Doragon bôru Z 1: Ora no Gohan wo kaese (1989)

Director:

Daisuke Nishio

Writers:

Takao Koyama (screenplay)
Akira Toriyama (character)

Release Date:

15 July 1989 (Japan)

Genre:

Animation | Short | Sci-Fi | Fantasy | Action | Adventure

Plot:

In order to wish for immortality and avenge his father, Garlic Jr. collects the dragon balls, kidnapping Goku's son Gohan in the process...

Plot Keywords:

Explosion | Martial Arts | Anime | Violence | Revenge

Cast

Peter Kelamis	...	Goku / Master Roshi (voice: English version)
Sean Schemmel	...	Goku (voice: English version)
Saffron Henderson	...	Gohan (voice: English version)
Stephanie Nadolny	...	Gohan (voice: English version)
Terry Klassen	...	Krillin (voice: English version)
Christopher Sabat	...	Piccolo / Kami / Shenron (voice: English version)
Scott McNeil	...	Piccolo (voice: English version)
Tiffany Vollmer	...	Bulma (voice: English version)
Sonny Strait	...	Krillin (voice: English version)
Dave 'Squatch' Ward	...	Garlic Jr. / Ginger (voice: English version)
Paul Dobson	...	Nikki (voice: English version)
Kyle Hebert	...	Ox King / Narrator (voice: English version)
Don Brown	...	Sansho (voice: English version)
Cynthia Cranz	...	Chi-Chi (voice: English version)
Mike McFarland	...	Master Roshi (voice: English version)

Also Known As:

Dead Zone (short title)
Dead Zone: The Movie (Australia)
Dragon Ball Z 1: Return My Gohan! (literal English title)
Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone (USA)

Runtime:

44 min | Japan:50 min | USA:41 min (TV version) | USA:45 min

Country:

Japan

Language:

English | Japanese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Germany:12 | USA:Unrated | Australia:PG

Company:

Bird Studios

Trivia:

Released on DVD in America twice. The initial release was dubbed by Pioneer with the Ocean Group, and was a very accurate dub. It was later reissued with a new, less-accurate dub by FUNimations in-house voice actors. While this version had a less accurate dub and fewer bonus features, it did feature a superior Japanese subtitled version, translated by Steven J. Simmons.

Goofs:

Plot holes: In the beginning of the movie Kami says that Piccolo has died. However if this is true then Kami himself should too be dead as they share the same soul.

Quotes:

Piccolo: You are just a coward! You and the other two won't take me by surprise this time.
[Picollo defeats one of Garlic Jr's henchmen]
Piccolo: You were so easy to beat one on one.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Dragon Ball Z: Sparking! Meteor (2007) (VG)

Amazing yet simply short for a DBZ Movie.

Takes place before the Saiyans landed on Earth. Kami's nemesis's son: Garlic Jr. has made his first move in seeking revenge. Due to his father loosing the title of Earth's Guardian to Kami. Junior sends out his minions to collect the Dragon Balls so that way he can wish to be immortal. Gohan was kidnapped during the Dragon Ball hunt, because he was wearing one on his head. Gohan's dad, Goku must rescue his son as well as defeat the "Immortal hungry" Junior.

For only being the first Dragon Ball Z movie. It lives up to being an enjoyable flick. Contains the same opening as the long running TV series. While the the whole thing felt like a two parter episode than a movie. Of course anything shorter than an hour always seems that way. It was the same with the first 3 Dragon Ball Movies. Ignoring that, this feature film is worth watching. I imagine the Kami/Piccolo fans to enjoy this because the play a part in it.

Available to own on DVD as well as the other 12 full length features.