Dragon Ball

Dragon Ball has to be one of the most well-known anime. With its popularity comes great influence. Let's examine the contents of this anime and see whether they line up with the Bible or not.

Inappropriate Content

This show, unlike many other animes, doesn't contain much much explicit content. There is, however, a little.

"Goku gets naked a lot throughout this series and you see his [genitals], although keep in mind he is still just a kid. Krillin also gets naked too."

"A nudie magazine is shown in season 2 with undetailed but easy to recognise naked ladies with breasts (nipples show)"

"One scene of episode 06 features a girl showering and the side of her breasts and her butt can be seen."¹

Now, of course, the children would not be sexualized, but it still is not something we should just be watching. Regardless, the magazine is not great and violates the clear command for women to be modest.

"In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;" (1 Timothy 2:9)

Immodesty is simply not something that should be watched. Apparently there is "a lot of sexual humor throughout the series, mostly involving Bulma."¹ Jokes like this are not okay. Paul, under the inspiration of the Spirit of God, states:

"Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks." (Ephesians 5:4)

The word "jesting" here refers to that joking that would be considered "dirty." This would include sexual things as well.

Language

There is language in the show.¹ I won't put the specific words on here as that would be violating the very principles I seek to present, but there is no reason a show should contain these bad words.

"But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth." (Colossians 3:8)

Alcohol

There is alcoholic beverages that are consumed in this show.

"Many characters are social drinkers/smokers. Occasionally characters become drunk, however this is rare, and it is always done in a comical fashion. The activities are not condoned or glorified in any way."¹

Read what the LORD says in the Book of Leviticus:

"[8] ¶ And the LORD spake unto Aaron, saying, [9] Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations: [10] And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;" (Leviticus 10:8-10)

Sure, we are not the priests, but they were told not to drink wine because they needed to make a "difference between holy and unholy". Wine, here, is called unholy.

Ki (Magic)

Characters in this show use "energy-based attacks"¹ which uses something called ki (or chi)². Ki is magic. What does the Bible say about magic? Well, it calls it "witchcraft" and it is strongly condemned.

"[19] Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, [20] Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, [21] Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." (Galatians 5:19-21)

We see a list of the works of the flesh. Right in the middle it puts "witchcraft". It says in Samuel that rebellion is "as the sin of witchcraft" (1 Samuel 15:23). Something can't be like the sin of something if that something isn't a sin! God clearly condemns the use of magic.

Conclusion

We can see that when one examines the things found in this anime, it does not match with the Bible. As such, we should not be watching this anime.

Sources:
1. "Dragon Ball: Parents guide." IMDb, imdb.com/title/tt0088509/parentalguide. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.

2. "Ki." Dragon Ball Wiki, dragonball.fandom.com/wiki/Ki. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.