GENERAL INFO
· Feature
· Podcast
· Tidbits
· Reviews
· Ask Archives
· Links
 
GUIDES
· Newbie Guide
· Music Database
· DVD Guide
· Movie Guide
· Episode Guide
· Filler Guide
· Manga Reference
· Transformations
· Rumor Guide
· DBZ AMV Guide
 
MULTIMEDIA
· Music
· Video
· Music Videos
· Lyrics
· Images
 
INTERACTION
· Message Board
· Chat
· Contests
· Contact
· Donate
 

  Daizenshuu EX - Guides - Movie Guide - DragonBall Z Movie # 3  
     
 

DragonBall Z Movie # 3

"Chikyû Marugoto Chô-Kessen"
("Super Deciding Battle for the Entire Planet Earth")

"The Tree of Might"

 

Basic Synopsis

Oolong, Kuririn, Bulma, and young Gohan are on a camping trip when a spy satellite crashes into the forest and starts a raging fire. Kuririn and Gohan battle to put out the blaze, then gather the Dragon Balls to wish for the forest to be restored. One of the animals they save is "Haiya Dragon," who follows Gohan home to become his pet. The two of them (and Goku) play together and have a lot of fun, but Chi-Chi wants the dragon sent back to its mountain so it'll stop disrupting Gohan's studies.

Meanwhile, a Saiyan fighter, Tullece, and his minions are scouting Earth to locate Kakarrot. Tullece wants Kakarrot and/or Gohan to join him to go trash planets (Tullece is presumably still working under Freeza at this point, although comments from him and his crew lead us to believe they're ready to rebel against Freeza, just as Bardock and King Vegeta had done... and failed). The minions plant a seed for an energy-eating tree ("Shinseijû," or "Tree of Godly Might," which is described by Kaiô-sama as a tree that bears fruits for the gods) near the restored forest -- Tullece plans on eating the fruit of the tree to get a "power up." The tree grows quickly and threatens to destroy Earth. Kaio-sama alerts Goku to the danger, and everyone (Chi-Chi prevents Gohan from joining in, but Haiya Dragon kidnaps the boy to take him to the battle) goes to fight Tullece. Piccolo joins in to save Gohan, but the demon still plans on killing Goku later on. Goku denies his Saiyan heritage, claiming that he's happy to have been hit on the head as a child, rather than growing up to be like Tullece. There's a major battle, and Goku uses a Genki Dama to kill Tullece and destroy the tree. Afterwards, the Genki Dama breaks up, and the lifeforce energy repairs the damage from the tree.

[ paraphrased synopsis courtesy Curtis Hoffman's movie descriptions ]

 

Special Notes

DBZ Movie Three is the only time in a DBZ movie where the opening theme ("CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA") had completely new animation produced for it. It showcases the DragonBall gang searching for the Dragon Balls and gathering them together.

This movie had a very special release in North America. It originally premiered on television during season two of the dub's original run in syndication. When dub episode # 35 ("Immortality Denied") ended, we all presumed that the next regular episode would follow it (during season two's original run, DBZ was on for a full hour in the morning: two episodes, one after another). What happened, however, was the premiere of DBZ movie three, which was split into three parts (part one played 15 November 1997, while parts two and three played the following week, 22 November). No indication was made that the movie was a special presentation, not part of the regular continuity... even that it was a movie!

This original dub of the movie was held up to the same "standards" as the TV series at the time, being distributed by Saban Entertainment. Dialogue was heavily censored (and often completely changed), visuals (such as Tullece holding Gohan's eyes open so he could see the light of the Power Ball) were digitally edited out or covered up, etc. The Ocean Group was still being used at this point, and the movie marked the last time fans would hear Ian Corlett voice Goku (as well as Kame-Sen'nin).

When FUNimation began the dubbing of the DBZ movies in 1997, this movie was completely redubbed, and was released both dubbed and subtitled on VHS, LaserDisc, and DVD à la Movies One and Two. This version was completely uncut, and featured a very accurate dub script, and even the original music score. Peter Kelamis took over as Goku (as he had done in the TV series as well), and Dave Ward took over to voice Kame-Sen'nin. A new voice was heard for Oolong, as well, but other than these changes, the entire Ocean Group cast remained as-is (for the first two movies, as well). Note that this movie was released BEFORE Movie Two in North America, for some reason, but it is indeed Movie Three.

 

Release / General Information

Japanese Premiere Date: 7 July 1990
Japanese Premiere Location: Toei Anime Fair; Akira Toriyama - The World
Japanese Availability: VHS
LaserDisc
Domestic Broadcast Dates: 15 November 1997 (Part 1)
22 November 1997 (Parts 2 + 3)
Domestic Release Date: 17 March 1998
Domestic Availability: VHS (English Dubbed, Uncut)
VHS (Japanese Lan., English Subtitled, Uncut)
LaserDisc (Hybrid English / Japanese, Uncut)
DVD (Hybrid English / Japanese, Uncut)
Opening Theme : "CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA"
[ Lyrics ]
Ending Theme: "Marugoto"
("The Whole World")
[ Lyrics ]

 

Main Staff

Executive Producer: Chiaki Imada
Tamio Kojima (Shueisha)
Original Story: Akira Toriyama (Weekly Shônen Jump Serialization)
Planning: Kôzo Morishita
Kenji Shimizu (Fuji TV)
Weekly Shônen Jump
Production Supervisor: Kazumasa Horikawa
Matsuji Kishimoto
Screenplay: Takao Koyama
Background Music: Shunsuke Kikuchi
Art Direction: Yûji Ikeda
Animation Director Minoru Maeda
Director: Daisuke Nishio

 

Principal Cast

Son Goku: Masako Nozawa Ian James Corlett (TV)
Peter Kelamis (VHS/DVD)
Son Gohan: Masako Nozawa Saffron Henderson
Yamcha: Tôru Furuya Ted Cole
Tenshinhan: Hirotaka Suzuoki Matt Smith
Chiao-tzu: Hiroko Emori Cathy Weseluck
Kuririn: Mayumi Tanaka Terry Klassen
Piccolo: Toshio Furukawa Scott McNeil
Kame-Sen'nin: Kôhei Miyauchi Ian James Corlett (TV)
Dave Ward (VHS/DVD)
Bulma: Hiromi Tsuru Lalainia Lindbjerg
Chi-Chi: Mayumi Shô Laara Sadiq
Oolong: Naoki Tatsuta Doug Parker (TV)
? (VHS/DVD)
Pu'er: Naoko Watanabe Cathy Weseluck
Kaiô-sama: Jôji Yanami Don Brown
Shenlong: Kenji Utsumi  
Rezun: Kenji Utsumi Ward Perry
Rakasei: Masaharu Satô Don Brown
Daîzu: Yûji Machi Scott McNeil
Cacao: Nobuo Satouchi Don Brown
Amond: Banjô Ginga Alec Willows
Tullece: Masako Nozawa Ted Cole
Narration: Jôji Yanami Doc Harris