"Dragon Ball Z" (1989/I) TV series 1989-2003

User Rating:

9.0/10   

Director:

Daisuke Nishio

Writers:

Andrew Rye (writer) (episodes)
Akira Toriyama (comic book)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | unknown

Release Date:

13 September 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Action | Adventure | Fantasy | Thriller

Tagline:

The Saiyans have returned...

Plot:

In the version that is shown on YTV in Canada, the story begins mid-way through the Dragon Ball Z series...

Plot Keywords:

Training | Super Power | Famous Opening Theme | Full Moon | Manga

Cast

Jôji Yanami	...	Narrator / ... (280 episodes, 1996-2003)
Masako Nozawa	...	Son Goku / ... (278 episodes, 1996-2003)
Christopher Sabat	...	Vegeta / ... (269 episodes, 1996-2003)
Sean Schemmel	...	Goku / ... (253 episodes, 1996-2003)
Doc Harris	...	Narrator (232 episodes, 1996-2003)
Mayumi Tanaka	...	Kuririn / ... (224 episodes, 1996-2003)
Sonny Strait	...	Krillin / ... (215 episodes, 1996-2003)
Brian Drummond	...	Vegeta / ... (197 episodes, 1996-2003)
Ryô Horikawa	...	Vegeta (193 episodes, 1996-2003)
Terry Klassen	...	Krillin / ... (193 episodes, 1996-2003)
Toshio Furukawa	...	Piccolo (190 episodes, 1996-2003)
Stephanie Nadolny	...	Gohan / ... (184 episodes, 1996-2001)
Tiffany Vollmer	...	Bulma / ... (173 episodes, 1996-2003)
Scott McNeil	...	Piccolo / ... (167 episodes, 1996-2003)
Hiromi Tsuru	...	Bulma / ... (165 episodes, 1996-2003)
Jillian Michaels	...	Goten / ... (156 episodes, 2000-2003)
Kyle Hebert	...	Narrator / ... (155 episodes, 1996-2003)
Mike McFarland	...	Master Roshi / ... (134 episodes, 1996-2003)
Kirby Morrow	...	Goku (134 episodes, 2000-2003)
Tôru Furuya	...	Yamcha (133 episodes, 1996-2003)
Cynthia Cranz	...	Chi-Chi / ... (132 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)

Also Known As:

DBZ (USA) (short title)
As bólas máxicas (Spain: Galician title) [gl]
Dragon Ball Z (Spain: Galician title) [gl]

Runtime:

26 min (291 episodes)

Country:

Canada | USA | Japan

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Certification:

Denmark:7 (DVD) | Denmark:7 | Netherlands:MG6 | USA:TV-Y7 (edited version) | South Korea:All | Australia:PG | Germany:12 | USA:TV-PG (uncensored version) | Canada:PG (some episodes)

Company:

FUNimation Entertainment

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).

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: 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.

Quotes:

Goku: It would be meaningless to fight with you now. You're too scared and ashamed. Live with the shock. Keep it bottled up inside you. Silently.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Strongbad_email.exe (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

Boku-tachi wa Tenchi Datta

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.