10 Iconic Dragon Ball Z Scenes Ruined by Terrible Animation Choices

Akira Toriyama’s “Dragon Ball” series is highly acclaimed in the world of anime and continues to be seen as a benchmark for battle shonen storytelling. Each iteration of “Dragon Ball,” including its various anime adaptations, brings something unique to the mix, contributing to an overall cohesive narrative. Notably, among these versions, “Dragon Ball Z” is often considered the peak of the franchise and introduced some of the most iconic concepts from “Dragon Ball,” such as Super Saiyan transformations and fusion.

In the original manga of Dragon Ball by Toriyama, the artwork is remarkably consistent, creating a sense of disappointment when Toei Animation’s adaptation of the series has to make compromises or fails to meet viewers’ expectations due to a demanding production schedule. Shows like Dragon Ball Z can occasionally be affected by such constraints, leading to shortcuts being taken. For instance, there have been debates about animation reductions in the early episodes of Dragon Ball Super, but even Dragon Ball Z itself has some visually disappointing moments that take away from key scenes and are hard to ignore.

Dragon Ball Z, Movie 6, “The Return Of Cooler”

In comparison to regular episodes of Dragon Ball Z, the movies tend to have larger budgets and longer production times, resulting in more polished products with visually superior quality. The anticipation was particularly high for the sixth movie, Dragon Ball Z: The Return of Cooler, as it marked a sequel for the franchise. While The Return of Cooler is generally considered one of the better Dragon Ball Z movies and features Vegeta for the first time, there are some noticeably rough scenes in the film’s initial part.

In some instances, the character designs, particularly those featuring Goku and Meta-Cooler, are quite poorly executed. Despite the great buildup to this rematch between Goku and Cooler, the excitement is often undermined as Goku’s portrayal in certain scenes appears comically unconvincing, which weakens the impact of many key moments.

Dragon Ball Z, Episode 197, “Water Fight”

The idea behind Dragon Ball Z is fascinating, and the show definitely capitalizes on its unique, well-crafted characters. However, even an epic final battle like Goku’s against Pikkon can’t salvage a tournament if the buildup to the finals is lackluster. In episode 197, “Water Fight,” Dragon Ball Z presents several significant battles, making it quite busy.

In a more relaxed pacing, certain battles might have been more impactful, such as Goku’s battle with Arqua that dominates the entire episode. This particular episode showcases hurried movements and character designs that veer into over-the-top comedy. Additionally, there are some questionable decisions and shortcuts in the fight between Pikkon and Olibu, which doesn’t benefit either character.

Dragon Ball Z, Episode 51, “Vegeta Has A Ball”

For the first time, Vegeta joins forces with the Z-Fighters on the alien planet Namek, encountering even more formidable challenges. Earlier, Vegeta reveled in disrupting peace and hoarding Dragon Balls, using fear to control the indigenous Namekians. As Dragon Ball Z‘s Namek Saga unfolds, it’s both thrilling and nerve-wracking to witness Vegeta’s power surge and scale new heights.

Later on in Dragon Ball Super, it’s shown that Vegeta has been haunted by the guilt of his past ruthless actions for many years, which gives these scenes a different perspective. In Dragon Ball Z, there is a challenging contradiction when depicting the pivotal moment where Vegeta takes another Dragon Ball. At this point, Vegeta needs to appear menacing, but his clumsy character design and awkward limbs make him seem more comedic than threatening. These incongruous visuals undoubtedly detract from the intended tense atmosphere.

Dragon Ball Z, Episode 104, “Frieza Defeated”

One significant fight in Dragon Ball Z is often eagerly awaited by viewers, who have followed this prolonged conflict for numerous episodes. The climax of Goku defeating Frieza decisively brings a sense of release and fulfillment. Regrettably, certain aspects of the final stages of their confrontation are marred by subpar animation quality. Occasionally, inconsistent character models and awkward visuals can be seen.

The issue arises significantly during the confrontation between Super Saiyan Goku and Frieza, as Goku strikes and scolds Frieza for his persistent wickedness. This moment was intended to be a dramatic turning point in the battle, but it becomes challenging not to become bewildered by Goku’s exaggerated physique and actions. It’s unfortunate when a show’s potent protagonist inadvertently becomes an unusual spectacle.

Dragon Ball Z, Episode 186, “The Unstoppable Gohan”

A less than stellar animated episode can dilute a compelling narrative, but the annoyance is amplified when a visually unimpressive episode follows one of the series’ best. This sudden shift in quality, or “visual jarring,” serves to underscore the weaker episode’s flaws, particularly if it’s watched immediately after its superior predecessor. Unfortunately, this can mar an otherwise inspiring moment and detract from the overall viewing experience.

The visually stunning transition of Gohan into Super Saiyan 2 and his dismantling of the Cell Juniors beautifully captures the intensity of the moment. However, in an episode that follows, the focus shifts to Cell, where the depiction of Super Saiyan 2 Gohan’s model seems unrefined and lacking in detail in many scenes. This episode appears to be visually flat compared to its predecessor, giving the impression that all of Toei’s creative resources were channeled into the prior episode.

Dragon Ball Z, Episode 84, “Dende’s Demise”

In Dragon Ball Z, a remarkable amount of suspense is built as Frieza progresses through his transformations, ultimately reaching his final form. There are some truly memorable instances resulting from Vegeta, Piccolo, Gohan, and Krillin’s attempts to outmaneuver this formidable adversary. However, the battle against Frieza, though intense, is intermittently affected by segments of filler and exclusive anime content that can negatively impact the flow and narrative progression. Some of these elements seep into the climax of the heroes’ confrontation with Frieza prior to Goku joining the fray.

One significant advantage the heroes possess is Dende’s healing power, which Vegeta strategically uses to become stronger via Saiyans’ Zenkai boosts. Frieza realizes this tactic and targets Dende accordingly. The fact that Vegeta fails to harm Frieza’s fourth form, and Goku reaches a dismal low point with the heroes, sets the stage for him to be a symbol of hope. However, hurried visuals for Frieza and Vegeta detract from the full emotional impact this scene should have had.

Dragon Ball Z, Episode 265, “Majin Buu Transforms”

In many ways, the storyline of Dragon Ball Z is centered around the concept that Gohan will surpass his father and emerge as Earth’s most powerful hero. The Buu Saga offers Gohan an opportunity for success when he undergoes Old Kai’s Ultimate transformation, enabling him to reach his full potential. However, despite this immense potential, Ultimate Gohan is given limited screen time, making the lack of attention and care given to him more disappointing, especially compared to less significant Buu Saga battles.

In a challenging part of the series, Super Buu swallows both Gotenks and Piccolo prior to confronting Ultimate Gohan. This battle sequence has some awkward close-ups of Gohan’s face, while the broader shots present distorted character proportions. These cringe-worthy instances add to the overall dissatisfaction with Ultimate Gohan. Despite some beautifully animated moments, like when Buu absorbs Gotenks, the quality is uneven throughout this fight.

Dragon Ball Z, Episode 156, “Bow To The Prince”

During training with Future Trunks in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, Vegeta feels invincible and believes he surpasses Semi-Perfect Cell. He starts referring to himself as “Super Vegeta” and shows his power in Super Saiyan Second Grade form, making him incredibly fierce. However, the character portrayal of Vegeta in Episode 156 of Dragon Ball Z titled “Bow to the Prince” has trouble maintaining a consistent image of the character. This double-edged sword of confidence sometimes leads to victories, but it can also result in failures.

In this particular episode, the design and especially the face of the character Vegeta appears inconsistent. Additionally, there are some color choices that seem out of place in specific scenes. The title sequence “Bow to the Prince” also stalls on a menacing image of Vegeta, but it fails to live up to its intended impact. Ultimately, Dragon Ball Z’s prolonged focus on a less-than-impressive visual detracts from an otherwise thrilling episode finale.

Dragon Ball Z, Episode 278, “True Saiyans Fight Alone”

The Buu Saga in Dragon Ball Z is known for having filler content, but some of these original scenes carry meaning and depth. During his hunt for Goku and Vegeta, Kid Buu takes a chilling diversion, hiding the true location of the pair from him. In episode 278, titled “True Saiyans Fight Alone,” there are lighthearted sparring matches, including one between Krillin and Yamcha. Later on, Krillin, Pikkon, and Olibu join forces to combat Kid Buu.

It strikes me how frequently the same shots appear, and I can’t help but notice some animation oversights as well. In certain scenes, character coloration seems off, while details like Yamcha’s halo are inconsistent. These issues become more glaring in contrast to one of Dragon Ball Z’s visually stunning episodes that follows.

Dragon Ball Z, Episode 178, “Cell’s Bag Of Tricks”

The Cell Saga of Dragon Ball Z offers a thrilling shift in the series’ usual pattern, as it deviates from its traditional plot where Goku defeats the main villain and saves the day. Instead, this saga surprises us by not only killing off Goku, but also transforming him into the first Super Saiyan 2 combatant. A gripping battle unfolds between Goku and Perfect Cell, culminating in Goku’s decision to step down from the fight and pass the mantle to Gohan.

It’s quite disappointing when the intense battle between Goku and Perfect Cell unfolds, but the animation doesn’t measure up during the key action scenes. Worse yet, both characters display an impressive array of moves, making the visual shortcomings even more noticeable. This issue is particularly apparent when Cell uses his Multi-Form Technique, attacking Goku with numerous clones, which puts a real strain on the visuals during the fight’s most crowded sequences.

2025-05-24 03:32