For Dragon Ball Z fans, it’s a very good day. Bandai Namco’s Dragon Ball XenoVerse tournament kicks off today. The online competition will have participants from North and South America, as well as Europe and Asia across PS4, PS3, Xbox One, and Xbox 360 platforms. The grand winner will have an avatar designed in their likeness, according to Oh My Geek! There will also be other prizes for those who make it far enough.
Just the simple fact that there’s enough interest for people in Latin America is proof that they are way into Dragon Ball Z. But we can do better than that. Here are eight ways Latin America has proven to be obsessed with Goku and co.:
1
There's a 'Dragon Ball Z' corrido.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIsVz7R19Cg
This is like the ultimate sign of respect. Even though it’s not a new song, it was recently going viral, because that’s how much people love to talk about Dragon Ball Z.
2
There's even more music dedicated to 'Dragon Ball Z.'
There’s also a cumbia, and Los Weyes Que Tocan get really into their performance. They’re not the only ones who went all out for the show.
3
Someone auditioned for 'La Voz Peru' with the Dragon Ball Z theme song.
Raúl Bustios auditioned for La Voz Peru with “Cha-La Head Cha-La,” which is the theme song for the first 199 episodes of Dragon Ball Z. He only got one judge to turn around, but the video went on to get more than one million views.
4
There's soccer player that thinks he's Goku.
Diego Rivarola of Universidad de Chile is better known as Goku. He has worn Goku on his very personalized shirts, and even dressed up like him. The best proof that he may actually be Goku is that Angelo Henriquez, also a former player for La U, was named Gohan, because he was supposed to be Rivarola’s heir. Henriquez inherited Rivarola’s No. 7 jersey.
5
There's a bunch of 'Dragon Ball Z'-themed businesses.
Mexico has quite a few places named after Dragon Ball Z, and there’s even one forum that tries to argue that Mexico has the biggest fans of the show.
https://twitter.com/GerardoZuazo/status/604728257146028032
6
One 'Dragon Ball Z' movie made $15 million in Latin America.
The 2014 movie Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods grossed $47 million in foreign markets, according to Box Office Mojo‘s stats. The biggest chunk of that belonged to Japan at $29 million, but Latin America grossed more than $15 million.
7
There's another Goku-obsessed soccer player.
https://instagram.com/p/po7tBsmZUY/
Uruguayan player Walter Gargano has also showed Goku some love in the past.
8
This guy does impressions of 'Dragon Ball Z' voice actors.
Mexican cosplayer Jesus Campaña’s YouTube channel may not just focus on Dragon Ball Z, but with his channel art referencing the TV show, it’s obvious that’s what he’s about. Last year, he released an eight-minute video where he imitates different characters from the show.