As a longtime Dragon Ball enthusiast who can still vividly recall the days when I’d race home from school to catch the latest episode on Toonami, the news of Doc Harris’ passing feels like a blow to the nostalgic heart. His voice was as much a part of my childhood as Goku’s adventures and the iconic Kamehameha wave.
2024 has been particularly tough for fans of Dragon Ball, a series many grew up with. Earlier this year, its creator, Akira Toriyama, passed away at the age of 68. More recently, the English narrator, Doc Harris, also passed away at 76. For those who eagerly waited to catch each episode on Toonami after school, his voice would be instantly recognizable; he was the one who provided recaps at the beginning of every episode and is remembered for popularizing phrases like “tune in next time on Dragon Ball Z.
Last month, Harris underwent a minor operation and unfortunately passed away on October 5 in the hospital. His voice was featured in over 220 episodes of Dragon Ball Z, but that wasn’t his only anime project. Most recently, he made an appearance in five episodes of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic in 2019. Although many fans remember him for his work on DBZ, he hasn’t been the series narrator since 2003. Currently, Kyle Hebert, who is well-known as the voice actor for Gohan, has taken over the role of the English narrator. Despite not being the one narrating anymore, Hebert attempts to mimic Harris’s unique style, ensuring that his influence continues even if he’s no longer at the microphone.
Ian James Corlett, who voiced Goku in Dragon Ball Z, shared on Instagram that his friend and co-star was truly exceptional. He noted that Harris significantly impacted his early career, had an immense passion for music, and possessed a discerning eye for films.
The timing of the demise of both Harris and Toriyama is particularly challenging for fans due to the unprecedented popularity of the Dragon Ball series. Not only has a fresh video game, Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero, been released, but also a new show titled Dragon Ball Daima, which happens to be Toriyama’s final work within the franchise, is now available.
Dragon Ball keeps on trekking along
In 2023, it was revealed that a new series titled “Dragon Ball: Daima” will premiere on Netflix on October 18th, offering American audiences a chance to experience it. The show features characters reverted back to their childhood forms, which might pique the interest of fans longing for a trip down memory lane to the early days of Dragon Ball. Set after the events of Dragon Ball Z and the defeat of Majin Buu, but before Beerus and Dragon Ball Super, this season consists of 20 episodes. It remains undecided whether further episodes will be produced if needed, as Toriyama only planned the initial season; any future installments would be without him.
Speaking of “Sparking! Zero”, it has been well-received by critics thus far, boasting an 83 score on Metacritic. This game marks the long-awaited return to the “Budokai Tenkaichi” series that fans have yearned for over the years. Although it’s filled with nods to the fanbase, it also serves as a heartfelt tribute to the franchise. Fans of the “Dragon Ball” series will find something appealing in this game, even if fighting games aren’t typically their cup of tea. In 2024, there seems to be a quality offering for “Dragon Ball” enthusiasts, a prospect that might have seemed unlikely 20 years ago.
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2024-10-09 02:03