"Dragon Ball Z" (1989/I) TV series 1989-2003

User Rating:

9.0/10   

Director:

Daisuke Nishio

Writers:

Andrew Rye (writer) (episodes)
Akira Toriyama (comic book)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | unknown

Release Date:

13 September 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Action | Adventure | Fantasy | Thriller

Tagline:

The Saiyans have returned...

Plot:

In the version that is shown on YTV in Canada, the story begins mid-way through the Dragon Ball Z series...

Plot Keywords:

Training | Super Power | Famous Opening Theme | Full Moon | Manga

Cast

Jôji Yanami	...	Narrator / ... (280 episodes, 1996-2003)
Masako Nozawa	...	Son Goku / ... (278 episodes, 1996-2003)
Christopher Sabat	...	Vegeta / ... (269 episodes, 1996-2003)
Sean Schemmel	...	Goku / ... (253 episodes, 1996-2003)
Doc Harris	...	Narrator (232 episodes, 1996-2003)
Mayumi Tanaka	...	Kuririn / ... (224 episodes, 1996-2003)
Sonny Strait	...	Krillin / ... (215 episodes, 1996-2003)
Brian Drummond	...	Vegeta / ... (197 episodes, 1996-2003)
Ryô Horikawa	...	Vegeta (193 episodes, 1996-2003)
Terry Klassen	...	Krillin / ... (193 episodes, 1996-2003)
Toshio Furukawa	...	Piccolo (190 episodes, 1996-2003)
Stephanie Nadolny	...	Gohan / ... (184 episodes, 1996-2001)
Tiffany Vollmer	...	Bulma / ... (173 episodes, 1996-2003)
Scott McNeil	...	Piccolo / ... (167 episodes, 1996-2003)
Hiromi Tsuru	...	Bulma / ... (165 episodes, 1996-2003)
Jillian Michaels	...	Goten / ... (156 episodes, 2000-2003)
Kyle Hebert	...	Narrator / ... (155 episodes, 1996-2003)
Mike McFarland	...	Master Roshi / ... (134 episodes, 1996-2003)
Kirby Morrow	...	Goku (134 episodes, 2000-2003)
Tôru Furuya	...	Yamcha (133 episodes, 1996-2003)
Cynthia Cranz	...	Chi-Chi / ... (132 episodes, 1996-2003)
Takeshi Kusao	...	Trunks (129 episodes, 2000-2003)
Daisuke Gôri	...	Gyuumao / ... (128 episodes, 1996-2003)
Ted Cole	...	Yamcha / ... (125 episodes, 1996-2003)
Naoko Watanabe	...	Puar / ... (121 episodes, 1996-2003)
Hirotaka Suzuoki	...	Tenshinhan / ... (114 episodes, 1996-2003)

Also Known As:

"DBZ" (USA) (short title)

Runtime:

26 min (291 episodes)

Country:

Canada | USA | Japan

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Certification:

Denmark:7 (DVD) | Denmark:7 | Netherlands:MG6 | USA:TV-Y7 (edited version) | South Korea:All | Australia:PG | Germany:12 | USA:TV-PG (uncensored version) | Canada:PG (some episodes)

Company:

FUNimation Entertainment

Trivia:

Like in the previous series Dragonball, Dragon Ball Z has many naming conventions/jokes. Saiyans are all named after vegetables. Vegeta, both the prince, his king father and the Saiyan home planet (originally named Planet Plant), means Vegetable; Raditz is 'radish', and Kakkorotto is 'carrot'. The villain Freeza (originally Friezer) comes obvious, and his brother Cooler and their father King Cold. All Namekians born from the villain in Dragonball were named after instruments (Piccolo, Drum, etc.) The Briefs family were all named after underwear, Bulma meaning panties, Doctor Briefs himself, Trunks, and Bra. And of course, various characters named after foods. Oolong, as in the tea; Videl, like the onion variety; Ginger, obvious; Spice; Blueberry; Raspberry; Raisin; Almond; Apple; and in Dragonball there was an entire family (of about 12) named after desserts.

Goofs:

Plot holes: In numerous movies and episodes in the Garlic Jr. and Driver's License eras, Gohan's dragon appears. He got the dragon in The Tree Of Might - a movie that could never have taken place.

Quotes:

SSJ3 Goku: If I can't do it, then who else can! Exploding Dragon Fist!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Heppoko jikken animêshon excel saga: Yarinige (#1.25)" (2000)

Simply one of the best Anime series out there

This anime cartoon in my opinion, is better than any other cartoon I seen. I still watch it whenever I get the chance to. It's character development and the plots of the whole DBZ story is superb, the animation is full of action, and every ending of an episode leaves you wondering what may happen next. It also contains a bit of humor as well as subplots. When I first seen it in 1996, I was overwhelmed at how much action and comedy was fit into one anime series. I found Goku and Vegeta to be serious but a bit funny in between, and the roles of Gohan and Piccolo weren't shabby either. It has a whole saga inside which makes it worth watching.

Overall, I watched this cartoon more than all the other cartoons put together. I like it even better than Inuyasha, which is also good. My favorite episode is when Goku finally becomes a Super Saiyen, and Frieza later gets cut in half by a flying disk. You may have to watch this series from the beginning to get the full meaning of the story and what is going on, but if you see this on Cartoon Network or any other channel, watch it! Don't miss out! It is definitely worth seeing for the eye.