View source for The World of Dragon Ball Z

{{Infobox feature
| image         = [[File:the-world-of-dragonballz-title.png|320px|"The World of Dragon Ball Z" Title Screen]]
| eng_title     = The World of Dragon Ball Z
| release       = May 2000
| running_time  = 20 minutes, 31 seconds
| production    = [[FUNimation|FUNimation Productions, Inc.]]
}}
{{About|the home video bonus feature produced by FUNimation|information about the fictional universe portrayed in the ''Dragon Ball'' franchise|Dragon World}}
"'''The World of Dragon Ball Z'''" is a special feature recapping specific, earlier parts of the ''Dragon Ball'' storyline up through the arrival of [[Future Trunks]], originally produced by [[FUNimation]] for the company's home video releases in 2000 and 2001.

==Summary==
In an age of magical wishes and treacherous tyrants, Dragon Ball Z weaves an epic tale of action and adventure. Now discover the world of Dragon Ball Z from its very beginnings as we take you through the touching moments, awesome battles, and wild humor that has made Dragon Ball Z a classic worldwide.<ref>''[[Dragon Ball Z: Z Warriors Prepare]]'' VHS back cover, 2000, FUNimation</ref>

==Synopsis==
[[File:the-world-of-dragonballz-screen-01.png|thumb|250px|Opening narration introduces the [[Dragon Balls]]]]
[[File:the-world-of-dragonballz-screen-09.png|thumb|250px|[[Future Trunks]] warns of a looming threat: the [[artificial humans]]]]
A one-minute introduction (with animation and narration taken directly from [[FUNimation]]'s 1995 home video release of [[Dragon Ball Movie 1]]) presents the lore of seven [[Dragon Balls]], a [[Shenlong|dragon]] who can grant a single wish when they are gathered, and the scattering of the balls once this wish is made.

''(From this point forward, new narration is provided via [[Christopher R. Sabat]])''

Two races, the [[Tsufruians]] ("Tuffles") and [[Saiyans]], lived together on a distant planet. The Saiyans, who had tails and a passion for fighting, attacked. Though the Tsufruians had advanced technology which held the Saiyans at bay, the full moon allowed the Saiyans to transform into [[Great Ape|Great Apes]]. This allowed the Saiyans to conquer their home planet, now named [[Planet Vegeta]], and move on to conquering other planets; they even sent their own babies to distant planets to exterminate the inhabitants.

A Saiyan baby named "Kakarrot" was sent to Earth, but this extermination never happened; the innocent boy was found in the wild and raised by a martial arts master. As he grew, the boy — now named "[[Son Goku]]" — later teamed up with a girl named [[Bulma]] to find the Dragon Balls, kick-starting their grand adventure together. Goku himself later studies with his new best friend [[Kuririn]] ("Krillin") under the [[Turtle Hermit]] ("Master Roshi"), another martial arts master.

Many years and adventures later, Goku is an adult with his own son, [[Son Gohan|Gohan]]. As the father-and-son duo meet with old friends at [[Kame House]], Goku feels a horrible energy approaching; the villain introduces himself as Goku's brother, [[Raditz]]. The Turtle Hermit tells the story of [[Grandpa Gohan]] finding Goku in a space pod and raising him as his own grandson, confirming Raditz's story of Goku being an alien. Goku is not interested in joining his brother, who proceeds to attack Goku and take Gohan hostage. Goku's arch-rival [[Piccolo]] appears, who suggests the two team up to take on this new alien threat. Goku ultimately gives his life to take him out, though Raditz reveals that two more, even-stronger Saiyans will be on their way to Earth seeking revenge and the Dragon Balls.

In the afterlife, Goku is allowed to travel to train under [[North Kaiō|Kaiō]] ("King Kai"), the Lord of Worlds. It is here that Goku increases his strength even further, learning new techniques including the ''[[Genki-Dama]]'' ("Spirit Bomb"). As the Saiyans approach and arrive on Earth, Goku is wished back to life. [[Yamcha]], [[Chiaotzu]], [[Tenshinhan]] ("Tien"), and [[Piccolo]] all fall before Goku makes it back. Upon arriving, Goku takes out [[Nappa]] and then fights [[Vegeta]], the Saiyan prince. After a long battle, Goku and the remaining Earthlings are triumphant... barely so, but triumphant nonetheless.

To bring everyone back, the heroes plan to travel to [[Planet Namek]] to use the Dragon Balls there; Gohan, Bulma, and Kuririn take off into space while Goku recovers on Earth. It turns out Vegeta arrives on Namek also in search of the Dragon Balls, but even more terrifying is [[Freeza]] ("Frieza").

Goku arrives on Namek and takes on Freeza, now having outclassed the Earthlings with multiple transformations. Following several tragedies, Goku transforms into a [[Super Saiyan]], allowing him to overwhelm Freeza. Even when Goku gives Freeza a chance to leave, he is forced to take out Freeza for good. Meanwhile, Namek is about to explode, and Goku still remains on the planet; with just a few moments to spare, Goku gets aboard a spaceship and ends up crash-landing on a planet called [[Yardrat]], recovering under the supervision of this alien race.

It turns out Freeza has survived, and has been resurrected as a half-cyborg. Seeking revenge, Freeza travels to Earth with [[King Cold|his father]] in tow, only to be interuppted by a young boy... who himself is also capable of becoming a Super Saiyan. This young boy, [[Trunks]], is Vegeta's son from 20 years in the future, who has come to warn everyone of two [[artificial humans]] that will arrive and wreak havoc on Earth in three years' time.

==Production==
[[File:z-warriors-prepare-vhs-cover.png|thumb|250px|"The World of Dragon Ball Z" was first included on the ''[[Dragon Ball Z: Z Warriors Prepare]]'' promotional VHS release in May 2000]]
[[File:prelude-to-terror-v1-world-of-dbz-menu.png|thumb|250px|"The World of Dragon Ball Z" extra sub-menu on [[FUNimation]]'s ''[[Dragon Ball Z: Prelude to Trunks]]'' DVD]]
[[File:Kraft-dinner-dvd.jpg|thumb|250px|Kraft Dinner's "The World of Dragon Ball Z" DVD from a 2005 promotion.<ref name="imissbionix">{{Cite web|URL=http://www.kanzenshuu.com|Website=I Miss Bionix|Title="The Mystery of French Canadian Dragon Ball Z"|Date=10 February 2010|AccessDate=24 March 2020}}</ref>]]
"The World of Dragon Ball Z" was first included on [[FUNimation]]'s ''[[Dragon Ball Z: Z Warriors Prepare]]'' VHS release, available through a special mail-in promotion with the fast-food chain Burger King in May 2000<ref>{{Cite web|URL=https://groups.google.com/d/msg/alt.fan.dragonball/yg4O3H3Ycso/3ZZACzHFAyoJ|Website=alt.fan.dragonball|Title=Today is the day!!|Date=28 May 2000|AccessDate=14 February 2020}}</ref> (though due to the delay of needing to send away for the tape, most did not receive the product itself until June<ref>{{Cite web|URL=https://groups.google.com/d/msg/alt.fan.dragonball/1oIXXieBtpg/7MfCxKykCPoJ|Website=alt.fan.dragonball|Title=My thoughts on the Burger King DBZ Tape|Date=08 June 2000|AccessDate=14 February 2020}}</ref>). The feature was later included on standard FUNimation DVD releases beginning with the ''[[Dragon Ball Z: Trunks - Mysterious Youth]]'' and ''[[Dragon Ball Z: Trunks - Prelude to Terror]]'' DVDs in September 2000.

The special feature's original incarnation exists exclusively in English (English language narration and English dubbed television series footage). At this point in the company's history, FUNimation had produced [[FUNimation Dragon Ball English Dub (1995)|one "season" of the original ''Dragon Ball'' television series (1995)]] and [[FUNimation Dragon Ball Z English Dub (1996-1998)|two "seasons" of the ''Dragon Ball Z'' television series (1996-1998)]] with replacement musical scores and voice talent outsourced to actors in Canada; this was followed by the company bringing all production in-house in Texas (1998), which resulted in additional broadcast seasons of ''Dragon Ball Z'' on [[Cartoon Network]]'s "[[Toonami]]" time slot (1999-2003), along with production picked back up again on the original ''Dragon Ball'' television series to be aired on the same channel (2001-2004). As such, "The World of Dragon Ball Z" only features voice recordings available at the time, switching between the Canadian and American casts depending on the underlying footage being used.

"The World of Dragon Ball Z" is notable for including lines from the original broadcast version of [[FUNimation Dragon Ball Z English Dub (1996-1998) Episode 1|1996's first ''Dragon Ball Z'' episode English dub from FUNimation]], some of which were subsequently altered in later airings and home video releases.

In 2005, Kraft Foods ran a special promotion with its macaroni and cheese dinner multi-packs including a special ''Dragon Ball Z'' DVD entitled "The World of Dragon Ball Z".<ref>{{Cite web|URL=https://www.kanzenshuu.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=41099|Website=Kanzenshuu|Title="SPECIAL DBZ HISTORY DVD - available now."|Date=19 July 2005|AccessDate=24 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|URL=http://forums.redflagdeals.com/dragonball-video-inside-kraft-walmart-10-a-176238/|Website=RedFlagDeals|Title="Kraft Dragonball video inside kraft (at walmart for $10)"|Date=06 July 2005|AccessDate=24 March 2020}}</ref> Effectively serving as DVD complement to the previous ''Z Warriors Prepare'' VHS, the DVD included episodes 124 and 125 of the ''Dragon Ball Z'' television series, as well as FUNimation's "The World of Dragon Ball Z" special feature, all of which included both FUNimation's English dub as well as an entirely new French dub.<ref name="imissbionix"></ref>

==Releases==
"The World of Dragon Ball Z" was included on the following American home video releases:
* [[Dragon Ball Z: Z Warriors Prepare]] (VHS)
* [[Dragon Ball Z: Trunks - Mysterious Youth]] (DVD)
* [[Dragon Ball Z: Trunks - Prelude to Terror]] (DVD)
* [[Dragon Ball Z: The History of Trunks]] (DVD)
* [[Dragon Ball Z: Bardock - The Father of Goku]] (DVD)
* [[Dragon Ball Z: Androids - Invasion]] (DVD)
* [[Dragon Ball Z: Androids - Dr. Gero]] (DVD)
* [[Dragon Ball Z: Androids - Assassins]] (DVD)
* [[Dragon Ball Z: Androids - Invincible]] (DVD)
* Kraft Dinner Presents - Dragon Ball Z: The World of Dragon Ball Z (DVD)

==Main Staff==
[[File:the-world-of-dragonballz-screen-credits.png|thumb|250px|Ending credits to "The World of Dragon Ball Z"]]
The following list provides the main staff responsible for the production of this feature:

* '''Produced by:''' [[FUNimation Productions, Inc.]]
* '''Executive Producers:''' [[Gen Fukunaga]], [[Cindy Brennan Fukunaga]]
* '''Producers:''' [[Daniel Cocanougher]], [[Barry Watson]]
* '''Writers:''' [[Christopher Neel]], [[John Burgmeier]], [[Terry Klassen]], [[Ward Perry]]
* '''Original Music:''' [[Faulconer Productions Music]], [[Bruce Faulconer]]
* '''Synthesist:''' [[Mike Smith]], [[Scott Morgan]]
* '''Music Editor:''' [[Scott Morgan]]
* '''Voice Director:''' [[Christopher Sabat]]
* '''Assistant Voice Director:''' [[John Burgmeier]]
* '''Logo Animation:''' [[Jonathon Vought]]
* '''Voices:''' [[Christopher Sabat]], [[Tiffany Vollmer]], [[Cynthia Cranz]], [[Chris Forbis]], [[Stephanie Nadolny]], [[Dylan Thompson]], [[John Burgmeier]], [[Lydia Mackay]], [[Kent Williams]], [[Linda Young]], [[Brad Jackson]], [[Ceyli Delgadillo]], [[Mike McFarland]], [[Sonny Strait]], [[Sean Schemmel]], [[Monika Antonelli]], [[Dale Kelly|Dale D. Kelley]], [[Eric Vale|Eric Johnson]], [[Ian Corlett]], [[Scott McNeil]], [[Jason Gray-Stanford|Jason Grey Stanford]], [[Terry Klassen]], [[Ward Perry]], [[Alec Willoughs]], [[Brian Drummond]], [[Paul Dobson]], [[Michael Dobson]], [[Don Brown]], [[Doug Parker]], [[Pauline Newstone]], [[Laara Sadiq]], [[Alvin Sanders]], [[Saffron Henderson]], [[Lalania Lindjberg]]
* '''Voice Recording:''' [[FUNimation Studios]], Ft. Worth, Tx.
* '''Voice Recording Engineer:''' [[Moises Vega]]
* '''ADR Engineer:''' [[John Burgmeier]]
* '''Mixing Engineer:''' [[Evan Jones]]
* '''ADR Looping:''' [[Justin Cook]]
* '''Post Production:''' [[FUNimation Productions Inc.]]
* '''Version Editor:''' [[Daniel Mancilla]]
* '''Animation Paint Editing:''' [[Byron Watson]], [[Carly Hunter]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Anime}}
[[Category:Feature]]