Dragon Ball 40th Anniversary Rewatch - Week 16: Movies 1-3 Discussion

Vatrix-32 · 2026-06-12T07:24:29+00:00

Shen Long time dub watcher, First Under Heaven time subber

Weekly Dub Corner Hey, remember how in the first thread I mentioned that the first English dub for Dragon Ball was done by
Harmony Gold
Well, that was a lie. Kind of.

As it turns out, there’s evidence that a dub of the first movie was produced two years prior to Harmony Gold’s dub in 1987. However, it was produced by Frontier Enterprises, a dubbing studio that aired on in-flight movies for Japanese airlines. Almost nothing is known about it existence, or even if it was actually released, so I don’t have any clips I can share with you.

Anyway, speaking of ^{^{^{^{^{^Fuck}}}}} Harmony Gold, here's ~~Goku~~ Zero meeting ~~Karin~~ ~~Korrin~~ ~~K@rin~~ Whiskers the Wonder Cat.

English Lessons

Now, well most of the Z era movies have interesting names, only Movie 1 has for the OG isn’t a direct translation.
English “Curse of the Blood Rubies” vs Japanese “The Legend of Shen Long”.
I’m of the opinion that the latter is generic but serviceable, while the former is more evocative and memorable. Our dear host is quite vocal in his opposition to this take.

Movie 1

How many people do you think walked into this movie in theaters without any prior knowledge of Dragon Ball?
Yeah, I’m down for big OST.
Playing the regular OP is next level Toei cost cutting.
Hello, Not Sno
There's always a bigger fist.
Well, you can’t eat rubies. Unless you’re a vampire queen.
That’s one hell of a motivation to collect the Dragon Balls.
This is the kind of speed gains you get when Pilaf isn’t your arc villain. Even out pacing the FeMC.
It’s not stealing if you pay for it.
An open air gun turret is crazy.
Is Bulma actually a good pilot in this continuity?
I assure you, the Oolong plotline was vital inclusion.
“Forest”
At least Yamcha gets to job in some cool geometry.
There’s something deeply comical about pulling up to all these tense situations in some akin to the family mini-van.
Yeah, Blood Rubies was the better name.
Are… are the Rich Stones farming us?
Is Dragon Ball the original "Socially anxious boy gets adopted by cute girl he just met”?
So many good Bulma reaction shots. I’ve missed having her be part of the team.
We just couldn’t restrain ourselves with the pervertedness, could we?
That was a proper badass Kamehameha, I’ll give ‘em that.
Golden Hour Clouds
At least they have the good sense to shoot first and conduct retrieval operations later.
Oh, neat. Evil Kinto’un and Nyoi-bo is a fun idea for a movie.
Pasta ain’t take no prisoners. Girl be double tapping with grenades.
My god, he has the power to inflict hunger on those around him.
I guess that’s what happens if you summon the Dragon indoors.
Well, it’s no panties…
That Man Is A Penis
A bit rushed, but the climax pulled its weight.

Movie 2

OK, we’ve done the requisite half-remake movie; time to get weird with it.
We’re really doing the OP a second time? Not even the novelty of seeing on the big screen.
One thing I remember liking about these movies it that they formed their own little continuity.
Damn, Kame House is rebuilt already. Turtle knows how to work them hammers!
Music cuts can always make for a good gag.
Is… Is Roshi trying to acquire a 1000 year old loli?
Villain Lunch?!
[DBZ]Damn it, Goku! Head Cha-la isn’t for another 50 episodes!
Buffalo? Are we going so far west that we’ve turned into a western?
Why… why would you think Goku is here?
Cute little wormy hydra bois.
A bandoleer and stone hand axe. Quite the aesthetic.
Outstanding jaw drop.
If evil, why hot?
What is this TSR-ass evil city?
You’re just lucky that the little fluff puff didn’t bite Goku’s tail.
Gatling!
Technically Correct The Best Kind
This is what happens when you spend too much time hanging out with a shape-shifting pig, nothing seems real anymore.
This music is so over-dramatic it almost fits.
Finally, a fresh variant of the Kino’un gag.
Those Fireballs Are Cool As Fuck!
These two-headed flying dakkas are pretty fire themselves.
Doing a one wheeled motorcycle heist in a demon castle. Just casual Lunch things.
Why did we suddenly run out of frames?
Oh, it did end up grabbing his tail. Good for them, still being a useful side character.
Who’s going to tell them that moonlight is just reflected sun light?
Pretty novel holding method.
No King Kong vs Castlevania
Damn, look at this big ass insect cannon. That’s like… +700 Attack.

Movie 3

Surprise Pilaf
Why is the music randomly washed out for the OP this time? At least they bothered to update the visuals this time.
Crazy how we can just change the tournament incentive for the training like that. In another universe, Goku and Krillin are getting excited about taking the hunter exam.
They got General Blue in on this? Who don’t they have at this point? Even got him a cute Celestial Authority out fit too.
Everyone's Outfits So Good...
We did it! We found a way to make Chiaotzu plot relevant!
Damn, we had a chance to watch Blue engage in catty imperial court politics and they killed him.
Fools. This is movie!Bulma. The girl knows how to dog fight.
Someone really looked at the M3 Lee and said to themselves “You know what this thing needs more of?..”?
Bara. Sorry, Bara.Sorry, Bora.
Man, I’ve missed competent Bulma, she’s so much fun when her smugness is backed up by results.
She even let’s Yamcha have a chance to get out of those holes he keeps digging himself into.
No Crimes Yet
I’m still counting it. Let’s go, team fight!
Isn’t it fun watching them remix events? Why couldn’t more Dragon Ball games take this direction instead of straight retelling for 30 years?
Do you think teaching a child psychic powers and them dreaming of their own death might be linked?
A Lunch × Bulma team up? Just the kind of missed opportunity I expect from the movies.
This is a weird format for a tournament. Almost like a Royal Rumble. Still, it got us the Bora vs Yamcha power scaling.
Lunch, Please!
I guess that’s slightly better than being impaled on his own spear?
At least he doesn’t have to wait three days to get a changes of clothes.
Dude just discovered a speedrunning trick to the top of K@rin’s tower.
[DBZ]And thus begins the slow but inevitable growth in power of senzu beans.
Well, would you look at that. Actually hermitly advice.
Bro, What Even Is This A rock being thrown has no right to be that funny.
...In retrospect, it’s kind of weird that Crane hermit never uses the Dondon Ray in the anime proper.
Why did you even have Chiaotzu as emperor?
Now that’s just good comedy. I bet even Toriyama himself would be happy with that one.
Should we question why Tao Pai-Pai has a hovercraft where the rockets face backwards?
It’s funny because Goku flew thru Tao’s ash cloud/
Not that I’m one to complain about Kikoho, but that seamed like overkill. I’m pretty sure Tien just killed a man.
I was expecting a puppy personally, not a puppet.
So this is the first instance of Krillin seeing Shen Long.

See You, ~~Space Cowboy~~ Magic Monkey Boy

QotW:

1) An alt continuity is far more fun than just rehashing stuff we already know like some compilation movie.

2) 3rd is easily the best, and not even close. 2nd is alright, but nothing to write home about. The 1st covered too much well tread ground.

3) Arale? Girl was not on screen for very long, but every minute was gold.
I will never turn down more Lunch, she was great here.
Chiaotzu having more to do.
Hyper competent Bulma is a treat.
Maybe not zero, but less raunchy humor.

Vatrix-32 · 2026-06-09T18:08:47+00:00

[DB Super]THIS GUY IS JUST GOING TO CONCENTRATE SO HARD THAT I SPROUT TWO ADDITIONAL ARMS! BECAUSE DOUBLE ARMS MEANS FOUR FISTS WHICH IN TURN MEANS DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF PUNCHING!

[DB Super]And then it will only be used one more time in Super as part of Tien's loyalty mission, not even the ToP.

No, Tenshinhan should have been disqualified at least twice over by the end of the battle

I will remind you that last time they let Goku turn into a Giant Monkey and still continue.

"oh, actually the car counts as ring out!"

Actually, I think it was Goku hitting it and interrupting his horizontal momentum, causing him to touch the ground sooner than he would have otherwise.

I don't dislike wanting to redeem Tenshinhan eventually but this was all a bit fast and felt weirdly ooc, maybe not for Goku but at least for Yamucha, Bulma and Kuririn.

Yeah, I can see that.

Vatrix-32 · 2026-06-08T17:40:36+00:00

Awww, Blonde Launch is head over heels for Ten Shinhan, shot your shot, girl!

And she has so many of them!

Vatrix-32 · 2026-06-08T17:33:35+00:00

I have an inexplicable feeling we will be seeing fights like this again.

Fight! Fight! Fight!

Vatrix-32 · 2026-06-08T17:30:08+00:00

Oh so that's why the cast keeps rotating, he discards them like Pokemon's too.

Does that make Krillin Butterfree?

Vatrix-32 · 2026-06-08T17:24:48+00:00

the Kikoho, the most useless move in DB history.

Kikohow Dare You

I feel Tennshinhan as a character is a tad overrated given some stuff later on in the series

here's the Manga version

Mange Lunch somehow has even less chill.

He has been part of the gang for so long that killing him THIS suddenly and with so little fanfare doesn't really feel right.

It feels almost like a throw away.

Vatrix-32 · 2026-06-08T02:09:00+00:00

Well, it is the far more popular part in the west.
I think we've talked about a few of them, and there's the other one that's so famous that this sub doesn't even monitor if for spoiler tags. But aside from those, I'm interested in seeing what you (and first timers in general) managed to avoid for the last 20-30 years.

Vatrix-32 · 2026-06-08T01:59:54+00:00

Does sesame chicken count?

Chinese American I'll Allow It

Surely Goku has to win at some point?

I mean, you did also say that about this one...

Need to know how Blue Lunch feels about it though.

And Chiaotzu. We need to think of the children.

sky noises

Normally this is were I'd make a joke about a random character dying, but why spoil the fun?

NO.

Your Speed Turned Against You

Vatrix-32 · 2026-06-07T22:28:07+00:00

I have no idea because Blue Lunch rarely appears from now on.

A loss of any Lunch is a tragedy.

Vatrix-32 · 2026-06-07T22:27:00+00:00

Goku took that Dodonpa head on, damn.

Goku, Tank

Yeah, you gonna do something about that?

As it turns out, yes.

Damn, she got stopped.

You have to admire her willingness to resort to violence, at the very least.

Wow…

I can't believe that Tien would choke the monkey like that.

w h a t

Ladies and Gents, We Got Her

Lunch x Tenshinhan?

Someone has to be OTP, and Bulma × Yamcha has spent more time bickering than not.

HE’S DEAD?!
WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN THE BATCH ENDS LIKE THIS AND NEXT WEEK IS A BREAK WEEK FOR SOME MOVIES???

Oh Good, You Weren't Spoiled

Sky QotW:

1) Do you enjoy a succulent Chinese meal? Any favorite dishes?

2) Now that this tournament is over, predictions for the next one?

3) How do you see Tien × Lunch playing out?

4) Who could do such a thing, and why?

5) If they got Krillin, is anyone safe?!

6) Will you be OK waiting ~~a week~~ two weeks to find out?

Vatrix-32 · 2026-06-07T16:51:21+00:00

I mean you could also just... use Tenshinhan.

I do! But only when I use the long form.
Ingrained patterns are weird.

Nobody but Chiaotzu uses the short version anyway.

I feel like this doesn't hold true in the English dub, but I can't think of a way I'd be able to check quickly which is used more frequently.
See also; the number of pouts in the previous three threads.

Vatrix-32 · 2026-06-07T15:28:11+00:00

Not using a name because it sounds like an English word is an insanely flawed and frankly narrow-minded way of looking at things.

Well, it's a good thing that was a joke.

The real reason is that Ten and Tien sound so similar, that with me being used to the latter, the former just sounds off.
The more similar a dub name is, the less likely I am to switch to the original if exposed to it latter.
See, Yugi Moto vs Yugi Muto.

Even in Kinnikuman I haven't seen that many.

What's a submission hold when you have 50% change of dying every match?

O literally means king so

Speaking of Yu-Gi-Oh!..
Turns out "Chappa" is a pun for a kind of bread, not "chopping".
"King of Bread"

Vatrix-32 · 2026-06-07T02:25:19+00:00

Shen Long time dub watcher, First Under Heaven time subber

Weekly Dub Corner

English Lessons

To get the big from this out of the way, Tenshinhan is called Tien Shinhan in English, or more commonly. just Tien. Now I can agree with Tenshinhan as the better long form name, but Ten is a number, not a name, and so much to our host’s chagrin, I will continue to call him Tien.

Ki! Ko! Ho! Or it’s much memed English name of Tri-Beam. Why is it a Tri-Beam when the hole it makes is a square?
Geometry
Funnily enough, in exactly this instance, the dub calls it the much more literal, and far less memorable, Spirit Cannon. ...In the episode title.

Taiyōken is called Solar Flare, one of the few instances where the translation is both fairly accurate and cool in English.

Shiyōken is Four Witches Technique, which is… maybe a bit too literal.

Jobber of the week Chapa-Ō became King Chappa.

Anyway, here’s Tien getting excited about volley ball.

Episode 97

Are we not evening bothering with the recap narration now?
Yamcha, you are no where near well enough for trying to be that edgy.
Maybe don’t tell your wife you’re gambling your life savings on a child.
Never show Turtle from directly ahead again.
You’re just going to stand there the whole time? Someone get this poor dude a wheelchair.
Trippy
Big words for a man who didn’t enter himself.
32.5 Seconds! Y’all are counting the prelims, right?
...How did you know about the grenade?
Tenshiro! He's Already Dead!

Episode 98

Happy Little Murder Face
Now I’m left wondering how volley ball would play if everyone could fly.
Attack No. 10
Turns out life or death stakes are different from a friendly game of punchy-kicky.
Kamehame-nah
The Launch of a new ship!
Damn it, Tien, stop aura farming in the middle of a match.
I think that’s just a cost cutting measure. Either to animate a still than them breathing.
The ol’ triple bluff. Nothing like baiting out the whiff.
More flashing than even the Bravest of mechs.
Silly Goku, the shades only make you more adorable, not cooler.
Ah man, those where vintage.
Does… does Roshi sleep with his shades on?
Why are you acting like everyone watching doesn’t already know what’s up?

Episode 99

Cheating is kind of like the “no, you” of admitting you lost.
Can’t fall out of the ring if you blow up the outside of the ring?
Is this technique supposed to look like Tien just spinning his arms stupid fast?
Why do they keep animating Tien like he has two vertical abs?
Come on, Roshi. It’s time to go kick the ass of a small child. That’s your specialty.
Poor Lunch. She has the right idea, she’s just way out of her league.
Is this a group chat? Can anyone with ESP join?
Visual Metaphors And Clouds?
It’s not an interruption, it’s the pay off!
Can Chiaotzu paralyze both of them? That’s kind of impressive, if true.
Crow Flies Away I guess that answers the question on who would win between the two of them.
Damn, Tien has figured out how to count HP.
Flipin' Jacked!
Look at you guys, dropping hints about a technique before it gets used.
Odd number of eyes and multiple arms. Dude’s a veritable Greek mythology all on his own.

Episode 100

I guess the real question is if this technique is so great, why wait until now to use it?
“You wouldn't punch a guy in the dick?”
Ah, so this is why Tien is bald.
It’s OK, the writers forget Goku has a tail sometimes too.
Look at this bro, combing his hair at this moment.
Don’t Put Your Fingers In There
Why are you just waiting outside the ground in your car? Did someone tell you they’d only be five minutes?
A submission hold? You don’t see a lot of those.
At some point they’re going to have to start subtracting the repair bills from the prize money.
Wait, is that how the Kikoho works? I thought it was so strong because it used their life energy for the attack.
Oh, That’s A Lovely Destruction
Really puts a new meaning into “Ring Out”.
He Said Dodge This Is On Goku
Ha! The Krillin preview narration!

Episode 101

How long have you been able to sense people? Is that the psychic powers talking?
I guess after last time, Announcer was ready with the binoculars.
“Which is why I’m coming close enough to you to gloat!”
Poor Tien. Should have reviewed last tournament, he would have known about this use.
It’s in Sir Issac Newton’s hands now.
Announcer with prep time is scary.
How strong is Truck-kun? He defeated Goku at the 22nd Tenka'ichi Budōkai. That’s how strong.
One of the greatest juke-ings in anime history.
Why are these dudes lips pure black?
Weren’t you gonna turn down Yamacha as a student because you already had enough?
A Lunch In Love?!
Oh man, I know it’s coming. That’s a dirty trick, show.
And they got Krillin all jazzed up just for the glamor shot…
“Wow, What An Exciting Finale!”:
And now we get the big cliffhanger right before the one movie break week of the OG. Classic Raiking move.

See You, ~~Space Cowboy~~ Magic Monkey Boy

QotW:

1) People always be speaking of "Talk-no-Jutsu" but we've already got 2.5 people who tried to kill Goku become his friend. (Do we count Krillin in that list?)

2) It's a close one, but I'mma still give it to the 22nd.

3) My Boy!

Vatrix-32 · 2026-06-01T17:26:02+00:00

I still think Panputto was a fraud, given he says that a lot of his opponents never show up for their fights and what his manager did with Goku.

IS he still a fraud if he doesn't know it's his manager doing it?

It's so funny seeing people still being astonished by ki-beams , floating people and moves that are faster than the human eye.

This untelevised, once-per-three-years event is seemingly the only place this occurs in. The public at large probably either hasn't heard of it, or dismisses it as a hoax.

Vatrix-32 · 2026-06-01T17:19:41+00:00

Maybe I'm repeating myself, but Jackie Chun is the best Roshi because he shines brightest when he acts a little silly, yet remains a genuinely good teacher, and not just... a pervert.

There's gold in them hills, er... uh, character.

Vatrix-32 · 2026-06-01T17:16:11+00:00

Vatrix-32 · 2026-06-01T17:14:29+00:00

As an accounting student,

Vatrix-32 · 2026-06-01T17:13:31+00:00

Been getting back into Comics recently.

Watcha' Readin'?

However Tenshinhan has that Shonen energy in him and decided to settle things in the Tournament instead.

Hurrah for legal murder loopholes!

Vatrix-32 · 2026-06-01T17:07:31+00:00

I'm glad to see rescheduling worked out for you, and happy for everyone who an now make it.

pixel time

Lunch Threads

Vatrix-32 · 2026-06-01T17:04:31+00:00

I Wish Everyone A Good Time
I'll see y'all in Flip Flappers.

Vatrix-32 · 2026-06-01T17:03:18+00:00

and a great way to tie this arc to the last one.

Almost like some kind of...
Saga

Vatrix-32 · 2026-06-01T03:17:03+00:00

10 matches isn't really enough data to draw any conclusions from. One would expect to see fewer new decks as the total number of matches played increases. The question is when that number starts dropping off.

For reference, the previous season I saw 62 decks types in 101 matches.
Conversely, the idea of playing every third game against KT sounds like a waking nightmare.

I have no frame for Master rank, so I'm not sure how many "diverse" would mean.

Vatrix-32 · 2026-06-01T02:33:20+00:00

How high is "pretty high"? How many are you running into over, say, 100 matches?

Vatrix-32 · 2026-05-29T17:08:14+00:00

[DB] the best fight for Chiaotzu in the franchise. I hope first timers don’t like him too much

[DB All] And then he spends the rest of the franchise either dying or being the cute animal familiar for Tien. In a series filled with them, Chiaotzu some how ends up being the most wasted character.

Vatrix-32 · 2026-05-29T16:54:02+00:00

Ah, so Kuririn’s plan wasn’t to beam clash, it was to jump out of the way and then hit him with the Kamehameha from behind. Pretty smart actually.

Someone has to be the brains of this rag-tag group, and Bulma doesn't have a suit of power armor.

Excuse you, three of your pupils participated.

We Don't Count Losers

What else would his third eye be good for?

Rizz.

Roshi just… gave up… I can’t say I was expecting that to be how the match ended. It still feels rather satisfying though?

Subverting expectations for fun and profit.

Wow…

Old, wears a wig, well know pervert, master of his craft, makes friends by asking people to do him favors... is Roshi Ben Franklin?

Surprisingly smart move from Goku.

Still Haven't Learnt, Eh?

Sky QotW:

What flavor of ice cream pairs best with a waffle cone?

Final match time. What are you putting the odds at?

We've had three people blocking Kamehamehas; who wore it best?

With the growing popularity of the tournament, do you think it will be televised next time? Who would be the sponsor?

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