Dragon Ball: The Path to Power

Dragon Ball: The Path to Power (ドラゴンボール 最さい強きょうへの道みち, Doragon Bōru Saikyō e no Michi), also known as Dragon Ball: The Way to the Strongest,^[1] is the 17th Japanese animated feature film based on the Dragon Ball manga, following the first three Dragon Ball films and, at the time, thirteen Dragon Ball Z films. It is a re-telling of the original Dragon Ball anime series such as Goku first meeting Bulma, Master Roshi, Oolong and Yamcha. It was produced by Toei Animation to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the Dragon Ball franchise. It was originally released to theaters in Japan on March 2, 1996. It was dubbed into English by Funimation Entertainment and released on April 29, 2003.

Summary[]

Goku is a monkey-tailed boy living all alone on Mount Paozu. One day, after he catches a large fish to eat, a girl in a car (being Bulma) almost hits him. He mistakes the car for a monster and throws it on its side and gets shot by Bulma in return. He thinks she is some kind of demon, but she ends up convincing him she's human, even though she does not have a tail. He invites her into his house since his dead grandpa always told him to be nice to girls. When they go in the house, Goku shows Bulma an orange glowing ball that he thinks is his grandpa. All of a sudden Bulma comes to life and asks if she can have the ball. When Goku protests, she brings out two more "grandpas", and explains to him the legend of the Dragon Balls and the Eternal Dragon. She offers to let him feel her up to get him to come along, but when that does not work, she tells him it will help him get stronger. He agrees, and they head off.

Later, in the forest, they are forced to stop because of a bull/ox in the road, who demands the girl. Goku ends up fighting the creature, which turns into a robot, and then a bat. Unfortunately, by then, his five minutes are up, and he turns back into Oolong, the pig. There is no time for apologies though, because Yamcha attacks. He demands all the capsules and money they have, but not before Puar recognizes Oolong and yells at him for his perverted antics at Shapeshifting School. Yamcha fights Goku, and appears to have the upper hand, until Bulma wakes up. This puts him into a state of shock, and he is forced to retreat with the help of Puar.

Bulma, Oolong, and Goku are driving northward towards the next Dragon Ball, only to discover a huge metal tower in the distance. (Yamcha and Puar, who have been following them, stay in a cave nearby to keep warm.) Soldiers come out and "welcome" them to Muscle Tower, and Goku takes them all head on. He manages to enter the tower, only to face Sergeant Metallic. He finishes him off quickly through and discovers (to his shock) that Metallic was a robot. General White of the Red Ribbon Army orders the remaining forces toward Goku, but he plows through them all, up into White's room. White then activates the tower's deadliest creation, Android 8. The android nearly strangles Goku but refuses to kill him when ordered. As a result, White threatens to detonate the android, but Goku intervenes and saves him. The two make quick friends, with Android 8 explaining that he does not believe in fighting or killing. Goku complains that his name is weird, so he nicknames him "Eighter" for short. This ends in a snowball fight between the two while the tied-up forces (including White) look on.

Sometime later, while driving in Oolong's house-wagon, they almost run over (and then almost fall off a cliff because of) Turtle. He explains that he is quite lost and needs help getting back to the sea. After they bring him there, he says he has a reward which he will bring back with him the next day. So, Oolong, Goku, and Bulma spend the night on the beach. Goku wakes up early in the morning and tries to sleep in Bulma's lap but freaks out when he removes her panties and discovers her lack of male genitalia. That morning, Turtle comes back bearing his "reward", the Turtle Hermit Master Roshi. Roshi first tries to summon the Immortal Phoenix for them, but when that fails (it apparently died from food poisoning, ironically), he calls forth the Flying Nimbus. Goku is the only one of the bunch who can ride it, so it becomes his. Meanwhile, Yamcha and Puar watch the gang with interest.

While Goku's off on the Nimbus, Bulma discovers that the old man has a Dragon Ball. He offers to let go of it only if she shows him her underwear. She agrees, not knowing she does not have any on, and both Roshi and Oolong are pleasantly surprised. She is horrified after she goes in to change and finds her underwear still inside. There is no time for an explanation though, because General Blue of the Red Ribbon Army attacks with a fleet of battleships. When the situation seems just about hopeless, Roshi decides to use his legendary Kamehameha. He decimates the entire fleet with it, but Blue then orders his army of submarines to attack. Goku however, manages to learn the Kamehameha himself and destroys a good deal of the subs with it. But just as their situation is looking up, Goku is knocked out by a missile, and Bulma, Oolong, and Roshi are all captured by a battered Blue and his soldiers. Yamcha attempts a rescue but gets caught along with Puar due to his phobia of girls. The five are carted off to prison near the Red Ribbon Army Headquarters. The next morning, Goku awakens to the beeping of the Dragon Radar. Finding himself alone, he sets out in search of the other six Dragon Balls (Blue, having missed the one on Goku's person, and also due to obliviously standing in Red's presence before the latter could appear taller when delivering the balls, is executed for his failure). Goku fights through legions upon legions of Red Ribbon soldiers, while in the meantime, the others try to make their escape from the prison.

Eventually, they make it out, to discover Goku (carrying a pile of tanks) there to greet them. As Goku fights his way into Red Ribbon Headquarters, Commander Red and Staff Officer Black retreat with their six Dragon Balls to their last refuge. But when Black hears about Red's true wish to become taller, Black shoots him and swears to make the Black Ribbon Army ruler of the world. He brings out the Army's greatest weapon, a giant robotic suit called "Battle Jacket". The robot's Laser Blast destroys a huge swath of territory in its path, and nearly kills Goku, until he manages to knock it on its stomach and detonate the cannon. Black in his Battle Jacket is not out yet though, and Goku is eventually knocked out.

Luckily, Android 8 shows up. He puts everything he has into keeping the robot from killing the boy, but it is pretty clear that he is no match. Parts start to fly off of him, and he lands in a crumpled heap, next to Goku. Goku comes to, only to see the android die. Saddened and enraged by Android 8's sacrifice, a new world of power suddenly awakens within Goku, as the ground shakes with his tortured screams. Black makes the mistake of egging him on, and Goku finishes him off with a gigantic Kamehameha. After the dust settles, the Eternal Dragon Shenron is summoned forth, but Bulma and Yamcha realize they do not need their wishes anymore. Goku then offers his own wish instead: to revive Android 8 and remove the bomb inside of him.

Cast[]

Music[]

The soundtrack was composed by Akihito Tokunaga, who also composed the music for Dragon Ball GT. Also, the ending theme is the opening theme for Dragon Ball GT, "DAN DAN Kokoro Hikarete 'ku".

Releases[]

The Path to Power was released on VHS and Laserdisc in 1998 in Japan. In 2006, Toei Animation released The Path to Power as part of the final Dragon Box DVD set, which included all four Dragon Ball films and thirteen Dragon Ball Z films. These were presented in a new widescreen transfer from the original negatives with a 16:9 aspect ratio that was matted from the original 4:3 aspect ratio.

Funimation released the The Path to Power on VHS and DVD in 2003 in both edited and uncut forms. In 2005, the movie was re-released on DVD both individually and in a box set with Sleeping Princess in Devil's Castle and Mystical Adventure. This 3-disc box set was reissued in a thinpak variety in 2008. This 3-disc box set was then re-released in a thinpak variety in 2008. In 2011, Funimation re-released all four Dragon Ball movies in a new thinpak DVD collection.

Battles[]

• Goku vs. Oolong
• Goku vs. Yamcha
• Goku vs. Red Ribbon Army soldiers
• Goku vs. Major Metallitron
• Goku vs. Red Ribbon Army soldiers
• Goku vs. Android 8
• Goku vs. General White
• Master Roshi (Max Power) vs. General Blue and his fleet
• Goku vs. General Blue's fleet
• Goku vs. Red Ribbon Army soldiers
• Goku vs. Staff Officer Black (Battle Jacket)
• Android 8 vs. Staff Officer Black (Battle Jacket)
• Goku vs. Staff Officer Black (Battle Jacket)

Comparison to the anime[]

• Goku does not wear his original all-blue gi or his signature orange one. Instead, he wears one identical to the gi he wears in Dragon Ball GT (blue top, white obi, ochre pants, pink wristbands, black kung fu shoes, white stockings) which resembles his original gi. However, he does wear an all-blue gi during the beginning of the film, only to change into his GT outfit before departing with Bulma. This could be due to the fact that this movie was released during the original airing of Dragon Ball GT, and thus made use of the same production staff.
• Bulma, like her original manga counterpart, has purple hair instead of turquoise. However, her hair is somewhat using Trunks' hair color. Also, her initial dress is yellow instead of pink and her scarf is green instead of purple.
• Oolong is first encountered by Goku and Bulma in the desert, rather than terrorizing a village with his shape shifting abilities.
• Emperor Pilaf and his minions are not featured at all.
• Krillin, Launch, and Chi-Chi are not featured at all. This could be due to the movie being based on the events of the Emperor Pilaf Saga, where these characters were not yet introduced.
• When Goku first uses the Kamehameha in the anime, it was only big enough to destroy Bulma's car. In the movie it was large enough to completely destroy all of the Red Ribbon's ships.
• General Blue is not killed by Mercenary Tao (as Tao was not in the movie). Instead, he is executed by various privates at the order of Commander Red due to his only bringing back five of the seven Dragon Balls that Goku and the Dragon Ball Gang found (one of them had been buried in the sand near where the Dragon Balls were recovered) as well as unintentionally aggravating Red's notorious hatred of his own short height and tall men by standing in his presence to deliver the balls before him.
• The Muscle Tower is bigger and more futuristic. Also, Ninja Murasaki does not appear.
• Android 8 makes his debut in this movie by pummeling Goku. Whereas, in the anime, he never even thought of it.
• The Red Ribbon Army has some cosmetic changes: General White is a young Italian rather than an older Russian man, Major Metallitron is black and a little smaller, General Blue is shorter and less bulky as well as having a slightly different hairstyle, Commander Red has a smooth hairstyle, and Staff Officer Black appears to be Native American and actually has hair (similar to Commander Red's).
• The Red Ribbon Army base is by the seaside, rather than in the middle of the forest.
• Goku raids the army base to rescue his friends (Bulma, Yamcha, Puar, Oolong, Master Roshi, and Turtle) in the movie. In the anime, Goku does it to get the Dragon Balls that the army has.
• In the movie, Commander Red is shot in the side and falls over to his doom. In the anime, he is shot in the head.
  • On a similar note, Commander Red in the movie blurts out his true wish of becoming taller in front of Black out of sheer panic over Goku's impending arrival in the movie, similar to in the manga, while in the anime, he only confesses his wish after thinking that he had killed both Black and Goku via a trap ceiling.
• The first wish to Shenron was to bring Android 8 back to life. In the anime, Oolong used the first wish for a pair of ladies' underwear (thwarting Pilaf's attempt to use it). The wish made after the Red Ribbon Army Saga in the anime was to bring Bora back to life.
• In the movie, Black actually manages to fight toe-to-toe with Goku in his robot, with only Eighter sacrificing himself weakening Black enough for Goku to defeat him. In the anime, Black, even when adopting the Battle Jacket, was no match for Goku.
• Goku, Yamcha, and Android 8 have slightly darker skin tones in this movie (similar to Goku's skin tone in Dragon Ball GT).

Trivia[]

• The Super Kamehameha that Goku performs in Dragon Ball Z: Infinite World is similar to the gigantic Kamehameha he uses in this movie.
• When Yamcha falls on top of Bulma, they accidentally kiss. However, in the English dub, Yamcha was given speaking lines during the moment.
• This marks the only time in the franchise that "DAN DAN Kokoro Hikarete 'ku", the opening theme for Dragon Ball GT, is used as closing credits music, and not in an opening sequence.
• This is the first Dragon Ball project to use computer animation, as noted in the ending credits.
• This is the second and last Dragon Ball movie in the Funimation dub where Tiffany Vollmer voices Bulma.
• This is the only Dragon Ball movie in the Funimation dub where Stephanie Nadolny voices Goku, as Ceyli Delgadillo previously voiced him in Sleeping Princess in Devil's Castle and Mystical Adventure while Colleen Clinkenbeard later voiced him in Curse of the Blood Rubies.
• Mamoru Hosoda animates several scenes during the film’s climax.
• It is the first Dragon Ball film to feature the Red Ribbon Army as the primary antagonists.
  • However, it should be noted this film was released after Dragon Ball Z: Super Android 13! which featured Dr. Gero's Supercomputer and its Red Ribbon Androids 13, 14, and 15 as the primary antagonists.
• Red's pinball machine features Atari 2600 sound effects.
• General Blue's sexuality is downplayed in the movie.

Gallery[]

Screenshots[]

Goku attacks Bulma's car Goku confronts Bulma Bulma shows her panties to Goku Two Dragon Balls in Bulma's hands Goku's Four-Star Dragon Ball Oolong as a bull Bulma falls from her bike Goku meets a transformed Oolong Oolong as a Ramen Robot Oolong Oolong's true form is revealed Yamcha is here to rob Goku Puar explains she knew Oolong in the past Yamcha preparing the Wolf Fang Fist Wolf Fang Fist in use Yamcha is paralyzed due to his fear of girls Yamcha says Goku has not seen the last of him The One-Star Dragon Ball The Seven-Star Dragon Ball Goku playing in the snow The House Wagon is attacked by the Red Ribbon Army Yamcha and Puar The lab for androids Android 8 before being activated Android 8 is activated Android 8 attacks Goku Android 8 can not kill Goku General White is furious Goku and Android 8 Goku happy Android 8 Goku laughing Android 8 happy Red and Black talk about the fall of Muscle Tower Roshi meets Goku Bulma lifts her nightgown Roshi has a nosebleed Roshi's Three-Star Dragon Ball Goku rides the Flying Nimbus General Blue's boat On General Blue's boat The gang is attacked by General Blue Roshi prepares something Roshi prepares a MAX Power Kamehameha Master Roshi prepares his Kamehameha Roshi charges the MAX Power Kamehameha Master Roshi Roshi fires his Kamehameha at Blue's ships General Blue is caught in the blast Yamcha and Puar watch Roshi's Kamehameha General Blue on a submarine mast Goku tries to place his hands for the Kamehameha Goku tries the Kamehameha Bulma is knocked flat by an artillery shell Master Roshi Blue is still a threat Bulma is surrounded Roshi, Oolong and Bulma are captured Bulma is excited to see Yamcha Bulma waves at Yamcha Yamcha blushes and stops his sneak attack Blue punches Yamcha, while he is distracted by Bulma Yamcha is captured Bulma gives an awkward smile, as Yamcha is also kidnapped Colonel Violet's orange jet Violet chases after Goku Violet seconds before crashing Blue turns in six Dragon Balls Blue before being executed Everyone talks in Prison Yamcha watches Bulma Puar is annoyed by Oolong's bumbling Goku fighting the Red Ribbon Army Commander Red is frightened by Goku Yamcha and Bulma accidentally kiss Yamcha and Bulma Yamcha and Bulma get up Commander Red before getting shot by Black Black kills Commander Red Black goes mad from the knowledge of Red's deceit The gang escapes the RR prison Teen feelings are unleashed But Turtle interrupts Black's Battle Jacket Goku lies in front of Android 8 and the Battle Jacket Android 8 attacks the Battle Jacket The Battle Jacket stops Android 8 Android 8 struggles with the Battle Jacket Android 8 Android 8 dies Goku crying over Android 8's death A thoroughly insane Black gloats over Eighter's death Goku's power increases Goku's power increases Goku powers up Goku powers up Goku prepares an attack Goku charges a Kamehameha Goku's Kamehameha Karma catches up to Black Goku's Kamehameha hits the Battle Jacket The Battle Jacket is destroyed Shenron appears Shenron Yamcha says he does not need a wish anymore Likewise Bulma says she has the perfect guy Goku brings Eighter over to Shenron Goku in the end credits Bulma and Goku in the end credits

Characters[]

Goku Yamcha Bull Oolong Metallitron White Android 8 Blue Violet Red Black Battle Jacket All the main characters The Red Ribbon Army characters and Goku

Promotional Material[]

Cover Art The Path to Power poster FUNimation's DVD cover of The Path To Power The Path to Power poster The Path to Power poster The Path to Power poster The Path to Power poster Dragon Ball: The Movies Volume 14

References[]

External links[]

• Anime News Network - The Path to Power
• The Path to Power at the Internet Movie Database

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