Dragon Ball: 8 Moments in the Manga Censored in the Anime Adaptation

8. The Beer of Master Roshi

Beer is a serious taboo in children’s programming, especially regarding Dragon Ball. When thinking back, Master Roshi was quite fond of beer and frequently drank it throughout the series.

To conceal the content of this old man’s habits, the anime altered the color of this beverage multiple times. Occasionally, his drink appeared blue to resemble water. In other instances, this beer was painted white to look like milk.

7. The Color of Piccolo’s Blood

Prior to the revelation that Namekians have purple blood, people assumed Piccolo shared the same blood color as the Saiyans. However, the bloody images would be too graphic for a children’s program, leading to a change in the blood color.

In some scenes where Piccolo’s blood is shown, the anime changed it to green. This change was quite fitting, so most viewers didn’t mind this alteration. Only later did fans discover the true color of Namekian blood.

6. The Humorous Name Change of Hell in Hfil

In the past, mentioning hell in a children’s program was a no-go.

This led to a creative moment when adapting Hell into Hfil. This is one of the most symbolic censorship moments in Dragon Ball Z that many fans adore, to the extent that it would be a shame if this was the official name in the series.

5. Many Scenes Without Wearing Clothes Were Censored

The Japanese censors didn’t face many issues with scenes that didn’t feature nudity, but it seemed to be a different case with the anime aired in the West. Any form of nudity was strictly censored in children’s programming, which is why many scenes had to be altered in Dragon Ball.

4. Censoring the Character’s Finger Gestures

It’s not uncommon for characters to display rude gestures and show disdain towards others, but in the manga Dragon Ball Z, there were instances where characters showcased just their middle fingers.

This action was censored in Western adaptations. The anime distributed in the West removed any scenes featuring this gesture.

3. The Blood Color Changes in Dragon Ball Z Kai

Some scenes were cut in Dragon Ball Z Kai to make the show more appropriate for children, and the blood color was one of the most controversial censorship decisions in the series.

Many scenes felt much less intense when characters were shown not to bleed, even during near-death experiences. However, most viewers could sense these changes and appreciated the faster pacing of Dragon Ball Z Kai.

2. The Color Change of Mr. Popo’s Skin

Many people can argue about the design of Popo, but few can deny that his representation does not align with his original character design. Therefore, it’s easy to understand why the Western version of Dragon Ball had to be altered, yet this censorship made many people puzzled.

Seeing Mr. Popo in blue in some versions of Dragon Ball Z from the West looks quite strange, and this color change seems unnatural. Instead of trying to conceal the true color of Popo, this alteration raised more questions about the depiction of the character’s true nature as a servant of Kami.

1. Master Roshi’s Inappropriate Actions Were Censored to the Extreme

It’s a shame that Master Roshi became a comedic character in Dragon Ball Z, as many viewers are unaware of how significant this character was for Goku and Krillin’s development.

Master Roshi has always been portrayed as a pervert with many suggestive actions. However, the Western adaptations of the series have completely cut out or rewritten any scenes that involve inappropriate gestures.