An anniversary edition of the 2013 martial arts animation is light on bombast, funny and mischievous. Here is a 10th-anniversary extended edition, with 20 added minutes, of the 18th theatrical outing for Dragon Ball, which was credited with revitalising the franchise. With original series creator Akira Toriyama apparently taking a stronger hand during production, this 2013 film hit the sweet spot where daffy character comedy powered up OTT anime smackdown, in the process laying the groundwork for the brand’s next phase, Dragon Ball Super.
“Such over-the-top naming. It ends up sounding tawdry,” comments a lackey to intergalactic god of destruction Beerus (Kōichi Yamadera) when the pair hear of a “Super Saiyan God” on the loose. Despite being a nap-centric sphynx cat in harem pants, Beerus is impatient for a worthy foe, so he decides to call in on any nearby Saiyans (a race of super-strong aliens) who might point him in the right direction. After wiping the floor with series hero Goku (Masako Nozawa) with just two blows, the apocalyptic kitty turns his hunt towards Earth with Armoggiedon on the cards.
Actually for combat anime, Battle of Gods is quite light on bombast, and just as inclined to talk as fight. Exchanging courteous banter with his attendant Whis (Masakazu Morita), Beerus is great fun; the ultimate indolent teenager, but prone to world-destroying rages if frustrated. Invited to the 38th birthday party of a Saiyan’s earthling wife, it’s up to the guests to keep him entertained enough to stop him going intergalactically postal. He’s mollified by an impromptu bingo tournament, but being denied dessert starts the final countdown: “Cause a big ruckus over pudding, will you!”.
Some of the character-work is a touch scratchy, but it is counterbalanced by animation whose mischievous dynamism fits this outlandish jamboree. Of course an augmented Goku returns to confront Beerus – but even there the denouement takes a graceful sidestep that feels aligned with this episode’s delight in small trifles. This has cosmic charm aplenty.
