DragonBall Z: Episode 001
(Originally aired 26 April 1989)

"Mini Gokû wa Obot-chama! Boku Gohan Desu."
("Mini Goku is an Adorable Little Son! I'm Gohan.")

Filler Segment: 3 minutes

The first episode of DBZ opens with scenes of a farming village near the mountains. Farmers are working, kids are playing, and everything seems content with the world. The narrator tells us that it has been five years since Son Goku defeated Piccolo-Daimaô and his dream of world domination. But then, the camera slowly pans upwards towards the sky, and the narrator adds that a "new crisis is about to emerge." We then see Raditz's pod flying towards Earth, followed by the episode's title card.

After the title card, more peaceful scenery is shown, including deer and a few birds. We then hear Chi-Chi calling for Gohan as the picture moves to show the Son family home. Goku is jumping from tree to tree in a nearby forest, and eventually punches down a large tree. We then cut back to Chi-Chi calling for Gohan. Goku arrives, carrying the large tree. Chi-Chi asks if he has seen their son. Goku says he hasn't, so he heads off to find him.

Chapter 195 begins:
Nazo no Iseijin Senshi
"The Mysterious Alien Warrior"

Canon Segment: 3 minutes 10 seconds

A narrative box is present on the first page, giving the same information as the beginning of the TV episode. A farmer is tossing hay into his truck, when Raditz's pod flies down from space and crashes into the background. The farmer drives over to it, thinking it to be a meteor or UFO. Raditz emerges from the pod, cursing "Kakarrot" for not exterminating those on Earth. The farmer fires his rifle at him, but Raditz catches the bullet, and throws it back through the farmer's skull. Raditz's scouter indicates Piccolo's combat reading, and believes it to be Kakarrot. He flies off towards the source.

Filler Segment: 10 minutes 10 seconds

Gohan is lost in the woods, crying for his father, when a butterfly distracts him. Gohan playfully chases after it, and when it lands high on a tree he tries to climb up after it, but can't even get slightly off the ground. Giving up, he continues walking, when a saber-toothed tiger leaps out of the foliage. Gohan immediately plays dead, only to have the tiger steal his Dragon Ball hat and run away. Enraged, Gohan chases after him, screaming loudly. Fleeing from him, the tiger is just able to make a sharp turn that Gohan doesn't, resulting in Gohan promptly falling down a cliff. He is saved at the last moment by wrapping his tail around a branch at the very bottom. He continues walking and sniffling.

Goku is now in the area of the woods where Gohan saw the butterfly. He is calling for Gohan, who is now near a river, crying for his father and mother. He is then easily distracted (again), by a bird. He plays with the bird on a log, but then falls into the river. Goku comes across the tiger in the woods (wearing Gohan's hat), and he asks him where he found it. The tiger flees, leaving the hat behind. Gohan is riding the log down the river, frantically calling for his parents. Goku is riding his Kinto-Un overhead, calling for Gohan. He finally spots Gohan going down the river, and rushes to save him. The rapids, however, take Gohan under a cave with a waterfall at the end. Goku rushes around the cave to the other side to see only the log fall down the waterfall. Assuming his son also fell, he is about to dive to the bottom to find him, but he hears crying from above. Looking up, he sees Gohan holding onto a branch, high above the waterfall exit. The pair reunite, with neither being able to explain how Gohan got so high up. Goku returns the hat to his son.

We then see Raditz flying over a town, as he curses Kakarrot.

Canon Segment: 3 minutes 48 seconds

Piccolo is standing alone on a cliff, when Raditz descends in front of him. They banter for a bit. Piccolo is angry that someone would dare talk down to the Great Demon King, so he fires a small blast at the stranger. Raditz is unscathed. He is about to counterattack, when his scouter gets another high Sentô Ryoku ("Combat Power") reading. Flying straight up, he realizes it must be Kakarrot this time, and flies off in search of him. Piccolo collapses, almost paralyzed with fear. Raditz flies after this "Kakarrot," furious with him for not killing everyone on Earth. By not carrying out his mission, he has disgraced the pride of the Saiya.

Chapter 195 ends

Total canon time: 6 minutes 58 seconds
Total filler time: 13 minutes 10 seconds

DBZ Episode 001: ~65% Filler