It is no exaggeration to say Dragon Ball Z had a profound influence on shounen anime and pop culture across the globe. One Dragon Ball Z fan decided to put that feeling into an incredible fan film tribute to the stars of the Z Fighters.
Legend - A Dragon Ball Tale was created by Studio Stray Dog. Led by animator and storyboard artist Naseer Pasha, Studio Stray Dog put together this incredible 10-minute animation over the course of four years.
The story of Legend tells an alternative history of the events of Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z. During a tournament where Goku and Chi Chi battle, the Super Saiyan Legend Broly interrupts to destroy Goku. Not long after, Vegeta–now king of the Saiyans–arrives on the scene and does battle with Broly. Though he is able to severely injure the massive warrior, it is only after Vegeta and Goku team up that they are able to defeat Broly.
The animation style used in Legend is reminiscent of TRIGGER, the studio behind popular anime like Panty & Stocking and Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann. The unique style translates incredibly well to the theme of Dragon Ball Z and manages to capture the feeling of the iconic series perfectly. Pasha’s take on the recognizable characters is familiar yet fresh and somehow manages to tell a new story with characters who have been around for over 30 years.
Fans were floored by Studio Stray Dog’s incredible fan film. They couldn’t believe the quality of animation, storytelling, and attention to detail shown in the short film. The creative new take on Dragon Ball Z abilities and forms–especially Vegeta’s ki sword and Goku’s Sun Wukong-themed transformation–especially delighted fans. They were pulled into Legend and were left wanting more.
Luckily, these fans may end up getting just that. Studio Stray Dog received a massive amount of attention for Legend. In less than a week, it got 3.5 million views and over 32,000 comments. Pasha confirmed Studio Stray Dog wants to work on more projects in the future and hoped it wouldn’t take four years to complete the next project. Legend itself ends with a post-credits cliffhanging stinger which would lend itself perfectly to a sequel–or even a new Dragon Ball series. Fans who enjoyed Legend and want to support the artists can do so via Patreon and other social media outlets. Studio Stray Dog put itself on the map with Legend, and animation fans would be wise to keep an eye on what it puts out next.