CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA

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CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA is the first opening theme song for the Dragon Ball Z TV anime series, used from episode 1 until episode 199. It was written by Yukinojō Mori with vocals by Hironobu Kageyama. As the major theme used by the program for much of its run, the animation behind CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA was updated twice (in episodes 22 and 118) to reflect the changing plot and antagonists for the series. A widescreen version was also used for the first nine Dragon Ball Z movies, with special animation commissioned for Dragon Ball Z Movie 3 to reflect the plot of that film. Fifteen years after its last use in the anime, CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA was once again used as the opening theme of Dragon Ball: Heya! Son Goku and Friends Return!!, the Jump Super Anime Tour special. That version featured updated animation, as if the original has been further progressed into the Boo-arc and its characters.

Credits

• Lyrics: Yukinojō Mori
• Composition: Chiho Kiyo'oka
• Arrangement: Kenji Yamamoto
• Vocals: Hironobu Kageyama

Variations

Original Version

The original version and its variations over the run of the first portion of Dragon Ball Z depict Son Gohan's training, highlighting him as the key new character in the Z series.

Document original version used in episodes 1 - 21

Character Appearances:

Todo: Document which opening sequence scenes were taken from specific episodes

Second Version

Document second version used in episodes 22 - 117

Third Version

Document third version used in episodes 118 - 199

Homage during the Cell Games

During the Cell Games, the animators made several callbacks to this original opening theme, already nearing the end of its run. In Dragon Ball Z Episode 178, Son Goku was in the early stages of his battle against Cell. As a display of power, Goku charged up his ki and then expelled it in a lightning-backed explosion that closely mirrored the same animation in the opening, albeit with Son Goku as a Super Saiyan rather than being in his base form. In the following episode, Piccolo was hit by a shockwave caused by that continuing battle. His silhouette against the explosion called back to a similar moment in the same opening animation.

• Episode 178 Homage
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  Episode 178 features the same flex...
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  ...and the same lightening and aura effect.

• Episode 179 Homage
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  Episode 179 shows Piccolo silhouetted against an explosion with the same cape movement and light effects.