Dragon Ball: The Path to Power

Dragon Ball: The Path to Power (Japanese: ドラゴンボール 最強への道, Hepburn: Doragon Bōru Saikyō e no Michi) is a 1996 Japanese animated fantasy martial arts adventure film. It is the seventeenth film based on Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball manga and the last in the series to use cel animation. The film retells the original Dragon Ball anime in an alternate way, combining elements from the early Dragon Ball search and the later Red Ribbon Army story. It premiered in Japan on March 2 at the Toei Anime Fair, alongside the film version of Neighborhood Story. Produced to mark the tenth anniversary of the original Dragon Ball anime, it was also the last Dragon Ball film released in theaters until Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods in 2013.

The story follows Goku, a monkey-tailed boy with superhuman strength and martial arts skills, living alone on Mount Paozu. After catching a fish, he is nearly hit by a girl in a car named Bulma. Mistaking the car for a monster, he flips it over, but Bulma shoots him. Believing she is a demon, he is eventually convinced she is human. Remembering his grandfather’s advice to be kind to girls, he invites her inside. Goku shows Bulma an orange glowing ball he thinks is his grandfather. Bulma explains the legend of the Dragon Balls and the Eternal Dragon, offering to let Goku feel her up to persuade him to join her. When that fails, she says it will make him stronger, and he agrees, beginning their journey.

In a forest, they stop for a bull-like creature demanding the girl. Goku fights it, but it transforms into a robot and then a bat. After five minutes, it reverts to Oolong, a pig. Yamcha then attacks, demanding capsules and money. Puar recognizes Oolong and scolds him for his behavior at Shapeshifting School. Yamcha fights Goku and seems to win until Bulma wakes up, shocking him into retreating with Puar.

The group drives north toward the next Dragon Ball, spotting a huge metal tower. Soldiers welcome them to Muscle Tower, and Goku fights them all. Inside, he defeats Major Metallitron, discovering it was a robot. General White of the Red Ribbon Army orders his forces to attack, but Goku pushes through to White’s room. White activates Android 8, who nearly strangles Goku but refuses to kill him. White threatens to detonate the android, but Goku saves him. They become friends, and Goku nicknames him "Eighter." They end up having a snowball fight w