo is a wise and strategic fighter known for his growth from a villain to a powerful ally. He serves as a mentor figure to Goku and a fierce protector of Earth. His character embodies the values of redemption and the importance of training and preparation in the face of great challenges.

    • ☯️ Mentor
    • 🥋 Fighter
    • 🔮 Strategy
  • Broly

    Broly is a Saiyan with overwhelming power that emerges due to the trauma and hardship of his past. Initially portrayed as a victim of circumstances, his character evolves into a formidable warrior driven by anger and desire for revenge. His journey highlights the struggles of identity and the quest for belonging.

    • ⚡ Super Saiyan
    • 🔥 Anger
    • 🌌 Redemption
  • Vegeta

    played by Ryô Horikawa

    Vegeta, the proud and determined Prince of the Saiyan race, undergoes significant character development through rivalry and friendship with Goku. His relentless pursuit of strength often leads him into fierce battles, showcasing his growth as both a fighter and a protective figure to those he cares about.

    • 👑 Prince
    • ⚔️ Rivalry
    • 💪 Strength
  • Bulma

    played by Aya Hisakawa

    Bulma is a brilliant inventor and strategist, using her intellect to aid her friends in their quests. Her adventurous spirit and determination make her an indispensable part of the team. Her relationship with Vegeta also portrays the theme of unexpected bonds transcending initial rivalries.

    • 🧠 Genius
    • 🛠️ Inventor
    • 💖 Support

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:11

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Setting

Where and When Does Dragon Ball Super: Broly Take Place?

The setting of Dragon Ball Super: Broly (2019): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

Age 732 - Age 780

The movie spans from Age 732, a period marked by conflict and uncertainty for the Saiyan race under Frieza's threat, to Age 780, after pivotal events like the Tournament of Power. This era highlights the rise of Broly's extraordinary abilities and the ongoing power struggles against the tyrant Frieza.

Location

Vampa, Planet Vegeta, Earth

Vampa is a desolate planetoid where Broly is exiled, characterized by its harsh environment and loneliness. Planet Vegeta serves as the home of the Saiyan race, known for its fierce warriors and royal lineage. Earth stands out as a vibrant world, with Goku aiming to build connections and provide training opportunities.

  • 🌍 Earth
  • 🌌 Space
  • 🪐 Planets

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:11

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2 major themes

Dragon Ball Super: Broly Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Dragon Ball Super: Broly (2019) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Conflict

    The central theme of conflict emerges through Broly's struggle for belonging and retribution against King Vegeta. The intense battles against Frieza and the Saiyans underline the continuous wars fought for power and survival. Additionally, the desire for revenge showcases the destructive nature of unresolved grievances.

  • Destiny

    The theme of destiny is evident in Broly's journey, from his harsh exile to becoming a powerful warrior. Kakarot's destiny intertwines with Broly's as they encounter each other on their paths. The characters' journeys imply that one's fate can change through choices, connections, and newfound friendships.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:11

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Character & theme questions

Dragon Ball Super: Broly Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Dragon Ball Super: Broly (2019): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where does the movie take place?

The story spans multiple locations across the universe. Vampa is a desolate planetoid where Broly is exiled in isolation. Planet Vegeta was the homeworld of the Saiyan race before its destruction. Earth serves as the primary battleground where the final confrontation occurs, with Goku and his allies defending the planet.

  • vampa
  • planet vegeta
  • earth
  • setting
  • locations
  • saiyan homeworld
Q2

When does the movie take place in the Dragon Ball timeline?

The movie spans from Age 732 to Age 780 in the Dragon Ball universe's timeline. This period covers the aftermath of Planet Vegeta's destruction under Frieza's command and extends to after the Tournament of Power. This era places the narrative in the modern era of the Dragon Ball Super series.

  • age 732
  • age 780
  • dragon ball timeline
  • era
  • time period
  • saiyan history
Q3

What is the main theme of conflict in the movie?

The central theme of conflict centers on Broly's struggle for belonging and his quest for retribution against King Vegeta, who ordered his exile as an infant. The ongoing battles against Frieza and between the Saiyans underscore the perpetual wars fought for power and survival in the universe.

  • conflict
  • broly
  • king vegeta
  • revenge
  • frieza
  • saiyan war
Q4

How does destiny play a role in the movie?

Destiny is a key theme as Broly's journey takes him from harsh exile on Vampa to becoming one of the most powerful warriors in the universe. Kakarot's (Goku's) destiny becomes intertwined with Broly's as their paths cross, showing how fate can change through choices, connections, and new friendships.

  • destiny
  • broly
  • kakarot
  • fate
  • prophecy
  • saiyan legend
Q5

Who is Broly and why is he important?

Broly is a legendary Super Saiyan with overwhelming power that emerges from the trauma and hardship of his past. Originally portrayed as a victim of King Vegeta's fear and Paragus's manipulation, his character evolves into a formidable warrior driven by anger and a desire for revenge. His immense power makes him a threat to the entire universe.

  • broly
  • legendary super saiyan
  • saiyan warrior
  • power
  • exile
Q6

What is Vegeta's role in the story?

Vegeta appears as the proud Prince of the Saiyan race, representing the royal lineage that once ruled Planet Vegeta. His character demonstrates the arc of someone who transforms from a ruthless warrior into a protective ally. In this movie, he must put aside his pride to team up with Goku against the common threat posed by Broly.

  • vegeta
  • prince of saiyans
  • saiyan royalty
  • character role
  • goku rivalry
Q7

Who is Beerus and what is his role?

Beerus is the God of Destruction who maintains balance across the universe. Despite possessing immense destructive power, he maintains a laid-back demeanor and has a particular fondness for food and comfort. His presence underscores the high stakes of the conflict, as even the gods take notice of Broly's threat to the universe.

  • beerus
  • god of destruction
  • universe 7
  • whis
  • deity role
Q8

What role does Piccolo play?

Piccolo serves as the wise and strategic fighter who has evolved from a former villain to a powerful ally and mentor figure. He represents the value of redemption in the Dragon Ball universe and acts as a protector of Earth. His presence highlights the theme of characters finding redemption and using their strength for protective purposes.

  • piccolo
  • namekian
  • mentor
  • redemption
  • earth protector
Q9

What is Vampa like as a setting?

Vampa is a desolate, harsh planetoid where Broly is exiled as an infant. The environment is characterized by its loneliness and extreme conditions, reflecting Broly's isolation from the universe. This harsh setting shapes his identity and contributes to his raw, untrained power when he is finally discovered.

  • vampa
  • exile planet
  • desert planet
  • broly's home
  • isolation
Q10

What is the Saiyan race's significance in the movie?

The Saiyan race serves as the central pillar of the movie's conflict and backstory. Once a proud warrior civilization on Planet Vegeta, they were nearly wiped out by Frieza. The movie explores their history, the significance of their power levels, and the legacy of royal bloodlines through Broly and Vegeta's contrasting fates.

  • saiyan race
  • planet vegeta
  • saiyan warriors
  • warrior race
  • super saiyan

Movie threads

More Movies Like Dragon Ball Super: Broly, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Dragon Ball Super: Broly tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Epic power battles like in Dragon Ball Super: Broly

Epic confrontations between god-like beings where the fate of the world hangs in the balance. If you loved the universe-threatening combat in Dragon Ball Super: Broly, explore more movies like it. This collection features similar anime and sci-fi films where unstoppable forces collide in high-intensity, action-packed fights that decide the fate of worlds.

  • explosive
  • action-packed
  • tense
  • epic
  • high-stakes
  • spectacular
  • Tone: tense, epic
  • Pacing: fast, escalating
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread are often built around a direct and escalating confrontation with a formidable opponent. The plot serves to heighten the stakes and showcase the raw power of the characters, culminating in a decisive, explosive battle that is the story's centerpiece.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on high-intensity action, spectacular power displays, and narratives where the central conflict is a direct, world-altering clash between super-powered entities. The experience is defined by adrenaline and visual spectacle.

Unlikely rival alliances like in Dragon Ball Super: Broly

Stories where bitter enemies must reluctantly unite against a greater, overwhelming threat. Fans of the tense team-up between Goku and Vegeta in Dragon Ball Super: Broly will enjoy these movies. Discover similar action and adventure stories where fierce rivals must put aside their grudges and join forces to face a common, powerful enemy.

  • tense
  • dramatic
  • unlikely team-up
  • confrontational
  • high-stakes
  • competitive
  • Tone: tense, dramatic
  • Pacing: fast, driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a threat so significant that it forces characters with a history of conflict to cooperate. The story explores the dynamics of this fragile alliance, the clash of egos, and the eventual, often grudging, respect that forms under extreme pressure.

Why they belong together: These films are connected by the core theme of rivalries being tested and temporarily set aside for survival. The appeal lies in the character dynamics, the tension of forced cooperation, and the explosive payoff when former enemies fight together.

Every angle

Dragon Ball Super: Broly (2019) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Dragon Ball Super: Broly in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning, the ending explained and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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