Dragon Ball Z

Attending a reunion at Master Roshi's house, Goku notices an incredible power approaching the house. Though Goku does not know it, he is about to meet his brother Raditz. The encounter with this powerful alien, who like Goku belongs to a race known as the Saiyans, is only the beginning of this story.

Teaming up with Piccolo, Goku is able to defeat his brother only at the cost of his own life. Before being destroyed, Raditz reveals Goku's origins and that he was originally sent to Earth to destroy it. The evil alien has the final laugh as he explains that two other Saiyans, more powerful than he, are already on their way to finish the job. The defenders of Earth have only one year to prepare, as well as wish Goku back to life with the Dragon Balls.

In the Next Dimension, Goku spends the better part of the year trying to get to King Kai's house to get the training he'll need. The journey is long and treacherous, but eventually he makes it. Meanwhile, the Z Fighters go all out in their training and preparation under Kami's tutelage. Piccolo takes Gohan, Goku's son, under his wing and begins to turn the little boy into a powerful young fighter. Though he tends to be hard on the boy, the two do forge a very strong friendship.

Just as Goku completes his training, the two Saiyan warriors, Vegeta and Nappa finally arrive. The Z fighters Piccolo, Yamcha, Tien, Krillin, Gohan and Chiaotzu head out to meet them head on. Nappa, a huge bald Saiyan takes on the brave heroes and defeats Yamcha, Chiaotzu, Tien and Piccolo. Gohan and Krillin do the best that they can, but they are no match for the powerful fighter. Goku, during all of this, despite his new powers and incredible speed arrives just as Nappa is about to destroy the remaining heroes. Though a bit late, the young warrior easily defeats Nappa and engages Vegeta in a long, drawn out battle that nearly destroys them both. Beaten and almost spent, Vegeta crawls back to his alien ship and flees.

Time passes and the remaining Z Fighters must embark on a new quest to resurrect their fallen friends. With the demise of Piccolo, Earth's Dragon Balls have lost their power. Only the Dragon Balls from the planet Namek can restore Piccolo to life, as well as the power of the Dragon Balls on Earth. Bulma, Krillin, and Gohan take to the stars while Goku is stuck in a hospital, still recovering from his fight with Vegeta.

But the Z Fighters are not the only ones who want to make a wish with the Namekian Dragon Balls. An insanely powerful alien, a conqueror of worlds, named Frieza has set his sights on Namek. A fighter without equal, this diabolical fiend wants to use the power of the Dragon Balls to gain immortality and rule the universe forever. All that stands in his way are the three heroes from Earth, and a few brave Nameks. Having healed himself in a technologically advanced medical facility, Vegeta also heads to Namek for similar reasons. Yet in his case, the young Saiyan prince seeks revenge against Frieza for having destroyed the Saiyan race and their world.

Several fierce battles ensue on the planet Namek, damaging its once beautiful landscape that looks strangely similar to Earth's. Krillin and Gohan square off against Frieza's forces while trying to avoid Vegeta and find the Dragon Balls. Ultimately the three team up to fight against the dreaded Ginyu Force, Frieza's best warriors.

Meanwhile, Goku has finally healed himself and has left Earth to go and help his friends on Namek. With the help of Bulma's father, Goku is able to control the gravity in his space ship and train even harder during the long journey to Namek. By the time he arrive, Vegeta, Krillin, and Gohan are in desperate need of Goku's help. The now much stronger Goku pommels Recoome, (Who had nearly beaten Vegeta to a pulp.). The remaining Ginyu Force members try their best, but are no match for Goku.

The final showdown between Goku and the Ginyu Force comes down to Captain Ginyu, the most powerful member of the team. The two battle back and forth, but Captain Ginyu realizes he is no match for the Saiyan warrior. Out of desperation Ginyu uses his most powerful attack and switches bodies with Goku. Stuck in a nearly defeated body, Goku's only save is that the Captain does not know how to use all of Goku's attacks. Ultimately Goku is able to get his own body back, while trapping Ginyu inside the body of an alien frog.

Exhausted from the battle with Ginyu, Goku spends time recovering inside a healing capsule. Meanwhile, Gohan, Krillin, and a Namek named Dende sneak off and try to use the Dragon Balls to save all of them from Frieza. Vegeta discovers the trio, but not before they are able to bring back Piccolo. But just as Vegeta is about to wish himself immortal to save the group from the approaching villain Frieza, the power of the orbs is runs out with the drained life force of the Namek Guru.

Believing himself to have reached Super Saiyan power levels, Vegeta takes Frieza on. To his dismay he discovers that he has not reached the power level he desperately thought he had. Even an augmented Piccolo, having merged with another Namek named Nail, was no match for Frieza. Neither Krillin, nor Gohan could match the evil alien either. But when all seems lost, Goku again arrives to save the day.

In a series of pitched battles that unleash terrible destructive forces on the land, Goku and Frieza battle across the planet. Their collective powers begin to take their toll, and the planet seems about to explode at any minute. After taking some severe punishment from the dreaded villain, Goku manages to achieve Super Saiyan powers. The now seemingly invincible Goku begins to battle back and finally defeat Frieza. Yet as his friends escape the doomed planet Namek, all seems lost when the world explodes while Goku was still on it. But all turns out well as they discover that their incredibly powerful friend is alive and well.