Dragon Ball Z (1989–2003)

Earth's defender Goku learns that he is from another planet. Now Goku and his allies must defend the planet from an onslaught of new extraterrestrial enemies.

Stars:

Jôji Yanami, Masako Nozawa, Christopher Sabat

Cast

Series cast summary:
Jôji Yanami	...	Narrator (280 episodes, 1996-2003)
Masako Nozawa	...	Son Goku (278 episodes, 1996-2003)
Christopher Sabat	...	Vegeta (267 episodes, 1996-2003)
Sean Schemmel	...	Goku (250 episodes, 1996-2003)
Doc Harris	...	Narrator (229 episodes, 1996-2003)
Mayumi Tanaka	...	Kuririn (223 episodes, 1996-2003)
Sonny Strait	...	Krillin (214 episodes, 1996-2003)
Brian Drummond	...	Vegeta (197 episodes, 1996-2003)
Ryô Horikawa	...	Vegeta (193 episodes, 1996-2003)
Terry Klassen	...	Krillin (192 episodes, 1996-2003)
Toshio Furukawa	...	Piccolo (188 episodes, 1996-2003)
Stephanie Nadolny	...	Gohan (181 episodes, 1996-2001)
Tiffany Vollmer	...	Bulma (173 episodes, 1996-2003)
Hiromi Tsuru	...	Bulma (165 episodes, 1996-2003)
Scott McNeil	...	Piccolo (165 episodes, 1996-2003)
Jillian Michaels	...	Goten (156 episodes, 2000-2003)
Kyle Hebert	...	Narrator (152 episodes, 1996-2003)
Kirby Morrow	...	Goku (134 episodes, 2000-2003)
Tôru Furuya	...	Yamcha (133 episodes, 1996-2003)
Mike McFarland	...	Master Roshi (133 episodes, 1996-2003)
Cynthia Cranz	...	Chi-Chi (130 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)

Storyline

In the version that is shown on YTV in Canada, the story begins mid-way through the Dragon Ball Z series. Raditz, Goku's brother has traveled to Earth to find out why Goku has not yet destroyed the planet as he was supposed to do. But while as a baby, Goku was dropped (down a huge cliff) and forgot his real mission. Kakarot, Goku's real name battles his brother Raditzs along with former enemy Piccolo and friend Krillin. Meanwhile, Gohan; Goku's son reveals his hidden powers against Raditz and nearly kills Raditz. However Goku is killed in the end, but Raditz is eventually defeated by Piccolo. Before he dies, he tells them that two evil-saiyans even more powerful then he is, are on route to Earth. The remaining fighters, Krillin, Yamcha, Tein, and Chaotsu begin their training to battle the evil saiyans, while Piccolo takes off with Gohan to train him in using his new found power. Meanwhile, Goku has to make his way back on Snake Way to King Kai's where he trains himself in the secret ...

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Plot Keywords:

warrior | training | warrior race | super villain | kung fu classic | 

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Taglines:

The Saiyans have returned...

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Genres:

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

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

Canada USA Japan

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 September 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

DBZ

Company Credits

Production Co:

FUNimation Entertainment, Ocean Group, Toei Animation Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

26 min 26 min (291 episodes)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

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. The name Videl is actually an anagram of "Devil" because her dad is Mr. Satan (at least in the Japanese version).

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Goofs

EDITED ENGLISH VERSION: In the original Japanese version, Dr. Briefs (Bulma's dad) ALWAYS had a cigarette in his mouth. It was digitally removed for the edited dub, but the editing is often unconvincing. Watch his mouth and you can see "glitches" on the screen in that area.

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Quotes

Master Roshi: Now, did you boys remember to pack your toothbrushes!
Krillin: Yes!
Goku: Tooth... what?

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Crazy Credits

When Dragon Ball Z was first dubbed, the opening credits used a mix of footage from the series, from the first three movies, and the Japanese intro sequences. It was accompanied by an American-only theme song called Rock the Dragon. This intro was unusual in that it had footage from movies that never aired on TV at the time, and in that it showed many things that would not happen until much later in the series, and not as a part of this dubbed version (Future Trunks, short-haired Yamcha, Super Saiyan transformations, etc.)

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Connections

Alternate-language version of Dragon Ball Z: Doragon bôru zetto (1989)

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Soundtracks

"Boku-tachi wa Tenchi Datta"
(ending song) (Original Japanese version)
Performed by Hironobu Kageyama
(Seasons 5 & 6)

User Reviews

One word to describe it: OUTRAGEOUS!

Ok, ok, so I may be biased because DBZ may be one of my favorite shows of all time, and if not my favorite Anime`- EVER! But who cares? I love this show. And I loved Dragon Ball (although I must say that the American dub of Dragon Ball is for more of the 11-under crowd if you ask me) Now, allow me to tell you my testimony of how I came to love the Dragon Ball series....

When I was in Kindergarten-first grade or so, I saw my first episode of Dragon Ball. I was sick and home from school, and it was airing on Fox Kids I believe. It came on after Bannana's in Pajamas. (God save my soul, I hated that show.) Well, I've been one who has followed and practiced Martial Arts my whole life, and since I was a huge fan of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (and since I was sick in bed) I decided to watch Dragon Ball. I laughed, and smiled, and of course enjoyed it. I can't tell you exactly what I remember, Master Roshi and his island come to mind at best. Well, over the years I skipped through the episodes, never exactly becoming "hooked" and die hard. That wouldn't be for another few good years. In 5th grade, my friends were Role Playing Dragon Ball Z during recess (it had just started to air around that time.) Of course, I wanted to role play with them, but didn't know-or remember- any female characters. They had me play as Bulma. All that came to mind was blue hair (and one of my friends complained of me playing Bulma because they had to play Yamucha. Go figure) Years still went by and it wasn't until around the 6th grade did I start watching. Over the summer I'd be wtaching Frieza or Garlic Jr. reruns, and my younger cousin and his friend would make fun of the show. (I tell you now: DBZ isn't just about people screaming at the top of their lugs with beyond steroid possible muscles and beams of light shooting from their bodies.) And when the time came of the Android/Cell saga, I WAS OFFICIALLY HOOKED!!!!!! DBZ is the first show I've come to obsess over, and even though I am a 15 y/o female, I don't care. If fighting and mountains blowing up appeals to me, then too bad!!!!!! DBZ ROCKS!!!

P.S: Like I said in my above comment about screaming and muscles and lights, it is beyond that. The show talks a lot about courage, friendship, and loyalty. Though the American edited version may not be AS good as the Japanese version, I still find it great. And it may take a while to understand the principles of DBZ if you start watching in the middle of a saga, but keep watching- it may take time (like me.)

Akira Toriyama has definitely created a classic.