Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn
A 1995 Dragon Ball Z film featuring Janemba and Fusion Dance.
Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn (Japanese title: *Dragon Ball Z: Fukkatsu no Fusion!! Gokū to Bejīta*, meaning "The Rebirth of Fusion!! Goku and Vegeta") is a 1995 Japanese animated fantasy martial arts film. It is the twelfth movie in the *Dragon Ball Z* series. The film debuted in Japan on March 4, 1995, at the Toei Anime Fair. An English dub by Funimation was released in 2006. It comes after *Dragon Ball Z: Bio-Broly* and before *Dragon Ball Z: Wrath of the Dragon*.
In the afterlife, a teenage oni operating a cleansing machine gets distracted by his loud walkman, causing the machine to explode. The freed evil spirit essence engulfs him, transforming him into Janemba, a massive, childlike monster with the ability to warp dimensions. This event resurrects the dead.
Goku and Pikkon are in a tournament when a strange crystal-like substance appears, interrupting them. The Grand Kai sends them to investigate. They find the afterlife's check-in station encased in a crystal-like barrier that resists their energy blasts. Inside, King Yemma directs them to Janemba, who refuses to lower the barrier. Goku lures Janemba to hell while Pikkon works to free Yemma.
On Earth, zombies, soldiers, and past villains led by Frieza attack a city. Gohan and Videl intervene; Gohan destroys Frieza, causing the villains to flee. The group, along with Bulma, Goten, and Trunks, gathers the Dragon Balls and summons Shenron. They ask him to rebuild the barrier between the living and dead, but Shenron cannot, as only Yemma controls the afterlife's boundaries.
In hell, Janemba uses his unorthodox powers to overpower Goku until Goku powers up to Super Saiyan 3, shaking Other World. Goku seemingly kills Janemba, but the monster transforms into a smaller, far more powerful form: Super Janemba. Goku is overwhelmed, but Vegeta, having regained his physical body, arrives to help. Even together, the two Saiyans are no match and are forced to hide. Goku proposes the Fusion Dance, but Vegeta pridefully refuses.
Pikkon continues trying to free Yemma without success. In anger, he insults the crystal substance, causing it to crack slightly, but his worst insults do not enough damage. He decides to aid Goku and Vegeta. After much persuasion, Vegeta agrees to fuse, but he fails to extend his forefinger correctly, resulting in a weak, obese fusion named Veku. Super Janemba beats Veku severely, nearly
- release_date
- March 4, 1995 (Japan)
- director
- Not specified in source
- field
- Animated fantasy martial arts film
- nationality
- Japanese
- known_for
- 12th Dragon Ball Z film; introduces Janemba and Super Gogeta
- box_office
- ¥2.16 billion ($23 million) in Japan; $540,707 in U.S. limited release
- running_time
- Not specified in source
Lore & Background
In the film, a teenage oni in the afterlife accidentally causes a cleansing machine to explode, releasing evil spirit essence that transforms him into Janemba, a monster with dimensional manipulation abilities. This resurrects the dead, causing chaos on Earth as villains like Frieza attack cities. Goku and Pikkon investigate the disturbance, while Gohan, Videl, Goten, and Trunks gather the Dragon Balls to restore the barrier between worlds, but only King Yemma can do so.
Goku fights Janemba in hell, powering up to Super Saiyan 3, but Janemba transforms into a more powerful Super Janemba. Vegeta regains his physical body and joins Goku, but they are outmatched. After a failed fusion attempt producing the weak Veku, Goku and Vegeta successfully perform the Fusion Dance, becoming Super Gogeta, who defeats Janemba and restores order. The film ends with the deceased returning to the afterlife and a post-credits scene of Shenron still summoned.
Reader's Guide
Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn is significant as the 12th Dragon Ball Z film, introducing the popular villain Janemba and the fusion character Super Gogeta. It sold 3.2 million tickets in Japan and grossed ¥2.16 billion. The film was released on multiple home video formats, including a Blu-ray set that initially contained a disclaimer about potentially inappropriate content but was later found to be censored, leading Toei to apologize and offer refunds. The English dub by Funimation featured a score by Nathan Johnson and Dave Moran, with an alternate track using original Japanese music. The film's legacy includes its role in the Dragon Ball franchise's exploration of afterlife and fusion mechanics, and its limited theatrical re-release in 2018 as part of a Saiyan Double Feature with Bardock – The Father of Goku.
Did You Know?
- The film's closing theme 'Saikyō no Fusion' was performed by Hironobu Kageyama and charted at 95 on Oricon.
- A second English dub produced by Speedy Video in Malaysia is known for poor grammar, voice acting, and low-quality video.
- The Blu-ray release initially claimed content was unaltered for historical value, but actually removed characters giving the middle finger; Toei apologized and offered refunds.
- The film was preceded by Dragon Ball Z: Bio-Broly and followed by Dragon Ball Z: Wrath of the Dragon.
More in Dragon Ball animated films 1-23
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