Dragon Ball Z is often considered the most popular and iconic series in the franchise. You may argue that Dragon Ball Super series has much more to offer in terms of action and powerful characters overall, but it’s not just about the battle, it’s about how we got there 😉.
Introduction
Dragon Ball Z is an anime that has captured the hearts of millions of fans around the world since its first airing in 1989. The show is known for its epic battles, intense action scenes, and a cast of unique and unforgettable characters.
The anime is based on the Dragon Ball manga series written and illustrated by Akira Toriyama. It follows the story of Goku, a warrior from the planet Vegeta, who is sent to Earth as a baby to conquer the planet. However, he suffers a head injury that makes him lose his memory and turns him into a kind-hearted and peaceful person.
Read more about Dragon Ball Series 👉 Dragon Ball: Exploring The Legendary Anime Series
Dragon Ball Z is a Shounen anime series which means the age demographic is 13 years and older.
It has 24 minutes per episode with 291 episodes in this series.
Premiered in the spring of 1989 and ran till Jan 31st 1996.
Story Arc’s of Dragon Ball Z series
The series is divided into different arcs, each with its own storyline and set of characters. Let’s take a closer look at the different arcs and the characters that make them so memorable.
- Saiyan Arc: The Saiyan Arc is the first arc of Dragon Ball Z. It introduces us to the main protagonist, Goku, who now lives on Earth with his wife Chi-Chi and their son Gohan. The arc begins with the arrival of Raditz, Goku’s brother, who reveals Goku’s true origins and the fact that he is a Saiyan. The arc follows Goku, Piccolo, and his son Gohan as they team up to fight Raditz and other Saiyans who come to Earth.
The first time Goku knew about his past and Saiyan’s are introduced in the series. Followed by Raditz, Vegeta the Saiyan prince also made his first appearance as an antagonist, but after getting defeated by Goku, Vegeta decided to train hard enough to beat Goku someday. They again meet in the Freeza Saga on the Namek Planet. Later he became one of the Z-Warrior alongside with goku. - Frieza Arc: The Frieza Arc is one of the most popular and iconic arcs in Dragon Ball Z. It follows the Z Fighters as they travel to Namek to retrieve the Dragon Balls and revive their fallen friends. The arc introduces us to Frieza, the main antagonist, and his henchmen, the Ginyu Force.
One of the most nail biting and chilling encounters of all time, Frieza Saga. If you’ve had watched the series from the start or even started from the Z series. Frieza Arc was the ultimate turning point for the Dragon Ball franchise. First time Goku transforming into a Super Saiyan, still gives me chills. - Cell Arc: The Cell Arc is the third arc of Dragon Ball Z. It follows the Z Fighters as they face off against the ultimate android, Cell. The arc introduces us to new characters such as Androids 16, 17, and 18, as well as the evil Dr. Gero, who created them.
The Cell Arc was an extended version of the RedRibbon Army Saga from the Dragon Ball Series as you can see the Android names started from 16 and onwards in this saga. In the RedRibbon Army saga Androids were first introduced and were used for power and wars.
Cell Saga also introduces time travel concept as future Trunks arrived in the present timeline to fight with Cell and defeat him with the help of Goku and friends.
Gohan the son of Goku and Chichi was the in the main lime light and showed immense power as the first child with the gene of a Saiyan and a Human. - Buu Arc: The Buu Arc is the final arc of Dragon Ball Z. It follows the Z Fighters as they face off against the powerful and unpredictable Majin Buu. The arc introduces us to new characters such as the Supreme Kai and the evil wizard Babidi.
Buu saga starts after a long time lapse as Gohan is now an Adult and Goten was born in between as the 2nd child of Goku. Buu saga covers on of the most unpredictable and powerful opponent as the Kai’s of the planet were threatened by him and seek help from Z warriors to save the planet earth from Magin Buu.
Magin Buu was an magical life form awoken by the evil warlock Bibidi. He was a millions years old as he was sealed by the supreme’s back then but the seal was broken by the hereditary of Bibidi.
We got to see the fusion techniques in this arc in order to fight back this legendary evil who turns everyone chocolate and eat them.
Characters of Dragon Ball-Z Series
Well, we could not finish any conversation without talking about the characters of the show, so let’s see the main character of Dragon Ball Z series one by one:
- Goku: Goku is the main protagonist of Dragon Ball Z. He is a Saiyan warrior from the planet Vegeta who was sent to Earth as a baby to conquer it but ended up losing his memory and becoming a kind-hearted person. Goku is known for his love of fighting and his desire to become stronger. He has incredible physical strength, speed, and endurance, and can perform various powerful techniques such as the Kamehameha and the Spirit Bomb.
2. Vegeta: Vegeta is a former villain and the Prince of the Saiyan race. He initially comes to Earth to acquire the Dragon Balls and use them to wish for immortality but eventually joins the Z Fighters. Vegeta is known for his pride and arrogance, but he also has a strong sense of honor and is fiercely loyal to his family and friends. He has incredible strength and speed and can perform techniques such as the Galick Gun and the Final Flash.
3. Gohan: Gohan is Goku’s son and one of the main characters in Dragon Ball Z. He has a gentle and kind personality but is also a skilled fighter like his father. Gohan possesses incredible hidden power that is only unleashed when he is pushed to his limits. He can transform into a Super Saiyan and can perform techniques such as the Masenko and the Kamehameha.
4. Piccolo: Piccolo is a Namekian warrior who was originally a villain but eventually becomes an ally to the Z Fighters. He is stoic and serious and has a deep understanding of strategy and tactics. Piccolo has incredible strength and can stretch his limbs to great lengths. He can also perform techniques such as the Special Beam Cannon and the Hellzone Grenade.
5. Krillin: Krillin is one of Goku’s closest friends and a skilled fighter in his own right. He is known for his humor and his courage in the face of danger. Krillin may not have the same level of strength as some of the other Z Fighters, but he makes up for it with his cunning and resourcefulness. He can perform techniques such as the Destructo Disc and the Solar Flare.
6. Frieza: Frieza is one of the main antagonists in Dragon Ball Z. He is a ruthless alien overlord who is responsible for destroying many planets and races. Frieza possesses incredible strength, speed, and durability, and can also transform into different forms to increase his power. He can perform techniques such as the Death Ball and the Finger Beam.
7. Cell: Cell is another powerful antagonist in Dragon Ball Z. He is an artificial life form created by Dr. Gero and is made up of cells from various fighters, including Goku and Vegeta. Cell has the ability to absorb other beings and increase his power, and can also regenerate from any injury. He can perform techniques such as the Solar Kamehameha and the Perfect Barrier.
8. Trunks: Trunks is depicted as a serious and determined fighter, who takes his mission to save the future very seriously. He is highly skilled in combat, possessing incredible strength, speed, and agility. He wields a sword that he uses to devastating effect, and he is also capable of performing powerful energy attacks.
8. Majin Buu: Majin Buu was originally created by an evil wizard named Bibidi with the intention of destroying planets and civilizations. However, after Bibidi was killed, Majin Buu was left without a master and became a rampaging force of destruction.
Majin Buu is also incredibly powerful, possessing a range of devastating attacks and abilities. He can shoot beams of energy from his body, create clones of himself, and even absorb other beings and gain their strength and abilities.
Well, we got to see 6 Saiyan Characters in this Series of Dragon Ball. Including, Goku, Vegeta, Gohan, Future Trunks and later son of Goku and Vegeta i.e, Goten and Trunks.
These are just some of the many memorable characters in Dragon Ball Z. Each character has their own unique personality and fighting style, making the series a true showcase of diverse and fascinating characters.
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Where to Watch Dragon Ball Z Series
Funimation and AnimeLab holds the right of Dragon Ball Z series along with Netflix holding the rights of the Movies. But they are streaming only on Japan, so if you are someone outside Japan, you have to rely on third party community streaming services like Zoro & 9anime
Series has 291 episode with 24 episodes each.
Ratings and Final Thoughts
In terms of ratings, Dragon Ball Z has an overall score of 8.7/10 on IMDb, based on over 73,000 user ratings. This places it among the highest-rated anime series on the site. However, it’s important to note that ratings can vary depending on the platform and audience, and may not be a definitive measure of the series’ overall popularity or quality.
Overall, Dragon Ball Z remains a beloved and influential series in the world of anime, and its impact on the genre cannot be overstated.
My childhood was so awesome because of these characters and the show and in coming blogs I will be discussing more about the characters and share my experience also. So, until then bookmark isttalks and follow us here 👇
Happy Weebing