29187


I was watching Dragon Ball and couldn’t help noticing the reference to Bruce
Lee and Jackie Chan in the World Tournament Saga.

>                  [![enter image description
> here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/CUSuS.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/CUSuS.jpg)
> [![enter image description
> here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/0CxAj.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/0CxAj.png)

So my question is, are their more such references in the series or this is as
far as it gets?


CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-22T13:24:05.203
29186
2016-12-02T04:27:26.280
2016-01-23T17:02:06.890
19592
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question
dragon-ball-series
What are the many references Dragon Ball Series makes to other franchises/people?


There are a lot of references made to other works and people in the series…

## Inspirations

As a matter of fact, the series was inspired by and has some major references
to

  * **Journey to the West**

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/CMCas.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/CMCas.jpg)

  * **Jackie Chan**

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/UzGfV.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/UzGfV.jpg)

  * **Bruce Lee**

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/2N4Ia.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/2N4Ia.jpg)

You can read more about it
[here](https://planetnamek.wordpress.com/?s=inspiration).

## Names

As one knows, the names in the series are usually puns on something or the
other.

For eg.

  * Saiyan comes from Yasai meaning Vegetable and so the names are related to those
  * In fact, the Brief Family’s names are a pun on Undergarments
  * Frieza's henchmen are named after Fruits

You can read about the origins of many more names
[here](http://dragonball.wikia.com/wiki/Origins_of_character_names).

## Tenkaichi Budokai (天下一武道会)

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/c9z9f.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/c9z9f.png)

You must have heard of Tenkaichi Budokai’s English translation- "World’s
Martial Arts Tournament." I’ll say that that translation maybe right, but has
lost it’s essence. A more accurate translation of Tenkaichi Budokai is “The
Number One Under Heaven Martial Arts Gathering.”

It was inspired from Lei Tai – The Thunder Hand Platform; a Chinese martial
arts tournament. You can read more about it
[here](http://thedaoofdragonball.com/blog/martial-arts/the-origin-of-the-
tenkaichi-budokai/).

## New Testament

I believe that Goku's returning from the dead to save everyone is a reference
to the New Testament.

* * *

Now to begin with references present only in a certain series..

## Dragon Ball

  * #  Bruce Lee 

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/tRWev.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/tRWev.png)

Great Lee (A Character that resembles Bruce Lee)

> Great Lee (グレート・リー, Gurēto Rī; "Great Lee"), also known as the Bruce Lee
> Impersonator, is a character who resembles the real life martial artist
> Bruce Lee.

￼He is first seen in a vision when Krillin tells Goku about the World Martial
Arts Tournament in the episode "Milk Delivery". Later, the Bruce Lee
Impersonator is seen several times in the Elimination Round at the 21st World
Martial Arts Tournament.

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/zPnS6.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/zPnS6.png)

Bruce Lee Impersonator in West City

Another character that resembles Bruce Lee is seen in West City in the episode
43, where he challenges people to a street fight and anyone who beats him will
get 100,000 zeni.

During the preliminaries for the 22nd Tenkaichi Budokai, Yamaha says,"Boards
don't hit back". It's a reference to Bruce Lee's movie "Enter the Dragon."

Muscle Tower itself is a reference to a level of the game Spartan X/Kung Fu
master which was based off of Bruce Lee's Game of Death. To know more check
the inspirations part at the beginning of this answer.

  * #  Chinese Dynasties 

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/Dptgm.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/Dptgm.png)
[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/5CSNH.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/5CSNH.png)
[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/c84fc.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/c84fc.jpg)

         The Tiger Thief                               Bear Thief                        Qing Dynasty Armor

> The armor the Tiger Thief wears resembles that worn by Chinese soldiers
> during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The Bear Thief, the Tiger Thief, the
> nameless warrior trapped in the Gourd of Mist, the Ox King, Sky Dragon, and
> Lord Yao also wear similar armors.

  * #  Dracula 

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/obPOZ.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/obPOZ.png)

Fangs The Vampire from Fortuneteller Baba Saga. A direct reference to Dracula.

  * #  Dragon Quest 

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/FBlbC.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/FBlbC.png)
[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/6tYKM.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/6tYKM.png)[![enter
image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/RLhY6.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/RLhY6.png)

              [Archdemon](http://dragonquest.wikia.com/wiki/Archdemon%2022nd%20tournament)                          [Cyclops](http://dragonquest.wikia.com/wiki/Cyclops%2022nd%20tournament)                                           [Orc](http://dragonquest.wikia.com/wiki/Orc%2022nd%20tournament)

                                           [![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/1zaO5.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/1zaO5.png)

                                                             [Shaman](http://dragonquest.wikia.com/wiki/Shaman%2022nd%20tournament)

  * #  Dr. Slump 

There are a lot of references to the characters of Dr. Slump. The major ones
being the episodes in General Blue Saga taking place in [Penguin
Village](http://dragonball.wikia.com/wiki/Penguin_Village).

    * #  Chenshi 

               [![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/26uyy.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/26uyy.png) ￼

               Chenshi from fortuneteller baba saga

               His character design is exactly the same as Turbo Norimaki (Dr. Slump). 

  * #  Commander Red's Painter 

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/A3NJF.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/A3NJF.png)
￼

The Painter

> During the General Blue Saga, Commander Red has his portrait painted by an
> anthropomorphic goat, who is similar in appearance to Dr. Goat, who appears
> in Akira Toriyama's Today's Highlight Island and Dr. Slump series.

    * #  Soldier 23 

        [![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/ObRrP.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/ObRrP.png) ￼

        Soldier 23 General Blue Saga

        Soldier 23 was one of the last soldiers of General Blue's sector. He has a slight         resemblance to Senbei Norimaki from the Dr. Slump series.

  * #  Frankenstein's Monster 

       [![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/wSTHF.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/wSTHF.png)

       Android #8 AKA Eighter (Japanese - Hat-chan) is a direct reference to Frankenstein's        monster.

  * #  Hwang Jang Lee 

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/aEMTL.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/aEMTL.png)
[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/7yUee.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/7yUee.jpg)

Mercenary Taopaipai is based on the Korean actor Hwang Jang Lee who played
Thunderleg in Jackie Chan's Drunken Master.

  * #  Jackie Chan 

       [![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/pBO0Y.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/pBO0Y.jpg)

      Jackie Chun is a direct reference to Jackie Chan. To know more check the inspirations part at       the beginning of this answer.

  * #  Sitting Bull 

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/rOrHa.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/rOrHa.png)
[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/RZKo3.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/RZKo3.jpg)

> Little Flower's Father from Aru Village in Emperor Pilaf Saga Little
> Flower's Father (or Becky's Father in the Ocean Group dub) is a native
> American who lives in Aru Village. He bears a slight resemblance to the
> famous Sioux Indian chief Sitting Bull.

  * #  Superman 

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/c93JC.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/c93JC.jpg)

Superman from Dr. Slump in the Penguin Village episode, makes an appearance
and goes to a phone booth to change his clothes, acting as a reference to
Superman.

  * #  Tall Man 

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/0hD7A.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/0hD7A.png)
￼

Tall Man from Tournament Saga

> Tall Man (known as Noppo (ノッポ) in the Japanese version) is one of the
> cowboys seen in the Brown Country saloon. He seems to be a parody of the
> type of heroes in old westerns.

  * #  Terminator 

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/jvMxL.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/jvMxL.png)
[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/af9Cz.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/af9Cz.png)

Major Metallitron is a direct reference to Arnold Schwarzenegger's movie
"Terminator"

  * #  The Invisible Man 

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/ng6Lr.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/ng6Lr.png)

See-Through The Invisible Man from Fortuneteller Baba Saga is a direct
reference to the book by the same name.

  * #  The Mummy 

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/lFdpl.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/lFdpl.jpg)

Bandages The Mummy from Fortuneteller Baba Saga is a direct reference to the
movie with the same name

  * #  The Wizard of Oz 

There was a cameo of Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion
and Jack Pumpkinhead from the Wizard of Oz in the 22nd World Martial Arts
Tournament.

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/pKh5R.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/pKh5R.png)

  * #  Ultraseven 

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/aueEA.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/aueEA.jpg)
[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/RR1Cl.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/RR1Cl.jpg)

Kid Chichi's helmet is a reference to Ultraseven.

  * #  Unnamed Big Fighter 

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/1fpBL.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/1fpBL.png)
￼

> An unnamed fighter who fought the Bruce Lee Impersonator for 100,000 zen in
> the Red Ribbon Army Saga. This big fighter only appears in the anime. He
> bears a slight resemblance to retired USMC drill instructor and actor R. Lee
> Ermey.

  * #  Urashima Taro 

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/QY15J.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/QY15J.png)
[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/L6hRg.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/L6hRg.jpg)

The entire turtle storyline that leads into Kame Rennin's first appearance is
a reference to the legend of Urashima Taro.

* * *

## Dragon Ball Z

  * #  Aliens 

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/M7Tqp.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/M7Tqp.png)

Third Form of Frieza is a direct reference to Aliens from fictional novels.

  * #  Baragon 

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/4Ff8d.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/4Ff8d.jpg)
[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/35hxy.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/35hxy.jpg)

The monster who fought Frankenstein in "Frankenstein Conquers the World" and
later joined Godzilla's family - A cameo in Capsule Corps' garden

  * #  Cinderella 

The names [Bibidi, Babidi, and Buu](http://www.wikiwand.com/en/Bibbidi-
Bobbidi-Boo) are a direct reference to Fairy Godmother's song from Cinderella.

  * #  Himitsu no Akko-chan 

Yakon is named after the magical phrase "Teku-Maku-Mayakon" from the shoujo
manga and anime Himitsu no Akko-chan.

  * #  KFC 

A KFC Colonel Sanders appears once during the Buu Saga.

￼       [![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/L9Ccn.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/L9Ccn.png)

  * #  Michael Jackson 

[![ enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/fRHZz.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/fRHZz.jpg)
[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/YdTt6.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/YdTt6.jpg)

King Kai's Bubbles is a direct reference to Michael Jackson's Bubbles.

  * #  Mothra 

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/defBn.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/defBn.jpg)
[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/TBBsR.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/TBBsR.jpg)

Hirudegarn crashing into the TV tower before undergoing metamorphosis is an
homage to the first Mothra movie (1961).

  * # Super Sentai

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/EuVYo.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/EuVYo.png)

Ginyu Force

> The Ginyu Force has some resemblances and references to Super Sentai teams
> (and by extension, Power Rangers teams): five color-coded warriors,
> tendencies to pose during battle, role calls and supernatural powers.

  * #  The Terminator 

Complete Android and Cell Saga is a reference to The Terminator

  * #  The Sword in the Stone 

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/tz2cf.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/tz2cf.png)
[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/OoNqy.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/OoNqy.jpg)

The Z-sword is a direct reference to The Sword in the Stone.

  * #  Yatterman 

[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/vEA3a.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/vEA3a.jpg)
[![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/ZMLCd.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/ZMLCd.jpg)

Gohan dressing up as "Great Saiyaman" Videl dressing up as "Great Saiyaman #2"
is be a reference to Yatterman, where Yatterman's girlfriend is "Yatterman
No.2".

* * *

## DBZ Fukkatsu No F

## Bruce Lee

  * [Goku doing the one-inch punch](https://youtu.be/p0IRilo8dLY)
  * Jaco saying "ahhh" after the punch
  * Whis did a WingChun stance
  * [Vegeta slowly dropping his leg after kicking Frieza](https://youtu.be/r8GK0VzZ79M?t=2m21s)


CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-22T13:24:05.203
29187
2016-01-25T11:45:34.130
2016-01-25T11:45:34.130
19592
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answer