Dragon Ball Z: Cooler's Revenge

Lore & Background

The film opens with Cooler watching as his younger brother Frieza destroys Planet Vegeta. Cooler allows a fleeing Saiyan infant's space pod to escape, deeming it Frieza's responsibility. More than 20 years later, that Saiyan, Goku, defeats Frieza on Namek. Learning of his brother's death, Cooler takes his men—Salza, Neiz, and Dore—to Earth to reclaim his family's honor. They ambush Goku and his friends during a camping trip, badly wounding Goku when he protects his son Gohan. Goku goes into hiding while Gohan seeks Senzu beans to heal him. Cooler's men destroy the forest searching for Goku. Piccolo saves Gohan from Cooler's men and kills Dore and Neiz, but Cooler incapacitates Piccolo. Gohan heals Goku with a spare Senzu bean, and Goku emerges to fight Cooler. After Goku proves a worthy opponent, Cooler reveals a final transformation above Frieza's capabilities and pummels Goku. Goku then transforms into a Super Saiyan, outclassing Cooler. Cooler launches a massive ki sphere to destroy Goku and Earth, but Goku's Kamehameha overpowers it, sending Cooler into the sun. As he incinerates, Cooler realizes Goku was the infant he spared. After the battle, Piccolo kills the surviving Salza.

Reader's Guide

Dragon Ball Z: Cooler's Revenge is significant as the first Dragon Ball Z film to feature a villain related to Frieza, expanding the franchise's lore. It was released in Japan on July 20, 1991, at the Toei Anime Fair, between Lord Slug and The Return of Cooler. The film received multiple English dubs: a 1996 Philippine dub by Creative Products Corporation titled Dragon Ball Z: The Greatest Rivals, and a 2002 Funimation dub that aired on Cartoon Network's Toonami in 2003. The Funimation dub included licensed songs from bands like Drowning Pool and Disturbed, later removed due to licensing restrictions. The film was released on DVD and VHS in North America in 2002, and later in a Blu-ray double feature with The Return of Cooler in 2008. Its legacy includes introducing Cooler as a popular antagonist and showcasing Goku's Super Saiyan transformation in a film context.

Did You Know?

• The film's Japanese title translates to 'Dragon Ball Z: The Outstanding Strongest vs. Strongest'.
• Cooler is the estranged older brother of Frieza.
• The film was first released in the Philippines on July 11, 1996, with an English dub by Creative Products Corporation.
• The Funimation English dub originally included songs by Drowning Pool, Disturbed, and Deftones, later removed due to licensing restrictions.