AKA Dragon Ball Z Movie 02: Kono Yo de Ichiban Tsuyoi Yatsu

Continuing my quest to get through all of the various Dragonball movies throughout these next few months, brings me to Dragon Ball Z: The World’s Strongest. Released in 1990, this film is the second feature film in the Dragon Ball Z film series Directed by Daisuke Nishio. Until recently, these films were shorter in length than a traditional feature film, and meant to be shown as part of a double bill or festival screening during Japanese vacations such as Golden Week. In my opinion, World’s Strongest feels the most like a true “first Dragonball Z movie” considering I felt that Dead Zone largely was nearly identical in tone to the original series.

“In his laboratory, biotechnology expert Dr. Kochin gathers the dragon balls intending to free his master Dr. Uirou, a mad scientist hellbent on ruling the world, forever frozen in the never-melting ice of the Tsurumai-Tsuburi Mountains. Under the impression of Master Roshi being the strongest man in the world, Dr. Kochin takes Bulma hostage, forcing Roshi’s agreement to accompany him in mysterious plans involving his master. Who are Dr. Kochin and Dr. Uirou? What even is their purpose?”

The plot centers around Dr. Kochin, an evil scientist who resurrects his mentor, Dr. Wheelo (Uiro in the Japanese version), whose brain has been preserved in a robotic body after an avalanche buried their laboratory. Dr. Wheelo’s primary goal is to find the world’s strongest body to transplant his brain into, and after a few missteps, such as believing that Master Roshi still fit the bill after fifty years, he sets his sights on none other than Goku. With this setup, the film dives into a series of intense battles and showcases the signature high-stakes combat of the Dragon Ball Z universe.

With the short runtime in mind, The World’s Strongest wastes no time in establishing the stakes, throwing Goku and his friends into a perilous situation that requires them to confront Dr. Wheelo’s monstrous Bio-Warriors. First off is Kishime, who has the ability to sprout electric tentacles he uses as whips. Next up is Misokatsun, who seems to be hollow and gaseous like a balloon, allowing him to float and absorb attacks. Finally, Ebifurya has the ability to freeze his opponents. They are led by Dr. Kochin, who has secrets of his own, and Dr. Wheelo, who is revealed to be a gigantic brain-controlled mecha-suit. The villains may seem like an unorthodox cadre of atypical villains for a Dragon Ball Z film, but welcome the change of pace from what would come later in the franchise.

The animation quality, particularly for the early ’90s, holds up well, with fluid fight choreography and vivid, colorful designs that these movies always excel at, well, at least the ones I’ve seen. I also enjoyed seeing characters that normally don’t get the spotlight due to Goku’s immense power later in the timeline in the forefront. For example, Master Roshi, often relegated to a comic relief role in the series, gets a moment to shine early in the film, reminding audiences of his own strength and fighting prowess. I often like movies that do this, if you recall I absolutely gushed about the film Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero simply because it put Gohan and Piccolo in the forefront and found something for almost every major side character to do.

Even with that said, Goku, as expected, is still the film’s focal point, and his trademark determination and fighting spirit are on full display. His battles with Dr. Wheelo’s henchmen, including the aforementioned Bio-Warriors and the climactic showdown with Dr. Wheelo himself, are pretty cool. I did find it a bit disappointing that this is the second of three straight films in which the villain is defeated using the same technique, largely due to the proximity of these films to the beginning of the show. At this point, Spirit Bomb was basically Goku’s “finishing move” if I were to relate this to wrestling, and man did he use it. I almost should go back and watch the original show or Dragon Ball Z Kai to see if it’s that prevalent, but I don’t remember him doing it THAT much.

The World’s Strongest, despite all the positive things I’ve outlined, is not without its shortcomings. The storyline, while serviceable for an action film, lacks depth and character development. Dr. Wheelo and Dr. Kochin are rather one-dimensional villains with motivations that don’t extend far beyond the standard “world domination” trope. The Bio-Warriors have even less character and exist simply to get beaten up by Goku. The film’s brisk pace, while keeping the action tight, leaves little room for exploring the characters’ backgrounds or the implications of Dr. Wheelo’s resurrection.

I think the biggest shortcoming is that this movie basically has a similar plot to Dead Zone. A villain has kidnapped Gohan (and Roshi and Bulma), this angers Goku so he shows up to fight him. Piccolo has been briefly turned bad, and Goku has to fight all the adversity. There’s a lot of talk about just how powerful Gohan actually is, and Goku kills the villain with a Spirit Bomb. This is a vague description of this film, Dead Zone, and to a degree the following film, The Tree of Might. The formula works, but one would hope that the writers would deviate from such obvious parallels. Most people, unlike me, wouldn’t have been watching these all in a row like this, so I’m sure this wouldn’t have been so obvious.

In conclusion, Dragon Ball Z: The World’s Strongest is a solid entry in the Dragon Ball film lineup. The movie feels like the bridge between the two franchises with only some whimsical things such as another humorous Gohan musical number held over from Dead Zone. While it may not reach the emotional or narrative heights of some of the series’ later films, it offers an enjoyable and action-packed experience that captures the essence of the early Dragon Ball Z era. Fans of the series will find much to appreciate, from the nostalgic animation style to the thrilling fight scenes that remain a hallmark of the franchise. It is by no means perfect, but I liked it! Next up is the Dragon Ball Z movie I remember being a huge deal on Toonami when I was in high school, and perhaps one of the more famous entries.