Dragon Ball: Canon Timeline Explained

The world of Dragon Ball has always been filled with fascinating lore and complex timelines. One recent question that has drawn considerable attention in the fan community is whether Dragon Ball: Yo! Son Goku and His Friends Return fits into the official canon. Let's delve deep into the issue and uncover the timeline intricacies.

Memory Erasure and Canon Confusion

Following the defeat of Majin Buu, it is established in the series that the memories of Majin Buu were erased by the Dragon Balls six months after the battle. This leaves many wondering how people still know that Mr. Satan defeated Majin Buu. In the series, it is shown that while the populace lost their recollection of Majin Buu, Mr. Satan’s reputation as a hero endured.

Mr. Satan’s fame persisted due to his celebrity status and his martial arts prowess, both of which were well-known to the public. This meant that while the specific battle with Majin Buu was forgotten, the belief in his victory remained. However, in Dragon Ball Super, this concept has been retconned to resolve certain timeline conflicts.

Retconning and Canonical Timeline

The most recent development in the Dragon Ball series involving the epilogue of Dragon Ball: Yo! Son Goku and His Friends Return was retconned in Dragon Ball Super. The special does not contradict the memory erasure but the actual events depicted after that point are no longer considered part of the official canon.

Several key points support this retconning:

Bulma's Appearance: In the epilogue, Bulma looks like her pre-Super appearance, indicating that the events depicted in the special are not the current canon. Bulma has been using the Dragon Balls to stay young, and her appearance in the epilogue does not reflect the timeline established in Dragon Ball Super. Timeline Inconsistencies: Bulma and Goku mention that it has been five years since seeing each other. This conflicts with the timeline in Dragon Ball Super, where they interact frequently during the five-year period. Additionally, Pan's age is inconsistent, as she was only four at the end of the Z saga, but her age in later Super episodes doesn't align with this timeline. Cell Max and Future Events: The most recent movie featuring Gohan and Piccolo's battle with Cell Max is only a year before the epilogue. This means the events depicted in the epilogue cannot be considered part of the current canonical timeline.

Timeline of Important Events

To clarify the actual timeline, here is a breakdown of key events:

DBZ - Majin Buu Defeated: The main conflict with Majin Buu concludes, and his memories are erased six months later. Episode 1 of DBS: The regular series continuation begins three months after the Majin Buu saga. Goku refers to Mr. Satan giving his family money, which was mentioned as an event that occurred in the first episode of DBS. 2 Years Later - Dragon Ball: Yo! Son Goku and His Friends Return: The events depicted in the movie occur, and they do not align with the timeline set in Dragon Ball Super. Battle of Gods Movie/Beerus Arc: The latest canonical timeline is established during the Dragon Ball Super events, including the arrival of Beerus and the SSJ-God ritual involving six Saiyans.

Given these timeline inconsistencies, it is clear that Dragon Ball: Yo! Son Goku and His Friends Return does not currently fit into the official canon of Dragon Ball. However, it remains an interesting and enjoyable addition to the Dragon Ball universe that fans can still appreciate as part of the rich lore and history of the series.

Conclusion

The world of Dragon Ball is vast and complex, and understanding its timeline can be challenging. While Dragon Ball Super has firmly established its canon, older events like those portrayed in Dragon Ball: Yo! Son Goku and His Friends Return may no longer fit. However, the special remains an interesting piece of Dragon Ball's history, and fans can continue to enjoy its stories.