Dragon Ball Z Kai, known in Japan as Dragon Ball Kai (lit. "Dragon Ball Revised"), is a Japanese anime series that is a high-definition remastered and recut version of Dragon Ball Z, created for its 20th Anniversary. The series premiered on Fuji TV on April 5, 2009 and ended on March 27, 2011 with 97 episodes aired (with a 98th released direct-to-video). There were initially no plans for Dragon Ball Kai to reach the Majin Buu Saga, but the series returned to Japanese TV from April 6, 2014 to June 28, 2015 and the Majin Buu Saga brought the total episode count to 159 (167 for the international versions).
Funimation Entertainment licensed the series for an English dub release with most of the same cast as their in-house dub of Dragon Ball Z, except for a few re-casts for various reasons. The series aired on Adult Swim's Toonami block from November 8, 2014 to June 23, 2018.[1] The series returned to Toonami for a second run from September 29, 2018[2] to December 15, 2018, and later for one night only on April 11, 2020 as a 3.5-hour marathon.[3] The series returned to Toonami yet again on February 24, 2024, and aired a marathon of the first 8 episodes on March 16 following the passing of Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama. DBZ Kai has also been included in the Toonami Rewind line-up, which began on May 31, 2024.
The series is rated TV-PG-DLV and TV-14-LV on Adult Swim.
Plot[]
Five years after the events of Dragon Ball, now a young adult and father to son Gohan, Goku meets his older brother Raditz, who reveals to him that they are members of a nearly extinct extraterrestrial race called the Saiyans. The Saiyans had sent Goku (originally named "Kakarot") to Earth as an infant to conquer the planet for them, but he suffered a head injury soon after his arrival and lost all memory of his mission, as well as his blood-thirsty Saiyan nature. Goku refuses to help Raditz continue the mission and must form alliance with Piccolo, and sacrifice his life, in order to defeat him. However, Goku is revived a year later by the Dragon Balls, after training in the Other World with King Kai, in order to save the Earth from the Saiyan prince Vegeta. However, in the battle Yamcha, Chiaotzu, Tien and Piccolo are killed. Due to Piccolo being one with Kami, the Dragon Balls no longer exist, resulting in Gohan, Krillin and Bulma traveling to Piccolo and Kami's home planet, Namek, in order to use the balls there to revive their friends. However, the galactic tyrant Frieza is already there doing the same, leading to several battles with his minions and Vegeta, the latter of which teams up with Gohan and Krillin to fight the Ginyu Force. After Goku arrives on Namek, the final epic battle with Frieza himself comes to a close after Goku transforms into a legendary Super Saiyan and avenges the lives of billions across the galaxy.
Later story arcs of the series involve Goku and his allies defending Earth from the threats of newer enemies that include the bio-android Cell and the magical creature Majin Buu.
Characters[]
.png "Gohan (Namek).png (346 KB)")
.jpg "Gohan (old).jpg (59 KB)")
.jpg "Trunks (future).jpg (170 KB)")
.png "Gotenks (Fusion Reborn).png (473 KB)")
Differences from the original[]
Dragon Ball Z Kai features remastered high definition picture, sound, and special effects as well as a re-recorded voice track by most of the original cast (from both the Japanese and English dub casts). The English dub by Funimation also features a more faithful adaptation of the Japanese dialogue than their previous dub of Dragon Ball Z.
As most of the series' sketches and animation cels had been discarded after the final episode of Dragon Ball Z in 1996, new frames were produced by digitally tracing over still frames from existing footage and filling them with softer colors. This reduced visible damage to the original animation. Some frames were selectively cropped, while other frames feature new portions added to scenes that were hand drawn to conform to the designated picture ratio.
Much of the filler material from the Dragon Ball Z anime that was not featured in the Dragon Ball manga has been left out in Kai, which significantly reduced the total episode count.
English dub re-casts[]
| Previous Voice Actor | Character(s) | New Voice Actor |
|---|---|---|
| Kyle Hebert | Narrator | Doc Morgan |
| Stephanie Nadolny | Kid Gohan Baby Trunks Baby/Kid Goku (flashbacks) |
Colleen Clinkenbeard |
| Tiffany Vollmer | Bulma | Monica Rial |
| Christopher R. Sabat | Mr. Popo Turtle |
Chris Cason |
| Zarbon | J. Michael Tatum | |
| Moori | Barry Yandell | |
| Grand Elder Guru | Bill Jenkins | |
| Burter | Vic Mignogna | |
| Jeice | Jason Liebrecht | |
| Monika Antonelli | Chiaotzu Puar |
Brina Palencia |
| Brad Jackson | Oolong (pre-Majin Buu Saga only) | Bryan Massey |
| King Cold | Jason Douglas | |
| Linda Young | Frieza (barring episode 1) | Chris Ayres |
| Chris Forbis | Dodoria | John Swasey |
| Dr. Brief | Mark Stoddard | |
| Laura Bailey | Kid Dende | Maxey Whitehead |
| Bill Townsley | Guldo | Greg Ayres |
| Brice Armstrong | Captain Ginyu | R. Bruce Elliott |
| Phillip Wilburn | Android 19 | Todd Haberkorn |
| Meredith McCoy | Android 18 | Colleen Clinkenbeard |
| Melodee Lenz | Marron | Tia Ballard |
| Susan Huber | Pan | Elise Baughman |
| Megan Woodall | Bulla | Lauren Landa |
- Several minor characters' voices have also been re-cast by Funimation.
Gallery[]
Episodes[]
| Color | Saga | Episodes | Toonami Premiere | Toonami Finale |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saiyan Saga | 18 | November 8, 2014 | April 4, 2015 | |
| Frieza Saga | 36 | April 11, 2015 | January 23, 2016 | |
| Android Saga | 25 | January 30, 2016 | July 23, 2016 | |
| Cell Saga | 19 | July 30, 2016 | December 17, 2016 | |
| Majin Buu Saga | 42 | January 7, 2017 | November 18, 2017 | |
| Evil Buu Saga | 27 | December 2, 2017 | June 23, 2018 |
Broadcast History[]
The series premiered in Japan on Fuji TV on April 5, 2009 and initially ended with the Cell Saga on March 27, 2011, with the final episode unaired and later released direct-to-video due to the Tōhoku offshore earthquake and tsunami. The Majin Buu Saga premiered on Fuji TV from April 6, 2014 to June 28, 2015. The series originally aired in the U.S. on Nicktoons from May 24, 2010 to January 1, 2012, in an edited format.[4] The series also aired on The CW's Toonzai block (later renamed Vortexx) from August 14, 2010 to September 27, 2014, in an even more edited format.[5]
DBZ Kai began airing uncut on Adult Swim's Toonami block on November 8, 2014.[1] From February 21, 2015 to June 25, 2016, a rerun of the previous week's episode could also be seen each Saturday at 8:00 PM on the regular Adult Swim block.
The Majin Buu Saga of DBZ Kai made its U.S. debut on Adult Swim's Toonami, airing from January 7, 2017 to June 23, 2018 under the title Dragon Ball Z Kai: The Final Chapters (airing concurrent with Funimation's dub of Dragon Ball Super).[6]
Reruns of the series returned to Toonami from September 29, 2018 to December 15, 2018 at 9:00 PM,[2] and continued to air on Saturday nights at 8:00 PM on the regular Adult Swim block until September 28, 2019. It returned to Adult Swim once again from April 22, 2019 to May 31, 2019, airing at 5:30 AM, and return yet again on September 30, 2019 to April 17, 2020 at 5:30 AM. and back to back on April 20-24, 2020 5 AM-6 AM. It returned to Adult Swim once again from January 4-25, 2020, airing at 8:00 PM, and returned yet again on March 14, 2020 in a back-to-back episode format, airing at 8 and 8:30 PM. Reruns of the series returned to Toonami for one night only from 11:30 PM-3:00 AM on April 11, 2020 for a 3 and a half hour marathon.
- Japan (Fuji TV) — April 5, 2009[7] - March 27, 2011; April 6, 2014[8] - June 28, 2015
- United States (Nicktoons) — May 24, 2010[4] - April 13, 2013[9]
- United States (The CW) — August 14, 2010[5] - September 27, 2014[10]
- United States (Adult Swim) — November 8, 2014[1] - June 23, 2018; September 29, 2018[2] - September 28, 2019; January 4, 2020 - January 25, 2020; March 14, 2020 - August 8, 2020; February 24, 2024 - present
- United Kingdom (Kix!) — December 26-28, 2012[11]; January 5, 2013[12] - 2014
- Asia (Toonami) — December 1, 2012[13] - March 31, 2018[14]
Toonami Broadcast History[]
In Southeast Asia, Dragon Ball Z Kai was one of the original series aired on Toonami Asia on December 1, 2012[15] and was a mainstay on the channel until it ceased function on March 31, 2018.[16]
In the United States, Dragon Ball Z Kai began airing uncut on Adult Swim's Toonami block on November 8, 2014 at 12:00 AM, replacing Bleach in the lineup.[1] The series moved to the 11:30 PM time slot on July 29, 2017 upon the premiere of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders and on December 2, 2017, the series moved to the 11:00 PM time slot upon the premiere of Black Clover.[17][18] After completing its run on June 23, 2018, the series was replaced in the lineup by Pop Team Epic the following week.[19]
When the block was extended to start at 9:00 PM on September 29, 2018, reruns of Dragon Ball Z Kai kicked off the lineup at that time, until December 15, 2018, when Toonami lost the 9-11 PM slot.[2] Reruns of the series returned to Toonami for one night only from 11:30 PM to 3:00 AM on April 11, 2020, for the DBZ Kai Cell Games Marathon.[3]
After being off the lineup for four years, Dragon Ball Z Kai returned to Toonami on February 24, 2024 at 2:30 AM, replacing IGPX. On March 16, 2024, as a tribute to the late Akira Toriyama (who passed away on March 1), Toonami aired a four-hour Dragon Ball Z Kai marathon from 2:00 AM to 6:00 AM, extending the lineup for one night only and pre-empting One Piece and Naruto: Shippuden, and moving the subtitled episode of Ninja Kamui to 1:30 AM for one night only. On May 25, 2024, when Demon Slayer repeats were added to the end of the block, Dragon Ball Z Kai moved to the 2:00 AM slot.
Dragon Ball Z Kai also started airing as one of the launch shows for Toonami Rewind, airing two back-to-back episodes at 5:30 PM and 6:00 PM on May 31, 2024. Starting July 19, 2024, Dragon Ball Z Kai was cut down to one airing on Rewind to make room a second airing of Sailor Moon, with it now airing at 6:30 PM, swapping slots with Naruto. From December 6, 2024 to December 27, 2024, for the final four weeks of Toonami Rewind, Dragon Ball Z Kai aired marathons that encompassed the whole block, replacing Sailor Moon and Naruto entirely.
On the main Toonami block, a second airing of Dragon Ball Z Kai was added to the 2:30 AM slot on December 7, 2024, replacing My Hero Academia. This lasted for two weeks until the show was pre-empted for marathons of Mashle: Magic and Muscles and Rick and Morty: The Anime. On January 4, 2025, the show only aired in its 2:30 AM slot, the earlier airing being pre-empted for an Uzumaki marathon. Starting January 11, 2025, Naruto moved into the 2:30 AM slot, reducing Dragon Ball Z Kai to only one airing at 2:00 AM.
- Toonami (Asia) — December 1, 2012[15] - March 31, 2018[16]
- Toonami (United States) — November 8, 2014[1] - June 23, 2018; September 29, 2018[2] - December 15, 2018; April 11, 2020[3]; February 24, 2024 - present
Toonami Marathons[]
The following is a list of Toonami marathons in which at least one episode of Dragon Ball Z Kai appeared.
- DBZ-Athon (July 4, 2015)
- DBZ Kai Marathon (December 19, 2015)
- DBZ Kai Marathon (December 31, 2016)
- DBZ Kai Power Hour (May 21, 2016)
- DBZ Kai Marathon (September 2, 2017)
- DBZ Kai Marathon (November 25, 2017)
- DBZ Kai: Cell Saga Marathon (April 11, 2020)
- DBZ Kai: Akira Toriyama (1955-2024) (March 16, 2024)
External Links[]
See Also[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "11/8 TOONAMI LINE UP ANNOUNCEMENT ". toonami.tumblr.com. October 24, 2014. http://toonami.tumblr.com/post/100836673118/11-8-toonami-line-up-announcement. Retrieved on October 25, 2014.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 "Toonami’s starting earlier and giving you even more! ". facebook.com/Toonami. September 11, 2018. https://www.facebook.com/Toonami/photos/a.1442483259375850/2003721813251989/?type=3&theater. Retrieved on September 11, 2018.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "To help you all get through staying at home ". facebook.com/TOONAMI. March 26, 2020. https://www.facebook.com/Toonami/photos/a.1442483259375850/2392726284351538/. Retrieved on March 26, 2020.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 ""Top-Ranked Nickelodeon Announces Its 2010-11 Season Programming Slate at Annual Upfront Presentation" ". animenewsnetwork.com. March 11, 2010. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2010-03-11/top-ranked-nickelodeon-announces-its-2010-11-season-programming-slate-at-annual-upfront-presentation. Retrieved on May 24, 2014.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 ""Dragon Ball Z Kai to Air on TheCW4Kids on Saturdays" ". animenewsnetwork.com. April 26, 2010. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-04-26/dragon-ball-z-kai-to-air-on-thecw4kids-on-saturdays. Retrieved on May 24, 2014.
- ↑ "Dragon Ball Z Kai's Buu Saga to Air on Toonami ". . December 7, 2016. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-12-07/dragon-ball-z-kai-buu-saga-to-air-on-toonami/.109619. Retrieved on December 8, 2016.
- ↑ "Japan's Remastered DBZ to Be Called Dragon Ball Kai ". animenewsnetwork.com. February 19, 2009. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-02-19/japan-remastered-dbz-to-be-called-dragon-ball-kai. Retrieved on May 6, 2016.
- ↑ "New Dragon Ball Z Kai Anime Series to Premiere on April 6 ". animenewsnetwork.com. February 17, 2014. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-02-17/new-dragon-ball-kai-anime-to-premiere-on-april-6. Retrieved on May 6, 2016.
- ↑ "Dragon Ball Z Kai, GT Removed from Nicktoons Schedule ". animenewsnetwork.com. April 17, 2013. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-04-17/dragon-ball-z-kai-gt-removed-from-nicktoons-schedule. Retrieved on May 6, 2016.
- ↑ Sullivan, Gail (September 30, 2014). "Saturday morning cartoons are no more ". washingtonpost.com. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/09/30/saturday-morning-cartoons-are-no-more/. Retrieved on May 6, 2016.
- ↑ "Dragon Ball Z Kai TV Screenings on Kix! December 26 to 28 ". animenewsnetwork.com. December 24, 2012. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-12-24/dragon-ball-z-kai-tv-screenings-on-kix-december-26-to-28. Retrieved on May 6, 2016.
- ↑ "Dragon Ball Z Kai Begins on Kix! on Saturday ". animenewsnetwork.com. January 2, 2013. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-01-02/dragon-ball-z-kai-begins-on-kix-on-saturday. Retrieved on May 6, 2016.
- ↑ Dickson, Jeremy (November 27, 2012). "Toonami and Cartoonist to bow in Asia December 1 ". kidscreen.com. http://kidscreen.com/2012/11/27/toonami-and-cartoonito-to-bow-in-asia-december-1/. Retrieved on May 6, 2016.
- ↑ "Toonami Asia shutting down notice ". ToonamiAsia Twitter. March 12, 2018. https://twitter.com/ToonamiAsia/status/973099478201716736. Retrieved on March 12, 2018.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Dickson, Jeremy (November 27, 2012). "Toonami and Cartoonist to bow in Asia December 1 ". kidscreen.com. http://kidscreen.com/2012/11/27/toonami-and-cartoonito-to-bow-in-asia-december-1/. Retrieved on May 6, 2016.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Toonami Asia shutting down notice ". ToonamiAsia Twitter. March 12, 2018. https://twitter.com/ToonamiAsia/status/973099478201716736. Retrieved on March 12, 2018.
- ↑ "Time to update your calendars! ". facebook.com/TOONAMI. July 25, 2017. https://www.facebook.com/Toonami/photos/a.1442483259375850.1073741828.1440408039583372/1787160801574759/?type=3&theater. Retrieved on August 3, 2017.
- ↑ "Want more Toonami? You’re in luck! ". facebook.com/toonami. November 17, 2017. https://www.facebook.com/Toonami/photos/a.1442483259375850.1073741828.1440408039583372/1830317907259048/?type=3&theater. Retrieved on November 18, 2017.
- ↑ "You might just feel a little déjà vu with the newest show joining our line-up. ". facebook.com/TOONAMI. June 15, 2018. https://www.facebook.com/Toonami/photos/a.1442483259375850.1073741828.1440408039583372/1923922477898590/?type=3&theater. Retrieved on June 15, 2018.
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