Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn (ドラゴンボールＺ 復活のフュージョン！！悟空とベジータ Doragon Bōru Zetto Fukkatsu no Fyūjon!! Gokū to Bejīta, lit. Dragon Ball Z: The Rebirth of Fusion!! Goku and Vegeta), also known as Dragon Ball Z: Revival Fusion,[1] is the fifteenth Dragon Ball film and the twelfth under the Dragon Ball Z banner.
It originally released in Japan on March 4, 1995, and also had a limited theatrical run (as part of a double-feature with the U.S. premiere of Dragon Ball Z: The Return of Cooler) on March 17, 2006. These were the first Dragon Ball-related movies to receive a theatrical release in the United States.
Summary[]
The movie starts with the Other World Tournament going on and Goku has defeated Froug while Pikkon defeated Arqua. At the Check-In Station, Saike Demon is guarding the Soul Cleansing Machine, but is distracted with his heavy metal music. His lack of attention allows the machine to become too full; as a result, the machine explodes, releasing all of the evil energy at once. The young ogre is enveloped in the evil smog and is transformed into a giant, seemingly innocent, monster of incredible power named Janemba. Janemba's first order of business is to place a barrier around the Check-in Station of Other World. This barrier prevents King Yemma from maintaining order between realms. With Yemma trapped, the souls of Other World are free to return to the land of the living. On Earth, Videl receives a message of distress and she and Gohan go take care of it.
Janemba fighting Goku
In Other World, Goku and Pikkon were fighting in the finals of the Other World Tournament, but then are called to go to King Yemma and see what is going on. When they arrive, King Yemma informed them that the monster that did all of this was on the roof of the check-in station. Both Goku and Pikkon are surprised by the tremendous size of Janemba. Goku is excited about his power and lures Janemba to Hell so that Pikkon can start working on the barrier. Once arriving in Hell, Goku is shocked to find it has been changed into a psychedelic, weird world filled with colorful stones. Pikkon attempts to break the barrier, and Goku begins fighting Janemba.
Gohan defeats Frieza with a single blow
On Earth, Frieza arrives shortly after Gohan and Videl get rid of a large group of zombies, and Frieza is flattered that a stranger like Gohan knows him. However, Gohan states they fought on Namek, as Frieza then recognizes Gohan as Goku's son. Gohan confirms this by introducing himself with a short speech and dance, saying "I am son of Goku, guardian of all that is good." Deciding the boy should pay for his father's "sins", Frieza sends his army of villains to attack the couple, but Gohan flies through them all and silences him by punching Frieza in the stomach and blowing the tyrant away with an energy shot to the gut. Frieza's terrified minions quickly disperse. Afterward, Gohan does his Justice Pose 1. Mr. Satan is winning over the zombies and happy that they are enemies that he can beat.
Bulma and the others gather the Dragon Balls, and summon Shenron. They wish for all the souls to return to the underworld, but Shenron informs them that he can send them back, but there is nothing stopping them from coming back, and that something is wrong in Other World.
In Other World, Pikkon discovers that cursing at the barrier causes it to break. Janemba uses its strange powers such as creating a portal to punch through that leads right to Goku and forming a perfect replica of Goku in his hand, complete with its own Kamehameha. Even as a Super Saiyan 2, Goku is losing until he then powers up to Super Saiyan 3 to defeat the monster. However, Janemba then transforms into a smaller, more powerful form. Back on Earth, Goten and Trunks battle The Dictator and his army and they both go Super Saiyan.
Super Saiyan 3 Goku battles Super Janemba
Goku battles Super Janemba and is overwhelmed after being hit a Hell Gate. Super Janemba then makes a sword from an ogre club he finds on the ground and starts to easily beat Goku with a swing from his sword, creating a dangerously sharped blade of thin air. He then traps him in a triangular cage made from Blood Pond, and then cuts it down to fit Goku. Vegeta comes to help Goku and starts to fight Super Janemba in his Super Saiyan 2 form, but is no match for him. Vegeta was thrown into a cage of spikes, but Goku catches him in time and they both take cover into the cage of spikes. Goku knows they cannot win as separate entities, so he suggests using the fusion technique. Vegeta becomes skeptical, first off that the pose for the Fusion Dance is embarrassing, and furthermore tells him he would rather die than to fuse with a low-class Saiyan. But Goku calmly states that Vegeta is already dead. Goku persuades him to agree, and then they try the Fusion Dance. Vegeta agrees, however, he fails to extend his index finger at the last second, and Veku (as named by South Kai) is created. Veku is weak and can do little but fart on Super Janemba's face and use his Rabbit Feet Technique to run away. Right when Super Janemba is about to destroy him, the fusion runs out and Goku and Vegeta escape.
The fusion of Goku and Vegeta, Gogeta
Vegeta curses Goku, saying fusion is useless, but King Kai telepathically points out that it is Vegeta's fault because his index finger was made into a fist and created the blimp Veku. Pikkon then comes to fight Janemba to give Goku and Vegeta more time to perform the fusion. Pikkon figures that Janemba is made of the same material as the barrier and begins cursing at it. Surprisingly, it works, and the creature is caught completely by surprise. However, it is able to incapacitate Pikkon, although those precious few seconds allowed Goku and Vegeta to perform the Fusion Dance, which is successful, forming Gogeta. On Earth, Goten and Trunks sense their dads fusing, and also fuse to create Gotenks. Gogeta is formed, and he defeats Janemba with his ultimate attack: the Stardust Breaker. As a result, the teenage ogre returns. Scared by Gogeta, he runs away, and Gogeta lets out a giggle. Gotenks defeats The Dictator's army with the Super Ghost Kamikaze Attack in one shot. Gogeta defuses, Goku and Vegeta say farewell to each other as Vegeta returns to his spirit form. Hell is returned to normal, All of the souls return to Other World, and King Yemma is freed with lots work to do.
On Earth, Gohan, Goten, Videl, and Trunks are returning home. Goten and Trunks know who it was that saved them but refuse to tell anyone. (In the English version, Goten and Trunks were spying on them and joked about Gohan and Videl kissing and being chased home by a crossed Gohan and an embarrassed Videl.) Meanwhile, Shenron remains summoned and asks if anyone still wants to use their wishes, sounding impatient.
Timeline placement[]
The movie's events occur during the Majin Buu Saga, roughly before the Majin Buu conflict reaches its climax with the advent of Super Buu.[2] When Goku transforms into a Super Saiyan 3, he says the fight with Majin Buu was the only time he had ever been pushed so far.
It is shown on Videl's watch that the movie takes place on a Saturday, the 16th, which is at least 9 days after the 25th World Martial Arts Tournament (which took place on May 7 of Age 774).
In Dragon Ball Z: Buu's Fury it is shown that the Janemba event happens just after Goku arrives back in Other World, at the same time that Mr. Satan is befriending Innocent Buu.
In Dragon Ball Z: Shin Budokai, the story occurs during a time of apparent peace shortly after the battles with Majin Buu. Since episode 241 (which is set approximately one day after the tournament), the Dragon Team still on Earth believe Gohan to be dead in the series, while in the movie they interact with him as if this is not the case. The movie occurs 9 days after the tournament, as shown on Videl's watch. Dende explicitly stated in episode 240 that the Z Fighters would have to wait four months to use the Dragon Balls again due to Bulma and the others summoning Shenron and wishing for Vegeta's rampage to be undone. Yet, if this movie takes place a few days later, the Z Fighters on Earth should not have been able to summon Shenron. When Goku and Pikkon are being introduced in the tournament at the beginning of the movie, Goku is referred to as the defending champion, even though in the last Other World Tournament it was a draw due to them both touching the ceiling during the battle. However, during their original battle, Goku was briefly declared the winner of the first tournament before Grand Kai told them touching the ceiling disqualified them.
Releases[]
Fusion Reborn was originally released on VHS and Laserdisc in Japan. In 2006, Toei Animation released Fusion Reborn 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.
Fusion Reborn premiered in North America on March 17, 2006 in a limited theatrical run with The Return of Cooler as a double feature. FUNimation released Fusion Reborn for DVD on March 28, 2006 in uncut form.[3] As was the case with all previous releases, the movie was released in an unmatted 4:3 aspect ratio. The DVD featured an English dub with an original score done by Nathan Johnson and Dave Moran.
FUNimation re-released Fusion Reborn and Wrath of the Dragon on DVD and Blu-ray on May 19, 2009 as part of their "Double Feature" line.[4] This new set featured a brand-new widescreen transfer from Video Post & Transfer and a new audio mix for the English dub featuring the original Japanese score done by Shunsuke Kikuchi in addition to the old mix featuring the Johnson/Moran score.
FUNimation repackaged the Double Feature DVDs into three new thinpak sets, the third of which was released on January 3, 2012 and included Broly - Second Coming, Bio-Broly, Fusion Reborn, and Wrath of the Dragon. These three sets were also released together in the Canada-only Dragon Ball Z: Complete Movie Collection featuring reversioned artwork of Goten and Trunks from Bio-Broly on the cover.
 FUNimation DVD cover  Double-feature DVD  Four movie pack  Dragon Ball Z Complete Movie Collection |
Cast[]
A second English version produced and released exclusively in Malaysia by Speedy features an unknown voice cast.
Music[]
- Opening Theme (OP): "We Gotta Power"
- Ending Theme (ED): "Saikyō no Fusion"
Battles[]
- Goku vs. Froug
- Pikkon vs. Arqua
- Goku vs. Pikkon
- Pikkon vs. Janemba (Pre-Transformation)
- Goku (Base/Super Saiyan 2/Super Saiyan 3) vs. Janemba (Pre-Transformation)
- Gohan (Great Saiyaman) and Videl vs. Zombies
- Gohan vs. Frieza (Final Form)
- Mr. Satan vs. Zombies
- Goten (Base/Super Saiyan) and Trunks (Base/Super Saiyan) vs. The Dictator and his army
- Goku (Super Saiyan 3/Base) vs. Janemba (Super Janemba)
- Vegeta (Super Saiyan 2) vs. Janemba (Super Janemba)
- Goku and Vegeta vs. Janemba (Super Janemba)
- Gogeta (Veku) vs. Janemba (Super Janemba)
- Goku and Vegeta vs. Janemba (Super Janemba)
- Pikkon vs. Janemba (Super Janemba)
- Gogeta (Super Saiyan) vs. Janemba (Super Janemba)
- Gotenks (Super Saiyan) vs. The Dictator and his army
Reception[]
Fusion Reborn was the third best selling Anime DVD of 2006.[5] The movie was released in theaters in Japan on March 4, 1995 and was part of a double feature alongside Slam Dunk: Shohoku's Greatest Challenge! It grossed a total of ¥2.16 billion in Japan (US $24.7 million).[6]
Trivia[]
- The English dub of Fusion Reborn is the only Dragon Ball Z film to be rated by the Motion Picture Association of America. It is rated PG for action violence, thematic elements, and rude humor.
- There is a brief Michael Jackson reference at the beginning of the movie, when Saike Demon is dancing he simulates a moonwalk, stands on his tip toes, and grabs himself.
- All swastikas (in the Dictator scenes) are removed from Funimation's DVD. Additionally, all "third reich" references are removed. In the German, French, and Hebrew versions, The Dictator was completely removed from the movie due to strict laws in Germany about references to the Nazi regime and to avoid insulting Israelis and Holocaust survivors after World War II. In the European Spanish and Polish dubs, The Dictator does not appear, due to the fact that the European Spanish and Polish versions used the pre-edited footage of the French dub.
- In the Funimation dub, The Dictator mentions how Goten and Trunks in their Super Saiyan forms have "blond hair and blue eyes" (even though the eyes are green), and also realizing that he should be recruiting them instead of fighting them, referencing Hitler's belief in the Aryan race (which have blonde hair along with blue or green eyes). However, in the original Japanese, he only comments that they must have dyed their hair blonde (despite seeing them transforming right in front of him).
Super Gogeta kicking Super Janemba
- When Super Saiyan 3 Goku goes up into the air to blast Super Janemba, Super Gogeta kicking Super Janemba is shown in the background.
- In the video game Dragon Ball Z: Buu's Fury, the events of this movie happen after Fortuneteller Baba takes the dead Goku back to the Other World (episode 248) and after Mr. Satan meets Majin Buu (episode 252). This is even though Goku is not seen returning to Grand Kai's planet in the manga/anime after Baba brought him back to the Other World, instead being at the Sacred World of the Kai, either helping Gohan with his Z Sword training or watching the battle on Earth in a Crystal Ball while Old Kai was unlocking Gohan's hidden abilities.
- The 22nd Shunsuke Kikuchi music package for the franchise starts here. The cues were designated "M20XX" codes, and this package would make its series debut in The Innards of Buu.
- In the movie, Vegeta states he would rather die than to fuse with Goku. Then, Goku reminds Vegeta that he is already dead which suggests he cannot die again. However, Goku is aware that if one dies while dead, he would cease to exist as explained during his fight against Boo.
- Despite appearing on the cover, Cooler is absent in this film.
- Ironically, Cooler would later escape Hell during the Super 17 Saga in Dragon Ball GT making him one of the few movie characters to appear in GT the other being Gogeta who made his non-canon film debuted in Fusion Reborn.
- Gogeta's appearance in the film actually influenced Akira Toriyama's decision to develop Potara fusion leading to Vegito's appearance in the Fusion Saga (presumably Toriyama's original plans involved Goku and Vegeta using the Fusion Dance to fuse to fight Super Buu, but replaced it with Potara fusion since Toei Animation was planning on introducing a Metamoran fusion of Goku and Vegeta in Fusion Reborn).
- While this film is the debut appearance of Gogeta, said appearance is non-canon. The canon incarnation of Gogeta would also debut in a film, Dragon Ball Super: Broly. However both films portray Gogeta as a serious fighter willing to kill the main antagonist yet will also spare innocents such as the Saike Demon in Fusion Reborn (who is purified of Janemba's evil by the Stardust Breaker) and Broly after Cheelai wished him back to Vampa in Broly (as Frieza was technically the true villain of the film with Broly acting as the main antagonist) with Gogeta stopping Frieza from killing Cheelai & Lemo when they defect from the Frieza Force to go hideout with Broly (Gogeta also allows Frieza to live as the villain wisely chooses to accept defeat and retreat).
- In the English dub, Mr. Satan after beating up several zombies yells "Finally an adversary I can really beat!" This was a reference to how in the prior movies he had been involved in had him generally being helpless in fighting the main antagonists.
- Most of the names on Yemma’s list of spirits are of Toei animators. All of them are going to Hell.
- This is the first movie since Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies not to include Krillin.
Gallery[]
 Cover Art  Fusion Reborn poster  Dragon Ball The Movies: Volume 12  DBZ Movie 12 poster  DBZ Movie 12 Poster 2   Other World Tournament Design  Hell Design  Various areas design  Goku DBZ Movie 12 Design  Vegeta and Super Saiyan 3 Goku DBZ Movie 12 design  Goten and Trunks DBZ Movie 12 Design  Gotenks and Gohan Design  Pikkon and other characters Design  Janempa and Janemba design  Skinny Veku Design  Gogeta (Super Saiyan) Design  Saike Demon  Saike begins to mutate into Janemba  Janemba being formed  Pikkon defeats Arqua  Goku vs. Pikkon  Goku faces Pikkon  Goku uses Instant Transmission  King Yemma angry  Goku prepares a Ki Blast  Goku fires his energy attack  Pikkon fires a Super Energy Bomb  The effect of Goku and Pikkon's attacks  Pikkon, Goku, and King Yemma  Janemba  Janemba in his first form  Janemba faces Goku and Pikkon  Pikkon and Goku blown away  Videl receives a message  Janemba making small clones of himself  Janemba's small clones  Janemba creating more clones  The clones attack Goku  Goku powers up right before defeating Janemba's clones  Janemba running  Janemba performs the Illusion Smash  Goku uses an uppercut on Janemba's hand  Trunks with a Dragon Ball  Dragon Balls gathered  The seven Dragon Balls are gathered  The seven Dragon Balls gathered  The Dragon Balls power up  Two Dragon Balls  Great Saiyaman charges a Ki Blast  Great Saiyaman attacks Zombies  Gohan and Videl  Frieza  Jeice, Daiz, Frieza, Ginger, a Meda, Burter  Daiz, Recoome, Ginger, a Meda  Bujin, Recoome, and a Meda  Wings, Frieza, Cacao, and Kogu  Bujin, Wings, Frieza, Cacao, and Kogu  Paragus, Wings, Frieza, and Zangya  Cui, Medamatcha, Frieza, Commander Zeeun, Medas, and Rasin/Lakasei  Bojack appears in Fusion Reborn  Salza, Sansho, and a Bio-Man  Gohan attacks Frieza, Misokatsun is seen  Rasin/Lakasei  Zarbon and one of Lord Slug's soldiers  Gohan about to punch Frieza  Jeice in Fusion Reborn  A Meda, Burter, and Misokatsun  Gohan posing after defeating Frieza  The Dictator  Super Goten and Trunks powering up  Goku prepares a Kamehameha  Goku fires the Kamehameha at Janemba  Janemba's Mystic Copy of Goku prepares a Kamehameha  Janemba's Mystic Copy of Goku fires his Kamehameha  Goku's Kamehameha vs. that of Janemba's clone of Goku  Goku in Hell  Janemba prepares to fire his Rapid Cannon at Goku  Goku dodges Janemba's Rapid Cannon blasts  The enormous explosion caused by the attack  Super Saiyan 3 Goku  Super Saiyan 3 Goku's finishing move  Super Saiyan 3 Goku's finishing move  Super Saiyan 3 Goku's finishing move  Super Saiyan 3 Goku's finishing move  Super Saiyan 3 Goku's finishing move  Super Saiyan 3 Goku's finishing move  Goku charges energy in his hands  Goku closes in on Janemba  Super Saiyan 3 Goku's finishing move  Super Saiyan 3 Goku's finishing move  Janemba's first form is defeated by Super Saiyan 3 Goku  Super Saiyan 3 Goku smirking  Janemba morphs  Janemba morphs  Goten and Trunks dodging bullets  Super Janemba appears  Super Saiyan 3 Goku before he attacks Janemba  Super Saiyan 3 Goku dodges Super Janemba's Tail Attack  Super Saiyan 3 Goku fires a ki attack at Super Janemba  Super Janemba  Super Saiyan 3 Goku takes on Janemba  Goku fires a close-range blast at Super Janemba  Super Janemba uses his Bunkai Teleport  Super Janemba's Cosmic Illusion  Super Janemba's Hell Gate  Hell Gate's effect on the ground  A small club  Super Janemba begins to create the Dimension Sword  Super Janemba creates the Dimension Sword mid-transmutation  Super Janemba fully creates the Dimension Sword  Super Janemba wielding the Dimension Sword  Super Janemba about to cut Goku's blast .png "GokuFire(FR).png (687 KB)") A fire caused by one of Goku's blasts  The Dimension Sword attack  Goku with a shoulder wound from a Dimension Sword blast  Super Janemba's Spike Hell technique  Goku trapped inside a bloody crystal  Super Janemba wields the Dimension Sword  The Dimension Sword breaks  The Dimension Sword breaks  The Dimension Sword breaks  Vegeta fires an energy attack at Super Janemba  Super Saiyan Vegeta prepares an attack  Vegeta fires a Ki Blast at Super Janemba  Super Saiyan Vegeta attacks  Vegeta choked by Super Janemba  Super Janemba prepares his first Lightning Shower Rain  Super Janemba fires the Lighting Shower Rain  Super Janemba's first Lightning Shower Rain  Super Janemba's second Lightning Shower Rain  Super Janemba's second Lightning Shower Rain  Super Janemba's second Lightning Shower Rain  Super Janemba powering up .png "AngryVegeta(FR).png (437 KB)") Vegeta does not want to perform the Fusion Dance movements  Goku injured  West and East Kais  Goku and Vegeta fuse to form Veku  Veku confronts Super Janemba  Super Janemba stares down Veku  Super Janemba uses Brutal Destruction  Brutal Destruction  Brutal Destruction  Veku farts on Super Janemba's face  Veku attacks Super Janemba again  North and South Kais  North and South Kais  Veku beaten by Super Janemba  Veku insults Super Janemba  Veku flees from the battle  Super Janemba attacks Veku with his Mystic Attack  Veku faces Super Janemba  Veku uses his Rabbit Feet Technique  Veku flees  Super Janemba attacking Veku  Super Janemba attacking Veku  Janemba charging an energy blast  Pikkon confronts Super Janemba  Janemba damaged by Pikkon's insults  Pikkon charging the Trap Shooter  Pikkon firing the Trap Shooter  Vegeta performing the fusion dance with Goku  Goku performs the Fusion Dance  Goku performing the fusion dance with Vegeta  Pikkon defeated by Super Janemba's Imprisonment Fist  Goku and Vegeta successfully fusing  Goten and Trunks fire their Energy Waves at zombies  Goten and Trunks' combined attack destroys zombies  Super Janemba powering up  Super Janemba getting beaten by Super Gogeta  Super Gogeta knee strikes Super Janemba  Super Gogeta  Super Gogeta about to use an attack  Super Gogeta prepares the Stardust Breaker  Super Janemba is destroyed by the Stardust Breaker  Super Janemba being destroyed  The Stardust Breaker destroys Super Janemba  Vegeta after the defeat of Janemba     Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn animanga |
References[]
- ↑ Dragon Ball. toei-animation-usa.
- ↑ Daizenshuu 6, 1995
- ↑ Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn. amazon.
- ↑ Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn / Wrath of the Dragon (Double Feature). amazon.
- ↑ Best Selling Anime DVDs of 2006. themovieblog (June 16, 2006).
- ↑ List of successive Dragon Ball movie works. nendai-ryuukou.