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Dragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might (ドラゴンボールゼット きゅうまるごとちょうけっせん Doragon Bōru Zetto Chikyū Marugoto Chōkessen, lit. Dragon Ball Z: A Super Battle for the Whole Earth), also known as Dragon Ball Z: Super Battle in the World,[1] is the sixth Dragon Ball film and the third under the Dragon Ball Z banner.

It premiered on July 7, 1990 at the Toei Anime Fair which was additionally dubbed Akira Toriyama: The World (as the other two movies premiering at the fair were based on works by Akira Toriyama). It was first dubbed in English by Funimation and Saban Entertainment through Ocean Productions in 1997.

In the edited Dragon Ball Z release, the film was adapted into three episodes of the Namek Saga.

Summary[]

The Tree of Might - Gohan ready to camp

Gohan ready to camp with Bulma, Krillin, and Oolong

One night as Bulma, Krillin, Oolong and Gohan are out on a camping trip, an unknown cosmic object heading towards Earth, crash lands in the forest nearby, causing a fire. While Gohan and Krillin are successfully able to rescue the forest animals, including a small dragon named Icarus, and put out the blaze, the forest is still left in ruins. They decide to gather the Dragon Balls to ask Shenron to restore the forest to its original state. Later, the cosmic object that crashed and caused the forest fire earlier reveals itself to be a probe and scans the environment. The information is relayed to an unfriendly group of aliens under the leadership of a Saiyan. They determine that the planet Earth's soil is suitable for growing the Tree of Might, a plant that sucks all of the nutrients out of the planet on which it was planted and leaves it a desert, and so they head directly for Earth.

The Tree of Might - Gohan pets Icarus

Gohan playing with Icarus

Icarus, having not returned to the forest, follows Gohan back to his home much to Chi-Chi's fury who says that he can't keep it and demands he take it back to the mountains. Goku, however, shows Gohan a small cave nearby where Icarus can reside. The unknown band of aliens, having now arrived on Earth, plant the seed in the area which the probe had previously landed. The explosion they cause wrecks the new cruiser Yamcha and Puar are flying in. The seed soon grows quickly into a tree of monstrous size, laying waste to a large portion of the area within its vicinity.

The Tree of Might - Z-Fighters preparing to attack Tree of Might

The Z Fighters attempt to destroy the Tree of Might

Back at Goku's house, Krillin, Bulma, Oolong, Yamcha, Puar, Tien Shinhan, Chiaotzu and Master Roshi have all gathered for dinner with Goku's family. While Yamcha tells everyone about his wrecked cruiser, Goku is suddenly contacted by King Kai, who informs him of the Tree of Might and the danger it possesses. After Goku tells the others, he, along with Yamcha, Krillin, Tien and Chiaotzu, head out to destroy the tree. However, Chi-Chi forbids Gohan from going along with them. At the tree, the group use their energy attacks to try and destroy the tree, to no effect. Goku, sensing others nearby, is then confronted by the aliens, known as the Turles Crusher Corps., whilst their leader watches from inside the spaceship. Soon after the battles ensue with Tien and Chiaotzu facing off against twin brothers Rasin and Lakasei, Krillin taking on Amond and Yamcha taking on Cacao, though the Z Fighters struggle against their opponents. Goku ends up taking on both Daiz and Cacao simultaneously, blasting them away with a Double Kamehameha.

The Tree of Might - Turles talking to Piccolo while holding Gohan

Turles holding Gohan

During the ensuing battle, Chiaotzu is rescued by Gohan, who had just arrived after disobeying his mother, and demonstrates his incredible fighting skills by easily taking out Lakasei. He is then encountered by the aliens' leader, Turles, a low class Saiyan who bears a striking resemblance to Goku. Turles gives Gohan a choice to either join him or die. Gohan refuses to join Turles and is saved in time thanks to the arrival of Piccolo. However, Turles ambushes and blasts him from behind, having Gohan where he wants him. He notices Gohan's regrown tail and creates an artificial moon, forcibly turning Gohan into a Great Ape and then immediately afterwards destroys the moon so he himself would not transform too.

The Tree of Might - Goku about to charge at Turles

Goku using the Kaio-ken in front of the Tree of Might

Goku, seeing that Gohan is in trouble, goes to help him and attempts to reason with Gohan, but it is no use and soon Goku is almost crushed to death in Gohan's hand until Icarus arrives and calms Gohan down. But when Turles attacks Icarus, Gohan is angered and turns on Turles, who fires an attack at Gohan. Before the attack can make contact, Goku manages to cut his son's tail off to revert him to his normal state. Cradling a naked Gohan in his arms, Goku promises to defeat Turles. Turles' henchmen arrive, having defeated the other Z Fighters, then attack Goku, who uses the Kaio-ken to quickly kill them while Piccolo unsuccessfully fights Turles again. Goku and Turles then fight, with Goku having the upper hand until Turles pushes his power further by eating a fruit from the Tree of Might. With his newfound power, Turles dominates Goku and beats him to the point that he is no longer able to fight, even after using the Kaio-ken x10.

The Tree of Might - Energy returned to Earth

The energy absorbed by the Tree of Might returns to Earth

With encouragement from the others, Goku begins gathering energy needed for the Spirit Bomb while the other injured Z Fighters, except a still-unconscious Gohan, try to buy Goku some time, though they are quickly defeated. Despite gaining energy from the people of Earth and launching the Spirit Bomb, Turles is able to counterattack with the Calamity Blaster, neutralizing Goku's attack. Due to the Tree of Might absorbing the Earth's energy, the Spirit Bomb lacked sufficient power, so Goku decides to take energy from inside the Tree of Might itself. Eventually successful in recreating the Spirit Bomb, Goku fires it at Turles, who tries to counter with his own ki wave. He is carried up the trunk of the Tree of Might and destroyed along with the Tree when the Spirit Bomb explodes, releasing the absorbed energy all over the planet and its living things. With the terror now over and Icarus revealed to still be alive, the Z Fighters enjoy their time on another camping trip while Piccolo meditates peacefully near a waterfall.

Timeline placement[]

This film occurs (though not literally) after Goku arrived on Namek but before the final showdown with Frieza.[2]

Releases[]

In Japan, the film was first shown as part of a triple feature with two other adaptations of Akira Toriyama's manga, Pink and Kennosuke-sama, at the 1990 Toei Cartoon Festival.[3] The film was released on VHS and Laserdisc in Japan. These were presented in 16:9 aspect ratio letterboxed in 4:3 aspect ratio. In 2006, Toei Animation released The Tree of Might in 16:9 aspect ratio as part of the final Dragon Box DVD set, which included all four Dragon Ball films and thirteen Dragon Ball Z films.

The Tree of Might first aired in the U.S. as a three-part television episode between episodes 45 and 46 of the edited Namek Saga. It premiered during the show's first-run syndication on November 15th for Part 1 and the 22nd for Parts 2 and 3 in 1997, as part of Funimation and Saban's joint production run of the series. It was dubbed by the Ocean Group and was edited for content, concurrent with the production of Seasons 1 and 2 of the show. The Tree of Might premiered on Toonami on January 29, 1999, and would air at least seven more times between 1999 and 2001.

The Tree of Might was released on March 17, 1998 on VHS, DVD and Laserdisc by Pioneer, in conjunction with Funimation. The DVD and Laserdisc, which were presented in an unmatted 4:3 aspect ratio, included the original Japanese audio along with an uncut dub by the Ocean voice cast. Pioneer re-released The Tree of Might in a box set alongside Dead Zone and The World's Strongest on October 9, 2001.

Funimation acquired the DVD rights for the first three movies from Pioneer in 2004. On November 14, 2006, Funimation released The Tree of Might, along with Dead Zone and The World's Strongest, in a DVD boxset entitled "First Strike." The DVD featured a brand-new in-house re-dub with an original score done by Nathan M. Johnson and includes the original Japanese audio. This re-dub used a slightly modified version of the three-part television episode script.

Funimation re-released The Tree of Might and Lord Slug on DVD and Blu-ray on September 16, 2008 as part of their "Double Feature" line. This new set featured a brand-new widescreen transfer from Video Post & Transfer and a new audio mix for the English re-dub featuring the original Japanese score done by Shunsuke Kikuchi in addition to the replacement score done by Johnson.

Funimation repackaged the Double Feature DVDs into three new thinpack sets, the first of which was released on November 1, 2011 and included Dead Zone, The World's Strongest, The Tree of Might, Lord Slug and Cooler's Revenge. 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.

Funimation released The Tree of Might, along with Dead Zone and The World's Strongest, in its edited format as it aired on Toonami, on August 13, 2013 as a part of the Dragon Ball Z: Rock the Dragon Edition box set. The movie was presented uninterrupted like how it aired on Cartoon Network, rather than as a three-part episode, as it did in syndication.

Cast[]

Character name Japanese voice actor English voice actor
(Saban/Funimation/Ocean Studios, 1997)
English voice actor
(Pioneer/Funimation/Ocean Studios, 1998)
English voice actor
(AB Groupe, c. 2003)[4]
English voice actor
(Funimation, 2006)
Goku Masako Nozawa Ian James Corlett Peter Kelamis David Gasman Sean Schemmel
Gohan Masako Nozawa Saffron Henderson Saffron Henderson Jodie Forrest Stephanie Nadolny
Shane Ray (Great Ape form)
Krillin Mayumi Tanaka Terry Klassen Terry Klassen Sharon Mann Sonny Strait
Yamcha Tōru Furuya Ted Cole Ted Cole Doug Rand Christopher Sabat
Tien Hirotaka Suzuoki Matt Smith Matt Smith Doug Rand
Sharon Mann (some grunts)
John Burgmeier
Chiaotzu Hiroko Emori Cathy Weseluck Cathy Weseluck Jodie Forrest
Ed Marcus (some grunts)
Monika Antonelli
Piccolo Toshio Furukawa Scott McNeil Scott McNeil Paul Bandey Christopher Sabat
Bulma Hiromi Tsuru Lalainia Lindbjerg Lalainia Lindbjerg Sharon Mann Tiffany Vollmer
Chi-Chi Mayumi Shō Laara Sadiq Laara Sadiq Sharon Mann Cynthia Cranz
Oolong Naoki Tatsuta Alec Willows Scott McNeil David Gasman Brad Jackson
Puar Naoko Watanabe Cathy Weseluck Cathy Weseluck Jodie Forrest Monika Antonelli
Master Roshi Kōhei Miyauchi Ian James Corlett Don Brown Ed Marcus Mike McFarland
King Kai Jōji Yanami Don Brown Don Brown Paul Bandey Sean Schemmel
Bubbles Naoki Tatsuta Doug Parker Doug Parker Ed Marcus Christopher Sabat
Shenron Kenji Utsumi Don Brown Don Brown Ed Marcus Christopher Sabat
Icarus Naoki Tatsuta Doug Parker Doug Parker Jodie Forrest Christopher Sabat
Rasin Kenji Utsumi Don Brown Scott McNeil Jodie Forrest Robert McCollum
Lakasei Masaharu Satō Alec Willows Don Brown Sharon Mann Robert McCollum
Daiz Yuji Machi Scott McNeil Scott McNeil Ed Marcus Mark Lancaster
Cacao Shinobu Satouchi Alvin Sanders Alvin Sanders Paul Bandey Jeff Johnson
Amond Banjō Ginga Paul Dobson Paul Dobson Paul Bandey Paul Slavens
Turles Masako Nozawa Ward Perry Ward Perry Ed Marcus Chris Patton

A fifth English version by Speedy Video features unknown voice cast.

Music[]

Japanese[]

  • Ending Theme (ED)
    1. "Marugoto"; まるごと (The Whole World)
      • Lyrics: Dai Satō, Music: Chiho Kiyooka, Arrangement: Kenji Yamamoto, Vocals: Hironobu Kageyama & Ammy

Dub music[]

The original 1997 Ocean/Saban dub featured a replacement score by Saban composers Shuki Levy and Ron Wasserman, who were also composing for the show at the time. The music was not created specifically for the movie, but rather was recycled from their score for the Saiyan and Namek Sagas. Ocean's uncut 1998 dub kept the original Japanese score by Shunsuke Kikuchi. The 2006 Funimation in-house re-dub featured a new score by Nathan Johnson, although all releases except for the initial "Ultimate Uncut Special Edition" release from 2006 includes an option for the Japanese music with the re-dubbed voice track.

Battles[]

The Tree of Might - Turles Crusher Corps vs

The Crusher Corps. prepares to fight the Z Fighters

  • Tien Shinhan and Chiaotzu vs. Rasin and Lakasei
  • Krillin vs. Amond
  • Yamcha vs. Cacao
  • Goku vs. Daiz and Cacao
  • Gohan vs. Rasin
  • Gohan vs. Lakasei
  • Gohan vs. Turles
  • Gohan and Piccolo vs. Turles
  • Gohan (Great Ape) vs. Goku
  • Gohan (Great Ape) vs. Turles
  • Goku vs. Amond, Daiz, Cacao, Rasin, and Lakasei
  • Piccolo vs. Turles
  • Goku vs. Turles
  • Piccolo, Krillin, Yamcha, Tien Shinhan, and Chiaotzu vs. Turles
  • Goku vs. Turles

Trivia[]

  • This is the first and only film to feature the original Z Fighters team (Goku, Gohan, Piccolo, Krillin, Yamcha, Tien and Chiaotzu).
  • The power levels reported by Turles' scouter in the film are Gohan - 10,000, Piccolo - 18,000, Goku - 30,000. (see list of Power Levels).
  • The Hebrew dub for this movie and the rest of the movies and specials came out after the end of Dragon Ball GT.
  • Goku is shown wielding his Power Pole on the film poster, even though he does not use it in the film. Similarly, Goku is seen wielding the Power Pole in the initial teaser poster for Dragon Ball Super: Broly but is only briefly seen with it in the film as a kid during the timeskip transition between the prologue and present day.
  • The "Rock the Dragon" and Westwood dub openings use footage mostly from this movie.
  • This is the first theatrical appearance of King Kai in a movie, though his techniques (Kaio-ken and Spirit Bomb) debuted in the previous movie. This is also the first appearance of Yamcha, Tien and Chiaotzu in a Dragon Ball Z movie, though Yamcha had appeared in all three Dragon Ball movies, and Tien and Chiaotzu also had first appeared in the third Dragon Ball movie.
  • Goku uses Kaio-ken x10 in this movie long before it was actually shown in the manga (in chapter 312 released more than eight months later).
  • This is the only movie (and only time in the entire series, for that matter) in which Yamcha wears a gi with the Turtle School symbol on the front and the King Kai symbol on the back. His gi of choice after being resurrected in the series is the opposite (King Kai front, Turtle back).
  • The movie marked the animated debut of Goku wearing his own symbol ("Go") on both the front and back of his gi, as it would not debut in the TV series until "New Ally, New Problem" aired in Japan two months later. He goes on to wear this symbol in the movies Lord Slug, Cooler's Revenge, Battle of Gods, Broly and Super Hero.
The Tree of Might - Amusement Park

The "D.B.Z." Ferris Wheel

  • In one scene of the movie, there is a Ferris Wheel that says D.B.Z.
  • In the uncut Ocean dub and the Japanese version, first mentions of Frieza are made, precluding to later fights with Frieza in the television series.
  • In the edited dub of this movie, Turles' hands holding Gohan's eyes open are moved to Gohan's shoulders, despite the fact that his hands were clearly visible on Gohan's face in "Rock the Dragon".
  • The 12th Shunsuke Kikuchi music package for the franchise starts here. The cues were designated "M10XX" codes, and this package would make its "first" debut in Bardock: The Father of Goku, followed by its "official" debut in "Goku's New Power".
  • This film has had the most English dubs out of any Dragon Ball-related media (The 1997 Ocean/Saban TV dub, the uncut 1998 Ocean/Pioneer dub, the 2006 Funimation in-house dub, the AB Groupe dub and the Malaysian English Speedy Video dub).
  • In the Funimation re-dub of this movie, when Goku charged the Kaio-ken x10 technique, he said "Now... Kaio-ken x20!". This is obviously a dub change. This change is quite odd considering the Funimation in-house re-dub is based off of the Saban dub's script, which correctly says "Kaio-ken x10" in it. It may have been done due to "times twenty" fitting the mouth flap in the scene better than "times ten".
  • Funimation's 2006 uncut dub is based on the same script as the 1997 Saban dub, albeit with some minor changes.
  • Both the Saban dub and the uncut Funimation dub incorrectly claim that the Tree of Might's fruit was only meant for Shenron. The Ocean/Pioneer dub, the AB Groupe dub, and the Speedy dub correctly state that the fruit is only meant for Kami.
  • The Speedy dub and Ocean/Pioneer dub both use Icarus' original name, "Hire Dragon".

Gallery[]

Screenshots[]

Promotional Material[]

References[]

External links[]

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