Dragonball Z: Yo! Son Goku and His Friends Return! [Review]
Author: 
November 26, 2008 
Warning: This post contains spoilers! Read at your own risk!
Review:
After 11 years of waiting, the very first Dragonball Z has been released! As a part of the Shonen Jump 40th Anniversary celebration going on in Japan, Akira Toriyama created this special to commemorate this special occasion! ^_^
The first character to kick off the special is Videl, who–after all this time–is still ashamed of his father, Hercule Mr. Satan, for claiming he defeating Cell and Majin Boo. Videl calls up Gohan to tell him about the Grand Opening of a hotel dedicated to Mr. Satan. At dinner, Gohan tells Goku, Goten and Chi-Chi about the event. At first they had no interest in attending, but once the secret word was mentioned: “Buffet”, Goku couldn’t help but to say yes. 
The day of the hotel Grand Opening, the Z Fighters are reunited…(except for Tien, whose Seiyuu passed away in 2006). They haven’t changed a bit. Vegeta is the last one to show up, who ends up sparring with Goku. As the Z Fighters feast on the food (not to mention Goku and Vegeta who pretty much ate everything in sight), a new presence was detected. It turns out to be Vegeta’s long lost brother, Tarble! A lot of WTFs ensue from the gang.
Tarble, and his odd wife, Gure, found refuge on a planet after being exiled for being weak by King Vegeta. How sad. 
Not long ago, he was forced away from his planet by two of Freezer’s left over henchmen: Abo and Cado (*cough*Dodoria*cough*).
My analysis of Dragonball Z: Yo! Son Goku and His Friends Return!:
I was really impressed! The characters have not changed. One. Bit! Vegeta, on the other hand, has fully adjusted to the ranks of the Z Fighters: making weird facial expressions. The fight, which won’t be spoiled for anyone who hasn’t seen it yet, was a bit exciting, but not as exciting as the fights in the past; it was already expected by many when the special was first announced.
I was hoping for this to be a bit longer like the official movies. Although, it was enough to satisfy my tastes. I also enjoyed that Vegeta got more attention, especially with his brother added, as he didn’t get enough of it in the original series; this makes up for it.
This special may actually be aimed towards Vegeta fans than a general fan, but I think fans of their favorite character would be satisfied by getting the chance to see them again after a decade. 
The special is available for viewing on Jumpland.com until January 31st, 2009. A DVD has been announced for a Japanese release, but nothing on an English dub at this time.
Rating:
Tagged: 
(
What DBZ is coming back? o_O So is this like a new series where it left off after the GT series?
Check out Mitch´s recent blog post: Skull Lord Var’Ithrok Down – Order – Warhammer Online
@Mitch: I wish there was more than just this episode, but it’s just this one movie made for Shonen Jump’s 40th Anniversary festival. It takes place right after the end of the Majin Boo saga and a while before Goku leaves to train Uub.
Oh so its a special movie. Dang, I was hoping to have another series to watch. Wonder when it’ll be available to pick up in the US. I’ll have to go pick up a copy when I go to Japan next month.
Check out Mitch´s recent blog post: Skull Lord Var’Ithrok Down – Order – Warhammer Online
ok cool but when is the engilish dubb gonna be coming?
@pj bellefleur: Haven’t heard anything on an English dub yet. :/
I just watched it, and it reminded me more of the DB GT series more than the DBZ series. It had soo many gags, and puns from the previous series that the episode just oozed ‘special’. Though it was funny to see this side of Vegeta in this episode. I think its worth watching for sure just for that.
That end scene with goku/vegeta is hilarious.
Check out Mitch´s recent blog post: Skull Lord Var’Ithrok Down – Order – Warhammer Online
ok so i found out that the English dub will be in 2009 for yo son goku and his friends return/ goku and friends return.
i hope it was a new series, i got so happy, but dame when are they going to come out with a NEW SERIES of DRAGONBALL Z/GT or waht ever? Its 2009 soon 2010 they need a new series cuz the dragonball movie sucked evey fan balls if you ask me. I think they will sooon 2010
Sadly, that’s all we get that’s new of Dragonball this decade. Have you watched Dragonball Kai? It’s the original series, but in High-Def and with filler removed, making it shorter.
This “special” was such a disappointment to me.
Practically nothing serious, and it was the first time I heard Goku’s squeaky woman voice actor voice. Holy hell… so odd and annoying.
The antagonist was a such a joke that it would have been more acceptable to me if it was purely a vacation movie like the episode where Krillin tries to get a big Pearl for Maron. Instead the whole DBZ lot going to Hawaii or something.
And Gotenks’ attitude is so obnoxious and his character is so abrasive that they could have left that transformation out and just had Vegeta pummel Aka and his “Wahaha No Ha” which is such a boring, horrible excuse for a punned name that I almost threw up.
I agree that it was a lot like GT in the sense of the characters and awkward jokes.
I would like to see a Tarble/Vegeta character development in the arc where at Hawaii they bond as brothers and share a lot of introspection. Gure gets to know Bulma and the whole arc is about a long vacation until perhaps a new beginning.
I don’t know about you guys but I was hoping to see actually meaningful character development instead of some half-assed action story that only my 12 year old brother would enjoy.
when will they bring out to dvd dragonballz yo son goku and his friends return