Dragon Ball Z: The World's Strongest (ドラゴンボールZ この世で一番強いヤツ, Doragon Bōru Zetto: Kono yo de Ichiban Tsuyoi Yatsu; lit. "Dragon Ball Z: The World's Strongest Guy") is the second Dragon Ball Z movie. It was originally released in Japan on March 10, 1990, between episodes 39 and 40, with it premiering at the 1990 Toei Cartoon Festival (along with movies from the Akuma-kun and Sally the Witch series). It was translated in America by FUNimation Entertainment; FUNimation and Bridge Entertainments' title is The Strongest Guy in the World.
Summary
The movie begins with Gohan and Oolong searching for the Dragon Balls that have all been gathered in the frozen Tsumisumbri Mountains (with the latter obviously wanting to wish for underwear). Before they reach them, Shenron is summoned by Dr. Kochin, who wishes for Dr. Wheelo and their laboratory to be thawed from an unbreakable ice. Later, Piccolo is ambushed by three mysterious warriors and knocked out cold while trying to defend Gohan and Oolong from. Later on, Gohan has a weird dream about him and Piccolo.
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Gohan's dream
Kochin then kidnaps Master Roshi and Bulma, thinking that Roshi is the world's strongest and a suitable body for Wheelo, whose own body was destroyed, leaving him only as a brain. Roshi is tested by Kochin's Bio-Warriors, and despite putting up a decent fight while being outnumbered three to one, is ultimately defeated. Bulma then reveals that Goku is the strongest, just as he approaches Wheelo's fortress to save his friends. Before however, Goku and Chi-Chi confront Oolong and Gohan on what they know about the group who kidnapped Bulma and Master Roshi.
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Krillin's arrival in Wheelo's fortress
After reaching the fortress, Goku is attacked by the Bio-Warriors, but easily defeats them with the Kaio-ken, and is also joined by Gohan and Krillin. They then arrive at Wheelo's lab where Bulma is being held, but run into Piccolo, who was brainwashed into returning to his old ways when he was captured earlier. Goku and Piccolo then fight each other, but Gohan's anger causes the mind-controlling device on Piccolo to break. Kochin tries to shoot Krillin and Bulma with his machine gun-arm, but is disarmed by Roshi.
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Piccolo holding Gohan and Goku with the Power Pole
Wheelo then breaks out of the wall, revealing his brain to be inside a huge robot; Dr. Kochin accidentally dies in the resulting reveal. Realizing that he was being controlled, Piccolo attacks Dr. Wheelo, only to be brushed aside. As Wheelo jumps into the air, Goku, Krillin, and Roshi fire the Master-Student Kamehameha, which does nothing to Wheelo. Goku, Gohan, Krillin, Piccolo, and Roshi then attack Wheelo, but are unable to win. Goku then fires his Kaio-ken Kamehameha (at multiplier x4) and shoots Wheelo into space. Wheelo decides to destroy the Earth with his Planet Geyser energy wave, but Piccolo and Gohan (Krillin comedically tries) are able to stop him for a while. Goku uses the previously collected energy for a Spirit Bomb; and launches it at Wheelo and destroys the mad scientist.
Characters
Heroes
Villains
- Dr. Wheelo
- Dr. Kochin
- Kishime
- Ebifurya
- Misokatsun
- Bio-Men
- Piccolo (under control of Dr. Wheelo)
Supporters
Major battles
- Piccolo vs. 4 Bio-Men
- Master Roshi vs. 4 Bio-Men
- Master Roshi vs. Kishime, Misokatsun & Ebifurya
- Goku vs. Misokatsun
- Goku vs. Ebifurya & Kishime
- Goku, Gohan & Krillin vs. Ebifurya & Kishime
- Goku vs. Piccolo
- Gohan, Krillin & Master Roshi vs. Dr. Kochin
- Goku, Piccolo, Gohan, Krillin & Master Roshi vs. Dr. Wheelo
- Piccolo, Gohan & Krillin vs. Dr. Wheelo
- Goku vs. Dr. Wheelo
Timeline placement
The events of this movie clearly happen after the Vegeta Saga, as Gohan has already trained with Piccolo (he knows him and wears his clothes) and Goku has already trained with King Kai (he wears his emblem on the back of his clothes, and uses both the Kaio-ken and Spirit Bomb). Gohan has a flashback that shows when Piccolo died saving his life from Nappa's Bomber DX. However, Piccolo is alive in the movie, which does not happen until the Frieza Saga, and Goku is back on Earth, which does not happen until the Trunks Saga. Therefore, the movie most likely takes place early in the three years the Z Fighters are training to prepare for the Androids (right after the events of the episode "Goku's Special Technique").
Daizenshuu 6 states that the movie takes place after Vegeta's attack on Earth, but before Goku goes to Namek.
Releases
Pioneer VHS release
The movie was originally released on both VHS and Laserdisc in Japan. They were in a 16:9 format, cropped from its original 4:3 format. It was then released later in Japan as part of the well-known Dragon Box sets, remastered from its original film masters and in a 16:9 anamorphic widescreen format. There was much controversy from fans over the decision to crop the movies from its original 4:3 format. The controversy died down when Toei announced that the films were originally animated for widescreen viewing. The boxed set was released (containing all four Dragon Ball and all original thirteen Dragon Ball Z movies) with great critical and audience reception.
Cover
In the United States, it was released in May 27, 1998, after the release of the first movie, Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone, and shortly after the release of the third movie, Dragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might, by FUNimation Entertainment and Pioneer, in VHS, Laserdisc, and DVD. These three movies were uncut, and contained both the Ocean Group dub and the original Japanese dub. They were also released for the first time in a 4:3 format.[1] The three movies were re-released together by Pioneer on October 9, 2001, in a three-movie boxset, called "Dragon Ball Z - Movie Boxed Set".[2]
DVD boxset
After Funimation acquired the exclusive DVD rights for the first three movies from Pioneer in 2004, it released The World's Strongest again in November 14, 2006, along with Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone and The Tree of Might movies, in a "First Strike" DVD boxset.[3] It contained a brand-new in-house dub and the original Japanese dub.
Funimation re-released this film in May 27, 2008, alongside Dead Zone, digitally remastered and in a 16:9 format, as a "Double Feature" DVD.[4]
Movie 5 Pack
This movie was also re-released by FUNimation in a movie five pack on November 1, 2011, along with Dead Zone, The Tree of Might, Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug, and Dragon Ball Z: Cooler's Revenge. However, these are the same disks found on the double features.
The World's Strongest along with Dead Zone and The Tree of Might have been re-released yet again by FUNimation on August 13th, 2013, this time exactly the way they were when they were aired on Toonami, as a part of the Dragon Ball Z: Rock the Dragon Edition.
Cast
| Character Name | Voice Actor (Japanese / Toei Animation) | Voice Actor (English / Ocean Group) | Voice Actor (English / FUNimation) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goku | Masako Nozawa | Peter Kelamis | Sean Schemmel |
| Gohan | Masako Nozawa | Saffron Henderson | Stephanie Nadolny |
| Piccolo | Toshio Furukawa | Scott McNeil | Christopher Sabat |
| Krillin | Mayumi Tanaka | Terry Klassen | Sonny Strait |
| Bulma | Hiromi Tsuru | Lalainia Lindbjerg | Tiffany Vollmer |
| Oolong | Naoki Tatsuta | Alec Willows | Brad Jackson |
| Chi-Chi | Mayumi Shō | Lisa Ann Beley | Cynthia Cranz |
| Master Roshi | Kōhei Miyauchi | Don Brown | Mike McFarland |
| Turtle | Daisuke Gōri | Scott McNeil | Christopher Sabat |
| Shenron | Kenji Utsumi | Don Brown | Christopher Sabat |
| Bio-Men | Alec Willows | Chris Cason John Burgmeier | |
| Dr. Kochin | Kōji Yada | Paul Dobson | Troy Baker |
| Kishime | Yukimasa Kishino | Paul Dobson | Chris Rager |
| Ebifurya | Ken Yamaguchi | Don Brown | Matthew Tompkins |
| Misokatsun | Daisuke Gōri | Ward Perry | Robert McCollum |
| Dr. Wheelo | Kōji Nakata | Ward Perry | R. Bruce Elliott |
| Narrator | Jōji Yanami | Doc Harris | Kyle Hebert |
Music
- Opening Theme (OP)
- "Cha-La Head-Cha-La"
- Lyrics: Yukinojō Mori, Music: Chiho Kiyooka, Arrangement: Kenji Yamamoto, Vocals: Hironobu Kageyama
- "Cha-La Head-Cha-La"
Gohan's dream during "Pikkoro-san Da~isuki♡"
- Insertion Song (IN)
- "Pikkoro-san Da~isuki♡"; ピッコロさん だ~いすき♡ (I Lo~ve Mr. Piccolo♡)
- Lyrics: Chiroru Taniho, Music: Takeshi Ike, Arrangement: Kenji Yamamoto, Vocals: Masako Nozawa (Son Gohan)
- "Pikkoro-san Da~isuki♡"; ピッコロさん だ~いすき♡ (I Lo~ve Mr. Piccolo♡)
- Ending Theme (ED)
- "Ikusa (I-KU-SA)"; 戦（I・KU・SA） (The Battle (I-KU-SA))
- Lyrics: Dai Satō, Music: Takeshi Ike, Arrangement: Kenji Yamamoto, Vocals: Hironobu Kageyama
- "Ikusa (I-KU-SA)"; 戦（I・KU・SA） (The Battle (I-KU-SA))
Reception
Like with Dead Zone, Anime News Network grades with a C+.
Trivia
- This is the second Dragon Ball Z movie, and its name is similar to the original second episode of the anime, "The World's Strongest Team". Also in the AB Group release of the movie had a cover featuring Goku and Piccolo as they went off to fight Raditz in that episode.
- The wish Oolong wants to make with the Dragon Balls in this movie is exactly the same wish he made in the Dragon Ball anime (specifically the episode "A Wish to the Eternal Dragon"). However, Shenron will not grant the same wish more than once.
- A scene that takes place during the anime, Piccolo sacrificing himself to save Gohan from being killed by Nappa, is shown when Gohan falls asleep during studying.
- Bulma's appearance in this movie is nearly identical to her appearance while a spectator during the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament. Master Roshi's clothes are also very similar to the ones he wore when he, Tien Shinhan and Chiaotzu were collecting the Dragon Balls in the King Piccolo Saga.
- The villains in this movie are named after food from Nagoya, the city Akira Toriyama is from.
- In the Ocean dub, Dr. Wheelo's name is pronounced Dr. "Willow" while in the FUNimation dub it is pronounced as Dr. "WHEE-LO" as it is spelled.
- This movie is known for using the correct Japanese pronunciation of "Kaio-ken" in the Ocean dub. Although in FUNimation's redubbing of the movie, it is still pronounced "KEI-O-KEN".
- Goku did not turn Super Saiyan when it was needed, showing strain at the use of a Kaio-ken x4 and still wearing King Kai's symbol.
- This movie starts the three-movie chain for main villains killed by Goku using a Spirit Bomb. Dr. Wheelo, Turles (from The Tree of Might) and Lord Slug (from Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug) are all killed by Goku's Spirit Bomb.
- Scenes from this movie are shown in the Dragon Ball Z Original English anime opening, "Rock the Dragon".
- Even though Frieza does not appear in the movie, his theme is played when Dr. Wheelo attempts to transfer his mind into Goku's body.
Gallery
 The World's Strongest Dragon Box DVD  Piccolo's Energy Wave  Piccolo after firing his Energy Wave  Tsumisumbri Mountains  Oolong recalls when he stole the Dragon Radar  Roshi asleep with a Dirty Magazine  Oolong climbs a mountain  Oolong's wish  Gohan and Oolong  The seven Dragon Balls  Dr. Kochin making a wish  Shenron  Close-up of a Bio-man's face  Piccolo fights the Bio-Men  Piccolo fires a Mouth Energy Wave at a Bio-Man  Piccolo's Mouth Energy Wave fired  The Bio-Man is destroyed by the attack  Kishime  Ebifurya  Misokatsun  Piccolo hit by the Bio-Warriors' combined attack  Kishime, Ebifurya and Misokatsun's combined attack on Piccolo  Gohan in the ice  .jpg "Gohan's Weird Dream- (World's Strongest).jpg (330 KB)") Gohan in a dream  A dizzy Gohan  Chi-Chi  Oolong cooking  Two Bio-Men at Kame House  Roshi faces Bio-Men  A Bio-Man attacks Master Roshi  Four Bio-Men try to attack Roshi  Roshi punches a Bio-Man  Roshi fights Bio-Men  Master Roshi  Bulma is captured  Bulma  Bulma and Roshi  Roshi in the arena  The Bio-Warriors  Roshi is ready to fight  Roshi being attacked  Kishime tries to kick Roshi  Roshi dodges Ebifurya's attack  Master Roshi fights the Bio-Warriors  Roshi fights the Bio-Warriors  Roshi kicks Misokatsun  Roshi charges his Original Kamehameha  Roshi fires his Kamehameha  Misokatsun hit by Roshi's Kamehameha  Misokatsun hit by The Original Kamehameha  Misokatsun's body stretches  Misokatsun's body stretches when hit  Misokatsun withstands Roshi's Kamehameha  Roshi firing his Original Kamehameha Misokatsun hit by The Original Kamehameha  Misokatsun deflects the attack  Roshi leaps away from his own attack  Roshi dodges the attack  Roshi dodges his own attack  Ebifurya hits Roshi  Ebifurya sends Roshi away with a palm strike  Kishime's Electric Whip in action  Roshi hit by Kishime's attack  Roshi shocked by Kishime's Electric Whip  Roshi down  Planet Geyser used on the village near South City  The village destroyed by Dr. Wheelo's technique  Goku on the Flying Nimbus  Goku leaves to save his friends  Goku arrives at Wheelo's fortress  Goku faces Misokatsun  Goku punching Misokatsun  Goku fires a Double Kamehameha  Goku blasts spike balls  Spike balls destroyed by Goku's attack  Goku firing energy waves  Moving spike balls destroyed by Goku's blasts  Moving spike balls destroyed by Goku's blasts  Goku fires a Ki Blast at moving spike balls  Goku fires more Ki Blasts  Goku fires another Ki Blast  Goku fires a Ki Blast  Goku's energy blasts  Goku attacks Misokatsun  Goku ready to penetrate Misokatsun  Misokatsun is dead  Ebifurya hit by Goku  Kishime prepares to fight Goku  Kishime's teleportation technique  Kishime dodges Goku's punch  Kishime dodges Goku's kick  Goku kicks Ebifurya in the face  Kishime's Electric Whip  Goku electrocuted by Kishime's whip  Ebifurya charges the Toketsu-ken  Goku being frozen by the attack  Ebifurya fires a Toketsu-ken at Goku  Ebifurya fires another Toketsu-ken  Goku hit by the Toketsu-ken  Goku's leg covered in the ice  Ebifurya prepares the attack again  Ebifurya uses Toketsu-Ken  Ebifurya fires his Toketsu-ken with both hands  Goku hit by the attack  Goku's left shoulder covered in the ice  Ebifurya fires another Toketsu-ken  Gohan and Krillin block the attack  Gohan while blocking Ebifurya's attack  Goku's upper body covered in the ice  Goku's lower body covered in the ice  Krillin and Gohan  Wires sprout from Kishime's arms  Kishime prepares his Electric Shock technique  Kishime charges his Electric Shock technique  Kishime prepares the technique  Kishime attacks with the Electric Shock  Kishime's Electric Whip used again  Krillin electrocuted by the attack  Kishime transfers electricity into his attack  Krillin shocked by Kishime's whip  Krillin attacked by Kishime  Krillin screams  Krillin frozen  Gohan wrapped by an Electric Whip  Kishime preforms an Electric Shock  Kishime's Electric Shock  Goku uses the Kaio-ken Goku destroying ice thanks to the Kaio-ken  Goku destroying ice thanks to the Kaio-ken       Ebifurya charges his Toketsu-ken  Ebifurya fires the attack at Gohan and Krillin  Gohan and Krillin hit by the attack  Goku using Kaio-ken  Kaio-ken Goku  Goku breaks through the attack  Goku resists Ebifurya's Toketsu-ken  Goku defeats Ebifurya  Ebifurya defeated  Ebifurya dies as he crashes into a wall  Ebifurya dead  Kishime teleports  Kishime attacks Goku  Goku kicks Kishime into the air  Goku double punches Kishime in the back  Kishime dead  Bulma  Bulma held captive  Bulma  Piccolo brainwashed  Piccolo attacks  Gohan attempts to stop Piccolo from fighting Goku  Goku stops Piccolo's attack  Piccolo attacks Goku  Piccolo charges a Ki Blast  Piccolo attacks Gohan  Goku stops Piccolo's attack  The device that controls Piccolo  Gohan mad  Gohan enraged  The button on Dr. Kochin's cane  Dr. Kochin fires a blast from his cane  Kochin firing a blast from his cane  Gohan blocks the blast  Gohan enraged again  Dr. Kochin's metallic hand  Dr. Kochin forms his hand into a gun  Dr. Kochin forms his hand into a gun  Dr. Kochin's Machine Gun hand  Dr. Kochin aims Krillin  Dr. Kochin shoots at Krillin  Kochin firing his Machine Gun  Krillin dodges the bullets .jpg "Krilling Dodging Bullets (World's Strongest).jpg (286 KB)") Krillin runs from Kochin's attacks  Kochin's attack hits Bulma's prison  Dr. Kochin's Machine Gun arm  Dr. Kochin  Kochin falls to his death  Dr. Kochin's true form is seen as he is electrocuted  Dr. Wheelo emerges  Piccolo, Gohan, Goku, Master Roshi, and Krillin  Gohan shocked while the others prepare Kamehamehas  Master Roshi firing his Kamehameha  Goku, Krillin, and Roshi firing their Kamehamehas  Dr. Wheelo hit by the Master-Student Kamehameha  Gohan ready to attack Dr. Wheelo with the Power Pole  Dr. Wheelo hits Gohan with his tail  Goku trips Dr. Wheelo with the Power Pole  Piccolo charges the Scatter Shot against Dr. Wheelo  Piccolo's Scatter Shot rains down on Dr. Wheelo  Piccolo firing the Scatter Shot at Dr. Wheelo  Dr. Wheelo headbutts Piccolo  Dr. Wheelo fires a Ki Blast  Dr. Wheelo's Ki Blast reaches Krillin  Dr. Wheelo charges a Ki Blast against the Z Fighters  Piccolo dodges Dr. Wheelo's blast  Dr. Wheelo loses his right arm  Goku charges a Kaio-ken Kamehameha against Dr. Wheelo  Dr. Wheelo fires an energy wave  Goku firing his Kaio-ken Kamehameha at Wheelo Dr. Wheelo's energy wave  Goku fires the Kaio-ken Kamehameha  Goku's Kaio-ken Kamehameha vs. Dr. Wheelo's energy wave  Wheelo's energy wave vs. Goku's Kamehameha  Wheelo and Goku increase the powers of their Energy Waves  Goku hits Wheelo with his Kaio-ken Kamehameha  Dr. Wheelo hit by Goku's Kaio-ken Kamehameha  Goku's Kaio-ken Kamehameha destroys Wheelo's fortress  Krillin and Goku  Dr. Wheelo using his Gigantic Bomber technique  Dr. Wheelo attempts to kill Goku with his Gigantic Bomber  Dr. Wheelo is struck by Piccolo and Gohan  Piccolo faces Wheelo .jpg "Piccolo About To Blast Wheelo (World's Strongest).jpg (284 KB)") Piccolo charging a Mouth Energy Wave to fire at Wheelo  Piccolo fires his Mouth Energy Wave at Wheelo  Krillin knocked by Dr. Wheelo  Goku gathers energy  Goku with his Spirit Bomb  Dr. Wheelo firing his Photon Strike at Goku  The effect of Dr. Wheelo's Photon Strike .jpg "Goku About To Be Blasted (World's Strongest).jpg (302 KB)") Dr. Wheelo's Photon Strike being fired at Goku  Goku hit by Dr. Wheelo's Photon Strike  Dr. Wheelo's Photon Strike destroys his fortress  Dr. Wheelo (back center) charges up for the Planet Geyser  Dr. Wheelo fires the Planet Geyser at the Z Fighters  Dr. Wheelo's Planet Geyser heads towards Goku  Goku about to launch his Spirit Bomb  Goku launches the Spirit Bomb  Goku's Spirit Bomb vs. Wheelo's Planet Geyser  Wheelo's Planet Geyser destroyed by Goku's Spirit Bomb  Goku's Spirit Bomb hits Dr. Wheelo  Goku's Spirit Bomb overwhelms Dr. Wheelo and obliterates him  Dr. Wheelo is killed by the Spirit Bomb  Dr. Wheelo is defeated  Dr. Wheelo hit by the Spirit Bomb  Dr. Wheelo is destroyed  Dr. Wheelo explodes  The fortress's generator before it explodes  The fortress explodes  The fortress explodes  The fortress is destroyed in a large explosion  Goku and Gohan Goku and Gohan |
