Dragon Ball Z#Manga

Dragon Ball Z picks up five years after the end of the Dragon Ball series, with Son Goku now a young adult and father to his son, Gohan.

A humanoid alien named Raditz arrives on Earth in a spacecraft and tracks down Goku, revealing to him that he is his long-lost older brother and that they are members of a near-extinct elite alien warrior race called {{Nihongo|Saiyans|サイヤ人|Saiya-jin}}. Goku (originally named {{Nihongo|Kakarot|カカロット|Kakarotto}} had been sent to Earth as an infant to conquer the planet, but suffered a severe blow to his head shortly after his arrival and lost all memory of his mission, as well as his blood-thirsty Saiyan nature.

Raditz tells Goku that along with two stronger elites, Vegeta and Nappa, they are the only remaining Saiyans after their home planet Vegeta was destroyed. Raditz asks Goku to enlist in helping conquering planets and joining the remaining Saiyans. When Goku refuses to join and help them, Raditz takes Goku and Krillin down with one strike, kidnaps Gohan, and threatens to murder him if Goku does not kill 100 humans within the next 24 hours. Goku decides to team up with his arch-enemy Piccolo, who was also defeated by Raditz in an earlier encounter, to defeat him and save his son. During the battle, Gohan's rage momentarily makes him stronger than Piccolo and Goku as he attacks Raditz to protect his father. The battle ends with Goku restraining Raditz so that Piccolo can hit them with a deadly move called {{Nihongo|Special Beam Cannon|魔貫光殺砲|Makankōsappō|lit. "Demon Penetrating, Killing Ray Gun"}}, mortally wounding them both, and kills them after a short while. But before Raditz succumbs to his injuries, he reveals to Piccolo that the other two Saiyans are much stronger than him and will come for the Dragon Balls in one year.

Having witnessed Gohan's latent potential, Piccolo takes him into the wild to train for the upcoming battle against the Saiyans. In the afterlife, Goku travels the million-kilometer Snake Way so that he can train under the ruler of the North Galaxy, King Kai. King Kai teaches Goku the {{Nihongo|Kaio-ken|界王拳|Kaiōken|lit. "Fist of Kings of Worlds"}} and the {{Nihongo|Spirit Bomb|元気玉|Genki Dama|lit. "Energy Sphere"}} techniques. Despite his gruff and villainous nature, Piccolo grows fond of Gohan while he oversees him learning to fend for himself. This forges an unlikely emotional bond between the two.

After a year, Goku is revived with the Dragon Balls, but King Kai panics as he realizes that Goku will have to take Snake Way again to get back and will not make it until hours after the Saiyans arrive. Goku's allies group up to fight until Goku gets back, but prove to be no match for Nappa and the "Prince of All Saiyans", Vegeta. Yamcha, Tien Shinhan, Chiaotzu and Piccolo all perish in the battle, with Piccolo's death causing both Kami and the Dragon Balls to fade from existence. When Goku finally arrives at the battlefield, he avenges his fallen friends by easily defeating Nappa before crippling him by breaking his spine in half. A furious Vegeta then executes Nappa for his failure to kill Goku.

Goku uses several grades of the Kaio-ken to win the first clash with Vegeta, which concludes with a climactic ki beam struggle, but it comes at a great cost to his body. Vegeta comes back and creates an artificial moon to transform into a Great Ape, which he uses to torture Goku. Krillin and Gohan sense that Goku is in trouble, and they return for a group fight with the now-seemingly unstoppable Vegeta. They are aided at key moments by Yajirobe, who cuts Vegeta's tail to revert him into his normal state. Goku gives Krillin a Spirit Bomb that he made, and Krillin uses it to severely damage Vegeta. Vegeta is ultimately defeated when he is crushed by Gohan's Great Ape form, and he retreats to his spaceship as Krillin approaches to finish him off. Goku convinces Krillin to spare Vegeta's life and allow him to escape Earth, with Vegeta vowing to return and destroy the planet in revenge for his humiliation at Goku's hands.

During the battle, Krillin overhears Vegeta mentioning the original set of Dragon Balls from Piccolo's homeworld, {{Nihongo|Namek|ナメック星|Namekku-sei}}. While Goku recovers from his injuries, Gohan, Krillin, and Goku's oldest friend Bulma depart for Namek to use these Dragon Balls to revive their fallen friends in the battle.

Upon their arrival on Namek, Krillin, Gohan, and Bulma discover that Vegeta and his superior, the galactic tyrant Frieza, are already there, each looking to use the Dragon Balls to obtain immortality. Vegeta is stronger than before, as Saiyans become stronger when they recover from the brink of death, so he seizes the opportunity to rebel against Frieza. A triangular game of cat-and-mouse ensues, with Frieza, Vegeta, and Gohan plus Krillin alternately possessing one or more of the Dragon Balls, with no one managing to possess all seven at any given time.

Vegeta manages to isolate Frieza's lieutenants one by one and kill them. When Frieza sees that Vegeta is posing too big of a problem, he summons the Ginyu Force, a team of elite mercenaries led by Captain Ginyu, who can switch bodies with his opponents. Vegeta reluctantly teams up with Gohan and Krillin to fight them, knowing that they are too much for him to handle alone. The Ginyu Force proves too powerful, but Goku finally arrives and defeats them single-handedly, saving Vegeta, Gohan, and Krillin. Vegeta believes Goku may have become the legendary warrior of the Saiyans, the {{Nihongo|Super Saiyan|{{ruby|超|スーパー}}サイヤ人|Sūpā Saiya-jin}}. As Goku heals from a brutal fight with Captain Ginyu, Krillin, Dende, and Gohan secretly use the Dragon Balls behind Vegeta's back to wish for Piccolo's resurrection and teleport him to Namek. Vegeta finds them using the Dragon Balls without him, but the Grand Elder dies and rendering the Dragon Balls inert before he can wish for immortality. Just as this happens, Frieza arrives and decides to kill the four of them for denying him his wish for immortality.

Piccolo arrives on Namek but is accidentally separated from the others due to a badly-worded wish. He finds the strongest Namekian warrior, Nail, who was defeated by Frieza and fuses with him to greatly increase his power.

Despite both Piccolo and Vegeta's advances in power, they are greatly outclassed by Frieza, who goes through several transformations before reaching his final form, which he then uses to kill Dende.

Goku arrives after healing from his injuries, and Vegeta tells him that Frieza was the one who destroyed the Saiyan homeworld and massacred the Saiyan race, as he feared that he would one day be overthrown by a Super Saiyan. Frieza then kills Vegeta in front of Goku.

Though Goku's power exceeds Vegeta's, he is still no match for Frieza. Goku uses his last resort, a massive Spirit Bomb with the energy of Namek and the surrounding worlds, and it seemingly defeats the tyrant. However, Frieza manages to survive, and he unleashes his wrath upon the group by gravely wounding Piccolo and murdering Krillin. Goku's rage finally erupts, and he undergoes a strange transformation that turns his hair blond, his eyes green, and causes a golden aura to radiate from his body. Goku has finally become a Super Saiyan.

Meanwhile, the revived Kami uses Earth's Dragon Balls to resurrect everyone on Namek that was killed by Frieza and his henchmen, which also allows the Grand Elder to be resurrected for a short time, and the Namekian Dragon to return. Dende uses the final wish to teleport everyone on Namek to Earth except for Goku and Frieza.

Even at 100% power, Frieza cannot manage to defeat the Super Saiyan transformation. Goku outwits Frieza, cutting him in half with his own attack, before escaping Namek as the planet is destroyed in a massive explosion.

After the battle with Frieza, Goku's friends and family are waiting for word on his return when a demonic star drifts into Earth's orbit and opens up a rift in space, allowing the malevolent immortal Garlic Jr. to break free from his imprisonment inside the Dead Zone. Seeking revenge for a past defeat at the hands of Goku and Piccolo, Garlic Jr. traps Kami and Mr. Popo inside a bottle and uses his Black Water Mist to turn all of Earth's inhabitants into bloodthirsty, vampire-like beings. Gohan, Krillin, Piccolo, Krillin's then-girlfriend Maron, and Gohan's pet dragon Icarus are the only ones unaffected and set out to stop Garlic Jr. and restore the Earth and its inhabitants. This proves to be easier said than done, as Garlic Jr. has complete immortality, making him impossible to kill. Luckily, Gohan's hidden potential gives him the edge he needs to eradicate Garlic Jr.'s forces and send him back into the Dead Zone. He also destroys the star, ensuring that Garlic Jr. will remain trapped in the Dead Zone for all eternity.

One year later, Frieza is revealed to have survived and arrives on Earth with his father, King Cold, seeking revenge. However, a mysterious young man named Trunks appears, transforms into a Super Saiyan, and kills Frieza and King Cold. Goku returns a few hours later, having spent the past year on the alien planet Yardrat learning a new technique: Instant Transmission, which allows him to teleport to any location he desires. Trunks reveals privately to Goku that he is the son of Vegeta and Bulma, and has traveled from 17 years in the future to warn Goku that two {{Nihongo|Androids|人造人間|Jinzōningen|lit. "Artificial Humans"}} created by Dr. Gero will appear in three years to seek revenge against Goku for destroying the Red Ribbon Army when he was a child. Trunks says all of Goku's friends will fall to them - while Goku himself will die from a heart virus six months before their arrival.

Trunks gives Goku medicine from the future that will save him from the heart virus and departs back to his own time. When the androids arrive, Goku falls ill during his fight with Android 19 but is saved by Vegeta, who reveals that he has also achieved the Super Saiyan transformation. Vegeta and Piccolo easily defeat Android 19 and Dr. Gero (who turned himself into "Android 20"), but Trunks returns from the future to check on their progress and reveals that the androids they defeated are not the ones that killed all of them in the future.

Goku is out of commission and his allies are overwhelmed by the arrival of Androids 16, 17 and 18, while an even stronger bio-Android called Cell emerges from a different timeline and embarks on a quest to find and absorb Androids 17 and 18, allowing him to attain his "perfect form".

Cell successfully absorbs Android 17, becoming considerably more powerful, but Vegeta returns to the battle, having greatly elevated his power, and easily overpowers him. However, Vegeta allows Cell to absorb Android 18, believing that his "perfect form" will be no match for his Super Saiyan power. Vegeta is subsequently defeated, with Cell mockingly thanking him for helping him achieve perfection.

Cell allows everyone to live for the time being and announces a fighting tournament to decide the fate of the Earth, known as the "Cell Games". Goku, recovered from the heart virus and having reached the zenith of the Super Saiyan form, takes on Cell at the tournament. Goku eventually realizes that Cell is far too powerful for him to handle, and forfeits the fight to the astonishment of everyone else. Goku proclaims that Gohan will be able to defeat Cell. Though initially outclassed, Gohan is eventually able to tap into his latent power and achieve the Super Saiyan 2 transformation after Android 16 sacrifices himself in a failed attempt to kill Cell. Refusing to accept defeat, Cell prepares to self-destruct and destroy the Earth.

Goku uses his Instant Transmission ability to teleport himself and Cell to King Kai's planet, where Cell explodes and kills everyone there. However, Cell survives the blast and returns to Earth more powerful than ever, where he promptly murders Trunks, but Gohan unleashes the totality of his power in a massive Kamehameha wave and obliterates Cell for good.

The Dragon Balls are then used to revive everyone that was killed by Cell, while Goku chooses to remain in the afterlife, refusing an offer by his friends to use the Namekian Dragon Balls to bring him back. Trunks returns to his timeline and uses his bolstered power to finally slay the Future Androids and Cell.

Seven years later, Goku is allowed to go back to Earth for one day to reunite with his loved ones and meet his youngest son, Goten, at the {{Nihongo|World Martial Arts Tournament|天下一武道会|Tenkaichi Budōkai|"Number One Martial Arts Gathering Under the Heavens"}}. Soon after, Goku and his allies are drawn into a fight by the Supreme Kai against a magical being named {{Nihongo|Majin Buu|魔人ブウ|"Majin Buu"}} summoned by the evil wizard Babidi. All efforts to stop the resurrection prove to be futile as Buu is successfully revived and begins slaughtering Earth's inhabitants. Goten and Trunks are taught the fusion technique by Piccolo, while Gohan gets his latent potential unlocked by the Elder Supreme Kai.

Meanwhile, Buu befriends Mr. Satan and vows to never kill anyone ever again, but is interrupted when a deranged gunman shoots and nearly kills Mr. Satan. As a result, Majin Buu becomes so angry that he expels the evil within himself, creating an evil Buu that proceeds to absorb the good Buu. The result is Super Buu, a psychopathic monster who wants nothing more than the destruction of the universe. After numerous battles that result in the deaths of many of Goku's allies as well as the destruction of Earth, Goku is fully restored by the Elder Supreme Kai and defeats Kid Buu (the original form of Majin Buu) with a Spirit Bomb attack containing the energy of all the inhabitants of Earth, who were resurrected along with the planet by the Namekian Dragon Balls. Goku makes a wish for Kid Buu to be reincarnated as a good person and, ten years later at another Tenkaichi Budōkai, he meets Kid Buu's human reincarnation, Uub. Leaving the match between them unfinished, Goku departs with Uub so he can train him to become Earth's new defender.

{{Further|List of Dragon Ball Z episodes{{!}}List of Dragon Ball Z episodes}}

Kazuhiko Torishima, Akira Toriyama's editor for Dr. Slump and the first half of Dragon Ball, felt that the Dragon Ball anime's ratings were gradually declining because it had the same producer that worked on Dr. Slump. Torishima said this producer had this "cute and funny" image connected to Toriyama's work and was missing the more serious tone in the newer series, and therefore asked the studio to change the producer. Impressed with their work on Saint Seiya, he asked its director Kōzō Morishita and writer Takao Koyama to help "reboot" Dragon Ball, which coincided with Goku growing up. The new producer explained that ending the first anime and creating a new one would result in more promotional money. The result was the start of Dragon Ball Z.{{Cite web|last=Barder|first=Ollie|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/olliebarder/2016/10/15/kazuhiko-torishima-on-shaping-the-success-of-dragon-ball-and-the-origins-of-dragon-quest/#1b1b1ac8d9ab|title=Kazuhiko Torishima on Shaping the Success of 'Dragon Ball' and the Origins of 'Dragon Quest'|work=Forbes|date=October 15, 2016|access-date=October 23, 2016|archive-date=October 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161017001412/http://www.forbes.com/sites/olliebarder/2016/10/15/kazuhiko-torishima-on-shaping-the-success-of-dragon-ball-and-the-origins-of-dragon-quest/#1b1b1ac8d9ab|url-status=live}} Toriyama suggested the title because Z is the last letter of the alphabet. He wanted to finish the series because he was running out of ideas for it.{{Cite journal|title=Shonen Jump|journal=Shonen Jump|date=October 3, 2003|pages=92–97}} Ironically enough, the sequel series would end up producing more episodes than its predecessor.

Dragon Ball Z is adapted from the final 324 chapters of the manga series which were published in Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1988 to 1995. It premiered in Japan on Fuji Television on April 26, 1989, taking over its predecessor's time slot, and ran for 291 episodes until its conclusion on January 31, 1996.{{Cite book|last=Clements|first=Jonathan|author-link=Jonathan Clements|author2=Helen McCarthy|title=The Anime Encyclopedia: A Guide to Japanese Animation Since 1917|url=https://archive.org/details/animeencyclopedi00clem|url-access=limited|date=September 1, 2001|publisher=Stone Bridge Press|location=Berkeley, California|isbn=1-880656-64-7|oclc=47255331|pages=[https://archive.org/details/animeencyclopedi00clem/page/101 101]–102|edition=1st|author2-link=Helen McCarthy}} Because Toriyama was writing the manga during the production of the anime,Editors' roundtable, Jump Comics (Shueisha), July 2, 2004, page 88. {{ISBN|4088737059}} Dragon Ball Z added original material not adapted from the manga, including lengthening scenes or adding new ones, and adding new attacks and characters not present in the manga. For example, Toriyama was asked to create an additional character for Goku's training with King Kai, resulting in the cricket Gregory.{{Cite book|title=DRAGON BALL 大全集 3: TV ANIMATION PART 1|language=ja|publisher=Shueisha|year=1995|pages=202–207|isbn=4-08-782753-4}}

Throughout the production, the voice actors were tasked with playing different characters and performing their lines on cue, switching between roles as necessary.Dragon Ball Supplemental Daizenshuu: TV Animation Part 3, pages 107–113 The voice actors were unable to record the lines separately because of the close dialogue timing. When asked if juggling the different voices of Goku, Gohan and Goten were difficult, Masako Nozawa said that it was not and that she was able to switch roles simply upon seeing the character's picture. She did admit that when they were producing two films a year and television specials in addition to the regular series, there were times when they had only line art to look at while recording, which made giving finer nuanced details in her performance difficult.{{Cite book|title=DRAGON BALL 超全集 4 超事典|year=2013|publisher=Shueisha|pages=340–345|isbn=978-4-08-782499-5}}

One of the character designers for Dragon Ball Z was Tadayoshi Yamamuro. He was responsible for designing and animating Goku's Super Saiyan form in the series. He used the martial artist Bruce Lee as a reference for Goku's Super Saiyan form, stating that, when he "first becomes a Super Saiyan, his slanting pose with that scowling look in his eyes is all Bruce Lee."{{Cite book|chapter=Dragon Ball Back Then Vol. 2: Interview with "Dragon Ball Z" character designer Tadayoshi Yamamuro|title=Dragon Ball Anime Illustration: Kin'iro no Senshi|script-title=ja:(ドラゴンボール アニメイラスト集 「黄金の戦士」)|trans-title=Dragon Ball Anime Illustration Collection: The Golden Warrior|date=April 21, 2010|publisher=Hōmusha|location=Tōkyō|isbn=978-4834284133|pages=50–1|language=ja}} In the original manga itself, Goku's piercing eyes in Super Saiyan form were also based on Bruce Lee's paralyzing glare.{{Cite web|last=Cronin|first=Brian|date=January 2, 2018|title=Comic Legends: Why Did Goku's Hair Turn Blonde?|url=https://www.cbr.com/goku-dragon-ball-blonde/|access-date=21 November 2019|website=Comic Book Resources|archive-date=July 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719145451/https://www.cbr.com/goku-dragon-ball-blonde/|url-status=live}}

In 1996, Funimation Productions (now known as Crunchyroll LLC) licensed Dragon Ball Z for an English-language release in North America, after cancelling their initial dub of Dragon Ball half-way through their originally-planned 26-episode first season.{{Cite web|title=Protoculture Addicts (November/December 1995): Spotlight - Dragon Ball Overview|url=https://www.kanzenshuu.com/press-archive/protoculture-addicts-november-december-1995-spotlight-dragon-ball-overview/|website=Kanzenshuu.com|access-date=January 16, 2020|archive-date=August 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804235234/https://www.kanzenshuu.com/press-archive/protoculture-addicts-november-december-1995-spotlight-dragon-ball-overview/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Protoculture Addicts (November/December 1995): Spotlight - Dragon Ball Synopses|url=https://www.kanzenshuu.com/press-archive/protoculture-addicts-november-december-1995-spotlight-dragon-ball-synopses/|website=Kanzenshuu.com|access-date=January 16, 2020|archive-date=September 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200921124957/https://www.kanzenshuu.com/press-archive/protoculture-addicts-november-december-1995-spotlight-dragon-ball-synopses/|url-status=live}} Funimation's 1996 release was not the first broadcast in the United States, as some networks had already aired versions of the series in other languages on a smaller scale. This included Nippon Golden Network's broadcast of a subtitled Japanese version in Hawaii from 1994.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kanzenshuu.com/features/the-dragon-ball-z-american-debut-date/|title=The Dragon Ball Z American Debut Date|website=Kanzenshuu.com|access-date=September 16, 2021|archive-date=September 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210920230055/https://www.kanzenshuu.com/features/the-dragon-ball-z-american-debut-date/|url-status=live}} Funimation worked with Saban Entertainment to syndicate the series on television, and Pioneer Entertainment to handle home video distribution.{{Cite book|last=Erickson|first=Hal|title=Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003|date=2005|publisher=McFarland & Company|pages=283–285}} A Vancouver-based cast recording at the Ocean Studios were hired by Funimation to dub the anime (Funimation had previously used a similar Vancouver-based voice cast in their initial Dragon Ball dub, recorded at Dick & Roger's Sound Studio).Dragon Ball Z end credits (FUNimation/Saban dub, 1996)Dragon Ball end credits (FUNimation/BLT dub, 1995) Contract musicians for Saban, Ron Wasserman{{Cite web|last=Cavanaugh|first=Patrick|date=November 25, 2014|title=Marvel 75: Ron Wasserman Composed Your '90s Childhood|url=https://marvel.com/news/movies/23721/marvel_75_ron_wasserman_composed_your_90s_childhood|website=Marvel.com|access-date=February 8, 2016|archive-date=February 13, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160213213430/https://marvel.com/news/movies/23721/marvel_75_ron_wasserman_composed_your_90s_childhood}} and Jeremy Sweet, known for their work on the Power Rangers franchise, composed a new guitar-driven soundtrack. The dub's opening theme (nicknamed "Rock the Dragon") was sung by Sweet, and afterwards Wasserman got hired by Saban to do background music for the dub. For contractual reasons, the background music and opening theme was officially credited to Saban founders Shuki Levy and Haim Saban (under the alias Kussa Mahehi), with the actual extent of their involvement in the soundtrack being unclear.{{cite web|url=https://groups.google.com/g/rec.music.movies/c/CJQAF1yCTXg/m/btv_mhg3fvUJ|author=David Robb|date=Sep 18–20, 1998|title=Composers say they're paupers in royalty game|work=Hollywood Reporter|via=groups.google.com|access-date=March 8, 2024|archive-date=February 28, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240228001705/https://groups.google.com/g/rec.music.movies/c/CJQAF1yCTXg/m/btv_mhg3fvUJ|url-status=live}}[https://repertoire.bmi.com/Search/Search?SearchForm.View_Count=100&SearchForm.Main_Search=Title&SearchForm.Main_Search_Text=dragon+ball+z&SearchForm.Sub_Search=Writer%2FComposer&SearchForm.Sub_Search_Text=LEVY+SHUKI&SearchForm.Search_Type=all Dragon Ball Z at BMI]

Funimation's initial English dub of Dragon Ball Z had mandated cuts to content and length, which reduced the first 67 episodes into 53 (though TV episode 53 actually ends half-way through uncut episode 67).Dragon Ball Z Funimation/Saban dub, episodes 1-53 (1-67 uncut) Most of the edits were done to make the anime more tame and kid-friendly, most notably having references to death sidestepped with phrases like "sent to the next dimension".{{Cite web|last=Dornemann|first=Emlyn|date=March 18, 2019|url=http://cbldf.org/2019/03/anime-censorship-in-the-early-2000s/|title=Anime Censorship in the 90s and Early 2000s {{!}} Comic Book Legal Defense Fund|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-08|archive-date=December 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204200236/http://cbldf.org/2019/03/anime-censorship-in-the-early-2000s/|url-status=live}} It premiered in the United States on September 13, 1996, in first-run syndication, but halted production in 1998 after two seasons{{Cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/1998-11-14/pioneer-announces-last-dragonball-z-release|title=Pioneer Announces Last Dragonball Z Release|work=Anime News Network|date=November 14, 1998|access-date=May 27, 2013|archive-date=October 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191006173034/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/1998-11-14/pioneer-announces-last-dragonball-z-release|url-status=live}} despite strong ratings.{{Cite web|title=Protoculture Addicts (February/March 1997): Feature - Dragon Ball Z Sidebar|url=https://www.kanzenshuu.com/press-archive/protoculture-addicts-february-march-1997-feature-dragon-ball-z-sidebar/|website=Kanzenshuu.com|access-date=January 16, 2020|archive-date=September 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200921122226/https://www.kanzenshuu.com/press-archive/protoculture-addicts-february-march-1997-feature-dragon-ball-z-sidebar/|url-status=live}} This was due to Saban scaling down its syndication operations, in order to focus on producing original material for the Fox Kids Network and its newly acquired Fox Family Channel.{{cite web|title=Saban Kids Library Headed for Fox|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/saban-kids-library-headed-fox-162426|website=Multichannel News|publisher=Future US|access-date=March 16, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240316223651/https://www.nexttv.com/news/saban-kids-library-headed-fox-162426|archive-date=March 16, 2024|date=January 4, 1998|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/1997/tv/news/saban-trims-syndie-arm-111823640/|title=Saban trims syndie arm|author=Cynthia Littleton|work=Variety|date=December 31, 1997|access-date=March 2, 2016|archive-date=March 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305222424/http://variety.com/1997/tv/news/saban-trims-syndie-arm-111823640/|url-status=live}} Pioneer also ceased its home video release of the series at volume 17 (the end of the dub) and retained the rights to produce an uncut subtitled version, but did not do so. They did, however, release uncut dubs of the first three Z movies on home video.

File:Christopher Sabat & Sean Schemmel by Gage Skidmore.jpg (left) and Sean Schemmel (right) have provided Funimation's English dub voices for Vegeta and Goku, respectively, since 1999.]]

On August 31, 1998, reruns of this canceled dub began airing on Cartoon Network as part of the channel's weekday afternoon Toonami block. Cartoon Network eventually ordered more episodes of Dragon Ball Z, and Funimation resumed production on the series' English dub without Saban's assistance. Cartoon Network replaced the original Vancouver-based cast with an in-house voice cast at their Texas-based studio, with the goal of the new voices sounding similar to the Vancouver cast.{{Cite AV media|title=Chris Sabat Interview - Z vs. Kai Dub and the History of Funimation|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRpfwzqvvJA&t=1348|via=YouTube|access-date=January 16, 2020|archive-date=March 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210316224123/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRpfwzqvvJA&t=1348|url-status=live}} The Saban-produced soundtrack from the first two seasons was replaced with a new background score composed by {{vanchor|Bruce Faulconer}} and his team of musicians, which was used throughout the rest of Funimation's Dragon Ball Z dub. This renewed dub featured less censorship due to both Saban's absence and fewer restrictions on cable programming, and aired new episodes on Cartoon Network's Toonami block from September 13, 1999, to April 7, 2003 (continuing in re-runs through 2008). Kids' WB briefly ran Dragon Ball Z in 2001 on its short-lived Toonami block.{{Cite web|url=http://www.dbzn.net/news/2001/152.shtml|title=Dragon Ball Z to Air in Kids WB|website=DBZN.net|date=July 18, 2001|access-date=September 20, 2013|archive-date=September 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921055050/http://www.dbzn.net/news/2001/152.shtml|url-status=live}}

In 2005, Funimation began to re-dub episodes 1–67 with their in-house voice cast, including content originally cut from their dub with Saban. This dub's background score was composed by Nathan M. Johnson (Funimation had ceased working with Faulconer Productions after the final episode of Dragon Ball Z in 2003). Funimation's new uncut dub of these episodes aired on Cartoon Network beginning in June 2005.{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.icv2.com/articles/home/6049.html|title=Previously Unreleased Dragon Ball Z DVDs!|magazine=ICv2|access-date=June 20, 2013|archive-date=October 15, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015224525/http://www.icv2.com/articles/home/6049.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2004-12-31/funimation-2005-plans|title=Funimation 2005 Plans|date=December 31, 2004|access-date=September 14, 2008|work=Anime News Network|archive-date=October 7, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007023837/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2004-12-31/funimation-2005-plans|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last=MacDonald|first=Christopher|date=June 9, 2005|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2005-06-09/dbz-uncut-on-cartoon-network|title=DBZ Uncut on Cartoon Network|access-date=September 14, 2008|work=Anime News Network|archive-date=December 8, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208150348/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2005-06-09/dbz-uncut-on-cartoon-network|url-status=live}} Funimation's later remastered DVDs of the series saw them redub portions of the dialogue, mostly after episode 67, and had the option to play the entire series' dub with both the American and Japanese background music.

In January 2011, Funimation and Toei announced that they would stream Dragon Ball Z within 30 minutes before their simulcast of One Piece.{{Cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-01-03/funimation-to-stream-dragon-ball-z-in-north-america|title=Funimation to Stream Dragon Ball Z in North America|work=Anime News Network|date=January 3, 2011|access-date=January 3, 2011|archive-date=January 6, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110106034404/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-01-03/funimation-to-stream-dragon-ball-z-in-north-america|url-status=live}}

The Funimation dubbed episodes also aired in Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium, Australia, and New Zealand. However, beginning with episode 108 (123 uncut), Westwood Media (in association with Ocean Studios) produced an alternate English dub, distributed to Europe by AB Groupe. The alternate dub was created for broadcast in the UK, the Netherlands and Ireland, although it also aired in Canada beginning from episode 168 (183 uncut) to fulfill Canadian content requirements. Funimation's in-house dub continued to air in the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand. The Westwood Media production used the same voice cast from the original 53-episode dub produced by Funimation, it featured an alternate soundtrack by Tom Keenlyside and John Mitchell,Dragon Ball Z end credits (Westwood Media dub, c. 2001) though most of this score was pieces Ocean reused from other productions Keenlyside and Mitchell had scored for them, and it used the same scripts and video master as the TV edit of Funimation's in-house dub. The Westwood Media dub never received a home video release. In Australia, Dragon Ball Z was broadcast by the free-to-air commercial network, Network 10 during morning children's programming, Cheez TV, originally using the censored Funimation/Saban dub before switching to Funimation's in-house dub.

Dragon Ball Z originally aired on the British Comedy Network in Fall 1998.{{Cite news|last=Howe|first=Rupert|date=March 5, 2000|title=Made in Japan: Chasing the Dragon; Pokémon Was Nicknamed 'Kiddie Crack' but a New Wave of Japanese Monsters Threatens to Be Even More Addictive|url=http://www.questia.com/read/1P2-5061899/made-in-japan-chasing-the-dragon-pokemon-was-nicknamed|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015230225/http://www.questia.com/read/1P2-5061899/made-in-japan-chasing-the-dragon-pokemon-was-nicknamed|archive-date=2013-10-15|work=The Independent|location=London}}

The series was also available on the Funimation video streaming service (formerly FunimationNOW) upon its launch in 2016. In March 2022, Dragon Ball Z was added to Crunchyroll, a service that Funimation acquired a year before, which in turn was acquired in 2018 by its current parent company, Sony Pictures Television.{{Cite web|last=Luster|first=Joseph|date=March 15, 2022|url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2022/03/15/dragon-ball-dragon-ball-z-and-dragon-ball-gt-are-now-on-crunchyroll|title=Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball GT Are Now on Crunchyroll!|website=Crunchyroll|access-date=May 27, 2022|archive-date=May 31, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531090847/https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2022/03/15/dragon-ball-dragon-ball-z-and-dragon-ball-gt-are-now-on-crunchyroll|url-status=live}}

{{See also|List of Dragon Ball Z Kai episodes{{!}}List of Dragon Ball Z Kai episodes}}

In February 2009, Toei Animation announced that it would begin broadcasting a remastered version of Dragon Ball Z as part of the series's 20th anniversary celebrations.{{Citation|title=Dragon Ball Z Kai|date=April 5, 2009|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1409055/|access-date=2018-10-19|archive-date=September 28, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928172715/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1409055/|url-status=live}} The series premiered on Fuji TV in Japan on April 5, 2009, under the title Dragon Ball Kai. The ending suffix {{Nihongo|Kai|{{ruby|改|かい}}}} in the name means "updated" or "altered" and reflects the improvements and corrections of the original work. The original footage was remastered for HDTV, featuring updated opening and ending sequences, new music, and a re-recording of the vocal tracks.{{Cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-02-19/japan-remastered-dbz-to-be-called-dragon-ball-kai|title=Japan's Remastered DBZ to Be Called Dragon Ball Kai|date=February 19, 2009|work=Anime News Network|access-date=February 2, 2020|archive-date=September 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200903173331/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-02-19/japan-remastered-dbz-to-be-called-dragon-ball-kai|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-02-06/dragon-ball-z-to-rerun-on-japanese-tv-in-hd-in-april|title=Dragon Ball Z to Rerun on Japanese TV in HD in April|work=Anime News Network|date=February 6, 2009|access-date=February 21, 2009|archive-date=September 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200903173328/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-02-06/dragon-ball-z-to-rerun-on-japanese-tv-in-hd-in-april|url-status=live}} The original material and any damaged frames were removed, along with the majority of the filler episodes to more closely follow the manga, resulting in a faster-moving story.{{Cite journal|title=｢ドラゴンボールZ｣放送開始20周年記念! HDリマスター坂で テレビアニメが堂々復活!! 孫悟空伝説再び!! その名も... DRAGON BALL KAI|publisher=Shueisha|location=Japan|page=10|date=February 9, 2009|language=ja|journal=V Jump}} According to Torishima, Kai was conceived when Bandai asked if a new Dragon Ball anime could be made to increase the franchise's merchandise sales. As Toriyama refused to create a new story, it was decided to release a remastered version of the Dragon Ball Z anime that more closely follows the manga instead. He said the reception to Kai was positive, "so it all worked out".{{Cite AV media|title=Interview de l'éditeur de Dragon Ball — L'influence de Dragon Ball — Partie 6|medium=web video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpFsv-lS7ps&index=6&list=PLniwnOyzsQ8SFk1PjcoughronaxRhwnIm|publisher=Kazé|date=January 17, 2015|time=6:27|access-date=May 29, 2017|archive-date=March 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210312032624/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpFsv-lS7ps&index=6&list=PLniwnOyzsQ8SFk1PjcoughronaxRhwnIm|url-status=live}}

The series initially concluded on its 97th episode in Japan on March 27, 2011, with the finale of the Cell saga. It was originally planned to run 98 episodes; however, due to the Tōhoku offshore earthquake and tsunami, the final episode was not aired and was later released direct-to-video in Japan on August 2, 2011.{{Cite web|url=http://www.happinet-p.com/jp3/releases/BIBA-7955|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427112138/http://www.happinet-p.com/jp3/releases/BIBA-7955|archive-date=April 27, 2011|script-title=ja:ドラゴンボール改 人造人間・セル編 15|trans-title=Dragon Ball Kai Artificial Human/Cell Volume 15 (DVD)|language=ja|publisher=Happinet Pictures|access-date=May 23, 2011}}

In November 2012, Mayumi Tanaka, the Japanese voice actor of Krillin announced that she and the rest of the cast were recording more episodes of Dragon Ball Kai.{{Cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-11-06/dragon-ball-z-kai-japanese-cast-records-new-episodes|title=Dragon Ball Z Kai's Japanese Cast Records New Episodes|work=Anime News Network|date=November 6, 2012|access-date=November 11, 2012|archive-date=November 9, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109000850/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-11-06/dragon-ball-z-kai-japanese-cast-records-new-episodes|url-status=live}} In February 2014, the Kai adaptation of the Majin Buu saga was officially confirmed. The new run of the series, which is titled Dragon Ball Z Kai: The Final Chapters internationally, began airing in Japan on Fuji TV on April 6, 2014, and ended its run on June 28, 2015.{{Cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-02-17/new-dragon-ball-kai-anime-to-premiere-on-april-6|title=New Dragon Ball Z Kai Anime Series to Premiere on April 6|work=Anime News Network|date=February 17, 2014|access-date=February 17, 2014|archive-date=February 17, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140217210312/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-02-17/new-dragon-ball-kai-anime-to-premiere-on-april-6|url-status=live}} The final arc of Kai was originally produced to last 69 episodes (as most of the international versions run{{clarify|date=July 2021|reason=This parenthetical is poorly worded and confusing.}}),[https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-04-17/dragon-ball-z-kai/the-final-chapters-listed-at-69-episodes Dragon Ball Z Kai: The Final Chapters Listed at 69 Episodes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200324044921/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-04-17/dragon-ball-z-kai/the-final-chapters-listed-at-69-episodes|date=March 24, 2020}}. Anime News Network (April 17, 2014). Retrieved on May 12, 2014. but the Japanese broadcast cut it down to 61 episodes.

Funimation licensed Kai for an English-language release in February 2010. The series was initially broadcast in the U.S. on Nicktoons from May 24, 2010, to January 1, 2012, continuing in re-runs until April 2013.{{Cite web|last=Loo|first=Egan|date=February 2, 2010|title=Navarre Reveals Funimation's Dragon Ball Kai License|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-02-02/navarre-reveals-funimation-dragon-ball-kai-license|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200903173327/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-02-02/navarre-reveals-funimation-dragon-ball-kai-license|archive-date=September 3, 2020|website=Anime News Network|access-date=2010-02-02}}{{Cite web|last=Heldenfelds|first=Rich|title=Nickelodeon Announces Fall Plans|url=http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/|work=Ohio.com|publisher=Akron Beach Journal|access-date=September 5, 2012|date=March 11, 2010|archive-date=May 17, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070517083933/http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/|url-status=live}} In addition to Nicktoons, the series also began airing on the 4Kids-owned Saturday morning programming block Toonzai on The CW in August 2010,{{Cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-04-26/dragon-ball-z-kai-to-air-on-thecw4kids-on-saturdays|title=Dragon Ball Z Kai to Air on TheCW4Kids on Saturdays|date=April 26, 2010|work=Anime News Network|access-date=April 26, 2010|archive-date=April 28, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100428012000/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-04-26/dragon-ball-z-kai-to-air-on-thecw4kids-on-saturdays|url-status=live}} then on its successor, the Saban-owned Vortexx, beginning in August 2012 until the block ended in September 2014. Both the Nicktoons and CW airings were edited for content. Kai began airing uncut on Adult Swim's Toonami block on November 8, 2014,{{Cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-05-24/dragon-ball-z-kai-to-run-on-adult-swim-toonami-block/.74885|title=Dragon Ball Z Kai to Run on Adult Swim's Toonami Block|date=May 24, 2014|work=Anime News Network|access-date=May 26, 2014|archive-date=May 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525235724/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-05-24/dragon-ball-z-kai-to-run-on-adult-swim-toonami-block/.74885|url-status=live}} and re-runs of the previous weeks' episodes aired at the beginning of Adult Swim from February 2015 to June 2016.{{Cite web|title=Dragon Ball Z Kai Gets an Extra Slot on Adult Swim|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/daily-briefs/2015-02-19/dragon-ball-z-kai-gets-an-extra-slot-on-adult-swim/.85176|website=Anime News Network|access-date=February 20, 2015|archive-date=February 20, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150220012141/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/daily-briefs/2015-02-19/dragon-ball-z-kai-gets-an-extra-slot-on-adult-swim/.85176|url-status=live}} In the United Kingdom, CSC Media Group acquired the broadcast rights to Kai and began airing it on Kix! in early 2013.{{Cite web|url=http://www.toei-animation.com/en/node/1198|title=Dragon Ball Z Kai now broadcast in the UK | TOEI Animation Europe|publisher=Toei-animation.com|date=November 19, 2012|access-date=November 23, 2012|archive-date=November 23, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121123085748/http://www.toei-animation.com/en/node/1198}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-11-20/dragon-ball-z-kai-due-on-u.k-television-this-month|title=Dragon Ball Z Kai Due on U.K. Television This Month|work=Anime News Network|date=November 20, 2012|access-date=November 23, 2012|archive-date=May 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502022458/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-11-20/dragon-ball-z-kai-due-on-u.k-television-this-month|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-12-11/dragon-ball-z-kai-tv-screenings-on-kix-channel-in-early-2013|title=Dragon Ball Z Kai TV Screenings on Kix! Channel in Early 2013|work=Anime News Network|date=December 11, 2012|access-date=April 22, 2013|archive-date=June 14, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130614105341/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-12-11/dragon-ball-z-kai-tv-screenings-on-kix-channel-in-early-2013|url-status=live}}

Despite Kai{{'}}s continuation not being officially confirmed at the time even in Japan, Funimation voice actors Sean Schemmel (Goku) and Kyle Hebert (Gohan), announced in April 2013 that they had started recording an English dub for new episodes.{{Cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2013-04-24/kyle-herbert-sean-schemmel-returning-in-dragon-ball-z-kai-buu-saga-dub|title=Kyle Herbert, Sean Schemmel Returning in Dragon Ball Z Kai Buu Saga Dub|work=Anime News Network|date=April 24, 2013|access-date=November 11, 2013|archive-date=July 31, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731010433/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2013-04-24/kyle-herbert-sean-schemmel-returning-in-dragon-ball-z-kai-buu-saga-dub|url-status=live}} In November 2013, Kai{{'}}s Australasian distributor Madman Entertainment revealed that the Majin Buu arc of Kai would be released in 2014 and that they were waiting on dubs to be finished.{{Cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-11-23/australia-madman-ent/dbz-kai-buu-saga-should-come-in-2014|title=Australia's Madman Ent: DBZ Kai's Buu Saga Should Come in 2014|work=Anime News Network|date=November 23, 2013|access-date=February 17, 2014|archive-date=January 30, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140130013135/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-11-23/australia-madman-ent/dbz-kai-buu-saga-should-come-in-2014|url-status=live}} In February 2014, Funimation officially stated that they had not yet started recording a dub for the final arc of Kai.{{Cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-02-17/funimation-has-not-recorded-a-dub-for-dragon-ball-z-kai-buu-saga|title=Funimation Has Not Recorded a Dub for Dragon Ball Z Kai's Buu Saga|work=Anime News Network|date=February 17, 2014|access-date=May 6, 2015|archive-date=May 19, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150519212056/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-02-17/funimation-has-not-recorded-a-dub-for-dragon-ball-z-kai-buu-saga|url-status=live}} On December 6, 2016, Funimation announced the continuation of Kai would begin airing on Adult Swim's Toonami block. The series aired from January 7, 2017, to June 23, 2018, alongside Dragon Ball Super.{{Cite web|url=http://www.funimation.com/blog/2016/12/06/dragon-ball-z-kai-the-final-chapters-heading-to-toonami/|title=Dragon Ball Z Kai: The Final Chapters heading to Toonami!|last=Funimation|date=December 6, 2016|website=www.funimation.com|publisher=Funimation|access-date=December 8, 2016|archive-date=December 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161209140121/http://www.funimation.com/blog/2016/12/06/dragon-ball-z-kai-the-final-chapters-heading-to-toonami|url-status=live}}

An alternate English dub of Kai by Ocean Productions was recorded for the original 98 episodes, featuring many of the original Vancouver cast reprising their roles, but it has yet to air.{{when|date=July 2021|reason="Has yet to air" as of when?}}{{Cite AV media|title=Brian Drummond Interview: History of the Ocean Dub, ORIGINAL Vegeta, Over 9000, 90s Dubbing + MORE!|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9Qs5FfhO2Q&t=2538|via=YouTube|access-date=January 16, 2020|archive-date=March 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210311194157/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9Qs5FfhO2Q&t=2538|url-status=live}}{{Cite AV media|title=Voice Actor Panel at Holiday Matsuri Part 1 - YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUq625WPv54&t=44|via=YouTube|access-date=January 16, 2020|archive-date=March 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210325020624/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUq625WPv54&t=44|url-status=live}}{{Cite AV media|title=Scott McNeil confirms no Buu arc so far in Ocean Kai - YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgXNS9Z678g|via=YouTube|access-date=January 16, 2020|archive-date=February 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218053906/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgXNS9Z678g&gl=US&hl=en|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=List of Canadian programs certified by the Commission|url=https://services.crtc.gc.ca/pub/CanrecList/eng/CanadianProgramList?F=2014-04-01&T=2014-04-01&C=07E|website=CRTC.gc.ca|date=January 17, 2019|access-date=January 16, 2020|archive-date=August 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805041324/https://services.crtc.gc.ca/pub/CanrecList/eng/CanadianProgramList?F=2014-04-01&T=2014-04-01&C=07E}}

Dragon Ball Z{{'}}s original North American release was the subject of heavy editing which resulted in a large amount of removed content and alterations that greatly changed the original work. Funimation CEO Gen Fukunaga is often criticized for his role in the editing; but it was the initial distributor Saban which required such changes or they would not air the work, as was the case with the episode dealing with orphans.{{Cite web|title=Reprinted Interview: 30-Something Questions with Gen Fukunaga|url=http://www.dbzoa.net/features/gen_int.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030819181750/http://www.dbzoa.net/features/gen_int.php|archive-date=August 19, 2003|access-date=June 20, 2013|website=DBZOA.net}} These changes included altering every aspect of the show from character names, clothing, scenes and dialogue of the show. The character Mr. Satan was renamed Hercule and this change has been retained in other English media such as Viz's Dragon Ball Z manga and video games, though the English dubs of Dragon Ball Kai and Dragon Ball Super changed the name back to Mr. Satan.Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate, Battle 22, TOSE Software Co., 1995 The dialogue changes would sometimes contradict the scenes itself; after the apparent fatal explosion of a helicopter, one of the characters said, "I can see their parachutes; they're okay!" Funimation's redub for the 2005 release would address many of the issues raised by Saban, with the uncut releases preserving the integrity of the original Japanese release.

During the original Japanese TV airing of Dragon Ball Kai, scenes involving blood and brief nudity were removed. Nicktoons would also alter Kai for its broadcast; it released a preview showcasing these changes which included removing the blood and cheek scar from Bardock and altering the color of Master Roshi's alcohol.{{Cite web|last=Paschal|first=Jacob T.|date=May 21, 2010|title=What Is Dragon Ball Kai? Part II: How to Watch Kai in America|url=http://www.toonzone.net/2010/05/what-is-dragon-ball-kai-part-ii-how-to-watch-kai-in-america/#.UcPpuJy2WF8|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131114193641/http://www.toonzone.net/2010/05/what-is-dragon-ball-kai-part-ii-how-to-watch-kai-in-america/#.UcPpuJy2WF8|archive-date=November 14, 2013|access-date=June 21, 2013|website=ToonZone.net}} The show was further edited for its broadcast on The CW; most notoriously, the character Mr. Popo was tinted blue. The show's DVD and Blu-ray releases only contained the edits present in the original Japanese version. A rumor that Cartoon Network would be airing Kai uncut was met with an official statement to debunk the rumor in June 2010.{{Cite web|last=Saabedra|first=Humberto|date=June 21, 2010|title=Cartoon Network Debunks Dragon Ball Z Kai Uncensored Airing Rumor|url=http://www.animenews.biz/cartoon-network-debunks-dragon-ball-z-kai-uncensored-airing-rumor-4586/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121040538/http://www.animenews.biz/cartoon-network-debunks-dragon-ball-z-kai-uncensored-airing-rumor-4586/|archive-date=January 21, 2012|access-date=June 21, 2013|website=AnimeNews.biz}} However, it would later air uncut on the channel as part of Adult Swim's Toonami block.

Steven Simmons, who did the subtitling for Funimation's home video releases, offered commentary on the subtitling from a project and technical standpoint, addressing several concerns.{{Cite news|date=July 28, 2000|title=DBZ Subtitling Article|work=Anime News Network|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2000-07-28/dbz-subtitling-article|url-status=live|access-date=May 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130610134512/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2000-07-28/dbz-subtitling-article|archive-date=June 10, 2013}} Simmons said that Gen Fukunaga did not want any swearing on the discs, but because there was no taboo word list, Simmons would substitute a variation in the strength of the words by situation with the changes starting in episode 21.{{Cite web|date=July 26, 2000|title=Concerning the DVDs|url=http://www.toriyama.org/news/dvds.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001021082003/http://www.toriyama.org/news/dvds.htm|archive-date=October 21, 2000|access-date=May 28, 2013|website=Toriyama.org}} The typographical errors in the script were caused by dashes (—) and double-quotes (") failing to appear, which resulted in confusing dialogue.

{{Main|List of Dragon Ball soundtracks{{!}}List of Dragon Ball soundtracks}}

Dragon Ball Z has released a series of 21 soundtracks as part of the Dragon Ball Z Hit Song Collection series. In total, dozens of releases exist for Dragon Ball Z which includes Japanese and foreign adapted releases of the anime themes and video game soundtracks.

Shunsuke Kikuchi composed the score for Dragon Ball Z. The opening theme for the first 199 episodes is "Cha-La Head-Cha-La" performed by Hironobu Kageyama. The second opening theme used up until the series finale at episode 291 is "We Gotta Power" also performed by Kageyama. Both opening themes were replaced with an original instrumental piece by Mark Menza, the composer of the alternate soundtrack, in the remastered Funimation dub due to licensing issues. The ending theme used for the first 199 episodes is {{Nihongo4|"Detekoi Tobikiri Zenkai Power!"|でてこいとびきりZENKAIパワー!||"Come Out, Incredible Full Power!"}} performed by MANNA. The second ending theme used for the remaining episodes is {{Nihongo4|"Bokutachi wa Tenshi Datta"|僕達は天使だった||"We Were Angels"}} performed by Kageyama. The initial English-Language release used a completely new musical score composed by Faulconer Productions. It was used for the North American broadcasts of the show from 1999 to 2005.{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0269023/|title=Bruce Faulconer|publisher=IMDb|access-date=July 6, 2019|archive-date=September 28, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928172716/https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0269023/|url-status=live}}

Kenji Yamamoto composed the score for Dragon Ball Kai. The opening theme, "Dragon Soul", and the first ending theme used for the first 54 episodes, "Yeah! Break! Care! Break!", are both performed by Takayoshi Tanimoto of the unit, Dragon Soul, in Japanese. Sean Schemmel, Justin Cook, Vic Mignogna, Greg Ayres, Sonny Strait and Brina Palencia performed the English version of the opening theme, while Jerry Jewell performed the English version of the ending theme.{{Cite web|archive-date=April 9, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090409064727/http://www.toei-anim.co.jp/tv/dragon_kai/topics/|url=http://www.toei-anim.co.jp/tv/dragon_kai/topics/|script-title=ja:オープニング&エンディングテーマが決定!|language=ja|publisher=Toei Animation|url-status=live|access-date=April 15, 2006}} The second ending theme, used from episodes 55–98, is {{Nihongo4|"Kokoro no Hane"|心の羽根||"Wings of the Heart"}} performed by Team Dragon, a unit of the idol girl group AKB48, in Japanese and Leah Clark in English.{{Cite web|url=http://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000061513|title=チームドラゴン fromAKB48 : チームドラゴン from AKB48、『ドラゴンボール改』ED曲を全11種類のパッケージで発売 / BARKS ニュース|date=June 1, 2007|work=Barks|language=ja|access-date=May 31, 2007|archive-date=March 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326035849/http://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000061513|url-status=live}} On March 9, 2011, Toei announced that due to Yamamoto's score infringing on the rights of an unknown third party or parties, the music for remaining episodes and reruns of previous episodes would be replaced.{{Cite news|last=Loo|first=Egan|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-03-10/toei-replaces-possibly-infringing-dragon-ball-kai-music|title=Toei Replaces Possibly Infringing Dragon Ball Kai Music|work=Anime News Network|date=March 10, 2011|access-date=March 14, 2011|archive-date=March 13, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110313011213/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-03-10/toei-replaces-possibly-infringing-dragon-ball-kai-music|url-status=live}} Later reports from Toei stated that except for the series' opening and closing songs, as well as eyecatch music, Yamamoto's score was replaced with Shunsuke Kikuchi's score from Dragon Ball Z.

The music for The Final Chapters is composed by Norihito Sumitomo.{{Cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-03-10/shino-kakinuma-replaces-yuko-minaguchi-as-videl-in-dragon-ball-z-kai|title=Shino Kakinuma Replaces Yuko Minaguchi as Videl in Dragon Ball Z Kai|work=Anime News Network|date=March 10, 2014|access-date=March 10, 2014|archive-date=March 11, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140311053702/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-03-10/shino-kakinuma-replaces-yuko-minaguchi-as-videl-in-dragon-ball-z-kai|url-status=live}} The opening theme is {{Nihongo4|"Kuu•Zen•Zetsu•Go"|空•前•絶•後|}} by Takayoshi Tanimoto of Dragon Soul, while the first ending song is {{Nihongo4|"Haikei, Tsuratsusutora"|拝啓、ツラツストラ||"Dear Zarathustra"}} by Japanese rock band Good Morning America,{{Cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-03-03/rock-band-good-morning-america-performs-new-dragon-ball-kai-ending|title=Rock Band Good Morning America Performs New Dragon Ball Kai Ending|work=Anime News Network|date=March 3, 2014|access-date=May 6, 2015|archive-date=June 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150612021943/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-03-03/rock-band-good-morning-america-performs-new-dragon-ball-kai-ending|url-status=live}} and the second {{Nihongo4|"Junjō"|純情||"Pure Heart"}} by Leo Ieiri from episode 112 to 123.{{Cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-06-18/leo-ieiri-performs-2nd-dragon-ball-z-kai-anime-ending-theme/.75678|title=Leo Ieiri Performs 2nd Dragon Ball Z Kai Anime's Ending Theme|work=Anime News Network|date=June 18, 2014|access-date=May 6, 2015|archive-date=May 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522040217/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-06-18/leo-ieiri-performs-2nd-dragon-ball-z-kai-anime-ending-theme/.75678|url-status=live}} The third ending song is "Oh Yeah!!!!!!!" by Czecho No Republic from episode 124 to 136,{{Cite web|url=http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2014/11/01-1/video-dragon-ball-kai-new-ed-song-pv-by-czecho-no-republic|title="Dragon Ball Kai" New ED Song PV by Czecho No Republic|website=Crunchyroll|date=November 1, 2014|access-date=May 6, 2015|archive-date=June 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621170602/http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2014/11/01-1/video-dragon-ball-kai-new-ed-song-pv-by-czecho-no-republic|url-status=live}} the fourth "Galaxy" by Kyūso Nekokami from 137 to 146, and the fifth is "Don't Let Me Down" by Gacharic Spin from 147 to 159.{{Cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-03-10/girl-band-gacharic-spin-to-perform-new-dragon-ball-z-kai-ending/.85796|title=Girl Band Gacharic Spin to Perform New Dragon Ball Z Kai Ending|work=Anime News Network|date=March 10, 2015|access-date=May 6, 2015|archive-date=March 11, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150311212835/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-03-10/girl-band-gacharic-spin-to-perform-new-dragon-ball-z-kai-ending/.85796|url-status=live}} The international broadcast features two pieces of theme music. The opening theme, titled "Fight It Out", is performed by rock singer Masatoshi Ono, while the ending theme is "Never Give Up!!!", performed by rhythm and blues vocalist Junear.

In Japan, Dragon Ball Z did not receive a home video release until 2003, seven years after its broadcast. Pony Canyon announced a remastering of the series in two 26-disc DVD box sets, that were made-to-order only, released on March 19 and September 18 and referred to as "Dragon Box". Since then, Pony Canyon content of these sets began being released on mass-produced individual 6-episode DVDs on November 2, 2005, and finished with the 49th volume released on February 7, 2007.{{Citation|title=DRAGON BALL Z 第1巻 [DVD]|asin=B000B66IZ4|asin-tld=co.jp}}{{Citation|title=DRAGON BALL Z ♯49 [DVD]|asin=B000VVQLHE|asin-tld=co.jp}} In July 2009, Funimation announced that they would be releasing the Japanese frame-by-frame "Dragon Box" restoration of Dragon Ball Z in North America. These seven limited edition collector's DVD box sets were released uncut and unedited in the show's original 4:3 fullscreen format between November 10, 2009, and October 11, 2011.{{Cite press release|title=Funimation Entertainment Announces First U.S. Release of Dragon Box|date=July 20, 2009|publisher=Funimation|url=http://www.dragonballz.com/index.cfm?page=news&id=586|access-date=August 28, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090915211419/http://www.dragonballz.com/index.cfm?page=news&id=586|archive-date=September 15, 2009}}

The international home release structure of Dragon Ball Z is complicated by the licensing and release of the companies involved in producing and distributing the work. Releases of the media occurred on both VHS and DVD with separate edited and uncut versions being released simultaneously. Both versions of the edited and uncut material are treated as different entries and would frequently make Billboard rankings as separate entries. Home release sales were featured prominently on the Nielsen VideoScan charts.{{Cite journal|last=De La Cruz, Edwin|date=November 23, 2003|title='Dragon Ball Z' keeps up the momentum|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-111035918.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105192008/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-111035918.html|archive-date=November 5, 2013|access-date=June 20, 2013|website=Video Store|publisher=Questex Media Group, Inc}} Further complicating the release of the material was Funimation itself; which was known to release "DVDs out of sequence in order to get them out as fast as possible"; as in the case of their third season.{{Cite news|title=Dragon Ball Z news|work=Anime News Network|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2000-07-23/dragon-ball-z|url-status=live|access-date=May 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130620001316/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2000-07-23/dragon-ball-z|archive-date=June 20, 2013}} Pioneer Entertainment distributed the Funimation/Saban edited-only dub of 53 episodes on seventeen VHS between 1997 and 1999,{{Cite book|title=Dragonball Z, Vol. 1: Arrival [VHS]|asin=630455818X}}{{Citation|date=November 17, 1998|title=Dragon Ball Z — Super Saiyan (Vol. 17)(Episodes 50-53) [VHS]|asin=B00000FDRS}} and seventeen DVDs throughout 1999.{{Citation|title=Dragonball Z, Vol. 1 – Arrival (1999)|asin=B00000IC71}}{{Citation|title=Dragonball Z, Vol. 17 – Super Saiyan (1999)|asin=B00002IJ0T}} Two box sets separating them into the Saiyan and Namek arcs were also released on VHS in 1999,{{Citation|title=Dragon Ball Z — The Saiyan Conflict (Boxed Set I — Episodes 1-25) [VHS]|asin=B00000ICEY}}{{Citation|title=Dragon Ball Z — The Namek Saga (Boxed Set II — Episodes 26-53) [VHS]|asin=B00000IKZK}} and on DVD in 2001.{{Citation|title=Dragon Ball Z — The Saiyan Conflict (Boxed Set I — Episodes 1-25)|asin=B00005NX1J}}{{Citation|title=Dragon Ball Z — The Namek Saga (Boxed Set II — Episodes 26-53)|asin=B00005NX1K}} In 1999, Funimation's own distribution of their initial onward dub, which began with episode 54, in edited or uncut VHS ran between 1999 and 2006.{{Cite book|title=Dragonball Z, Vol. 18 – Captain Ginyu: Assault [VHS]|asin=6305452725}}{{Cite book|title=Dragonball Z, Vol. 18 – Captain Ginyu: Assault (Uncut) [VHS]|asin=6305452733}}{{Citation|title=Dragon Ball Z: Kid Buu — New Beginning [VHS]|asin=B00008976M}} A DVD version was produced alongside these, although they were only produced uncut and contained the option to watch the original Japanese with subtitles.{{Citation|title=Dragonball Z, Vol. 18 – Captain Ginyu: Assault|asin=B00004U3V1}}{{Citation|title=Dragon Ball Z — Kid Buu — A New Beginning|asin=B00008976N}}

In 2005, Funimation began releasing their onward dub of the beginning of Dragon Ball Z on DVD, marking the first time the episodes were seen uncut in North America.{{Citation|title=DragonBall Z: Vegeta Saga 1 – Saiyan Showdown ( Vol. 1 )|asin=B0007LXOGY}} However, only nine volumes were released, leaving it incomplete.{{Citation|title=DragonBall Z: Vegeta Saga 2 – Saiyan Invasion ( Vol. 1 )|asin=B000CNGBUI}} Instead, Funimation remastered and cropped the entire series into 16:9 widescreen format and began re-releasing it to DVD in nine individual "season" box sets; the first set released on February 6, 2007, and the final on May 19, 2009.{{Citation|title=Dragon Ball Z: Season One (Vegeta Saga)|asin=B000KWZ1TI}}{{Citation|title=Dragon Ball Z: Season Nine (Majin Buu Saga)|asin=B001US3XQY}} On August 13, 2013, Funimation released all 53 episodes and the three movies from their first Dragon Ball Z dub created with Saban and Ocean Studios in a collector's DVD box set, titled the Rock the Dragon Edition.{{Citation|title=Dragon Ball Z: Rock the Dragon Collector's Edition (2013)|asin=B00D7TS972}}

In July 2011, Funimation announced plans to release Dragon Ball Z in Blu-ray format, with the first set released on November 8, 2011.{{Cite press release|date=July 21, 2011|title=Funimation Entertainment Announces Dragon Ball Z Series on Blu-Ray|url=http://www.funimation.com/blog/?p=1222|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305194645/http://www.funimation.com/blog/?p=1222|archive-date=March 5, 2016|website=Funimation.com|publisher=Funimation}} However, production of these 4:3 sets was suspended after the second volume, citing financial and technical concerns over restoring the original film material frame by frame, with Funimation noting that the restoration costs incurred exceeded the retail price they were able to sell them for.{{Cite press release|title=FUNimation Suspends Production of Dragon Ball Z Blu-rays|date=January 26, 2012|publisher=Anime News Network|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-01-26/funimation-suspends-dragon-ball-z-blu-ray-production|last1=Hodgkins|first1=Crystalyn|access-date=January 30, 2023|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230130215457/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-01-26/funimation-suspends-dragon-ball-z-blu-ray-production|archive-date=January 30, 2023}} Only a year later, the company began producing a cropped 16:9 remastered Blu-ray release in 2013, with nine sets released in total.{{Citation|title=Dragon Ball Z: Season 9 [Blu-ray]|asin=B00NP06FAQ}}

In March 2019, Funimation announced plans to release a 30th anniversary Blu-ray release of Dragon Ball Z, with the box set being remastered in 4:3 aspect ratio, and containing an artbook and a collectible figure.{{Cite news|last=Hodgkins|first=Crystalyn|date=March 3, 2019|title=Funimation Reveals Plans for New Dragon Ball Z BD Collector's Edition if it Receives 2,500 Pre-Orders|work=Anime News Network|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-03-03/funimation-reveals-plans-for-new-dragon-ball-z-bd-collector-edition-if-it-receives-2500-pre-orders/.144118|url-status=live|access-date=April 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414092608/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-03-03/funimation-reveals-plans-for-new-dragon-ball-z-bd-collector-edition-if-it-receives-2500-pre-orders/.144118|archive-date=April 14, 2019}}{{Cite tweet|number=1114203544079310848|user=FUNimation|title=The Dragon Ball Z 30th Anniversary collector's edition is now available to preorder! See EVERYTHING this amazing set has to offer: https://funi.to/DBZ30th Oh, and yes... it's in 4:3. 🔥🔥🔥 #DBZ30th|author=Funimation|author-link=Funimation|date=April 5, 2019|access-date=April 14, 2019}} It would be crowdfunded, originally requiring a minimum of 2500 pre-orders in order to be manufactured, but was later increased to a minimum of 3,000 units.{{Cite web|last=Peters|first=Megan|date=March 18, 2019|title='Dragon Ball Z' 30th Anniversary Collection Ups Pre-Order Minimum|url=https://comicbook.com/anime/2019/03/18/dragon-ball-z-blu-ray-collector-anime-funimation-update/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414092608/https://comicbook.com/anime/2019/03/18/dragon-ball-z-blu-ray-collector-anime-funimation-update/|archive-date=April 14, 2019|access-date=April 14, 2019|website=ComicBook.com}} The release sparked controversy amongst fans due to the framing of the video, color saturation and digital video noise reduction.{{Cite news|last=Sevakis|first=Justin|date=April 17, 2019|title=Why Do Funimation's Dragon Ball Z Re-Releases Look Like That? - Answerman|work=Anime News Network|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/answerman/2019-04-17/.145777|url-status=live|access-date=April 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417193659/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/answerman/2019-04-17/.145777|archive-date=April 17, 2019}}{{Cite web|last=Valdez|first=Nick|date=April 8, 2019|title='Dragon Ball Z' Fans Are Worried About the 30th Anniversary Collector's Edition Set|url=https://comicbook.com/anime/2019/04/08/dragon-ball-z-30th-anniversary-collection-debate-react-controversy-funimation/#10|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414142747/https://comicbook.com/anime/2019/04/08/dragon-ball-z-30th-anniversary-collection-debate-react-controversy-funimation/#10|archive-date=April 14, 2019|access-date=April 14, 2019|website=ComicBook.com}} Funimation responded by stating that they cropped the release by going in "scene-by-scene to make judgements based on the image available in each frame of how much to trim to get to a consistent 4:3 aspect ratio, while still attempting to cut as little out of the picture as possible," and that they felt the digital video noise reduction was "mandatory for this release based on the different levels of fan support from various past DBZ releases with different levels of noise reduction over the years."{{Cite web|date=April 9, 2019|title=How the Dragon Ball Z 30th Anniversary Collector's Edition 4:3 aspect ratio was created|url=https://www.funimation.com/blog/2019/04/09/how-the-dragon-ball-z-30th-anniversary-collectors-edition-43-aspect-ratio-was-created/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414092610/https://www.funimation.com/blog/2019/04/09/how-the-dragon-ball-z-30th-anniversary-collectors-edition-43-aspect-ratio-was-created/|archive-date=April 14, 2019|access-date=April 14, 2019|publisher=Funimation}}

{{Main|List of Dragon Ball Z Kai episodes#Home releases{{!}}List of Dragon Ball Z Kai episodes § Home releases}}

In Japan, Dragon Ball Kai was released on wide-screen on 33 DVDs and fullscreen on a single Blu-ray and eight four-disc Blu-ray sets from September 18, 2009, to August 2, 2011.

Funimation released eight DVD and Blu-ray box sets of Dragon Ball Z Kai from May 18, 2010, to June 5, 2012.{{Citation|title=Dragon Ball Z Kai: Part One Blu-ray|asin=B0036ZA8G2}}{{Citation|title=Dragon Ball Z Kai: Part Eight [Blu-ray]|asin=B007NU53C0}} These sets contain the original Japanese audio track with English subtitles, as well as the uncut version of the English dub, which does not contain any of the edits made for the TV airings. Before the final volume was even published, Funimation began re-releasing the series in four DVD and Blu-ray "season" sets between May 22, 2012, and March 12, 2013.{{Citation|title=Dragon Ball Z Kai: Season 1 [Blu-ray]|asin=B0079KGANU}}{{Citation|title=Dragon Ball Z Kai: Season 4 [Blu-ray]|asin=B00AUJH3GU}} Funimation released The Final Chapters in three DVD and Blu-ray volumes from April 25 to June 20, 2017.{{Cite web|title=Dragon Ball Z Kai – The Final Chapter – Part One – Blu-ray – Home-Video|url=https://www.funimation.com/shop/home-video/the-final-chapter-part-one-blr-00137/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180420140141/https://www.funimation.com/shop/home-video/the-final-chapter-part-one-blr-00137/|archive-date=April 20, 2018|access-date=April 20, 2018|website=Funimation Shop}}{{Cite web|title=The Final Chapter – Part Two – Blu-ray{{!}}home-video|url=https://www.funimation.com/shop/home-video/part-two-blr-00170//|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180420140131/https://www.funimation.com/shop/home-video/part-two-blr-00170//|archive-date=April 20, 2018|access-date=April 20, 2018}}{{Cite web|title=The Final Chapter – Part Three – Blu-ray{{!}}home-video|url=https://www.funimation.com/shop/home-video/the-final-chapters-part-three-blu-ray-blr-00173/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180420140120/https://www.funimation.com/shop/home-video/the-final-chapters-part-three-blu-ray-blr-00173/|archive-date=April 20, 2018|access-date=April 20, 2018}}

{{Main|Dragon Ball (manga){{!}}Dragon Ball (manga)|List of Dragon Ball Z chapters{{!}}List of Dragon Ball Z chapters}}

While the manga was all titled Dragon Ball in Japan, due to the popularity of the Dragon Ball Z anime in the west, Viz Media initially changed the title of the last 26 volumes of the manga to "Dragon Ball Z" to avoid confusion. The volumes were originally published in Japan between 1988 and 1995. It began serialization in the American Shonen Jump, beginning in the middle of the series with the appearance of Trunks; the tankōbon volumes of both Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball were released simultaneously by Viz Media in the United States.{{Cite news|title=Viz announces 4/99 releases|work=Anime News Network|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/1998-12-21/viz-announces-4-99-releases|url-status=live|access-date=May 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730201815/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/1998-12-21/viz-announces-4-99-releases|archive-date=July 30, 2013}}{{Cite news|title=Viz announces products for 7/99 release|work=Anime News Network|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/1999-04-03/viz-announces-products-for-7-99-release|url-status=live|access-date=May 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130430094751/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/1999-04-03/viz-announces-products-for-7-99-release|archive-date=April 30, 2013}} In March 2001, Viz continued this separation by re-shipping the Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z titles starting with the first volumes of each work.{{Cite news|title=March Manga releases|work=Anime News Network|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2000-12-05/march-manga-releases|url-status=live|access-date=May 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130623040545/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2000-12-05/march-manga-releases|archive-date=June 23, 2013}} Viz's marketing for the manga made distinct the differences between Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z tone. Viz billed Dragon Ball Z: "More action-packed than the stories of Goku's youth, Dragon Ball Z is pure adrenaline, with battles of truly Earth-shaking proportions!"{{Cite news|title=Releases from Viz posted on November 2, 2000|work=Anime News Network|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2000-11-02/releases-from-viz|url-status=live|access-date=May 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130612185158/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2000-11-02/releases-from-viz|archive-date=June 12, 2013}} Between 2008 and 2010, Viz re-released the two series in a format called "Viz Big Edition," which collects three individual volumes into a single large volume.{{Cite web|title=Dragon Ball Z, Vol. 1 (VIZBIG Edition)|url=http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dragon-ball-z-volume-1-akira-toriyama/1100816063|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170130003045/http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dragon-ball-z-volume-1-akira-toriyama/1100816063|archive-date=January 30, 2017|access-date=January 20, 2017|publisher=Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Inc.}} Viz Media republished the series in fourteen 3-in-1 volumes, including what they previously released as Dragon Ball Z, under the Dragon Ball name, between June 4, 2013, and September 6, 2016.{{cite web|title=Dragon Ball (3-in-1 Edition), Vol. 1|url=https://www.viz.com/manga-books/manga/dragon-ball-3-in-1-edition-volume-1/product/3197|publisher=Viz Media|access-date=December 23, 2024}}{{cite web|title=Dragon Ball (3-in-1 Edition), Vol. 14|url=https://www.viz.com/manga-books/manga/dragon-ball-3-in-1-edition-volume-14/product/4885|publisher=Viz Media|access-date=December 23, 2024}}

{{Further|List of Dragon Ball films{{!}}List of Dragon Ball films}}

The Dragon Ball Z films comprise a total of 15 entries as of 2015. The first 13 films were typically released every March and July during the series' original run by the spring and summer vacations of Japanese schools. They were typically double features paired up with other anime films, and were thus, usually an hour or less in length. These films themselves offer contradictions in both chronology and design that make them incompatible with a single continuity. All 15 films were licensed in North America by Funimation, and all have received in-house dubs by the company. Before Funimation, the third film was a part of the short-lived Saban syndication, being split into three episodes, and the first three films received uncut English dubs in 1998 produced by Funimation with Ocean Studios and released by Pioneer. Several of the films have been broadcast on Cartoon Network and Nicktoons in the United States, Toonami UK in the United Kingdom (these featured an alternate English dub produced by an unknown cast by AB Groupe), and Cartoon Network in Australia.

Three TV specials based on Dragon Ball Z were produced and broadcast on Fuji TV. The first two were Dragon Ball Z: Bardock – The Father of Goku in 1990 and Dragon Ball Z: The History of Trunks in 1993, the latter being based on a special chapter of the original manga. Both were licensed by Funimation in North America and AB Groupe in Europe. In 2013, a two-part hour-long crossover with One Piece and Toriko, titled Dream 9 Toriko & One Piece & Dragon Ball Z Chō Collaboration Special!!, was created and aired.

Additionally, two original video animations (OVAs) bearing the Dragon Ball Z title have been made. The first is Dragon Ball Z Side Story: Plan to Eradicate the Saiyans, which was originally released in 1993 in two parts as "Official Visual Guides" for the video game of the same title. Dragon Ball: Plan to Eradicate the Super Saiyans was a 2010 remake of this OVA. None of the OVAs have been dubbed into English, and the only one to see a release in North America is the 2010 remake, which was subtitled and included as a bonus feature in Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2.

{{Further|List of Dragon Ball video games{{!}}List of Dragon Ball video games}}

Over 57 video games are bearing the Dragon Ball Z name across a range of platforms from the Nintendo Entertainment System to the current generation consoles, with the most recent release being Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot in 2020.

In North America, licensing rights had been given to both Namco Bandai and Atari. In 1999, Atari acquired exclusive rights to the video games through Funimation, a deal which was extended for five more years in 2005.{{Cite journal|date=January 11, 2005|title=Atari and FUNimation Extend Dragon Ball License|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-104260375.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505003142/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-104260375.html|archive-date=May 5, 2016|access-date=May 28, 2013|website=Wireless News|publisher=Close-Up Media, Inc}} A 2007 dispute would end with Atari paying Funimation $3.5 million.{{Cite web|title=Atari Settles 'Dragonball Z' (ALL) Dispute With FUNimation|url=http://worthplaying.com/article/2007/12/10/news/47333/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928172754/https://worthplaying.com/article/2007/12/10/news/47333-atari-settles-dragonball-z-all-dispute-with-funimation/|archive-date=September 28, 2023|access-date=May 29, 2013|publisher=Worthplaying}} In July 2009, Namco Bandai was reported to have obtained exclusive rights to release the games for a period of five years.{{Cite web|last=McWhertor|first=Michael|title=Namco Bandai Locks Down Dragon Ball License for America|url=http://kotaku.com/5306502/namco-bandai-locks-down-dragon-ball-license-for-america|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130403113537/http://kotaku.com/5306502/namco-bandai-locks-down-dragon-ball-license-for-america|archive-date=April 3, 2013|access-date=May 28, 2013|website=Kotaku|date=July 2, 2009}} This presumably would have taken effect after Atari's licensing rights expired at the end of January 2010.

Dragon Ball Z was listed as the 78th best animated show in IGN's "Top 100 Animated Series",{{Cite web|title=78. Dragon Ball Z|url=https://www.ign.com/top/animated-tv-series/78.html|website=IGN|access-date=September 25, 2016|date=January 23, 2009|archive-date=October 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009010634/http://www.ign.com/top/animated-tv-series/78.html|url-status=live}} and was also listed as the 50th greatest animated show in Wizard magazine's "Top 100 Greatest Animated shows" list.{{Cite web|url=http://www.listal.com/list/wizard-magazines-top-100-cartoons|title=Wizard Magazine's Top 100 cartoons list|publisher=Listal|access-date=April 30, 2011|archive-date=September 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200903173437/https://www.listal.com/list/wizard-magazines-top-100-cartoons|url-status=live}} The series ranked sixth on Wizard's Anime Magazine on their "Top 50 Anime released in North America".{{Cite news|date=July 6, 2001|title=Wizard lists Top 50 Anime|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2001-07-16/wizard-lists-top-50-anime|work=Anime News Network|access-date=February 2, 2014|archive-date=July 5, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070705092330/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2001-07-16/wizard-lists-top-50-anime|url-status=live}}

In Asia, the Dragon Ball Z franchise, including the anime and merchandise, earned a profit of $3{{nbsp}}billion by 1999.{{Cite book|last=Erickson|first=Hal|author-link=Hal Erickson (author)|title=Television cartoon shows: an illustrated encyclopedia, 1949 through 2003|date=2005|publisher=McFarland & Company|isbn=978-0-7864-2255-5|page=284|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WiLuAAAAMAAJ&q=%243+billion|quote=Introduced in Japan as Doragon boru Z in 1989, the property was successful enough in anime form, but the attendant merchandising of toys, action figures and video games went through the roof; within ten years, profits in Asia alone totaled $3 billion.|access-date=May 29, 2018|archive-date=September 28, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928172716/https://books.google.com/books?id=WiLuAAAAMAAJ&q=%243+billion|url-status=live}} In the United States, the series sold over {{Nowrap|14 million}} videos by 2002,{{Cite news|date=November 12, 2002|title=Infogrames Expands $3 Billion Franchise, Ships New Dragon Ball Z Title on PlayStation(R)2 December 4|publisher=PR Newswire|url=https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=AONE&id=GALE%7CA132309285&v=2.1&it=r&sid=ebsco|url-access=subscription|access-date=11 January 2022|via=Gale|archive-date=September 28, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928172723/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=AONE&id=GALE%7CA132309285&v=2.1&it=r&sid=ebsco&userGroupName=anon%7Ecc100288&aty=open-web-entry|url-status=live}} and over 25{{nbsp}}million DVDs by January 2012.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thecnl.com/FunimationJan2012Catalog.pdf|title=Funimation January 2012 Catalog|website=thecnl.com|access-date=July 30, 2017|archive-date=June 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613134039/http://www.thecnl.com/FunimationJan2012Catalog.pdf|url-status=live}}

In 2005, media historian Hal Erickson wrote that "Dragon Ball may be the closest thing on American television to an animated soap opera — though this particular genre is an old, established and venerated one in Japan, the series' country of origin."{{Cite book|last=Erickson|first=Hal|author-link=Hal Erickson (author)|title=Television cartoon shows: an illustrated encyclopedia, 1949 through 2003|date=2005|publisher=McFarland & Company|isbn=978-0-7864-2255-5|page=284}} Christopher J. Olson and CarrieLynn D. Reinhard note that "Western fans flocked to Dragon Ball Z because it offered exciting action not found in movies or television shows (animated or otherwise) at that time."{{Cite book|last1=Olson|first1=Christopher J.|last2=Reinhard|first2=CarrieLynn D.|title=The Greatest Cult Television Shows of All Time|date=May 29, 2020|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=978-1-5381-2256-3|page=62|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ql3UDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA62|access-date=September 19, 2020|archive-date=September 28, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928172717/https://books.google.com/books?id=Ql3UDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA62#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}} A key characteristic that set Dragon Ball Z (and later other anime shows) apart from American television shows at the time was a serialization format, in which a continuous story arc stretches over multiple episodes or seasons. Traditional American television had an episodic format, with each episode typically consisting of a self-contained story. Serialization has since also become a common characteristic of American streaming television shows during the "Peak TV" era.{{Cite book|last1=Ziegler|first1=John R.|last2=Richards|first2=Leah|title=Representation in Steven Universe|date=9 January 2020|publisher=Springer Nature|isbn=978-3-030-31881-9|page=10|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1m_JDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA10|access-date=September 28, 2023|archive-date=September 28, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928172717/https://books.google.com/books?id=1m_JDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA10#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}}

Funimation's in-house English dub though has received mixed reviews from some critics over the years. IGN criticized the dub for "having poor quality, along with some over the top, and quite annoying voice acting." Frieza's female voice in particular left many fans confused over the character's gender.{{Cite web|last=Isler|first=Ramsey|title=What's Wrong With Dragon Ball Z Part One|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/04/10/whats-wrong-with-dragon-ball-z-part-one|website=IGN|access-date=May 17, 2023|date=June 15, 2012|archive-date=May 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514102829/https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/04/10/whats-wrong-with-dragon-ball-z-part-one|url-status=live}} Other criticisms have been towards the English dub's script, and inaccurately translating the source material, such as portraying Goku's character as a more stoic superhero.{{Cite web|last=Greenough|first=Caleb|title=Dragon Ball Z: 10 Worst English Dub Quotes|url=https://www.cbr.com/most-awkward-dragon-ball-z-english-dub-quotes/#quot-yeah-more-like-burnt-toast-quot|website=Comic Book Resources|access-date=May 17, 2023|date=April 4, 2023|archive-date=May 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230517074856/https://www.cbr.com/most-awkward-dragon-ball-z-english-dub-quotes/#quot-yeah-more-like-burnt-toast-quot|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Fontes|first=Renan|title=Dragon Ball: The 10 Biggest Changes Funimation Made To The Franchise In North America|url=https://screenrant.com/dragon-ball-changes-franchise-north-america/#the-saga-structure|website=Screen Rant|access-date=May 17, 2023|date=June 26, 2019|archive-date=May 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230517074856/https://screenrant.com/dragon-ball-changes-franchise-north-america/#the-saga-structure|url-status=live}}

{{Further|Cultural impact of Dragon Ball{{!}}Cultural impact of Dragon Ball}}

Dragon Ball Z{{'}}s popularity is reflected through a variety of data through online interactions which show the popularity of the media. In 2001, it was reported that the official website of Dragon Ball Z recorded 4.7 million hits per day and included 500,000+ registered fans.{{Cite journal|author=Azoulay, Julia F|title=Character study: CB offers a licensing show cheat sheet|journal=Children's Business|publisher=Conde Nast Publications, Inc|date=June 1, 2001|access-date=May 28, 2013|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-80503701.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105184928/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-80503701.html|archive-date=November 5, 2013}} The term "Dragonball Z" ranked fourth in 1999 and second in 2000 by Lycos' web search engine.{{Cite journal|author=Evers, Joris|title=Britney Spears tops Lycos 2000 search terms list|journal=Network World|publisher=Network World Inc./IDG|date=December 20, 2000|access-date=May 1, 2013|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-72443332.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105184934/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-72443332.html|archive-date=November 5, 2013}}{{Cite journal|author=Phan, Monty|title=Ugh, they did it again -- and again|journal=Post-Tribune (IN)|publisher=Sun-Times News Group|date=January 14, 2001|access-date=May 28, 2013|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1N1-0FF677ADDFFC6FB4.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105192001/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1N1-0FF677ADDFFC6FB4.html|archive-date=November 5, 2013}} For 2001, "Dragonball" was the most popular search on Lycos and "Dragonball Z" was fifth on Yahoo!.{{Cite journal|author=Schorow, Stephanie|title=Predictably, Nostradamus tops searches on Internet|journal=The Boston Herald|publisher=Herald Media, LLC|date=January 8, 2002|access-date=May 1, 2013|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-81526810.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105184925/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-81526810.html|archive-date=November 5, 2013}} and "Dragonball" was the third most popular search term in 2002.{{Cite web|title=Britney loses out to PlayStation|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/2614403.stm|website=BBC News|access-date=June 7, 2022|date=December 30, 2002|archive-date=June 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220607182046/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/2614403.stm|url-status=live}}

It's Over 9000! became a famous Internet meme and is referenced both within and outside Dragonball related media.

In 2015, Ford Motor Company released two commercials featuring characters from the series, the first advertising the Ford Fusion and the second for the Ford Focus.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/watch-these-bizarre-ford-car-commercials-featuring/1100-6433424/|title=Watch These Bizarre Ford Car Commercials Featuring Dragon Ball Z|website=GameSpot|first=Eddie|last=Makuch|date=December 30, 2015|access-date=December 27, 2016|archive-date=September 28, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928172718/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/watch-these-bizarre-ford-car-commercials-featuring/1100-6433424/|url-status=live}}

Dragon Ball fans set a Guinness World Record for Largest Kamehameha attack move at San Diego Comic-Con on July 17, 2019.{{Cite web|last=Loveridge|first=Lynzee|title=Fans Annihilate Kamehameha World Record at San Diego Comic-Con|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2019-07-18/fans-annihilate-kamehameha-world-record-at-san-diego-comic-con/.149119|website=Anime News Network|access-date=May 15, 2023|date=July 18, 2019|archive-date=May 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230515130540/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2019-07-18/fans-annihilate-kamehameha-world-record-at-san-diego-comic-con/.149119|url-status=live}}

Dragon Ball Z's Japanese run was very popular with an average viewer rating of 20.5% across the series. Dragon Ball Z also proved to be a rating success in the United States, outperforming top shows such as Friends and The X-Files in some parts of the country in sweeps ratings during its first season.{{Cite magazine|title=Behind the Screens|magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|issue=98|publisher=Ziff Davis|date=September 1997|page=118}} The premiere of season three of Dragon Ball Z in 1999, done by Funimation's in-house dub, was the highest-rated program ever at the time on Cartoon Network.{{Cite news|date=December 12, 2000|title=Gundam Wing Leaving Toonami?!|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2000-12-12/gundam-wing-leaving-toonami|work=Anime News Network|access-date=November 29, 2008|archive-date=December 6, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206234124/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2000-12-12/gundam-wing-leaving-toonami|url-status=live}} In 2001, Cartoon Network obtained licensing to run 96 more episodes and air the original Dragon Ball anime and was the top rated show in the Toonami block of Cartoon Network.{{Cite journal|author=Reynolds, Mike|title=Cartoon Upfront With New Show Spending|journal=Cable World|publisher=Access Intelligence, LLC.|date=February 26, 2001|access-date=May 1, 2013|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-71874708.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131011162948/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-71874708.html|archive-date=October 11, 2013}} Beginning March 26, 2001, Cartoon Network ran a 12-week special promotion "Toonami Reactor" which included a focus on Dragon Ball Z, which would stream episodes online to high-speed internet users.{{Cite journal|author=Stump, Matt|title=Broadband 'Toonami' Boosts Cable Modems|journal=Multichannel News|publisher=NewBay Media LLC|date=April 23, 2001|access-date=May 1, 2013|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-73848430.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131011162930/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-73848430.html|archive-date=October 11, 2013}} Many home video releases were met with both the edited and unedited versions placing on in the top 10 video charts of Billboard. For example, "The Dark Prince Returns" (containing episodes 226-228) and "Rivals" (containing episodes 229-231) edited and unedited, made the Billboard magazine top video list for October 20, 2001.{{Cite journal|author=The Associated Press.|title=Most Popular Videos|journal=AP Online|publisher=Press Association, Inc|date=October 12, 2001|access-date=May 1, 2013|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-47490330.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505021850/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-47490330.html|archive-date=May 5, 2016}} In 2002, in the week ending September 22, Dragon Ball Z was the #1 program of the week on all of television with tweens 9-14, boys 9-14 and men 12-24, with the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday telecasts of Dragon Ball Z ranked as the top three programs in all of television, broadcast or cable, for delivery of boys 9-14.{{Cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2002-09-28/dragonball-z-tops-ratings|work=Anime News Network|date=September 22, 2002|title=Dragonball Z Tops Ratings|access-date=May 26, 2014|archive-date=April 7, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407231015/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2002-09-28/dragonball-z-tops-ratings|url-status=live}}

The first episode of Dragon Ball Kai earned a viewer ratings percentage of 11.3, ahead of One Piece and behind Crayon Shin-chan.{{Cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-04-13/japanese-anime-tv-ranking-march-30-april-5|work=Anime News Network|date=April 13, 2009|title=Japanese Anime TV Ranking, March 30-April 5|access-date=April 29, 2009|archive-date=September 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200903173349/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-04-13/japanese-anime-tv-ranking-march-30-april-5|url-status=live}} Although following episodes had lower ratings, Kai was among the top 10 anime in viewer ratings every week in Japan for most of its run.{{Cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-04-16/japanese-anime-tv-ranking-april-6-12|work=Anime News Network|date=April 16, 2009|title=Japanese Anime TV Ranking, April 6–12|access-date=April 29, 2009|archive-date=September 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200903173350/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-04-16/japanese-anime-tv-ranking-april-6-12|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-04-22/japanese-anime-tv-ranking-april-13-19|work=Anime News Network|date=April 22, 2009|title=Japanese Anime TV Ranking, April 13–19|access-date=April 29, 2009|archive-date=September 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200903173332/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-04-22/japanese-anime-tv-ranking-april-13-19|url-status=live}} Towards the end of the original run the ratings hovered around 9%-10%.{{Cite web|url=http://www.videor.co.jp/press/2012/120229.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303233656/http://www.videor.co.jp/press/2012/120229.htm|archive-date=March 3, 2016|title=海外で話題の日本アニメをソーシャルメディアから探る！ ～「ワンピース」が各国のつぶやきで上位に～|publisher=Videor.co.jp|access-date=June 20, 2013}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.videor.co.jp/data/ratedata/backnum/2011/vol6.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218222307/http://www.videor.co.jp/data/ratedata/backnum/2011/vol6.htm|archive-date=February 18, 2011|title=バックナンバー2011年度 VOL.6 2011年 1月31日(月) ～ 2月6日(日)|publisher=Videor|access-date=June 20, 2013}} Dragon Ball Z Kai premiered on Nicktoons in May 2010 and set the record for the highest-rated premiere in total viewers, and in tweens and boys ages 9–14.{{Cite press release|url=http://biz.viacom.com/sites/nickelodeonpress/NICKELODEON/Pages/showpdf.aspx?FileName=May%20%2710%20Ratings%20Release_FINAL.pdf&ListName=Corporate%20PressReleases&ItemID=88|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100606071314/http://biz.viacom.com/sites/nickelodeonpress/NICKELODEON/Pages/showpdf.aspx?FileName=May%20%2710%20Ratings%20Release_FINAL.pdf&ListName=Corporate%20PressReleases&ItemID=88|archive-date=June 6, 2010|title=Nickelodeon Ranks As Basic Cable's Top Network with Kids, Total Viewers; Scores Most-Watched May Ever with Total Viewers|publisher=Viacom|location=New York City|date=June 2010|access-date=June 20, 2013}} Nielsen Mega Manila viewer ratings ranked Dragon Ball Kai with a viewer ratings with a high of 18.4% for October 30 – November 4 in 2012.{{Cite web|last=Tuazon|first=Nikko|date=April 30, 2013|url=http://www.pep.ph/guide/guide/11033/agb-nielsen-mega-manila-household-ratings-oct-30-nov-4-be-careful-with-my-heart-rules-daytime-24-oras-and-ina-kapatid-anak-share-primetime-lead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306021839/http://www.pep.ph/guide/guide/11033/agb-nielsen-mega-manila-household-ratings-oct-30-nov-4-be-careful-with-my-heart-rules-daytime-24-oras-and-ina-kapatid-anak-share-primetime-lead|archive-date=March 6, 2016|title=AGB Nielsen Mega Manila Household Ratings (Oct. 30-Nov. 4): Be Careful with My Heart Rules Daytime; 24 Oras and Ina Kapatid Anak Share Primetime Lead|publisher=Pep|access-date=June 20, 2013}} At the end of April 2013, Dragon Ball Kai would trail just behind One Piece at 14.2%.{{Cite web|url=http://www.pep.ph/guide/guide/11830/agb-nielsen-mega-manila-household-ratings-april-26-to-28-aljur-abrenica39s-magpakailanman-episode-tops-saturday-ratings|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031002107/http://www.pep.ph/guide/agb/11830/agb-nielsen-mega-manila-household-ratings-april-26-to-28-aljur-abrenica39s-magpakailanman-episode-tops-saturday-ratings|archive-date=October 31, 2014|title=AGB Nielsen Mega Manila Household Ratings (April 26 to 28): Aljur Abrenica's Magpakailanman episode tops Saturday ratings|date=April 30, 2013 |publisher=PEP|access-date=June 20, 2013 |last1=Tuazon |first1=Nikko }} Broadcasters' Audience Research Board ranked Dragon Ball Z Kai as the second most viewed show in the week it debuted on Kix.{{Cite web|url=http://www.barb.co.uk/whats-new/weekly-top-10?|title=Viewing data Top 10s|publisher=Broadcasters' Audience Research Board|access-date=April 13, 2014|archive-date=July 18, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718204656/http://www.barb.co.uk/whats-new/weekly-top-10|url-status=live}} On its debut on Vortexx, Dragon Ball Z Kai was the third highest rated show on the Saturday morning block with 841,000 viewers and a 0.5 household rating.{{Cite web|last=Kondolojy|first=Kondolojy|date=August 30, 2012|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/08/30/saturday-morning-vortexx-ratings-for-the-cw-wwe-saturday-morning-slam-dragon-ball-z-kai-justice-league-unlimited-more/146805/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120901220058/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/08/30/saturday-morning-vortexx-ratings-for-the-cw-wwe-saturday-morning-slam-dragon-ball-z-kai-justice-league-unlimited-more/146805/|archive-date=September 1, 2012|title=Saturday Morning Vortexx Ratings Notes for the CW: 'WWE Saturday Morning Slam', 'Dragon Ball Z Kai', 'Justice League Unlimited' & More|website=TV by the Numbers|access-date=May 26, 2014}}

Dragon Ball Z merchandise was a success prior to its peak American interest, with more than $3 billion in sales from 1996 to 2000. In 1996, Dragon Ball Z grossed $2.95{{nbsp}}billion in merchandise sales worldwide.{{Cite news|date=August 2, 1997|title=Manga, Anime Rooted in Japanese History|language=en|page=44|work=The Indianapolis Star|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/107097112/|url-status=live|access-date=May 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180530035505/https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/107097112/|archive-date=May 30, 2018}} By January 2012, Dragon Ball Z grossed $5{{nbsp}}billion in merchandise sales worldwide.

In 1998, Animage-ine Entertainment, a division of Simitar, announced the sale of Chroma-Cels, mock animation cels to capitalize on the popularity of Dragon Ball Z.{{Cite news|date=November 30, 1998|title=Ani-Mag Announces Chroma-Cels of Sailor Moon, DBZ|work=Anime News Network|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/1998-11-30/ani-mag-announces-chroma-cels-of-sailor-moon-dbz|url-status=live|access-date=May 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130601143016/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/1998-11-30/ani-mag-announces-chroma-cels-of-sailor-moon-dbz|archive-date=June 1, 2013}} The original sale was forecasted for late 1998, but were pushed back to January 12, 1999.{{Cite news|date=December 12, 1998|title=News Briefs|work=Anime News Network|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/1998-12-12/news-briefs|url-status=live|access-date=May 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512213728/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/1998-12-12/news-briefs|archive-date=May 12, 2013}}

File:Dragon Ball.jpg

In 2000, MGA Entertainment released more than twenty toys, consisting of table-top games and walkie-talkies.{{Cite magazine|date=January 1, 2000|title=MGA Signs for Dragonball Z|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-59426864.html|magazine=Playthings|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105184947/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-59426864.html|archive-date=November 5, 2013|access-date=May 1, 2013|via=HighBeam Research}} Irwin Toy released more than 72 figures consisting of 2-inch and 5 inch action figures, which became top-selling toys in a market dominated by the Pokémon Trading Card Game.{{Cite magazine|last=Cuthbert|first=Joyce|date=February 1, 2000|title=Chicago|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-60088372.html|magazine=Playthings|publisher=Furniture Today Media Group LLC|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105184939/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-60088372.html|archive-date=November 5, 2013|access-date=May 1, 2013|via=HighBeam Research}} Irwin Toys would release other unique Dragon Ball Z toys including a battery powered Flying Nimbus Cloud which hovered without touching the ground and a die-cast line of vehicles with collector capsules.{{Cite news|title=Irwin Toy Launches|work=Anime News Network|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2000-02-15/irwin-toy-launches|url-status=live|access-date=May 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130621140435/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2000-02-15/irwin-toy-launches|archive-date=June 21, 2013}} In June 2000, Burger King had a toy promotion which would see 20 million figures; Burger King bore the cost of the promotion which provided free marketing for Funimation.{{Cite press release|title=Burger King Uses Kids' Meals to Promote Japanese Cartoon Series.|date=June 5, 2000|publisher=Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News|location=North Richland Hills, Texas|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-62662281.html|access-date=May 1, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105184943/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-62662281.html|archive-date=November 5, 2013}} The Halloween Association found Dragon Ball Z costumes to be the fourth most popular costumes in their nationwide survey.{{Cite journal|date=October 25, 2000|title=The Hype All Dressed Up with Somewhere to Go|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-83398113.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105184931/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-83398113.html|archive-date=November 5, 2013|access-date=May 1, 2013|website=Los Angeles Daily News|publisher=McClatchy-Tribune Information Services|via=HighBeam Research}}

In December 2002, Jakks Pacific signed a three-year deal for licensing Dragon Ball Z toys, which was possible because of the bankruptcy of Irwin Toy.{{Cite journal|last=Hopkins, Brent|date=February 19, 2003|title=Toy Maker Bets on Dead Delinquent Jakks Pacific Shifts Its Focus from Wrestling|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-9020394.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105192010/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-9020394.html|archive-date=November 5, 2013|access-date=May 28, 2013|website=Los Angeles Daily News|publisher=McClatchy-Tribune Information Services|via=Archived}} Jakks Pacific's Dragon Ball Z 5-inch figures were cited as impressive for their painting and articulation.{{Cite news|last=Szadkowski|first=Joseph|date=December 3, 2005|title=Bump on Head Does Good for Warrior, Target Earth|work=The Washington Times|location=Washington, D.C.|url=http://www.questia.com/read/1G1-139410606/bump-on-head-does-good-for-warrior-target-earth|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015230223/http://www.questia.com/read/1G1-139410606/bump-on-head-does-good-for-warrior-target-earth|archive-date=2013-10-15}}

In 2010, Toei closed deals in Central and South American countries which included Algazarra, Richtex, Pil Andina, DTM, Doobalo and Bondy Fiesta.{{Cite web|last=Loveday|first=Samantha|date=May 7, 2010|title=Toei Seals Latin America Deals|url=http://www.licensing.biz/news/5211/Toei-seals-Latin-America-deals|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112083113/http://www.licensing.biz/news/5211/Toei-seals-Latin-America-deals|archive-date=January 12, 2012|access-date=May 28, 2013|website=Licensing.biz}} In 2012, Brazil's Abr-Art Bag Rio Comercio Importacao e Exportacao closed a deal with Toei.{{Cite web|last=Dickson|first=Jeremy|date=January 9, 2012|title=Toei Lands Licensing Deal for Dragon Ball Z|url=http://kidscreen.com/2012/01/09/toei-lands-licensing-deal-for-dragon-ball-z/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015231106/http://kidscreen.com/2012/01/09/toei-lands-licensing-deal-for-dragon-ball-z/|archive-date=October 15, 2013|access-date=May 28, 2013|website=Kidscreen}}

Language notes

{{Notelist}}

General notes

{{Reflist|group=Note|refs=

In North America through Crunchyroll (formerly known as Funimation), in the United Kingdom through Crunchyroll UK and Ireland (formerly known as Manga Entertainment) and in Australia through Madman Anime

The original interview was conducted by Steve Harmon with Funimation CEO Gen Fukunaga in 1999 and was hosted on Harmon's website "The Vault". A record of the website exists on Archive.org, but the original interview itself was lost. The record was kept by Chris Psaros who provided a copy for the website "The Dragon Ball Z Otaku Alliance" which republished the original interview for this source.

Steven Simmons, who uses the nickname "Daimao" in websites like Toriyama.org, wrote the original scripts for the Funimation subtitles and was involved in the localization process. His comments are included as a primary source, but also definitively illustrate concerns with the subtitles, from its creator. This connection and background is noted in the accompanying Anime News Network reference.

The releases for both The Dark Prince Returns and Babidi: Showdown were released on September 25, 2001. The title "Showdown" was replaced with "Rivals" and contains episodes 229–231, titled "Vegeta's Pride", "The Long-Awaited Flight", and "Magic Ball of Buu". Before the release, Billboard and news outlets including the Anime News Network and Anime Nation were using the title "Showdown"; but the Universal Product Codes match, indicating a re-titling for this release, "Rivals", also has a September 25, 2001, release date for the uncut material.

}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Cite journal|last=Mínguez-López|first=Xavier|title=Folktales and Other References in Toriyama's Dragon Ball Z|journal=Animation|date=March 2014|volume=9|issue=1|pages=27–46|doi=10.1177/1746847713519386|hdl=10550/44043|s2cid=35435730|hdl-access=free | issn = 1746-8477}}

• {{Official website|http://www.dragonballz.com}} {{in lang|en}}
• {{Official website|http://www.toei-anim.co.jp/tv/dragonz/}} {{in lang|ja}}
• {{Anime News Network|anime|id=244}}

{{Dragon Ball anime}}

{{Toei Animation}}

{{Kids' WB}}

{{Subject bar|portal1=Anime and manga|portal2=Japan|portal3=1980s|portal4=1990s|commons=y}}

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