Warning: Spoiler forI Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince so I Can Take My Time Perfecting My Magical Ability episode 12A reincarnation anime that has already proven to be the genre’s version ofDragon BallcalledI Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince so I Can Take My Time Perfecting My Magical Abilityhas now more than doubled the number of preexisting reasons why it deserves this prestigious title. Rather appropriately, this doubling effect happens in the latter half of the final fight, which spans the last two episodes of the first season. A second is on the way, too, as per a recent announcement fromCrunchyroll.
Before these final episodes, the anime’s 7th prince, Lloyd de Saloum had already channeledGoku’s character in the series' first few epic fights.Lloyd has appeared at the last moment to save his weaker friendsagainst a stronger opponent on more than one occasion andrepurposed his opponents' techniques for his own useafter just witnessing them mere seconds earlier.
Now, the series imitates the whole dynamic inDragon Ballwhen Earth’s fighters only stand a chance against Frieza and his minions on Namekby suppressing their chi.It also clearly takes some stylistic cues fromFrieza’s Death Ball and Goku’s Ultra Instinct, while justemulating the overall fighting stylepopularized in theDragon Ball Zanime.
I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince Has Its Versions of Dragon Ball’s Ultra Instinct and A Death Ball
The more nuanced correlation is clearly howI Was Reincarnated as the 7th Princefinds inspiration fromDragon Ball’s Namek saga. When fighting the Cataclysm named Guisarme inI Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince, Lloyd realizes that his opponent can’t sense his magical energy and uses this to his advantage, since Guisarme obviously had the upper hand and hiding was Lloyd’s only chance at survival. InDragon Ball, not only does Goku capitalize on this very strategy during his fight with Frieza, but this tactic greatly benefits Goku’s friends earlier on, who would have been killed if Frieza and his henchmen could have sensed their chi.
In terms of more concrete techniques,Dragon Ball Superfans will undoubtedly be intrigued thatI Was Reincarnated as the 7th Princeintroduces its own version of Ultra Instinct. In essence, it’s as if Goku came up with Ultra Instinct on the spot to imitate one of his opponent’s abilities. InI Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince,Lloyd adapts to Guisarme’s transportation technique called Shadow Wolf by creating a spell where his reflexes take over and drag him in the direction of where Guisarme is using Silver Wolf.
The end result creates the illusion that he is teleporting alongside Guisarme. On a more obvious level, Lloyd and Guisarme both create their own version of Frieza’s Death Ball called Mortal Dark Sphere. Everything, down to the size of the spherical ball of energy and how Guisarme throws it, are almost identical.
Imitating the Styles of Other Big-Name Shonen Series
Where does homage end and copying begin?
In fact, the obvious correlation between Mortal Dark Sphere andDeath Ballis similar to how the overall fighting during Guisarme and Lloyd’s final battle matches the aesthetic style of theDragon Ball Zanime. From the explosions in aura to the rapid punches and how the fighters phase in and out, it just looks like aDragon Ballbrawl. The fight also borrows from other action shonen, through the obvious call-outs toNaruto’s Shadow Clones and the bequeathed power trope fromHunter x Hunter’s Pakunoda where a hero leaves behind knowledge of an opponent who defeated them so their friends can win in a future battle.
Reincarnation and especially straight-up isekai series don’t always appeal to fans of classic shonen anime, butI Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince so I Can Take My Time Perfecting My Magical Abilityis clearly making a stunning effort to bring them together by drawing from one of the most iconic shonen series of all time likeDragon Ball, andit’s working.
Dragon Ball
Cast
Goku, a young, powerful boy with a tail, spends his days hunting and living off the land. His life changes when he meets Bulma, a teen genius on a quest to collect seven magical Dragon Balls that summon a dragon capable of granting any wish. Together, they set off on an adventure filled with powerful martial arts battles, formidable foes, and unlikely alliances.
