Dragon Ball Z: Wrath of the Dragon

Dragon Ball Z: Wrath of the Dragon

Animated Movie
Released: 15/07/1995
+4
Balance
+4 -0
Score weighted by each hero's level: a recommendation from a level 3 hero counts for 3.
5.0/5
1
Reviews
Ranking among animated movies: #8 Action #9 Adventure
Tome
From the editors, by Tome Updated on 02/04/2026

When Dragons Roar and Legends Awaken

Imagine a cityscape suddenly dwarfed by a colossal dragon, its scales shimmering with every movement. This is the visual majesty that "Dragon Ball Z: Wrath of the Dragon" brings to life, offering fans a moment of awe amid its high-stakes narrative. Produced by the inventive minds at Toei Animation, this film stands out in the Dragon Ball Z franchise for its blend of mythic storytelling and kinetic action.

The Story

In this original tale, beloved hero Goku and his friends find themselves facing an ancient threat unleashed by the opening of a mysterious music box. Enter Tapion, a warrior from another era with secrets tied to the fearsome dragon Hirudegarn. The narrative expertly intertwines past and present as our heroes navigate alliances and confront an unimaginable force threatening their world.

Animation and Visual Identity

The film showcases traditional hand-drawn animation, a hallmark of Toei Animation's dynamic style. Its visual identity is marked by fluid combat sequences and vibrant character designs that echo Akira Toriyama's iconic aesthetic from the manga series. Lending depth to these visuals is a memorable soundtrack that punctuates both epic battles and quieter moments with equal elegance.

The Ideal Audience

This film caters not only to fervent fans of the Dragon Ball Z saga, but also to newcomers drawn to action-packed fantasy tales. With a runtime that keeps pace without overstaying its welcome, "Wrath of the Dragon" is accessible for older children yet thrilling enough for adult audiences too. As part of a longstanding franchise, it's both an homage and an exciting entry point into Goku's legendary world.

+4
Balance
+4 -0
Score weighted by each hero's level: a recommendation from a level 3 hero counts for 3.
5.0/5
1
Reviews
Ranking among animated movies: #8 Action #9 Adventure
Tome
From the editors, by Tome Updated on 02/04/2026

When Dragons Roar and Legends Awaken

Imagine a cityscape suddenly dwarfed by a colossal dragon, its scales shimmering with every movement. This is the visual majesty that "Dragon Ball Z: Wrath of the Dragon" brings to life, offering fans a moment of awe amid its high-stakes narrative. Produced by the inventive minds at Toei Animation, this film stands out in the Dragon Ball Z franchise for its blend of mythic storytelling and kinetic action.

The Story

In this original tale, beloved hero Goku and his friends find themselves facing an ancient threat unleashed by the opening of a mysterious music box. Enter Tapion, a warrior from another era with secrets tied to the fearsome dragon Hirudegarn. The narrative expertly intertwines past and present as our heroes navigate alliances and confront an unimaginable force threatening their world.

Animation and Visual Identity

The film showcases traditional hand-drawn animation, a hallmark of Toei Animation's dynamic style. Its visual identity is marked by fluid combat sequences and vibrant character designs that echo Akira Toriyama's iconic aesthetic from the manga series. Lending depth to these visuals is a memorable soundtrack that punctuates both epic battles and quieter moments with equal elegance.

The Ideal Audience

This film caters not only to fervent fans of the Dragon Ball Z saga, but also to newcomers drawn to action-packed fantasy tales. With a runtime that keeps pace without overstaying its welcome, "Wrath of the Dragon" is accessible for older children yet thrilling enough for adult audiences too. As part of a longstanding franchise, it's both an homage and an exciting entry point into Goku's legendary world.

Status: Completed
Publication: 1995
Country of origin: Japan
Original language: Japanese
Age rating: Teen (13+)
Genres: Fantasy Shonen Action Adventure

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Reviews

Coolartist1110

One of the Better DBZ Movies

I think Wrath of the Dragon is one of the more unique movies to come from Dragon Ball. In GT and Super, we start to look a bit more into other aliens outside of Saiyans and Namekians, but Z mostly focuses on those two (with the exception of some filler episodes/side characters). But here, we get a whole new alien character with his own backstory, nemesis, and everything!

Tapion's just really cool. He, Hirudegarn, and Hoi really seem like they popped out of a whole different genre and into the Dragon Ball universe. I love it. I also love his relationship with Trunks! It's nice to see him get a sort of older brother, just like Goten. This movie also being the origin of Trunks' sword...well, it doesn't quite make sense timeline-wise, but it's still pretty neat.

We get Videl as The Great Saiyagirl/Great Saiyaman 2, which I always love to see. Her and Gohan are so cute together like that! This movie also gives us Goku using the Dragon Fist, and that's always a show-stopper.

I'd recommend this to people who like DBZ. But like all DBZ movies, if you don't like the franchise, you won't like this. Maybe look into Tapion, though!
Recommends:
+4 The value of a recommendation depends on its author's level.
Overall
18
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