Theme Information

Animations

First TV Series Animation

Usage: Dragon Ball Z Episodes 001-021
The first of the series’ opening animations draws its inspiration from the beginning of the series, specifically of Son Goku’s new son Gohan. The animation provides some foreshadowing of Gohan’s eventual training and his hidden powers, but also showcases the remainder of main cast as seen at the end of the Dragon Ball TV series. This first opening animation would go on to be the basis for every other “CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA” based opening animation used during the first 199 episodes of the TV series.

Second TV Series Animation

Usage: Dragon Ball Z Episodes 022-117
The second opening animation used for the TV series was slightly modified version of the first TV series animation. The two significant changes include the addition of Gohan running along Shenlong’s back, something that would be carried through into the next opening animation, and the addition of Vegeta and Nappa’s ghostly figures walking through a wall of fire. This new opening animation coincides with Vegeta and Nappa’s first appearance on Earth in the previous episode.

Third TV Series Animation

Usage: Dragon Ball Z Episodes 118-199
As with the second opening animation, this animation is a slightly modified version of the previous opening animation. This time there were a few more significant changes that took place, including the firey Saiyans being replaced with some foreshadowing Doctor Gero images, Tenshinhan and Yamcha’s attack scenes being replaced with Super Saiyan Vegeta and Trunks, and the ending group scene being updated with more relevant characters. This new opening animation coincides with Freeza and King Cold’s appearance on Earth in the next episode.

Dragon Ball Z Movie Animation

Other than Dragon Ball Z Movie 3, the first nine Dragon Ball Z movie opening animations are a widescreen version of one of the three “CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA” animations used in the Dragon Ball Z TV series. The only movie animation with any alterations appeared in Dragon Ball Z Movie 6, in which the “Z” scrolling across the Dragon Ball at the beginning of the opening animation is not used and “CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA” begins playing while Dende is still on the screen. Here is a quick break-down of each animation:

• Dragon Ball Z Movie 1 – widescreen version of the first animation
• Dragon Ball Z Movie 2 – widescreen version of the second animation
• Dragon Ball Z Movie 4 – widescreen version of the second animation
• Dragon Ball Z Movie 5 – widescreen version of the second animation
• Dragon Ball Z Movie 6 – widescreen version of the third animation
• Dragon Ball Z Movie 7 – widescreen version of the third animation
• Dragon Ball Z Movie 8 – widescreen version of the third animation
• Dragon Ball Z Movie 9 – widescreen version of the third animation

Dragon Ball Z Movie 3 Animation

The opening animation of this film is set to the “CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA” theme, as used in the Dragon Ball Z TV series. However, it was the first theatrical Dragon Ball Z movie to receive a newly animated opening animation, as opposed to the traditional opening animation used in the TV series. The animations ties in with the movie’s plot and follows Gohan and the other’s search for the Dragon Balls to restore the forest that had been burned down.

Dragon Ball “Jump Super Anime Tour” Special Animation

When the Dragon Ball “Jump Super Anime Tour” special premiered, it was accompanied with a new opening animation. This opening animation would use “CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA” as its theme and was based upon the TV series’ animations, although updated to reflect the current Majin Boo era characters. When placed side-by-side, this newly animated opening almost precisely lines up with the original third TV series animation of “CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA” (both are exactly 1 minute and 50 seconds long).

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