Episode Guide
Namek arc
Arc Information
| Original Run: | 14 February 1990 – 16 January 1991 (49 weeks; spent 9 weeks on break) |
| Corresponding: | Dragon Ball Z Episodes 036 – 074 (39 episodes; 1 TV special) Dragon Ball Chapters 241 – 290 (50 chapters; approx. 1.3 chapters per episode) |
| Filler Content: | 75% Canon / 25% Filler |
| Rating Shares: | Average: 21.7% Maximum: 25.7% (Episodes 063 & 067) Minimum: 17.2% (Episodes 055 & 056) |
Arc Synopsis
Goku and co. barely manage to drive Vegeta from the Earth. However, many of their allies were killed, and the Dragon Balls ceased to be. Thinking that there might be Dragon Balls there, Bulma and co. journey by spaceship to God’s birthplace, Planet Namek. However, at the same time Freeza had also heard of the Dragon Balls, and headed for Planet Namek aiming to find them. Knowing this, Vegeta came following after him, and then Goku came as well. The various warriors from arround the galaxy began to gather on Planet Namek, and a new battle for the Dragon Balls begins.
On Planet Namek, Freeza and his men push the limits of inhumanity, killing anyone who gets in their way. Gohan somehow manages to rescue a Namekian child, Dende. Elsewhere, arriving on Planet Namek on his own, Vegeta also begins to slaughter Namekians and gather Dragon Balls. Defeating Freeza’s underlings, he aims to recapture the Dragon Balls Freeza has. However, being no match for a transformed Zarbon, one of Freeza’s henchmen, he is captured by Freeza. Meanwhile, Goku continues training in the gravity room of his spaceship on his way to Planet Namek.
Kuririn was able to meet Planet Namek’s Eldest, but his Dragon Ball was stolen by Vegeta, who had escaped from Freeza. Because he was revived from the brink of death, Vegeta powered up even further. Though he had been beaten before, Vegeta easily defeated Zarbon in his transformed state. However, Freeza played his next hand and called on the even more frightfully powerful Ginyu Special-Squad. Before their overwhelming power, Vegeta, Gohan, and Kuririn were completely unable to put up a fight.
With the power of the Ginyu Special-Squad, Freeza was finally able to gather all seven Dragon Balls. However, not knowing the crucial method of getting one’s wish granted, he flies to the location of the surviving Namekian, the Eldest. Vegeta and co. were about to be killed by Recoom, one of the Ginyu Special-Squad, but at the last moment Goku finally arrived. Showing the results of his training in his spaceship, he defeated one Ginyu Special-Squad member after another with super power. But through Captain Ginyu’s “Body Change” technique, Goku and Ginyu switched bodies.
However, Ginyu couldn’t properly fight with Goku’s body, and was soon defeated. Goku had somehow managed to return to his own body during the battle, but was grievously injured in the process. With Vegeta’s guidance, he is put into a medical machine to heal his wounds.
Episode List (036 — 074; TV special)
Tabidase Uchū e! Kibō no Hoshi wa Pikkoro no Furusato
We’re Off Into Space!
The Planet of Hope is Piccolo’s Homeland
Animation: Takeuchi Tomekichi · Director: Orime Tatsuya
Nazo no Yunzabitto! Kami-sama no Uchūsen o Sagase
The Mysterious Yunzabit!
The Search for God’s Spaceship
Animation: Shindou Mitsuo · Director: Matsūra Jōhei
Namekku-sei Iki Hasshin! Gohan-tachi o Matsu Kyōfu
Blast-off for Planet Namek!
The Terror Awaiting Gohan and Company
Animation: Uchiyama Masayuki · Director: Ueda Yoshihiro
Teki ka Mikata ka? Nazo no Kyodai Uchūsen no Kodomo-tachi
Friends or Foes?
Children of the Mysterious Giant Spaceship
Animation: Ebisawa Yukio · Director: Nishio Daisuke
Honto ni Honto? Are ga Kibō no Namekku-sei
Really, for Real?
There Lies Namek, Planet of Hope
Animation: Takeuchi Tomekichi · Director: Hashimoto Mitsuo
Shinsetsu na Uchū-jin Ikinari Atta yo Ūshinchū
Kind-hearted Aliens
There’s the Five-Star Ball Already
Animation: Maeda Minoru · Director: Okazaki Minoru
Wakusei Furīza Nanbā Nanajūkyū Fukkatsu no Bejīta!!
Planet Freeza No. 79
Vegeta Recovers!!
Animation: Uchiyama Masayuki · Director: Matsūra Jōhei
Sorotta zo Doragon Bōru! Pikkoro-san mo Ikikaeru
The Dragon Balls Are All Here!
Piccolo-san Comes Back to Life
Animation: Shindō Mitsuo · Director: Ueda Yoshihiro
Arata na Kyōteki! Uchū no Teiō Furīza
A Tough New Enemy!
Emperor of the Universe, Freeza
Animation: Nakatsuru Katsuyoshi · Director: Orime Tatsuya
Yabō no Bejīta! Uchūichi no Senshi wa Ore da!!
Vegeta’s Ambition!
I am the Greatest Warrior in the Universe!!
Animation: Uchiyama Masayuki · Director: Yamauchi Shigeyasu
Gokū Pawā Zenkai!! Ginga no Hate made Rokkakan
Goku’s Power at Full-Force!!
Six Days to the End of the Galaxy
Animation: Ebisawa Yukio · Director: Hashimoto Mitsuo
Ihyō o Tsuita Kōgeki!! Chōrō no Nerai wa Sukautā
Surprise Attack!!
The Elder’s Target was the Scouter
Animation: Takeuchi Tomekichi · Director: Ueda Yoshihiro
Gohan Ayaushi! Shi o Yobu Tsuisekisha Dodoria
Gohan in Peril!
A Pursuing Dodoria Summons Death
Animation: Maeda Minoru · Director: Okazaki Minoru
Bakushi Dodoria! Bejīta no Osoru Beki Shōgekiha
Dodoria Dies by Explosion!
Vegeta’s Fearsome Shockwave
Animation: Uchiyama Masayuki · Director: Yamauchi Shigeyasu
Moeru Wakusei kara no Dasshutsu!! Inochigake no Kamehameha
Escape From a Burning Planet!!
A Life-or-Death Kamehameha
Animation: Shindō Mitsuo · Director: Hashimoto Mitsuo
Yūki Hyakubai! Kaiō no Moto ni Shūketsu Suru Senshi-tachi
Courage Times One Hundred!
The Warriors Gather Under Kaiō
Animation: Ebisawa Yukio · Director: Ueda Yoshihiro
Kike Gokū yo! Furīza ni wa Te o Dasu na
Listen to Me Goku!
Hands Off Freeza
Animation: Shindō Mitsuo · Director: Hashimoto Mitsuo
Hotondo Torihada! Bisenshi Zābon no Akuma no Henshin
Nothing but Goosebumps!
The Handsome Warrior Zarbon’s Devilish Transformation
Animation: Uchiyama Masayuki · Director: Yamauchi Shigeyasu
Kibō no Hoshi o Mamore!! Kuririn Kyōi no Pawā Appu
Defend the Planet of Hope!!
Kuririn’s Astonishing Power-Up
Animation: Takeuchi Tomekichi · Director: Okazaki Minoru
Shi no Fuchi kara Yomigaetta Kiseki no Otoko · Bejīta
Back from the Brink of Death
The Miracle Man, Vegeta
Animation: Uchiyama Masayuki · Director: Orime Tatsuya
Dodekai Sentō-ryoku!! Kudakechiru Furīza no Inbō
An Enormous Battle Power!!
Freeza’s Strategy is Shattered
Animation: Ebisawa Yukio · Director: Ueda Yoshihiro
Genki ga Modotta zo!! Hyakubai Chō-Jūryoku no Naka no Gokū
I’m Back to My Old Self Again!!
Goku Takes on 100 Times Gravity
Animation: Shindō Mitsuo · Director: Yamauchi Shigeyasu
Furīza no Himitsu Heiki! Akuma no Ginyū Tokusentai
Freeza’s Secret Weapon!
The Devilish Ginyu Special-Squad
Animation: Takeuchi Tomekichi · Director: Hashimoto Mitsuo
Buruma ga Abunai!! Sūshinchū wa Furīza no Te ni
Bulma, Watch Out!!
The Four-Star Ball Falls into Freeza’s Hands
Animation: Uchiyama Masayuki · Director: Matsūra Jōhei
Gekitotsu da!! Fukutsu no Toushi no Kaiō-Ken to Kamehameha
Charge!!
The Kaiō-Ken and Kamehameha of an Indomitable Spirit
Animation: Shindō Mitsuo · Director: Ueda Yoshihiro
Semaru Chō-Kessen! Ginyū Tokusentai Tadaima Sanjō!!
The Great Battle Approaches!
The Ginyu Special-Squad Takes the Stage!!
Animation: Ebisawa Yukio · Director: Orime Tatsuya
Gokū ga Daisekkin! Furīza Hōimō o Buchiyabure
Goku on Final Approach!
Smash through Freeza’s Dragnet
Storyboard: Yamauchi Shigeyasu · Director: Fujise Jun’ichi
Chō-Majutsu ka Torikku ka!? Misutā Gurudo ga Okotta!
Is This Some Super-Magic or Just a Trick?!
Mr. Gurd is Angry!
Animation: Takeuchi Tomekichi · Director: Kikuchi Kazuhito
Tatta Hitori no Saishū Kessen ~Furīza ni Idonda Zetto-senshi Son Gokū no Chichi~
A Final, Solitary Battle
The Father of Z-Warrior Son Goku, who Challenged Freeza
Animation: Nakatsuru Katsuyoshi · Director: Hashimoto Mitsuo
Mōi Rikuumu! Warukute Tsuyokute Tondemonai Yatsu
The Savage Recoom!
The Bad, Strong, and Outrageous Guy
Animation: Satou Masaki · Director: Okazaki Minoru
Shinu na Gohan! Gokū · Tsui ni Kessenjō ni Tōchaku da
Don’t Die, Gohan!
Goku Finally Touches Down on the Battlefield
Animation: Shindō Mitsuo · Director: Ueda Yoshihiro
Ketahazure no Tsuyosa!! Densetsu no Sūpā Saiya-jin Son Gokū
Uncommon Strength!!
The Legendary Super Saiyan, Son Goku
Animation: Ebisawa Yukio · Director: Orime Tatsuya
Aka to Ao no Raitoningu Bōru! Jiisu to Baata ga Gokū o Osō
Lightning Balls of Red and Blue!
Jheese and Butta Attack Goku
Animation: Uchiyama Masayuki · Director: Nishio Daisuke
Tsui ni Chokusetsu Taiketsu!! Ginyū Taichō no Odemashi da
At Last, a Direct Confrontation!!
Captain Ginyu Takes the Field
Animation: Shimanuki Masahiro · Director: Fujise Jun’ichi
Susamajī Hakuryoku!! Mita ka, Gokū no Furu Pawā
Incredible Force!!
Did You See It, Goku’s Full Power?
Animation: Shindō Mitsuo · Director: Okazaki Minoru
Tatakai no Yukue!? Saichōrō ni Semaru Furīza no Ma no Te
What of the Battle’s Outcome?!
Freeza’s Evil Hand Closes Around the Eldest
Animation: Maeda Minoru · Director: Ueda Yoshihiro
Bikkuri!! Gokū ga Ginyū de Ginyū ga Gokū
Surprise!!
Goku is Ginyu and Ginyu is Goku
Animation: Ebisawa Yukio · Director: Orime Tatsuya
Ide yo Sūpā Shenron!! Boku no Negai o Kanaetamae
Come Forth, Super Shenlong!!
Grant Me My Wish
Animation: Uchiyama Masayuki · Director: Hashimoto Mitsuo
Yatsu wa Ora ja Nē! Gohan Bibiru na Chichi o Ute!!
That Ain’t Me!
Gohan, Don’t Lose Your Nerve, Hit Your Father!!
Animation: Shindō Mitsuo · Director: Nishio Daisuke
Dai-Gosan!! Ginyū ga Kaeru ni Natchatta
A Huge Miscalculation!!
Ginyu Has Turned into a Frog
Animation: Uchiyama Masayuki · Director: Ueda Yoshihiro













































