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 #72 | 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
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
Kirby Morrow	...	Goku / ... 118 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:

There & back again - A Saiyan Tale

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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

Vegeta is the only father that always took care of his children, Trunks and Bra. Piccolo took care of Gohan and Goten, Goku sometimes spent time with both of them. Meanwhile Goku was taking care of Pan while Gohan was working.

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Goofs

In the Frieza saga, Vegeta has flashbacks both of himself with Guldo, and with Nappa and Raditz. In both of these flashbacks he is missing his tail, even though he didn't lose it until his battles on Earth.

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Quotes

Goku: Wow how cute. Is he yours Yamcha?
Yamcha: Huh! He's not my kid.
Goku: [Trunks cries] Okay! Okay! You know? Come to think of it he does look a little bit like Vegeta.

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Crazy Credits

The show has three openings. The first opening (Saiyan and Frieza Saga) is a montage of the characters and battles, and it features a scene of Nappa and Vegeta walking through fire, and ends with the Z-Fighters assembled, joined by Goku who falls from above wielding his Power Pole (unusual considering he never uses it in Z.) The second intro (Cell Saga) is basically the same, however it eliminates the "Nappa and Vegeta in fire" sequence, and shows a more modern group shot of the Z-Fighters at the end, including Goku becoming a Super Saiyan. The third intro (Buu Saga) is completely different and features a new opening song, with footage of the Z-Fighters as they appear later in the series. The first two intros are accompanied by an end credits scene of Gohan running on a globe, intercut with other footage of Z-Fighters and allies. The third intro has an end credits scene featuring Gohan walking down a sidewalk, looking up to see Goku with angel wings, who drops a feather from them.

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Alternate Versions

There are two versions of the english dub of Dragon Ball Z, one is the edited version which is shown on Cartoon Network, and a uncut version which adds several minutes of footage not seen in the edited version

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Connections

Referenced in Super Size Me (2004)

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Soundtracks

DragonBall Z
(theme song) (Euro-Canadian English version)
Performed by Tom Keenlyside, John Mitchell & David Iris
Written and Composed by Tom Keenlyside, John Mitchell & David Iris
(Euro-Canadian Seasons 4 - 7)

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.