Dragon Ball Z 

After learning that he is from another planet, a warrior named Goku and his friends are prompted to defend it from an onslaught of extraterrestrial enemies.

Stars:

Doc Harris, Christopher Sabat, Scott McNeil

Top Rated TV #69 | See the Top Rated TV as rated by our users.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Doc Harris	...	Narrator 223 episodes, 1996-2003
Christopher Sabat	...	Piccolo / ... 214 episodes, 1999-2003
Scott McNeil	...	Piccolo / ... 205 episodes, 1996-2003
Sean Schemmel	...	Goku / ... 202 episodes, 1999-2003
Terry Klassen	...	Krillin / ... 199 episodes, 1996-2003
Brian Drummond	...	Vegeta / ... 179 episodes, 1996-2003
Sonny Strait	...	Krillin / ... 171 episodes, 1999-2003
Stephanie Nadolny	...	Gohan / ... 149 episodes, 1997-2003
Don Brown	...	Hercule / ... 136 episodes, 1997-2003
Kirby Morrow	...	Goku / ... 132 episodes, 2000-2003
Tiffany Vollmer	...	Bulma / ... 129 episodes, 1999-2003
Dale Kelly	...	Narrator / ... 127 episodes, 1999-2000
Cathy Weseluck	...	Trunks / ... 126 episodes, 1996-2003
Michael Dobson	...	Supreme Kai / ... 123 episodes, 1996-2003
Jillian Michaels	...	Goten / ... 122 episodes, 2000-2003
Kyle Hebert	...	Narrator / ... 121 episodes, 2000-2003
Ted Cole	...	Yamcha / ... 113 episodes, 1996-2003
Cynthia Cranz	...	Chi-Chi / ... 111 episodes, 1999-2003
Mike McFarland	...	Master Roshi / ... 110 episodes, 1999-2003
Chris Rager	...	Hercule / ... 91 episodes, 2000-2003
Lisa Ann Beley	...	Chi-Chi / ... 91 episodes, 2000-2003

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, Tien, and Chiaotzu 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:

actor voicing multiple characters | antihero | cult favorite | flight | friend | 

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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:

TV-PG

Details

Official Sites:

Official Site (Japanese)

Country:

Japan USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 September 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

DBZ

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ocean Group, Toei Animation, Toei Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

24 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Original Japanese)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

By 2015, Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods and Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection F are the only films of the series to be released officially in theatres worldwide.

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Goofs

The popular line where Nappa asks what Goku's power level is and Vegeta screams "Its over 9000!" and crushes his scouter in the English Dub is actually incorrect. In the Japanese Manga he screams that it is over 8000, not 9000.

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Quotes

[after scanning the power levels of 3 Namek warriors]
Frieza: You have the power levels of a Boy Scout troop!

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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

Referenced in Sailor and the Seven Ballz 2: Return of the Ballz (2005)

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Soundtracks

Dragon Ball Z movie theme
(theme song) (English version)
Performed by Mark Menza
Written and Composed by Mark Menza
(Remastered Seasons 1 - 2)

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.