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 | anti hero | anime | giant ape | 

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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

After his fight with Vegeta, Goku is hospitalized in Wukong Hospital. Wukong is the Chinese name for Goku.

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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

Goku: That's what you think, Captain Cocky!

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Crazy Credits

While other DBZ movies just used whatever opening went with the show at the time the movie was release, Tree of Might features a specially-made opening, featuring the Z-Fighters gathering the Dragon Balls to restore the destroyed forest.

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Connections

Referenced in The Matrix Revolutions (2003)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

An Amazing Story...

I'm a late blooming DBZ fan, but I've already seen almost the entire series! LOL! I will tell you the story of how I became a die-hard fan, and why you'll be VERY sorry if you haven't already!

It was around the year 1999 that I first came across DBZ. I think the Namek saga was airing on Cartoon Network. My friend was big on the show (though he had very little knowledge of it's origins) and forced me to watch it myself. I made fun of the show every-time he watched it. I thought it was corny, cheesy and the voice-acting was stupid.

HOWEVER, somewhere along the way in the summer of 2001 he told me they were re-airing the Android saga on CN. Well, I started the old usual comments, making fun of it. But then.. I actually became interested in the story. After a few episodes, I was hooked. You see, the story of Dragonball is more than you think. It covers over 500 episodes in it's entire run over three different animated series.

I began watching with the Android/Cell sagas. I watched them to the end and then watched the Frieza saga. Then I watched the Saiyan and Namek Saga. Now here we are today at the Buu saga. What better time to become a DBZ fan than now! The last 54 episodes of the show will air this fall, and that's something NOT to be missed.

The show never has an ending to a story. It's a continous "to be continued" storyline that grows and grows. Characters have time to develop into interesting relationships among them, making moments where someone dies or is hurt even more emotional.

It tells the story of Goku (son Goku in Japan) who is an incredible man born with an amazing fighting talent. His strength never ceases and he becomes stronger and stronger. He is kind and pure of heart.. a friend to even his enemies at times. He is the central point of DBZ, but not the only point.

Throughout the series, he learns of his Saiyan heritage, finding that he was born of an alien human-like race that has an ability to concentrate energy called Kai (or ki) to create energy blasts, fly, etc. They are born with a natural instinct to fight, and conquer entire planets to sale to the highest bidder.

That is only the beginning of DBZ, there are 200 episodes or so of a previous series called Dragonball that explain Goku's childhood-into-adult hood. DBZ covers him from his early twenties or so all the way until he's over 50 years old.

The show has sparked 13 movies and two specials.. and much more. Some of the movies are dubbed in english, while others are only available in Japanese subtitled versions.

ANYWAY, this show is specatacular, and takes forever to explain every aspect of the storyline. The ORIGINAL Japanese version has much better music and voice acting, I'll admit. And the English versions (at least early episodes) were edited to death, the show still holds what makes it magic.

The beginning of the series will re-air on Cartoon Network as of May 2002. I suggest you begin watching. Do NOT let the animation, or the voice-acting, or bad editing of this first saga shake you away. The show takes time to understand and become interested in, but once your there, you'll be hooked.

There are over 290 episodes of DBZ, and the animation gets much better, as does the storyline. Just keep watching, trust me... your gonna love it!