Dragon Ball Z: The World's Strongest
From Dragon Ball Encyclopedia, the ''Dragon Ball'' wiki
Dragon Ball Z: The World's Strongest, released in Japan as Dragon Ball Z: Konoyo de Ichiban Tsuyoi Yatsu (ドラゴン ボール ゼット この世 で 一番 強い ヤツ, Doragon Bōru Zetto: Konoyo de Ichiban Tsuyoi Yatsu; Literally meaning "Dragon Ball Z: The World's Strongest Guy") was released in Japan on March 10, 1990 between DBZ Episode 39 and DBZ Episode 40.
Contents
Summary
The movie begins when Son Gohan and Oolong are searching for the Dragon Balls that have all been gathered in the frozen Tsumisumbri Mountains (with the latter obviously wanting to wish for underwear). Before they reach them, Shenron is summoned by Dr. Kochin who wishes his mentor, Dr. Wheelo, to be released from his icy prison. Meanwhile, Piccolo is ambushed by three mysterious warriors and knocked out cold. Later on, Gohan has a weird dream about him and Piccolo
Kochin then kidnaps Master Roshi and Bulma, thinking that Roshi is the world's strongest and a suitable body for Wheelo, whose own body was destroyed, leaving him only as a brain. Roshi is tested by Kochin's Bio Warriors, and, despite putting up a decent fight while being outnumbered three to one, is ultimately defeated. Bulma then reveals that Goku is the strongest, just as he approaches the fortress to save his friends.
After reaching the fortress, Goku is attacked by the Bio Warriors, but easily defeats them with the Kaio-ken, and is also joined by Gohan and Krillin. They then arrive at Wheelo's lab where Bulma is being held, but run into Piccolo, who was brainwashed into returning to his old ways when he was captured earlier. Goku and Piccolo then fight each other, but Gohan's anger causes the mind-controlling device on Piccolo to break. Kochin tries to shoot Krillin and Bulma with his machine gun-arm, but is beaten by Roshi.
Wheelo then breaks out of the wall, revealing his brain to be inside a huge robot. Realizing that he was being controlled, Piccolo attacks Wheelo, only to be brushed aside. As Wheelo jumps into the air, Goku, Krillin, and Roshi fire the Master-Student Kamehameha, which does nothing to Wheelo. Goku, Gohan, Krillin, Piccolo, and Roshi then attack Wheelo, but are unable to win. Goku then fires his Kaio-ken Kamehameha and shoots Wheelo into space. Wheelo decides to destroy the Earth and move on to another world, but Piccolo and Gohan are able to stop him for a while. Meanwhile, Goku has been collecting energy for a Spirit Bomb; when it's ready, Goku launches it at Wheelo and destroys the mad scientist.
Characters
- Son Goku
- Son Gohan
- Piccolo
- Kuririn
- Turtle Hermit
- Oolong
- Bulma Brief
- Kame
- Son Chichi
- Dr. Wheelo
- Dr. Kochin
- Kishime
- Ebifurya
- Misokatsun
- Bio-Men
- Piccolo (under control of Dr. Wheelo)
Major battles
- Piccolo Junior vs. 4 Bio-Man x 4
- Master Roshi vs. Bio-Man x 4
- Master Roshi vs. Kishime, Misokatsun & Ebifurya
- Goku vs. Misokatsun
- Goku vs. Ebifurya & Kishime
- Goku, Gohan & Krillin vs. Ebifurya & Kishime
- Goku vs. Piccolo
- Gohan, Krillin & Master Roshi vs. Dr. Kochin
- Goku, Piccolo, Gohan, Krillin & Master Roshi vs. Dr. Wheelo
- Piccolo, Gohan & Krillin vs. Dr. Wheelo
- Goku vs. Dr. Wheelo
Cast
Continuity
The events of this movie clearly happen after the Vegeta Saga, as Gohan has already trained with Piccolo (he knows him and wears his clothes) and Goku has already trained with King Kai (he wears his emblem on the back of his clothes, and uses both the Kaio-ken and Spirit Bomb). Gohan also has a flashback that shows when Piccolo died saving his life. However, Piccolo is alive, which didn't happen until the Frieza Saga, and Goku is back on Earth, which didn't happen until the Trunks Saga.
The movie may take place in the three years the Z Fighters are training to prepare for the Androids. In that case, however, there would be some minor inconsistencies, such as Goku not turning Super Saiyan when it was needed, showing strain at the use of a Kaio-ken x4 and still wearing King Kai's symbol. Also, Vegeta is not mentioned or seen in the movie at all, so it is unlikely that it is set during the pre-Android Saga.
Releases
The movie was originally released on both VHS and Laserdisc in Japan. They were in a 16:9 format, cropped from it's original 4:3 format. It was then released later in Japan as part of the well-known Dragon Box sets, remastered from it's original film masters and in a 16:9 anamorphic widescreen format. There was much controversy from fans over the decision to crop the movies from it's original 4:3 format. The controversy died down when Toei Animation announced that the films were originally animated for widescreen viewing. The boxed set was released (containing all four Dragon Ball and all thirteen Dragon Ball Z movies) with great critical and audience reception.
It was released on May 27, 1998 in the United States after the release of the first movie, Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone, and shortly after the release of the third movie, Dragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might, by FUNimation and Pioneer in VHS, Laserdisc, and DVD. These three movies were uncut and contained both the Ocean Group dub and the original Japanese dub. They were also released for the first time in a 4:3 format.[1] The three movies were re-released together by Pioneer on October 9, 2001, in a three-movie boxset, called "Dragon Ball Z - Movie Boxed Set".[2]
After FUNimation acquired the exclusive DVD rights for the first three movies from Pioneer in 2004, it released The World's Strongest again in November 14, 2006, along with Dead Zone and The Tree of Might] in a First Strike DVD boxset.[3]. It contained a brand-new in-house dub and the original Japanese dub.
FUNimation re-released this film in May 27, 2008 alongside Dead Zone digitally remastered and in a 16:9 format as a Double Feature DVD.[4]
Music
Opening theme (OP)
- "Cha-La Head-Cha-La"
- Lyrics: Yukinojō Mori, Music: Chiho Kiyooka, Arrangement: Kenji Yamamoto, Vocals: Hironobu Kageyama
Insertion song (IN)
- "Pikkoro-san Da~isuki♡"; ピッコロさん だ~いすき♡ (I Lo~ve Mr. Piccolo♡)
- Lyrics: Chiroru Taniho, Music: Takeshi Ike, Arrangement: Kenji Yamamoto, Vocals: Masako Nozawa (Son Gohan)
Ending theme (ED)
- "Ikusa (I-KU-SA)"; 戦（I・KU・SA） (The Battle (I-KU-SA))
- Lyrics: Dai Satō, Music: Takeshi Ike, Arrangement: Kenji Yamamoto, Vocals: Hironobu Kageyama
Gallery
Pioneer DVD cover
FUNimation DVD cover
Swedish DVD cover
Piccolo holding Gohan and Goku holding the Power Pole.
Kuririn and Goku after their fight against Dr. Wheelo's henchmen.
.jpg)
Trivia
- This movie is known for using the correct Japanese pronunciation of the Kaio-ken ("KAI-oh-ken") in the Ocean dub although in Funimation's re-dubbing of the movie it's still pronounced "KAY-oh-ken."
- This is the second Dragon Ball Z movie, and its name is similar to the original second episode of the anime, "The World's Strongest Team". Also, the AB Groupe release of the movie had a cover featuring Goku and Piccolo as they went off to fight Raditz in that episode.
- This was the first time Turtle Hermit id actually portrayed fighting in hand-to-hand combat since the Tien Shinhan Saga. Also it is the only DBZ movie where he plays a major role.
- Bulma Brief's appearance in this film is nearly identical to her appearance while a spectator at the 23rd Tenkaichi Tournament. Turtle Hermit's appearance is almost identical to what it was when he, Tenshinhan, and Chaozu were collecting the Dragon Balls during the King Piccolo Saga.
- This movie marks the third and final time Goku and Piccolo fight as enemies (as Piccolo is being controlled by Doctor Uiro). The first time is during the Piccolo Jr. Saga and the second is their brief fight towards the finale of Dead Zone.
- This movie also marks the final post Dragon Ball scenario in which Goku uses his Power Pole during combat.
- This movie starts the three-movie chain for main villains killed by Goku using a Genki Dama. Doctor Uiro, Tullece (from The Tree of Might) and Slug (from Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug) are all killed by Goku's Genki Dama.
- Scenes from this movie are shown in the Dragon Ball Z Original English anime opening, Rock the Dragon.
- Dr. Wheelo's fortress has several things in common with Muscle Tower from Dragon Ball. Both are located in cold and snowy climates, and both have levels Goku travels through to rescue someone being held hostage. Additionally, Goku faces an opponent with a stretchy body (Misokatsun and Buyon, respectively).
- A scene that takes place during the anime — Piccolo sacrificing himself to save Gohan from being killed by Nappa — is shown when Gohan falls asleep during studying.
- The wish Oolong wants to make with the Dragon Balls in this movie is the exact same wish he made in the Dragon Ball anime (specifically the episode A Wish to the Eternal Dragon). Shen Long will not grant the same wish more than once.
- "Bardock: Father of Goku" is misspelled "Bardok: Father of Goku" in the trailers selection of the North American DVD release,
References
- ↑ http://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Ball-Movie-Worlds-Strongest/dp/630494103X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1241671549&sr=8-1
- ↑ http://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Ball-Movie-Worlds-Strongest/dp/B00005NX1I/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1241652762&sr=8-8
- ↑ http://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Ball-Z-First-Strike/dp/B000ION28A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1241653387&sr=8-1
- ↑ http://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Ball-Double-Feature-Strongest/dp/B00143XE5U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1241653737&sr=1-1
