Dragon Ball Z

**Dragon Ball Z** is a 2011 anime film based on the anime character Son Goku or Kakarot. It is the fourth installment in the Anime Cinematic Universe and the fourth installment of Phase One.

## Synopsis

As the son of Bardock, king of the Saiyans, Kakarot will soon inherit the throne of Planet Vegeta from his aging father. However, on the day that he is to be crowned, Kakarot reacts with brutality when the Saiyan's enemies, the Tuffles, enter the palace in violation of their treaty. As punishment, Bardock banishes Kakarot to Earth. While Vegeta, Kakarot's brother, plots mischief on Planet Vegeta, Kakarot, now called Son Goku by the Earthlings, faces his greatest threat.

## Plot

Two physicists, Bulma Briefs, Dr. Briefs, and their political science intern, Mai, are in the desert, working from a four-wheel drive van while conducting research on an aurora-borealis-type phenomenon. Suddenly a large tornado/lightning storm develops and they drive towards it to investigate. The van hits a man from inside the maelstrom and they stop. They find a man, well-built black-haired, semi-conscious.

On Planet Vegeta, Bardock describes a battle between the Tuffles and Saiyans. The Saiyans win, take possession of the powerful tech, and return to their planet. Bardock is talking to his two sons, one an energetic fighter named Kakarot, the other a more thoughtful fighter, named Vegeta. Bardock says both of them are worthy but only one can be king of Planet Vegeta.

Kakarot, now an adult, prepares for a ceremony where he would be formally recognized as crown prince. Vegeta looks on enviously. Before Bardock can follow through with the proclamation, he senses the presence of intruders. Three Tuffles infiltrate the secure rooms that hold the Tuffle's powerful technology. However, Hatchiyack appears and stops the intruders from reattaining the tech, killing all three. Examining the remains, Bardock seems calm, yet Kakarot is angry and wants to attack. Bardock disagrees.

Kakarot gathers Vegeta and his close friends, Nappa, Raditz, Tarble, and Fasha, and they ride out to the Pod Bay. The guardian, Paragus, allows them to pass and the six are transported to the Planet Tuffle, a frozen, crumbling wasteland. They confront the Tuffle King, Baby, who taunts the Saiyan heroes. More Tuffles surround the six as Baby allows them the chance to leave peacefully. However, Kakarot reacts brashly to a Tuffle's insult and a battle starts. During the battle, Vegeta experiences an unusual reaction when he is touched by a Tuffle's weapon.

Baby releases a Tuffle Beast and the Saiyans retreat to the pods. Kakarot kills the beast but once again the team is surrounded and things look desperate. Bardock arrives and intervenes to save the warriors, apologizing to Baby for the intrusion and attempting to reinstate peace, but Baby states that they are beyond reason, that the Tuffles are now at war with Planet Vegeta. He attempts to stab Bardock, who blasts Baby back and takes the young Saiyans home.

Back on Planet Vegeta, Bardock lets the four friends go and confronts Kakarot and Vegeta. Bardock is furious that Kakarot has dragged Planet Vegeta back into war, and tells Kakarot he is not fit to be king. He strips him of his tail, banishes him to Earth and sends his weapon, the Power Pole, after him a few seconds later in a separate pod.

On Earth, Kakarot is immediately hit by Bulma's van as they drive into the storm he emerged from. Kakarot faintly begins to question where he is and becomes aggressive to the point that Mai tases him, knocking him out. The three scientists load him into their van and take him to the hospital. Once again he starts fighting as he wakes up and he is eventually tranquilized. Dr. Briefs tries to get Bulma to leave him be, saying he is some kind of nut, but she is curious, and attracted to him.

When the scientists return to their outpost in town they discover M.O.N. confiscating all of their equipment and research in connection to the recent atmospheric disturbances, and the appearance of Kakarot's Power Pole. Unsure of what to do, the trio go back to the hospital but Kakarot has escaped. As they drive off in the van, they hit the Saiyan again and knock him out, but this time they take him with them. Bulma gives him civilian clothes that belonged to her ex-boyfriend, and gives him the alias of Son Goku. After overhearing locals discussing a satellite crash 50 miles due west, Goku decides to go there and once again Dr. Briefs tries to get Bulma to leave him alone. Goku walks about the town and tries to get a Nimbus in a pet store. Bulma appears and gives him a ride and the two head west in the van.

At the satellite crash site a crowd of local townspeople have gathered; people are partying and trying to lift the Power Pole from the crater. One of the locals tries to pull the Pole out with his pickup truck. Government agents from M.O.N. arrive and take over the site, setting up a temporary camp to study the weapon. After dark, Bulma and Goku arrive on the scene. Goku infiltrates the encampment while Bulma huddles in safety. After beating up many agents, and being targeted by Sebastian Michealis, Goku finally reaches the Power Pole, but is unable to lift it even when powering up to his max. He howls at his powerlessness and drops to the ground, putting up no fight as M.O.N. agents close in and take him.

On Planet Vegeta, Goku's four friends begin to suspect Vegeta had something to do with Goku's banishment. Vegeta realizes that he is not a son of Bardock and Bardock admits that Vegeta was taken from an extinct Saiyan lineage as an infant and raised as his own. Vegeta is confused and angry as Bardock falls into a coma like state, leaving Vegeta to become acting king.

Back on Earth Agent Smith questions Goku, and when she leaves him alone briefly, Vegeta appears in the room via hologram. Vegeta tells Goku that Bardock is dead and he cannot come back to Planet Vegeta, leaving Goku distraught. Dr. Briefs, with a faked driver license, arrives and lies to the M.O.N. agents, telling them that Goku is Bulma's ex-husband and is under the influence of steroids. Smith lets Dr. Briefs take Goku, who surreptitiously grabs Bulma's notebook on the way out. Back in town, Dr. Briefs takes Goku out for a drink, now trying to convince Goku to leave Bulma alone due to the complications he has and would continue to cause her. The two chug boilermakers and bond. Goku brings the drunk Dr. Briefs to Bulma's trailer. Goku and Bulma go outside to gaze at the stars, and Goku explains the larger galaxy and the Saiyans to her.

Vegeta freezes Paragus on Planet Vegeta, and uses the space pods to meet with Baby. It is revealed that Vegeta was the one who let the Tuffles onto Planet Vegeta to try to retrieve Hatchiyack during Goku's coronation. He makes a deal with Baby that he will let them onto Planet Vegeta again to kill Bardock and have their creation, and in return they will return home in peace. Vegeta then commands Hatchiyack to go to Earth and kill Goku.

Hatchiyack arrives in the desert and starts blasting everything with a ki blasts. Goku and the three scientists attempt to get everyone away safely. Goku confronts Hatchiyack and asks Vegeta, who can see and hear what is going on from Planet Vegeta, to leave the humans alone in return for himself. Hatchiyack gives Goku a vicious backhand slap and sends him tumbling, apparently dead. Bulma runs to the body in tears. However, Goku's rage at his adopted brother's betrayal awakens the power of the Super Saiyan within him. He is restored to full life and vigor and covered in a golden glow; his hair standing on end and golden. He easily defeats Hatchiyack and tries to return to Planet Vegeta, promising Bulma he will return.

The Tuffles invade Planet Vegeta, walking past the frozen Paragus. Baby goes to Bardock's bed chamber and, as he prepares to kill the Saiyan king, Vegeta kills Baby to appear to be the hero. Although frozen, Paragus is conscious and manages to break free and brings Goku back to Planet Vegeta. Goku flies quickly to fight the Tuffles.

Vegeta goes to the space pod bay and sets up to destroy the Planet Tuffle. Goku tries to stop him and the two engage in combat. Goku enters a beam struggle with Vegeta and the bay starts to collapse under the pressure and the clashing of the two powers causes a black hole. When it appears, the two Saiyans fall into space but Bardock arrives and catches Goku, who holds Vegeta's hand. Vegeta admits defeat and allows himself to fall, disappearing into the void.

All seems back to normal on Planet Vegeta, although Bardock is saddened by the turn of events. Goku mourns for his brother and misses Bulma, whom he is unable to visit with the space pods now destroyed. However, Paragus, sensing out over the galaxy, assures him that Bulma is looking for him. Back on Earth, Bulma is in a new lab with new equipment, now being assisted by M.O.N.

Afterwards, Dr. Briefs has been taken to a M.O.N. facility where he meets Ciel Phantomhive. Ciel shows him a Dragon Ball in a briefcase, which he says could be a source of unlimited power. Vegeta appears in the shadows, invisible to Briefs and Ciel, and says "Well, I guess that's worth a look," which Briefs repeats due to Vegeta's own Dragon Ball's subtle influence.