Japanese promotional poster for Dragon Ball Z Kai
Dragon Ball Z Kai (known in Japan as Dragon Ball Kai) is a revised version of the anime series Dragon Ball Z, produced in commemoration of its 20th anniversary.[1] Produced by Toei Animation, the series was originally broadcast in Japan on Fuji TV from April 5, 2009[2] to March 27, 2011. A follow-up series, which adapts the remaining story arcs from the original manga, was aired in Japan from April 6, 2014,[3] to June 28, 2015.
Kai features remastered high definition picture, sound, and special effects as well as a re-recorded voice track by most of the original cast.[4] As most of the series' sketches and animation cels had been discarded since 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.[5][6] This reduced visible damage to the original animation. To convert the 4:3 animation to 16:9 widescreen, some shots were selectively cropped while others feature new hand drawn portions; an uncropped 4:3 version was made available on home video and international releases for the first 98 episodes. Some countries would also air it in 4:3. Much of the anime-exclusive material that was not featured in the original manga was cut from Kai (ultimately abridging the 291 episodes of Dragon Ball Z down to 167).[6]
The series would return in 2014, running for an additional 61 episodes in Japan, and 69 episodes internationally.[3] The international version of the 2014 series was titled Dragon Ball Z Kai: The Final Chapters by Toei Europe and Funimation, [7] and had initially only been earmarked for broadcast outside of Japan.[8] The home media releases of The Final Chapters contain a Japanese audio track for all episodes, including those that were never broadcast in Japan.[9]
The first Blu-ray and DVD compilation was released in Japan on September 18, 2009.[10][11] Individual volumes and Blu-ray box sets were released monthly.[12] France was the first country to release all 167 episodes on Blu-ray and DVD.[13]
Seasons overview[edit]
Episode list[edit]
Season 1: Saiyan Saga (2009)[edit]
Season 2: Frieza Saga (2009–2010)[edit]
Season 3: Androids Saga (2010)[edit]
Season 4: Cell Games Saga (2010–11)[edit]
Season 5: World Tournament Saga (2014)[edit]
Season 6: Majin Buu Saga (2014)[edit]
Season 7: Evil Buu Saga (2014–15)[edit]
Home releases[edit]
Japanese[edit]
DVD[edit]
1 | September 18, 2009 | 1 | 16:9 | 1-3 |
2 | October 23, 2009 | 1 | 16:9 | 4-6 |
3 | November 20, 2009 | 1 | 16:9 | 7-9 |
4 | December 18, 2009 | 1 | 16:9 | 10-12 |
5 | January 29, 2010 | 1 | 16:9 | 13-15 |
6 | February 19, 2010 | 1 | 16:9 | 16-18 |
7 | March 19, 2010 | 1 | 16:9 | 19-21 |
8 | March 19, 2010 | 1 | 16:9 | 22-24 |
9 | April 23, 2010 | 1 | 16:9 | 25-27 |
10 | April 23, 2010 | 1 | 16:9 | 28-30 |
11 | May 28, 2010 | 1 | 16:9 | 31-33 |
12 | May 28, 2010 | 1 | 16:9 | 34-36 |
13 | June 25, 2010 | 1 | 16:9 | 37-39 |
14 | June 25, 2010 | 1 | 16:9 | 40-42 |
15 | July 23, 2010 | 1 | 16:9 | 43-45 |
16 | July 23, 2010 | 1 | 16:9 | 46-48 |
17 | August 27, 2010 | 1 | 16:9 | 49-51 |
18 | August 27, 2010 | 1 | 16:9 | 52-54 |
Androids and Cell 1 | October 2, 2010 | 1 | 16:9 | 55-57 |
Androids and Cell 2 | November 4, 2010 | 1 | 16:9 | 58-60 |
Androids and Cell 3 | December 3, 2010 | 1 | 16:9 | 61-63 |
Androids and Cell 4 | January 7, 2011 | 1 | 16:9 | 64-66 |
Androids and Cell 5 | February 4, 2011 | 1 | 16:9 | 67-69 |
Androids and Cell 6 | March 4, 2011 | 1 | 16:9 | 70-72 |
Androids and Cell 7 | May 3, 2011 | 1 | 16:9 | 73-75 |
Androids and Cell 8 | May 3, 2011 | 1 | 16:9 | 76-78 |
Androids and Cell 9 | May 3, 2011 | 1 | 16:9 | 79-81 |
Androids and Cell 10 | May 3, 2011 | 1 | 16:9 | 82-84 |
Androids and Cell 11 | June 2, 2011 | 1 | 16:9 | 85-87 |
Androids and Cell 12 | June 2, 2011 | 1 | 16:9 | 88-90 |
Androids and Cell 13 | July 2, 2011 | 1 | 16:9 | 91-93 |
Androids and Cell 14 | July 2, 2011 | 1 | 16:9 | 94-96 |
Androids and Cell 15 | August 2, 2011 | 1 | 16:9 | 97-98 |
Majin Buu Box 1 | September 2, 2014 | 2 | 16:9 | 99-110 |
Majin Buu Box 2 | December 2, 2014 | 2 | 16:9 | 111-122 |
Majin Buu Box 3 | March 3, 2015 | 2 | 16:9 | 123-134 |
Majin Buu Box 4 | June 2, 2015 | 2 | 16:9 | 135-146 |
Majin Buu Box 5 | September 2, 2015 | 2 | 16:9 | 147-159 |
Vegeta and Frieza | December 2, 2014 | 18 | 16:9 | 1-54 |
Androids and Cell | January 6, 2015 | 16 | 16:9 | 55-98 |
Blu-ray[edit]
1 | September 18, 2009 | 1 | 4:3 | 1-3 |
Box 1 | October 23, 2009 | 4 | 4:3 | 4-15 |
Box 2 | February 19, 2010 | 4 | 4:3 | 16-27 |
Box 3 | April 23, 2010 | 4 | 4:3 | 28-39 |
Box 4 | June 25, 2010 | 5 | 4:3 | 40-54 |
Androids and Cell Box 1 | October 2, 2010 | 4 | 4:3 | 55-65 |
Androids and Cell Box 2 | February 4, 2011 | 4 | 4:3 | 66-76 |
Androids and Cell Box 3 | June 2, 2011 | 4 | 4:3 | 77-87 |
Androids and Cell Box 4 | August 2, 2011 | 4 | 4:3 | 88-98 |
Majin Buu Box 1 | September 2, 2014 | 2 | 16:9 | 99-110 |
Majin Buu Box 2 | December 2, 2014 | 2 | 16:9 | 111-122 |
Majin Buu Box 3 | March 3, 2015 | 2 | 16:9 | 123-134 |
Majin Buu Box 4 | June 2, 2015 | 2 | 16:9 | 135-146 |
Majin Buu Box 5 | September 2, 2015 | 2 | 16:9 | 147-159 |
Vegeta and Frieza | December 2, 2014 | 18 | 4:3 | 1-54 |
Androids and Cell | January 6, 2015 | 16 | 4:3 | 55-98 |
English[edit]
Volumes[edit]
Part One | May 18, 2010 | — | 2 | 2 | 4:3 | 1–13 | |
Part Two | September 14, 2010 | — | 2 | 2 | 4:3 | 14–26 | |
Part Three | December 14, 2010 | — | 2 | 2 | 4:3 | 27–39 | |
Part Four | March 8, 2011 | — | 2 | 2 | 4:3 | 40–52 | |
Part Five | June 28, 2011 | — | 2 | 2 | 4:3 | 53–65 | |
Part Six | September 13, 2011 | — | 2 | 2 | 4:3 | 66–77 | |
Part Seven | March 20, 2012 | — | 2 | 2 | 4:3 | 78–88 | |
Part Eight | June 5, 2012 | — | 2 | 2 | 4:3 | 89–98 | |
The Final Chapters - Part One[24][25] | April 25, 2017 | June 7, 2017 | October 22, 2018 | 3 | 4 | 16:9 | 99–121 |
The Final Chapters - Part Two[26][27] | May 23, 2017 | August 16, 2017 | November 12, 2018 | 3 | 4 | 16:9 | 122–144 |
The Final Chapters - Part Three[28][29] | June 20, 2017 | September 6, 2017 | December 10, 2018 | 3 | 4 | 16:9 | 145–167 |
Seasons[edit]
Season One | October 18, 2011 (original) May 22, 2012 (re-release) | August 3, 2015 | 4 | 4:3 | 1–26 |
Season Two | May 22, 2012 | September 28, 2015 | 4 | 4:3 | 27–52 |
Season Three | September 11, 2012 | November 9, 2015 | 4 | 4:3 | 53–77 |
Season Four | March 12, 2013 | December 28, 2015 | 4 | 4:3 | 78–98 |
Complete Series[edit]
The Final Chapters Complete Series | June 6, 2018[30] | 12 | 99–167 |
The Complete Epic | October 7, 2020[31] | 25 | 1–167 |
Notes[edit]
- ^ a b c d e The International airing of the Buu Saga (Seasons 5–7) features 8 episodes worth of footage cut from the Japanese airing. The episodes listed without a Japanese counterpart date or title were cut to such a degree in Japan that the episodes had to have another title to be consistent internationally.
- ^ This episode was originally scheduled to air in Japan on March 27, 2011 as the 98th episode, but Fuji TV postponed its broadcast to air news coverage on the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. The episode was eventually released as an "extra" episode on Blu-ray and DVD in Japan on August 2, 2011, and in North America on June 5, 2012.
- ^ According to its online syndication system, Adult Swim aired episodes 99–125 of Dragon Ball Z Kai: The Final Chapters on Saturdays at 12 a.m. ET/PT, which is effectively Sunday morning. The airdates of those episodes reflect the actual day of broadcast.
- ^ Adult Swim moved Dragon Ball Z Kai: The Final Chapters from 12 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. ET/PT, making the airdates from episodes 126 onward actually on Saturday.[22]
References[edit]
- ^ "今週のアニ基地! トピッコスきの1: 4月5日(日)よリ放送開始のアニメ「ドラゴンボールZ」正式タイルがついに決定!! その名は...Dragon Ball Kai". Weekly Shōnen Jump (in Japanese). Shueisha: 326. February 23, 2006.
- ^ "Japan's Remastered DBZ to Be Called Dragon Ball Kai". Anime News Network. February 19, 2009. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
- ^ a b "New Dragon Ball Z Kai Anime Series to Premiere on April 6". Anime News Network. February 17, 2014. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
- ^ "今週のアニ基地! トピッコスきの1:「ドラゴンボールZ」放送開始20周年記念! 最新デヅタル技術を便いZ伝説がTVアニメで復活!!". Weekly Shōnen Jump (in Japanese). Shueisha: 338. February 9, 2009.
- ^ "Dragon Ball Kai Remastering Process". Kanzenshuu. 2012. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
- ^ a b "「ドラゴンボールZ」放送開始20周年記念! HDリマスター坂で テレビアニメが堂々復活!! 孫悟空伝説再び!! その名も... Dragon Ball Kai". V Jump (in Japanese). Shueisha: 10. February 9, 2009.
- ^ Dragon Ball Z Kai: The Final Chapters Listed at 69 Episodes Anime News Network (April 17, 2014). Retrieved on May 12, 2014.
- ^ Loo, Egan. "Dragon Ball Z Kai's Japanese Cast Records New Episodes". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 18, 2019.
- ^ "Dragon Ball Z Kai: The Final Chapters Blu-Ray Part One". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 18, 2019.
- ^ ドラゴンボール改 1 [Dragon Ball Kai 1] (in Japanese). Toei Animation. Archived from the original on October 6, 2011. Retrieved November 3, 2006.
- ^ "ドラゴンボール改 1(Blu-ray Disc)" [Dragon Ball Kai 1 (Blu-ray Disc)] (in Japanese). Toei Animation. Archived from the original on October 6, 2011. Retrieved November 3, 2009.
- ^ "ドラゴンボール改 BOX1(Blu-ray Disc)" [Dragon Ball Kai BOX 1 (Blu-ray Disc)] (in Japanese). Toei Animation. Archived from the original on October 6, 2011. Retrieved November 3, 2006.
- ^ "Dragon Ball Z Kai Box 4/4 - The Final Chapters" (in French). Amazon.fr. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
- ^ a b c d "各話あらすじ|ドラゴンボール改 東映アニメーション" (in Japanese). Toei Animation. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca "Dragon Ball Z Kai: Episode Guide". MSN TV. Archived from the original on September 8, 2012. Retrieved June 22, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Dragon Ball Z Kai - Part One (Inside Blu-ray case). Nowata Yasuhiro. Flower Mound, Texas, United States: Funimation Entertainment. 2010 [2009]. FN-08781.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
- ^ ドラゴンボール改 人造人間・セル編 15 [Dragon Ball Kai Artificial Human/Cell Volume 15 (DVD)] (in Japanese). Happinet Pictures. Archived from the original on April 27, 2011. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
- ^ "ドラゴンボール改 人造人間・セル編 BOX4" [Dragon Ball Kai Artificial Human/Cell BOX4 (Blu-ray)] (in Japanese). Happinet Pictures. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
- ^ a b c "エピソード|ドラゴンボール改 東映アニメーション" (in Japanese). Toei Animation. Retrieved May 11, 2014.
- ^ TV Listings Grid, TV Guide and TV Schedule, Where to Watch TV Shows - Screener
- ^ TV Listings Grid, TV Guide and TV Schedule, Where to Watch TV Shows - Screener
- ^ "Time to update your calendars!". Facebook.com/Toonami. July 25, 2017. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
- ^ "Dragon Ball Z Kai: The Final Chapters Episode Guide". Zap2it. January 15, 2018. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
- ^ The Final Chapter - Part One - Blu-ray | home-video
- ^ The Final Chapter - Part One - DVD | home-video
- ^ The Final Chapter - Part Two - Blu-ray | home-video
- ^ The Final Chapter - Part Two - DVD | home-video
- ^ The Final Chapter - Part Three - Blu-ray | home-video
- ^ The Final Chapter - Part Three - DVD | home-video
- ^ "Dragon Ball Z Kai the Final Chapters Complete Series". Madman Entertainment. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
- ^ "Dragon Ball Z Kai the Complete Epic (Blu-Ray)". Madman Entertainment. Retrieved February 8, 2021.