Dragon Ball: Sleeping Princess in Devil's Castle
6.7
Quality Score
0.43 (Positive)
Audience Mood
6 / 10
Controversy
39,448
MAL Ratings
Synopsis — from MyAnimeList
Goku and Kuririn are given an assignment by Kame-Sen'nin: "Retrieve the sleeping princess from Lucifer and I will take you as my students." But the mission proves to be more perilous than originally thought.
Audience Consensus
Audience reception for Majinjou no Nemuri Hime is moderately divided, largely dependent on expectations and preferred dubbing. While some praise its nostalgic fun, unique art direction, and entertaining plot, others heavily criticize its poor dubbing, recycled animation, confusing plot points, and excessive fan service. Fans of the original Dragon Ball era appreciate its light-hearted, uncomplicated entertainment, but newcomers may find it confusing and technically lacking.
Strengths
- Unique and spooky art design for the 'Devil's Hand' and demons, evoking Fantasia's 'Night on Bald Mountain'.
- The vampire villain's design and motive (blowing up the sun for eternal darkness) are seen as a refreshing departure from typical anime villains.
- Successfully encapsulates the show's aesthetic and sense of fun, feeling like a classic Dragon Ball episode.
- Goku and Krillin's rivalry and transition into friendship are well-portrayed and genuine.
- Good performances from the original Japanese voice actors for the antagonists.
- Visually striking demon designs and a dark, gothic atmosphere in Lucifer's domain.
- The film delivers pure, uncomplicated entertainment with a constant pace and charismatic secondary characters.
- The movie is memorable for its fun and nostalgic aspects, providing a good time for fans.
Weaknesses
- The English dub voice for Goku is terrible, sounding like he's whispering and exhaling simultaneously.
- The English dub voice for Bulma is unfitting.
- Significant portions of the first 15 minutes are recycled scenes from the anime, feeling like a retread.
- Bulma's characterization as a damsel in distress who trusts Lucifer and acts unbothered in a demon-filled room is inconsistent with her established intelligence.
- Krillin is portrayed as a burden who repeatedly needs saving by Goku, with Yamcha doing more in the movie.
- The 'Sleeping Princess' plot device is confusing, lacking explanation for its purpose and the specific canon used to destroy the sun.
- Demons using guns instead of natural abilities is seen as a strange choice.
- Excessive fan service involving Bulma's breasts, including close-ups and jokes.
- The ending is abrupt and unexplained, not showing what happens to the vampire or how Goku and the gang escape.
- Animation is shoddy, with characters not moving well and awkward scene transitions.
- Audio quality in the dub is bad, with voices too low and certain sounds ear-piercing.
- The movie feels slow, with noticeable reused animation and unnecessary panning shots, perceived as lazy for a film.
- The plot is generic and feels like it's just 'there,' lacking depth or true narrative drive.
- Despite being an alternate plot, some elements feel like precursors to the Garlic Jr. arc, suggesting ideas could have been executed better.