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In the universe of Dragon Ball Super, while the threat of evil is ever-present, the series also takes time across its 131 episodes to delve into charming slice-of-life stories with lower stakes. These episodes offer fans a delightful chance to see their favorite Dragon Ball heroes in everyday scenarios, providing a break from the intense battles that are a hallmark of Goku’s epic adventures.
Dragon Ball Super excels in delivering some of the finest slice-of-life moments in anime, whether through original filler episodes or segments that recognize the value of slowing down the narrative. While many Dragon Ball enthusiasts eagerly anticipate thrilling battles and new Super Saiyan transformations, there’s much more to appreciate about Toriyama’s characters beyond their fighting prowess. The series’ best slice-of-life episodes showcase the depth and charm of these beloved characters.
The opening episode of any Dragon Ball series is crucial, and Dragon Ball Super starts on a note that sets the tone perfectly. Titled “A Peacetime Reward: Who Gets the 100,000,000 Zeni?!,” the first episode unfolds four years after Kid Buu’s defeat, capturing a world basking in peace. Instead of diving straight into chaos, this approach allows the series to gently reintroduce audiences to the Dragon Ball world, emphasizing tranquility before the inevitable return of danger.
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Dragon Ball Super Starts as a Slice-of-Life Anime
There’s a lot of pressure that’s put on the final episode of Dragon Ball anime, but the way in which each series begins is just as important. Dragon Ball Super’s first episode, “A Peacetime Reward: Who Gets the 100,000,000 Zeni?!,” picks up four years after Kid Buu’s defeat, while everyone is still in the midst of enjoying a peaceful world. It’s important not to just begin a new Dragon Ball series with immediate danger, which has occasionally been the approach in the past. Dragon Ball Super benefits from a humble slice-of-life introduction that eases the audience back into this world before evil strikes.
Friendly introductions make up much of this episode, but the grander plot revolves around Goten and Trunks’ efforts to find the perfect wedding gift for Videl. “A Peacetime Reward: Who Gets the 100,000,000 Zeni?!” also showcases Goku and Chi-Chi’s domestic life and how they’ve come to spend their time in a post-Kid Buu world. The following episode keeps the slice-of-life trend going with Vegeta on a vacation with his family while Goku trains with King Kai, but it also features more pivotal Beerus developments. Tension begins to mount, whereas Dragon Ball Super’s first episode just has fun.
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Dragon Ball Super Episode 31 Surprises Fans With a Rare Team-Up
Dragon Ball Super Episode 31, “Off to See Master Zuno! Find Out Where the Super Dragon Balls Are!,” is an unusual team-up between Bulma and Jaco. Desperate for intel regarding the Super Dragon Balls, Bulma and Jaco travel to see Master Zuno, a powerful being with omniscience over the multiverse’s history.
Bulma and Jaco’s mission may seem simple, yet they have to jump through several ridiculous hoops, whether that’s Zuno’s problematic requests or an unexpected clash with an outlaw known as Burpman. Bulma receives the Super Dragon Ball details that she was looking for by the episode’s end, but “Off to See Master Zuno! Find Out Where the Super Dragon Balls Are!” gives a good impression of what an average day in Jaco’s life looks like.
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Dragon Ball Super Episode 77 Proves That Goku’s a Great Dad
Dragon Ball Super Episode 77, “Let’s Do It, Grand Zeno! The Universes’ Best Tournament!!,” often goes overlooked because it’s an episode that has the purpose of bridging two grander sagas together. Despite the major developments that close out the episode, “Let’s Do It, Grand Zeno! The Universes’ Best Tournament!!” includes some really tender slice-of-life moments between Goku and Goten.
A robbery at the farmer’s market prompts Goku to question his martial arts skills and if he’s possibly gotten rusty. He decides that both he and Goten should train under Whis, and if nothing else, it’s just appreciated to actually see Goku acting like a father to his youngest son. Additionally, “Let’s Do It, Grand Zeno! The Universes’ Best Tournament!!” marks the announcement of Bulma’s pregnancy with Bulla, which also facilitates plenty of muted antics before Goku travels to meet the Zenos. It’s a quaint, calm before the weight of the Tournament of Power sets in for Universe 7.
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Dragon Ball Super Episode 44’s Slice-of-Life Fun is a Misdirection
Dragon Ball Super’s Copy-Vegeta Saga is three episodes of flashy filler fights against a devious Vegeta doppelgänger. It’s hard to call anything that involves Duplicate Vegeta a slice-of-life scenario, but the first entry in the Copy-Vegeta Saga, “The Seal of Planet Pot-au-feu; Secrets of the Unleashed Superhuman Water!,” qualifies. Dragon Ball Super Episode 44 concludes with Vegeta’s cruel co-option by the Commeson. However, the episode primarily deals with Monaka’s efforts to deliver a package to Bulma, all while Goten and Trunks stow away in his truck.
There’s plenty of this episode that feels representative of what an average day for Monaka looks like, which is especially satisfying after he was previously built up so much during the Tournament of Destroyers. Goten and Trunks’ irresponsible shenanigans leave them on Planet Pot-au-feu, where even more silliness ensues. Vegeta’s arrival helps push this storyline into more dramatic territory, despite its extremely slice-of-life foundation.
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Dragon Ball Super Episode 73 Casts Gohan in a New Light
Gohan doesn’t get many opportunities to stand out and prove himself in Dragon Ball Super before the height of the Tournament of Power and the following Super Hero Saga. That being said, Dragon Ball Super’s anime does feature a brief filler arc that details the troubled production of a Great Saiyaman feature film. Dragon Ball Super Episode 73, “Gohan’s Plight! The Preposterous Great Saiyaman Film Adaptation?!,” builds upon an inherently silly premise where Gohan gets hired to be the Great Saiyaman’s stunt double in a superhero blockbuster, “Great Saiyaman vs. Mister Satan.”
Gohan is happy to help out, but this triggers a war of egos with the film’s star, Barry Kahn. The subsequent episodes depict a complex blackmail scheme and an epic fight against a parasitic abomination. However, the start of this Dragon Ball Super arc keeps things simple. There’s even plenty of entertaining slice-of-life material for Jaco as he hunts down Watagash. It’s quite clever to have Jaco’s situation dovetail with Mr. Satan’s film production.
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Dragon Ball Super Episode 69 is the Perfect Anime Crossover
Dragon Ball is no stranger to crossovers, and there’s even precedent for the line blurring between Akira Toriyama’s two most popular series — Dragon Ball and Dr. Slump — back in the original series. In past crossovers, Arale always felt like a guest in Goku’s world, even if Dragon Ball was traveling over to Dr. Slump‘s Penguin Village. What’s so interesting about Dragon Ball Super Episode 69, “Goku vs. Arale! An Off-the-Wall Battle Spells the End of the Earth?,” is that it ostensibly acts like a Dr. Slump episode instead of a Dragon Ball Super installment, right down to Arale singing her anime’s theme song to start off the silly story.
A science competition brings Dr. Slump mainstays like Dr. Senbei Norimaki over to Dragon Ball. Goku is hired as security for the event, but it’s not long before he’s facing off against Dr. Norimaki’s prize creation, Arale, whose powers are boosted by Playtime-X. A battle between Arale and Super Saiyan Blue Goku and Vegeta plays out, yet this battle caters to gag comedy physics, rather than Dragon Ball Super‘s more serious fare. Any fan can appreciate that Dragon Ball still has the bandwidth for ludicrous crossovers where it doesn’t take itself too seriously and allows another series’ protagonist to run wild.
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Dragon Ball Super Episode 43 Transforms Tragedy into Comedy
Goku’s Blue Kaio-Ken puts a remarkable strain on his body that comes with a 90% chance of death in Dragon Ball Super’s Tournament of Destroyers. Goku survives the experience, but some of the tournament’s aftermath is followed up with the hilarious consequences of Goku’s desperate decision. Goku is afflicted with Delayed Onset Ki Disorder, which makes his powers unreliable, and he’s basically helpless until he recovers.
Some comical hijinks come from Goku’s condition, including unintentional interruptions to Bulma through his Instant Transmission. Goku’s compromised nature becomes an entertaining obstacle when he’s left to babysit Pan for an evening. The Pilaf Gang try to take advantage of this opportunity, only for infant Pan to defeat them, rather than her grandfather taking them out. Pan’s infant accomplishments here have since been de-canonized. “Goku’s Energy is Out of Control? The Struggle to Look After Pan” still offers a cute, comedic snapshot of Goku and Pan’s relationship, all with some classic Pilaf Gang planning.
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Dragon Ball Super Episode 42 Follows Up on the Tournament of Destroyers
Universe 7’s victory in the Tournament of Destroyers is followed up with a celebratory party in Dragon Ball Super Episode 42, “A Chaotic Victory Party! Showdown at Last? Monaka vs. Goku!” Now that the stakes of the multiversal competition are over, Goku is interested in actually testing Monaka’s strength, and Beerus decides that it’s worth preserving the lie about Monaka’s strength in case it’s needed as motivation in the future.
What follows is a silly small-scale skirmish where Beerus dresses up as Monaka and attempts to keep Goku in the dark over Monaka’s weak nature. One would think that a rematch between Goku and Beerus would be a big deal, but Dragon Ball Super maintains a slice-of-life atmosphere throughout this gag clash. Dragon Ball Super even incorporates Puar for some shapeshifting shenanigans in order to complete the illusion.
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Dragon Ball Super Episode 76 Takes Goku & Krillin Back to the Basics
The looming threat of the Tournament of Power lights a fire under many Dragon Ball Super heroes, pushing them to return to the basics and immerse themselves in strenuous training. There’s an especially soothing pair of episodes that showcase Goku and Krillin returning to their roots as they once again train under Master Roshi. Dragon Ball Super Episode 75 establishes this slice-of-life framework and small-scale storytelling that excels in the next episode, “Conquer the Terrifying Foes! Krillin’s Fighting Spirit Rebounds!”
Dragon Ball Super Episode 76 genuinely feels like an episode of the original Dragon Ball, right down to Goku’s reliance on the Flying Nimbus. Goku and Krillin head into the Forest of Terror in order to complete Master Roshi’s challenge. Goku and Krillin are haunted by illusions of past foes, yet they’re able to conquer their fears and leave the forest stronger and more inspired than ever. It’s such a sweet reflection of Goku and Krillin’s bond and where Dragon Ball started before the magnitude of the Tournament of Power begins.
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Dragon Ball Super Episode 70 is a Home Run for Slice-of-Life Fans
Anime has a real respect for sports, which is reflected in a wide range of series that celebrate every single recreational activity imaginable, from ping-pong to synchronized diving. Baseball is especially popular in anime and there’s even a longstanding tradition where this sport temporarily takes over a series. Dragon Ball Super Episode 70, “A Challenge From Champa! This Time, a Baseball Game!,” is a playful palette cleanser until Tournament of Power prep begins.
Any scenario in which Dragon Ball‘s greatest heroes try to do everyday things, but their astronomical power turns it into a comical exercise, is going to be a lot of fun. Yamcha’s previous experience in baseball also gives him a chance to take charge, which is as hilarious and humiliating as one might expect. “A Challenge From Champa! This Time, a Baseball Game!” is such a fun, frivolous change of pace that proves that a whole OVA series where the Dragon Ball characters play different sports could be surprisingly successful.
