Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug
A 1991 Dragon Ball Z film featuring the Super Namekian Lord Slug.
Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug (released in Japan as Dragon Ball Z: Super Saiyan Son Goku) is a 1991 Japanese animated science fiction martial arts film. It is the fourth feature film in the Dragon Ball Z series. The movie premiered in Japan on March 9 at the Toei Anime Fair, shown alongside the first Magical Taruruto-kun film. It came after Dragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might and before Dragon Ball Z: Cooler's Revenge.
In the story, Gohan visits Piccolo and whistles a new tune, which hurts Piccolo due to his Namekian hearing. They sense a threat from space. Bulma and her father detect a meteor carrying lifeforms heading toward Earth. Goku and Krillin try to stop it with ki blasts but are knocked out; the meteor explodes, and a spaceship lands in a city. Alien soldiers declare Earth under the rule of Lord Slug. Gohan defends civilians but loses a Dragon Ball sewn onto his hat. Slug reads Bulma’s mind to find her Dragon Ball radar, gathers the Dragon Balls, and summons Shenron to grant him eternal youth. Earth’s life begins to die.
Goku and Krillin are revived by Yajirobe. Gohan attacks Slug’s army but is nearly killed; Piccolo rescues him. Piccolo kills the henchman Wings, while Gohan struggles with Medamatcha. Piccolo is injured saving Gohan from a ki blast. Goku arrives, kills Medamatcha and Angila, then fights Slug. Overwhelmed, Goku transforms into a Super Saiyan in rage. Slug reveals he is a Namekian; King Kai warns Goku that Slug is a "Super Namekian" from a violent warrior bloodline. Slug grows giant and crushes Goku. Piccolo intervenes, tears off his ears, and calls for Gohan to whistle. The whistling weakens Slug, allowing Piccolo to transfer his ki to Goku. Goku flies through Slug’s abdomen, incapacitates him, then creates a Spirit Bomb. He launches it at Slug, destroying him and his machines, saving Earth.
The opening theme is "Cha-La Head-Cha-La" by Hironobu Kageyama. The insert song is "Kuchibue no Kimochi" with whistling by Hajime Ueshiba. The ending theme is "Ya" na Koto ni wa Genki-Dama!!" performed by Hironobu Kageyama with Shines. Funimation’s English dub included songs by Finger Eleven, Dust for Life, Deftones, Disturbed, and others, later removed due to licensing. Bruce Faulconer and Evan Jones composed background music for that dub; a 2008 remastered version replaced the opening with a track by Mark Menza. The Double Feature release offers an
- Release year
- 1991
- Country
- Japan
- Genre
- Animated science fiction martial arts film
- Director
- Not specified in source
- Box office (Japan)
- ¥2.21 billion ($16.4 million), 3.6 million tickets
- Preceded by
- Dragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might
- Followed by
- Dragon Ball Z: Cooler's Revenge
Lore & Background
The film follows Gohan visiting Piccolo and whistling a new tune, which causes Piccolo pain due to his advanced Namekian hearing. They sense an approaching threat from outer space. Bulma and her father discover a meteor harboring lifeforms heading toward Earth. Goku and Krillin attempt to intercept it but are rendered unconscious. A spaceship lands, and an army of humanoid alien soldiers declares Earth under the rule of Lord Slug. Slug's henchmen gather the Dragon Balls and summon Shenron, who grants Slug eternal youth. Goku eventually fights Slug, who reveals his Namekian heritage. King Kai warns that Slug is a 'Super Namekian.' Slug assumes a giant form, but Piccolo and Gohan use whistling to weaken him. Goku powers up, flies through Slug's abdomen, and finishes him with a Spirit Bomb.
Reader's Guide
Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug is significant as the fourth Dragon Ball Z feature film, introducing the antagonist Lord Slug, a 'Super Namekian' warrior. The film sold 3.6 million tickets and grossed ¥2.21 billion at the Japanese box office. It features the opening theme 'Cha-La Head-Cha-La' and insert song 'Kuchibue no Kimochi.' The film received multiple English dubs, including a Funimation dub with a soundtrack by bands like Finger Eleven and Disturbed, later removed due to licensing restrictions. It was released on VHS in North America in 2001 and on Blu-ray in 2008 as part of a double feature with The Tree of Might. The film's legacy includes its role in expanding the Dragon Ball Z film series and its various international releases.
Did You Know?
- The film was originally released in Japan on March 9 at the Toei Anime Fair as part of a double feature with the first Magical Taruruto-kun film.
- Lord Slug is revealed to be a 'Super Namekian,' a bloodline of violent warriors obsessed with power.
- The Funimation English dub included songs by Finger Eleven, Disturbed, and Deftones, which were later removed due to licensing restrictions.
- A third English version was produced and released exclusively in Malaysia by Speedy Video with an unknown voice cast.
More in Dragon Ball animated films 1-23
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