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Dragon Ball Z

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Dragon Ball Z
Dragon Ball Z-Logo.jpg
Premiere Japan: April 18, 1989
US: September 13, 1996
Finale Japan: January 31, 1996
US: April 7, 2003
Creator Akira Toriyama
Network/Provider Fuji TV (Japan)
Toonami (US)
Style 30 minute anime action
Company Toei Animation Company
Seasons 7
Episodes 291 + 13 feature films + 2 specials
Origin Japan
Official Site Dragon Ball Z

Dragon Ball Z is an action-oriented anime program that continues the story started in Dragon Ball. It follows the adventures of Son Goku, a young warrior with incredible strength who is often called upon to save the Earth from various powerful villains. He is joined by a cadre of strong fighters made up of friends from his earlier adventures, villains he bested and then befriended, and his son Gohan (who has inherited his father's amazing abilities).

Dragon Ball Z is also based on the Dragon Ball manga, which continued publication long after the original Dragon Ball anime ended its run. There is no set delineation in the manga between the stories adapted into the first and the second series, but the later installments placed greater emphasis on science fiction and action, as opposed to the comedic fantasy mix of Goku's early years. As such, Dragon Ball Z is a science fiction show, with heavy use of elements like space travel and extraterrestrial life. Most notably, it is revealed early in the series that Goku is actually an alien from a planet of conquerors, sent here to take over Earth for his homeworld. Fortunately, Goku hit his head upon arrival and contracted amnesia.

The other notable feature of Dragon Ball Z is its pacing. One battle could go on for over a dozen episodes, storylines progressing at a snail's pace. This was a byproduct of the rapid production of the anime series as compared to the manga - new episodes were being animated faster than new manga installments were being published. To keep the anime production on track, storylines were extended, new anime-only storylines were created, and many filler episodes were produced. Other series that have experienced similiar adaptation problems are said to have Dragon Ball Syndrome.

Thirteen theatrical films were produced using elements from the anime but not belonging in regular Dragon Ball continuity. Two television specials were also produced that fleshed out the backstory of two different characters; these are considered in continuity.

Contents

Cast

Japanese Voices Character English Voices
Main Cast
Masako Nozawa Son Goku Sean Schemmel
Peter Kelamis
Ian Corlett
Masako Nozawa Son Gohan Saffron Henderson
Stephanie Nadolny
Hiromi Tsuru Bulma Lalaina Lindbjerg
Naoko Watanabe Chichi Laura Sadig
Cynthia Cranz
Mayumi Tanaka Krillin Sonny Strait
Masako Nozawa Son Goten Kara Edwards
Ryo Horikawa Vegeta Brian Drummond
Christopher R. Sabat
Takeshi Kusao Trunks Eric Johnson
Daisuke Gouri Mr. Satan (Hercule) Chris Rager
Yuko Minaguchi Videl Kara Edwards
Toshio Furukawa Piccolo Christopher R. Sabat
Supporting/Recurring Cast
Miki Itou Android No. 18 Meredith McCoy
Tohru Furuya Yamcha Ted Cole
Christopher R. Sabat
Hirotaka Suzuoki Tenshinhan John Burgmeier
Hiroko Emori TBA Monika Antonelli

Seasons

Season  Premiere Finale #
Fuji TV
Season One September 13, 1996 May 24, 1997 26
Season Two September 13, 1997 May 23, 1998 27
Season Three September 13, 1999 May 27, 2000 48
Season Four September 1, 2000 December 29, 2000 78
Season Five September 10, 2001 November 13, 2001 43
Season Six September 16, 2002 November 19, 2002 39
Season Seven March 17, 2003 April 7, 2003 15

Feature Films

Title Release Date
Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone July 15, 1989
Dragon Ball Z: The World's Strongest March 10, 1990
Dragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might July 7, 1990
Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug March 19, 1991
Dragon Ball Z: Cooler's Revenge July 21, 1991
Dragon Ball: Return of Cooler March 7, 1992
Dragon Ball Z: Super Android 13! July 11, 1992
Dragon Ball Z: Broly - The Legendary Super Saiyan March 6, 1993
Dragon Ball Z: Bojack Unbound July 10, 1993
Dragon Ball Z: Broly - Second Coming March 12, 1994
Dragon Ball Z: Bio-Broly July 9, 1994
Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn March 4, 1995
Dragon Ball Z: Wrath of the Dragon July 14, 1995

Specials/Telefilms

Title Network Airdate
Dragon Ball Z: Bardock - The Father of Goku Fuji TV/FOX Octbober 17, 1990
Dragon Ball Z: The History of Trunks Fuji TV/CBS February 24, 1993

In-Depth

DVD and Blu-ray Releases

DVD

Title Release Discs
Season Sets  (Region 1)
Season One February 6, 2007 purchase 6
Season Two May 22, 2007 purchase 5
Season Three September 18, 2007 purchase 6
Season Four February 19, 2008 purchase 6
Season Five May 27, 2008 purchase 6
Season Six September 16, 2008 purchase 6
Season Seven November 11, 2008 purchase 6
Season Eight February 10, 2009 purchase 6
Season Nine May 19, 2009 purchase 6
Specials and Feature Films  (Region 1)
The History of Trunks / Bardock: Father of Goku February 19, 2008 purchase 1
Dead Zone / The World's Strongest May 27, 2008 purchase 2
Tree of Might / Lord Slug September 16, 2008 purchase 2
Cooler's Revenge / The Return of Cooler November 11, 2008 purchase 2
Super Android 13 / Bojack Unbound February 10, 2009 purchase 2
Broly: The Legendary Super Saiyan / Broly: Second Coming / Bio Broly March 31, 2009 purchase 2
Fusion Reborn / Wrath of the Dragon May 19, 2009 purchase 2

Blu-ray

Title Release Discs
Specials and Feature Films  (Region A)
The History of Trunks / Bardock: Father of Goku July 15, 2008 purchase 1
Dead Zone / The World's Strongest May 27, 2008 purchase 1
Tree of Might / Lord Slug September 16, 2008 purchase 1
Cooler's Revenge / The Return of Cooler November 11, 2008 purchase 1
Super Android 13 / Bojack Unbound February 10, 2009 purchase 2
Broly: The Legendary Super Saiyan / Broly: Second Coming / Bio Broly March 31, 2009 purchase 2
Fusion Reborn / Wrath of the Dragon May 19, 2009 purchase 2

External Sites