Dragon Ball Z

Dragon Ball Z

Dragon Ball Z (Japanese: ドラゴンボール Z romaji:Dragon Ball Z - Doragon Booru Z)is the long-running sequel to the popular Anime, Dragon Ball. Specifically, it follows the adventures of the adult Goku (a Saiyan) and company as they defend the Earth and other planets in the galaxy against assorted villains. The distinction here is that while the Dragon Ball Manga follows Goku through childhood into adulthood, Dragon Ball Z is the designation given to the animation series to distinguish his adult adventures from the adventures he had as a child, which holds the original name Dragon Ball. The distinction is significant in that Goku's earlier adventures were much more comedy oriented, while as an adult the series took on a more dramatic and decidedly serious tone.

Dragon Ball Z was adapted from the Dragon Ball Manga created by Akira Toriyama. The main character is Goku, an extremely powerful, yet simpleminded and kindly character. After a visit from his previously unknown brother Raditz, he discovers that he is an alien that was sent to Earth to destroy it. When he informs Raditz that he has no intention of doing this, Goku and his friends become the erstwhile defenders of the Earth from the oncoming invasion by more of his kind.

It was first premiered on April 18, 1989 (on Fuji TV) and ended on January 31, 1996 with the last episode of the Buu Saga.

As the series progresses, Goku, his son Gohan and their companions age, get immensely stronger, and fight increasingly powerful and sinister villains. Many of the main characters die, are resurrected, get married and/or have children. The series has had a dramatic progression throughout its entire run.

Many important facts were introduced into the series that add a different story arc to Dragon Ball Z from its predecessor:

Goku is an alien from Planet Vegeta. This is the source of his previously unexplained abilities, and why he has a tail. (which was later removed, and not seen again until GT)

Goku's enemy from the first series, Piccolo, is an alien from Planet Namek. He is the product of Kami (guardian of Earth) splitting himself in half to purge the evil from himself.

Characters

Heros

Z Fighters

Goku - The main character. He is a saiyan whose real name is Kakarotto (sometimes spelled and pronounced Kakarot)
Gohan - The first halfbreed son of Goku and Chi-chi.
Goten - Goku and Chi-chi's second son.
Vegeta - A saiyan who was once the prince of his planet. Once a great enemy of Goku's, he became an ally and competitive rival. Went on to marry Bluma and father Trunks.
Trunks - Vegeta and Bulma's son. Trunks has purple hair.
Piccolo - A namekian warrior who at first was a rival to Goku, he becomes a trusted ally.
Krillin - Short bald human, although very strong.
Tien - A three eyed human, he was an opponent of Goku's in the original Dragon Ball, but became an ally.
Yamcha - An opponent of Goku's in the early first series, he soon became an ally.
Fused

Gogeta - Goku and Vegeta fused using the fusion technique, with Goku as the main influence.
Vejitto - Goku and Vegeta fused using the Elder Kai's portara fusion earrings, with Vegeta as the main influence.
Gotenks - Goten and Chibi Trunks fused using the fusion technique.
Kibito Kai - Kibito and Kai fused using the Elder Kai's potara earrings.

Kai

Dai Kaiou - Jealous Kai, eaten by Buu.
Elder Kai - A previous Supreme Kai that had been sealed in The Z Sword.
East Kai - The Kai of the East Galaxy.
North Kai - The Kai of the North Galaxy.
South Kai - The Kai of the South Galaxy.
West Kai - The Kai of the West Galaxy.
Grand Kai - A Kai with a long beard in the afterlife responsible for the Otherworld Tournament. A bit of a hippie.
Supreme Kai - The Supreme Kai of the universe.
Kibito - The Supreme Kai's loyal companion. Not actually a Kai himself.

Others

Bulma - A human female with blue coloured hair, originally dated Yamcha but eventually married Vegeta. Mother of Trunks and, later, Bra.
Bra - Daughter of Bulma and Vegeta.
Chi-Chi - Human wife of Goku and mother to Gohan and Goten.
Pan - Daughter of Videl and Gohan. One quarter Saiyan.
Master Roshi - An old human who once trained Goku and Krillin.
Hercule - "World Champion" martial artist. Also known as Mr Satan.
Videl - The daughter of Hercule. Eventually she goes out with, then marries Gohan.
Kami - The namekian guardian of Earth who goes on to fuse with Picollo.
Guru - The original eldest namekian. He alone is responsible for the current namekian population.
Dende - The young namekian who helps the Z Fighters out during the Frieza Saga, and later becomes the Earth's new Guardian. Has unique healing powers.
Nail - Guru's Personal Body Guard. A Namekian.
Bardock Saga

Bardock - Father of Goku. Killed trying to stop Frieza from destroying Planet Vegeta.

Villians

Saiyan Saga

Vegeta - Came to destroy the Earth, was defeated and spared by Goku. Became an ally.
Nappa - Vegeta's original fighting underling. A saiyan like Vegeta.
Raditz - One of the first saiyans to reach Earth. Brother to Goku. Was killed when trying to force Goku into destroying the Earth.
Frieza Saga'

Frieza - Evil alien who at one time was the most powerful creature in the universe.

Cell Saga

Android Cell - A biological android (Bio Android) designed by Dr Gero and created by a super computer. Designed to absorb android 17 and 18 to reach his perfect form.
Android 16 - An android created by Dr Gero, made to be the perfect machine. Infinite energy source.
Android 17 - A black haired mechanical android. Infinite energy source. Twin brother of #18.
Android 18 - A blonde female mechanical android. Infinite energy source. Marries Krillin and has a daughter.
Android 19 - An energy absorbing android model by Dr Gero. Nearly strangled Goku once. Vegeta ripped his arms off for that.
Android 20 - The android Dr. Gero had himself turned into. Energy absorbing model. Not much good.

Buu Saga

Babidi - Son of Bibidi, this evil wizard who released Majin Buu.
Bibidi - The original creator of Kid Buu, and father to Babidi. ("Bibidi Babidi Buu" from Cinderella)
Dabura - The Ruler of the Underworld.
Evil Buu - The result of Majin Buu excreting the evil within.
Kid Buu - The original Buu, before absorbing the fat kai. (Daikaioh)
Majin Buu - The Buu initially revived by Babidi.
Super Buu - Evil Buu after absorbing Fat Buu - basically Evil Buu on steroids with a very nice maniacal laugh.
Uubu - Uubu is the human reincarnation of Kid Buu. Ultimate Buu.

Other

Garlic Junior - Filler villain while neither Goku nor Vegeta was on Earth. Rather pathetic, originates from a movie.
Movie Villans
Movie 7

Android 13 - A mechanical android created by one of Dr Gero's super computers, well after he is dead.
Android 14 - A mechanical android created by the same super computer.
Android 15 - A mechanical android created by the same super computer.
Broly - A saiyan who was born with a power level of 10,000.
Dragons
Porunga - Dragon of Namek, grants 3 wishes every 6 months or so.
Shenron - Dragon of the Earth, grants 2 wishes every Earth year.

Sagas

The Dragon Ball Z series can be logically broken into sagas based on the current enemy:

The Saiyan Saga
The Frieza Saga
The Garlic Junior Saga
The Android Saga
The Cell Saga
The Great Saiyaman Saga
The Buu Saga
The characters' story continues after these sagas with the series Dragon Ball GT.