2-year time gap

[Valerius Dover]

Ok, so I've been wondering about the time gap between the Frieza and Cell arcs. Sources have said that the time gap is about 2 years, but where did we actually find out about this? It doesn't say so in the dub of the anime, at least. And I find it odd that it would take Frieza so long to get to Earth. The 2 year thing is consistent with Gohan being 11 during the Cell Games, however. It's the Frieza and King Cold thing that bugs me.

So, does it say how much time has passed in the original Japanese version, Kai, or the manga?

[Gyt Kaliba]

I can't answer as to where it's said, but as far as the Freeza taking a while to get to Earth thing...well, we're not really given any indication of how long it took for his body to be rebuilt, but I'd wager it took more than a little bit of time. He probably had to recuperate somewhat for a good while before and after the fact, before he could move out to get to Earth. The animation seems to imply that he woke up almost immediately and said 'let's go', but that just doesn't seem likely.

Heck, the guy just survived a planet exploding in his face, not to mention his completely thrashed ego. I think he was due some down time to rest first.

[Valerius Dover]

Yeah, probably the case. Goku being gone for two years must've really sucked for Gohan and Chi-Chi.

[TheDevilsCorpse]

Actually, Gohan is 10, but physically closer to 11. His birthday is in early May based on him being 16 at the start of the Buu Arc, and yet being 17 by the time of the Tenkaichi Budokai. So he'd have turned 10 by the time of the Jinzoningen attacks.

--Gohan is born before May 7th, AGE 757
--Gohan turns 10 before May 7th, AGE 767
--The 24th Tenkaichi Budoukai is held on May 7th, AGE 767
--The Jinzoningen appear on May 12th, AGE 767
--Gohan exists the RoSaT still at age 10 (but is closer to age 11 physically) on May 17th, AGE 767

As for that specific time gap. The manga says it takes 130 days for the Namekian Dragon Balls to recharge, and they are used twice. This takes us to 260 days after the Freeza battle. We are then given narration that says Trunks arrives about a year after the Namekians leave earth during that last Porunga summoning.

--December 24th, AGE 762 - Goku versus Freeza
--May 3rd, AGE 763 - Prounga revives Kuririn and Yamcha
--September 10th, AGE 763 - Porunga revives Tenshinhan and Chaozu, Namekians go to New Namek
--August, AGE 764 - Trunks versus Freeza

[Valerius Dover]

Oh, I completely forgot about the Porunga thing.

I don't remember any narration in the dub noting time before or after Garlic Jr, though. Also, didn't Gohan celebrate his 11th birthday just before the Cell Games? They left the Hyberbolic Time Chamber just in time for his birthday.
The narrator also said he was 11 (Assuming he meant he was physically 11).

[mAcChaos]

I can't answer as to where it's said, but as far as the Freeza taking a while to get to Earth thing...well, we're not really given any indication of how long it took for his body to be rebuilt, but I'd wager it took more than a little bit of time. He probably had to recuperate somewhat for a good while before and after the fact, before he could move out to get to Earth. The animation seems to imply that he woke up almost immediately and said 'let's go', but that just doesn't seem likely.

Heck, the guy just survived a planet exploding in his face, not to mention his completely thrashed ego. I think he was due some down time to rest first.

Well, it took Vegeta a year to make it to Earth in his space pod. Maybe Freeza was two years away from Earth and got his rest on the way.

[Herms]

The time gap's different between the manga and anime. Like TheDevilsCorpse said, in the manga 260 days pass while they wish everyone back to life, then the narrator says a year passes before Mecha Freeza shows up. In the anime though, for the episode where Mecha Freeza appears, the narrator says it's been a year since Goku and Freeza's battle on Namek. Confusing things even more, the Viz manga translates the "one year later" narration so that it's a little ambiguous whether it means it's been a year since they finished wishing everyone back to life and the Namekians left, or if it's been a year since the battle on Namek.

Also, didn't Gohan celebrate his 11th birthday just before the Cell Games? They left the Hyberbolic Time Chamber just in time for his birthday.

Actually, in the episode they say that it's not really Gohan's birthday. Chi Chi just decides to celebrate it then because Gohan got a year older training in the Room of Spirit and Time.

[Valerius Dover]

Also, didn't Gohan celebrate his 11th birthday just before the Cell Games? They left the Hyberbolic Time Chamber just in time for his birthday.

Actually, in the episode they say that it's not really Gohan's birthday. Chi Chi just decides to celebrate it then because Gohan got a year older training in the Room of Spirit and Time.

They must've left out that detail in the dub, I assume. Just checked the DB wiki.
The narrator's line of one year later after Namek was also left out, so it's left unknown what the time gap is until the Cell Games in the dub.