Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn (ドラゴンボールZ 復活のフュージョン!!悟空とベジータ, Doragon Bōru Zetto: Fukkatsu no Fusion!! Gokū to Vegeta; lit. "Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn!! Gokū and Vegeta") is the twelfth movie based on the Dragon Ball Z anime. It was originally released in Japan on March 4, 1995, between episodes 258 and 259. Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn also had a limited theatrical run (as part of a double-feature with the U.S. premiere of Dragon Ball Z: The Return of Cooler) on March 17, 2006. These were the first Dragon Ball-related movies to receive a theatrical release in the United States.
Summary
Janemba fighting Goku
The movie starts with the Other World Tournament going on and a match is starting between Goku and Pikkon. The scene changes to the Check-In Station and shows a teenage Ogre guarding the Soul Cleansing Machine, but he is distracted with his heavy metal music. His lack of attention allows the machine to become too full, and, as a result, the machine explodes, releasing all of the evil energy at once. The young ogre is enveloped in the evil smog and is transformed into a giant (seemingly innocent) monster of incredible power named Janemba. Janemba's first order of business is to place a barrier around the Check-in Station of the Other World. This barrier prevents King Yemma from maintaining order between realms. With Yemma trapped, the souls of Other World are free to return to the land of the living. Videl and Gohan are summoned to take care of them.
Super Saiyan 3 Goku kicks Janemba
Bulma and the others gather the Dragon Balls, and summon Shenron. They wish for all the souls to return to the underworld, but Shenron informs them that he can send them back, but there is nothing stopping them from coming back, and that something is wrong in Other World.
Super Saiyan 3 Goku battles Janemba
In the Other World, Goku and Pikkon were fighting in the final of the Other World Tournament, but then are called to go to King Yemma and see what is going on. When they arrive, King Yemma informed them that the monster that did all of this was on the roof of the check-in station. Both Goku and Pikkon are surprised by the tremendous size of Janemba. Goku is excited about his power and lures Janemba to Hell so that Pikkon can start working on the barrier. Once arriving in Hell, Goku is shocked to find it has been changed into a psychedelic, weird world filled with colorful stones. Pikkon attempts to break the barrier, and Goku begins fighting Janemba. Janemba has strange powers that allow him to defy, or rather define, reality (such as creating a portal to punch through that leads right to Goku and forming what seems to be a perfect replica of Goku in his hand, complete with its own Kamehameha), and even as a Super Saiyan 2, Goku is losing. He then powers up to Super Saiyan 3 to defeat the monster.
Gohan defeats Frieza with a single blow
On Earth, Mr. Satan is winning over the zombies and happy that they are enemies that he can beat. Frieza arrives shortly after Gohan and Videl get rid of a large group of zombies, and Frieza starts to taunt Gohan. Before they start fighting, Gohan introduces himself with a short speech and dance, saying "I am son of Goku, guardian of all that is good." Frieza confronts Gohan and Videl and immediately recognizes Gohan as Goku's son. Deciding the boy should pay for his father's "sins", Frieza sends his army of villains (Zarbon, Jeice, Burter, Bojack, Paragus, Recoome, Salza, etc.) to attack the couple, but Gohan flies through them all and silences him by punching Frieza in the stomach and blowing him away with an energy shot to the gut. His terrified minions quickly disperse. Afterward, Gohan does his Justice Pose 1. In the afterlife, Pikkon discovers that cursing at the barrier causes it to break, and the monster, which Goku thought he had defeated, has transformed into a smaller, more powerful form. He makes a sword from an ogre club he finds on the ground (another example of Janemba's power over reality) and starts to easily beat Goku with a swing from his sword, creating a dangerously sharped blade of thin air. He then traps him in a triangular cage made from Blood Pond, and then cuts it down to fit Goku.
Vegeta comes to help Goku. He starts to fight Janemba in his strongest form, Super Saiyan 2, but is no match for him. Goku breaks out of Blood Pond and lands on the ground. Vegeta was thrown into a cage of spikes, but Goku catches him in time and they both take cover into the cage of spikes.
Goku damaged by Super Janemba's Hell Gate blast
Goku knows they cannot win as separate entities, so he suggests using the fusion technique. Vegeta becomes skeptical, first off that the pose for the Fusion Dance is embarrassing, and furthermore tells him he would rather die than to fuse with a low-class Saiyan. But Goku calmly states that Vegeta is already dead. Goku persuades him to agree, and then they try the Fusion Dance. Vegeta agrees, however, he fails to extend his index finger at the last second, and Veku (as named by South Kai) is created. This fighter is weak and can do little but fart on Super Janemba's face and use his "rabbit feet" technique to run away. Right when Janemba is about to destroy him, the fusion runs out and Goku and Vegeta escape. Vegeta curses Goku, saying fusion is useless, but North Kai telepathically points out that it is Vegeta's fault because his index finger was made into a fist and created the blimp Veku. Pikkon then comes after giving up on the barrier around the Check-In Station and begins to fight Janemba to give Goku and Vegeta more time to perform the fusion. Pikkon figures that Janemba is made of the same material as the barrier and begins cursing at it. Surprisingly, it works, and the creature is caught completely by surprise. However, it is able to incapacitate Pikkon, although those precious few seconds allowed Goku and Vegeta to perform the Fusion Dance, which is successful, forming Gogeta.
The fusion of Goku and Vegeta, Gogeta
On Earth, Goten and Trunks sense their dads fusing, and also fuse to create Gotenks. Gotenks defeats The Dictator's army with the Super Ghost Kamikaze Attack in one shot. Gogeta is formed, and he defeats Janemba with his ultimate attack: the Stardust Breaker. As a result, the teenage ogre returns. Scared by Gogeta, he runs away. Hell is returned to normal and King Yemma is freed with lots work to do. Gogeta defuses, Goku and Vegeta say farewell to each other, and Vegeta returns to his spirit form. Goku and Pikkon return to the Grand Kai's planet. All of the souls are returned to the machine, which is restored.
On Earth, Gohan, Goten, Videl, and Trunks are returning home. Goten and Trunks know who it was that saved them, but refuse to tell anyone. In the English version, Goten and Trunks were spying on them and joked about Gohan and Videl kissing and being chased home by a crossed Gohan and an embarrassed Videl. Meanwhile, Shenron remains summoned and asks if anyone still wants to use their wishes, sounding impatient.
Timeline placement
The movie's events occur during the Majin Buu Saga, roughly before the Majin Buu conflict reaches its climax with the advent of Super Buu.[1] When Goku transforms into a Super Saiyan 3, he says the fight with Majin Buu was the only time he had ever been pushed so far. This suggests that the Majin Buu Saga happens within this film's background.
The fat Majin Buu is not seen anywhere, but if Kid Buu has been defeated, then both Goku and Vegeta should be alive again. This, along with the ability of Goten and Trunks to fuse as Super Saiyans, might suggest that Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn was set around episode 253, where Goten and Trunks successfully use the Fusion technique as Super Saiyans for the first time. Additionally, though Mr. Satan is not at Majin Buu's house in the movie, this is consistent with the fact that he left the Majin's house in episode 253 to get dog food for Bee.
However, several other details don't align: Gohan is on Earth instead of the World of the Kais, Goku is in the Other World Tournament instead of with Gohan, and the Buu ordeal is clearly not ongoing either at Yemma's or on Earth. Also, Shenron offers three wishes in the movie, while in the main series timeline one wish had already been used after which the dragon balls were put in dormant mode for four months. It was only after the first wish was made that Goten and Trunks learned fusion, so at this time they should have been unable to summon Shenron.
It is shown on Videl's watch that the movie takes place on a Saturday, the 16th, which is at least 9 days after the 25th World Martial Arts Tournament (which took place on May 7 of Age 774).
Releases
Fusion Reborn was originally released on VHS and Laserdisc in Japan. In 2006, Toei Animation released Fusion Reborn as part of the final Dragon Box DVD set, which included all four Dragon Ball films and thirteen Dragon Ball Z films. These were presented in a new widescreen transfer from the original negatives with a 16:9 aspect ratio that was matted from the original 4:3 aspect ratio.
Fusion Reborn premiered in North America on March 17, 2006 in a limited theatrical run with The Return of Cooler as a double feature. FUNimation released Fusion Reborn for DVD on March 28, 2006 in uncut form.[2] As was the case with all previous releases, the movie was released in an unmatted 4:3 aspect ratio. The DVD featured an English dub with an original score done by Nathan Johnson and Dave Moran.
FUNimation re-released Fusion Reborn and Wrath of the Dragon on DVD and Blu-ray on May 19, 2009 as part of their "Double Feature" line.[3] This new set featured a brand-new widescreen transfer from Video Post & Transfer and a new audio mix for the English dub featuring the original Japanese score done by Shunsuke Kikuchi in addition to the old mix featuring the Johnson/Moran score.
FUNimation repackaged the Double Feature DVDs into three new thinpak sets, the third of which was released on January 3, 2012 and included Broly - Second Coming, Bio-Broly, Fusion Reborn, and Wrath of the Dragon. These three sets were also released together in the Canada-only Dragon Ball Z: Complete Movie Collection featuring reversioned artwork of Goten and Trunks from Bio-Broly on the cover.
Cast
Music
- Opening Theme (OP): "We Gotta Power"
- Ending Theme (ED): "Saikyō no Fusion"
Battles
- Goku vs. Pikkon
- Goku vs. Janemba
- Pikkon vs. Janemba's barrier
- Goku (Super Saiyan 2) vs. Janemba
- Goku (Super Saiyan 3) vs. Janemba
- Gohan (Great Saiyaman), Videl (Great Saiyawoman), and Mr. Satan vs. Zombies
- Gohan vs. Frieza (Fourth Form)
- Goku (Super Saiyan 3) vs. Super Janemba
- Vegeta (Super Saiyan 2) vs. Super Janemba
- Goku and Vegeta vs. Super Janemba
- Veku vs. Super Janemba
- Pikkon vs. Super Janemba
- Goten (Super Saiyan) and Trunks (Super Saiyan) vs. The Dictator's army
- Gotenks (Super Saiyan) vs. The Dictator's army
- Gogeta (Super Saiyan) vs. Super Janemba
Techniques Used
- Instant Transmission - Used by Goku to travel with Pikkon to the Other World's check-in station. Also used by Goku with Vegeta to dodge Super Janemba's Lightning Shower Rain.
- Cloning - Used by Janemba to create many small clones of himself to combat Goku, however, they were all easily defeated.
- Illusion Smash - Used by Janemba to land many unorthodox blows on Goku, but was eventually countered.
- Kamehameha - Used by Goku against Janemba, but was reflected back towards Goku due to Janemba's reality manipulation.
- Howl - Used in Janemba's cheerful manner while enjoying himself in his battle with Goku.
- Super Energy Bomb - Used by Pikkon in an attempt to destroy Janemba's barrier along with Goku's Ki Blast, but the blasts had no effect. Also used by Pikkon a second time against the barrier.
- Rapid Cannon - Used by Janemba against Goku after transforming into a Super Saiyan 2, but the blasts were successfully dodged.
- Justice Kamehameha - Used by Gohan as Great Saiyaman to defeat many of the zombies.
- Bunkai Teleport - Used by Super Janemba many times in his fights with Goku and Vegeta, either to dodge attacks or teleport their ki blasts.
- Cosmic Illusion - Used by Super Janemba against Super Saiyan 3 Goku.
- Hell Gate - Used by Super Janemba in point-blank range against Super Saiyan 3 Goku, dealing considerable damage.
- Dimension Sword Attack - Used by Super Janemba to assault Super Saiyan 3 Goku, nearly bifurcating his arm and killing him while trapped in a blood pond cage. The sword was eventually destroyed by Vegeta.
- Shine Shot - Used by Vegeta in his brief fight with Super Janemba, but was avoided by the latter's Bunkai Teleport. Was also used to destroy Janemba's Dimension Sword while saving Goku.
- Mystic Attack - Used by Super Janemba to push Vegeta toward many barrier objects in the air and to throw him into a cage of spikes.
- Lightning Shower Rain - Used by Super Janemba to flush out Goku and Vegeta, who were hiding in the cage of spikes.
- Fusion Dance - Used by Goku and Vegeta to fuse into Veku, and later successfully into Gogeta. Also used by Goten and Trunks to fuse into Gotenks to combat The Dictator and his army.
- Brutal Destruction - Used by Super Janemba while briefly fighting with Veku, knocking the failed fusion away.
- Telepathy - Used by the Kais, notably King Kai, to contact Goku and Vegeta.
- Trap Shooter - Used by Pikkon in his brief fight with Super Janemba after stunning him with curses, however, they were dodged.
- Regeneration - Used by Super Janemba after being physically injured by Pikkon's insults and dodging his Trap Shooter attack.
- Super Ghost Kamikaze Attack - Used by Gotenks to form his own army to combat The Dictator's army.
- Full Power - Used by Super Janemba to prepare to combat Gogeta.
- Stardust Breaker - Used by Gogeta to assault Super Janemba and later destroy him completely.
Reception
Fusion Reborn was the third best selling Anime DVD of 2006.[4] The movie was released in theaters in Japan on March 4th, 1995 and was part of a double feature alongside Slam Dunk: Shohoku's Greatest Challenge! It grossed a total of ¥1.98 billion (US $22.7 million). [5]
Trivia
- The English dub of Fusion Reborn is the only Dragon Ball Z film to be rated by the Motion Picture Association of America. It is rated PG for action violence, thematic elements, and rude humor.
- There is a brief Michael Jackson reference at the beginning of the movie, when Saike Demon is dancing he simulates a moonwalk, stands on his tip toes, and grabs himself.
- When Goku and Pikkon are being introduced in the tournament at the beginning of the movie, Goku is referred to as the defending champion, even though in the last Other World Tournament it was a draw due to them both touching the ceiling during the battle. However, during their original battle, Goku was briefly declared the winner of the first tournament before Grand Kai told them touching the ceiling disqualified them.
- All swastikas (in the Dictator scenes) are removed from FUNimation's DVD. Additionally, all "third reich" references are removed. In the German, French, and Hebrew versions, The Dictator was completely removed from the movie due to strict laws in Germany about references to the Nazi regime and to avoid insulting Israelis and Holocaust survivors after World War II. In the European Spanish dubs, The Dictator does not appear, due to the fact that the European Spanish versions used the pre-edited footage of the French dub.
- The Dictator mentions how Goten and Trunks in their Super Saiyan forms have "blond hair and blue eyes" (even though the eyes are green) referencing Hitler's penchant for the Aryan race.
Super Gogeta kicking Super Janemba
- When Super Saiyan 3 Goku goes up into the air to blast Super Janemba, Super Gogeta kicking Super Janemba is shown in the background.
- In one scene, one of the Kais refers to Veku as "what an artful dodger" as he had been avoiding Janemba's attacks by running away and farting. This is a reference to the novel Oliver Twist, by Charles Dickens. One of the characters is named the Artful Dodger because he can pick people's pockets and run quickly.
- In the video game Dragon Ball Z: Buu's Fury, the events of this movie happen after Fortuneteller Baba takes the dead Goku back to the Other World (episode 248) and after Mr. Satan meets Majin Buu (episode 252). This is even though Goku is not seen returning to Grand Kai's planet in the manga/anime after Baba brought him back to the Other World, instead being at the Sacred World of the Kais, either helping Gohan with his Z Sword training or watching the battle on Earth in a Crystal Ball while Old Kai was unlocking Gohan's hidden abilities.
- Extra parts to the movie are added in the story mode of the video game Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2: Great Saiyaman and Videl fight 2 vs. 2 battles against Cui and Salza, Bojack and Zangya, Frieza and Cell (Cell did not appear in the movie), and finally Vegeta is allowed to keep his body and has a match against Goku.
- The movie is retold in the PSP fighting game Dragon Ball Z: Shin Budokai, with the story occurring during a time of apparent peace shortly after the battles with Majin Buu.
- Since episode 241 (which is set approximately one day after the tournament), the Z Fighters still on Earth believe Gohan to be dead in the series, while in the movie they interact with him as if this is not the case. The movie occurs 9 days after the tournament, as shown on Videl's watch.
- Dende explicitly stated in episode 240 that the Z Fighters would have to wait four months to use the Dragon Balls again due to Bulma and the others summoning Shenron and wishing for Vegeta's rampage to be undone. Yet, if this movie takes place a few days later, the Z Fighters on Earth should not have been able to summon Shenron.
- The 22nd Shunsuke Kikuchi music package for the franchise starts here. The cues were designated "M20XX" codes, and this package would make its series debut in The Innards of Buu.
Gallery
 Fusion Reborn poster  Saike Demon  Saike begins to mutate into Janemba  Janemba being formed  Pikkon defeats Arqua  Goku vs. Pikkon  Goku faces Pikkon Pikkon faces Goku  Goku uses Instant Transmission King Yemma angry  Goku prepares a Ki Blast  Goku fires his energy attack  Pikkon fires a Super Energy Bomb  The effect of Goku and Pikkon's attacks  Pikkon, Goku, and King Yemma  Pikkon looks on the roof  Pikkon talks to Janemba  Janemba  Janemba in his first form  Janemba faces Goku and Pikkon  Pikkon and Goku blown away  Videl receives a message  Janemba making small clones of himself  Janemba's small clones  Janemba creating more clones  The clones attack Goku  Goku powers up right before defeating Janemba's clones  Janemba running Janemba performs the Illusion Smash Goku uses an uppercut on Janemba's hand  Trunks with a Dragon Ball  Dragon Balls gathered  The seven Dragon Balls are gathered  The seven Dragon Balls gathered  The Dragon Balls power up  Two Dragon Balls  Great Saiyaman charges a Ki Blast  Great Saiyaman attacks Zombies  Gohan and Videl  Frieza  Jeice, Daiz, Frieza, Ginger, a Meda, Burter  Daiz, Recoome, Ginger, a Meda  Bujin, Recoome, and a Meda  Wings, Frieza, Cacao, and Kogu  Bujin, Wings, Frieza, Cacao, and Kogu  Paragus, Wings, Frieza, and Zangya  Cui, Medamatcha, Frieza, Commander Zeeun, Medas, and Rasin/Lakasei  Bojack appears in Fusion Reborn  Salza, Sansho, and a Bio-Man  Gohan attacks Frieza, Misokatsun is seen  Rasin/Lakasei  Zarbon and one of Lord Slug's soldiers  Gohan about to punch Frieza  Jeice in Fusion Reborn  A Meda, Burter, and Misokatsun  Gohan posing after defeating Frieza  The Dictator  Super Goten and Trunks powering up  Goku prepares a Kamehameha  Goku fires the Kamehameha at Janemba Janemba's clone of Goku prepares a Kamehameha Janemba's clone of Goku fires his Kamehameha  Goku's Kamehameha vs. that of Janemba's clone of Goku  Goku in Hell Janemba prepares to fire his Rapid Cannon at Goku  Goku dodges Janemba's Rapid Cannon blasts The enormous explosion caused by the attack Super Saiyan Goku  Super Saiyan 3 Goku Super Saiyan 3 Goku Super Saiyan 3 Goku Super Saiyan 3 Goku prepares to attack Janemba Super Saiyan 3 Goku attacks Janemba  Super Saiyan 3 Goku's finishing move  Super Saiyan 3 Goku's finishing move  Super Saiyan 3 Goku's finishing move  Super Saiyan 3 Goku's finishing move  Super Saiyan 3 Goku's finishing move  Super Saiyan 3 Goku's finishing move Super Saiyan 3 Goku's finishing move  Super Saiyan 3 Goku's finishing move  Super Saiyan 3 Goku's finishing move  Super Saiyan 3 Goku's finishing move Super Saiyan 3 Goku's finishing move  Super Saiyan 3 Goku's finishing move Super Saiyan 3 Goku  Super Saiyan 3 Goku's finishing move  Super Saiyan 3 Goku's finishing move  Janemba's first form is defeated by Super Saiyan 3 Goku Goku after defeating Janemba in his first form  Super Saiyan 3 Goku smirking Super Saiyan 3 Goku posing  Janemba morphs  Janemba morphs  Goten and Trunks dodging bullets  Super Janemba appears  Super Saiyan 3 Goku before he attacks Janemba  Super Saiyan 3 Goku fires a ki attack at Super Janemba  Super Janemba  Super Saiyan 3 Goku takes on Janemba  Goku fires a close-range blast at Super Janemba Super Janemba uses his Bunkai Teleport  Super Janemba's Cosmic Illusion Super Janemba's Cosmic Illusion  Super Janemba's Cosmic Illusion  Super Janemba's Hell Gate Super Janemba's Hell Gate  Hell Gate's effect on the ground  A small club  Super Janemba creates the Dimension Sword  Super Janemba creates the Dimension Sword  Super Janemba creates the Dimension Sword  Super Janemba wielding the Dimension Sword  Super Janemba about to cut Goku's blast .png "GokuFire(FR).png (687 KB)") A fire caused by one of Goku's blasts The Dimension Sword attack  Goku with a shoulder wound from a Dimension Sword blast  Super Janemba's Spike Hell technique  Goku trapped inside a bloody crystal  Super Janemba wields the Dimension Sword  The Dimension Sword breaks  The Dimension Sword breaks  The Dimension Sword breaks  Vegeta fires an energy attack at Super Janemba  Super Saiyan Vegeta prepares an attack  Vegeta fires a Ki Blast at Super Janemba  Super Saiyan Vegeta attacks  Vegeta choked by Super Janemba  Super Janemba prepares his first Lightning Shower Rain Super Janemba fires the Lighting Shower Rain Super Janemba's first Lightning Shower Rain Super Janemba's first Lightning Shower Rain  Super Janemba's second Lightning Shower Rain  Super Janemba's second Lightning Shower Rain  Super Janemba's second Lightning Shower Rain Super Janemba powering up  Super Janemba powering up Super Janemba powering up .png "AngryVegeta(FR).png (437 KB)") Vegeta does not want to perform the Fusion Dance movements  Goku injured  West and East Kais  Goku and Vegeta fuse to form Veku  Veku confronts Super Janemba  Super Janemba stares down Veku  Super Janemba uses Brutal Destruction  Brutal Destruction  Brutal Destruction  Veku farts on Super Janemba's face  Veku attacks Super Janemba again  North and South Kais  North and South Kais  Veku beaten by Super Janemba  Veku insults Super Janemba  Veku flees from the battle  Super Janemba attacks Veku with his Mystic Attack  Veku faces Super Janemba  Veku uses his Rabbit Feet Technique  Veku flees  Super Janemba attacking Veku  Super Janemba attacking Veku  Janemba charging an energy blast  Pikkon confronts Super Janemba  Janemba damaged by Pikkon's insults  Pikkon charging the Trap Shooter  Pikkon firing the Trap Shooter  Vegeta performing the fusion dance with Goku  Goku performs the Fusion Dance  Goku performing the fusion dance with Vegeta  Pikkon defeated by Super Janemba  Goku and Vegeta successfully fusing  Super Gogeta appears  Goten and Trunks fire their Energy Waves at zombies  Goten and Trunks' combined attack destroys zombies Super Janemba powers up  Super Janemba powering up Super Janemba powering up  Super Janemba getting beaten by Super Gogeta Super Gogeta knee strikes Super Janemba  Super Gogeta  Super Gogeta about to use an attack Super Gogeta prepares the Stardust Breaker  Super Janemba is destroyed by the Stardust Breaker  Super Janemba being destroyed The Stardust Breaker destroys Super Janemba  Vegeta after the defeat of Janemba     Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn animanga |
References
- ↑ Daizenshuu 6, 1995
- ↑ "Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn", amazon.com
- ↑ "Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn / Wrath of the Dragon (Double Feature)", amazon.com
- ↑ "Best Selling Anime DVDs of 2006", themovieblog.com
- ↑ http://worldofkj.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=55322&sid=6362a4092ea8c6562491437817e3722f&start=3500