Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies
First alternate continuity film in the Dragon Ball franchise.
Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies is a 1986 Japanese animated film that blends martial arts, fantasy, and adventure. It serves as the first alternate continuity among the feature films in the Dragon Ball anime franchise, which itself is based on Akira Toriyama's manga. The movie offers a reworked version of the manga's opening story arc, replacing the usual antagonist Emperor Pilaf with an original character named King Gurumes, who was designed for the film by Toriyama himself. The story follows Goku as he first meets Bulma, along with Oolong, Yamcha, Puar, and eventually Master Roshi, during his initial quest for the Dragon Balls.
The film premiered in Japan on December 20, 1986, at the Toei Manga Matsuri film festival, where it was part of a triple feature alongside Gegege no Kitarō Gekitotsu!! Ijigen Yōkai no Dai Hanran and Kinnikuman – Seigi Choujin vs. Senshi Choujin. It was later followed by Dragon Ball: Sleeping Princess in Devil's Castle.
In the plot, King Gurumes' soldiers destroy farmland and homes in search of Blood Rubies, also called Ritch Stones. His enforcers, Pasta and Bongo, also hunt for the Dragon Balls. Since finding the rubies, Gurumes has been cursed, turning into a large purple monster with an endless hunger, and he wants to use the Dragon Balls to break the curse. A girl named Pansy, after seeing her father beaten by Bongo, sets out to find help.
Goku, a strong young boy with a monkey tail, lives alone on Mount Paozu. While fishing, he meets Bulma, a blue-haired teenage girl searching for the Dragon Balls with a Dragon Radar. After initial confusion, Goku learns she is human and tells her his late grandfather left him a Dragon Ball. Pasta and Bongo steal it, leaving a gold coin, but Goku defeats them with his Power Pole.
That night, Goku and Bulma find Pansy being harassed by Oolong, a shape-shifting monster. Goku scares him off, then chases and subdues him, discovering Oolong is actually a pig. They then encounter Yamcha, the Desert Bandit, and his sidekick Puar. Goku and Yamcha fight until Bulma appears, causing Yamcha to flee due to his fear of beautiful women. At Oolong's camp, Pansy explains her people's suffering and her plan to seek Master Roshi's help. Yamcha and Puar overhear and decide to follow the group, hoping to wish away Yamcha's shyness around girls.
The group reaches Master Roshi's island, but Yamcha tricks
- Release date
- December 20, 1986
- Country
- Japan
- Genre
- Animated martial arts fantasy adventure
- Director
- Not specified in source
- Based on
- Manga by Akira Toriyama
- Box office
- 2.4 million tickets; net distribution rental income of ¥800 million ($5 million)
Lore & Background
The film depicts how Goku meets Bulma, Oolong, Yamcha, Puar, and Master Roshi during his first search for the Dragon Balls. King Gurumes and his enforcers Pasta and Bongo seek the Dragon Balls to cure a curse that turns Gurumes into a large, purple monster with an insatiable hunger. A girl named Pansy seeks help after her father is beaten by Bongo. Goku and his allies eventually confront Gurumes, and Shenron grants Pansy's wish to restore the land.
Reader's Guide
Curse of the Blood Rubies was originally released at the Toei Manga Matsuri film festival as part of a triple feature. It was followed by Dragon Ball: Sleeping Princess in Devil's Castle. The film was later licensed for English-language releases by Harmony Gold USA and then by Funimation Productions. The Funimation dub featured an English version of the Japanese theme songs. At the Japanese box office, the film sold 2.4 million tickets and earned a net distribution rental income of ¥800 million ($5 million).
Did You Know?
- King Gurumes and other new characters were designed for the film by Akira Toriyama.
- The film was shown as part of a triple feature at the Toei Manga Matsuri film festival.
- The Harmony Gold English dub aired on December 28, 1989, on WPSG Philly 57 in Philadelphia.
- The Funimation English dub was premiered in syndication on September 9, 1995.
More in Dragon Ball animated films 1-23
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