The History of Trunks
Encyclopedia
is a single-episode special based on the Dragon Ball manga
series. Originally airing in Japan on February 24, 1993, between episodes 175 and 176, the special is based on an extra chapter of the manga series. It depicts an alternate version of the future in which Goku dies from a virus and a teenage Trunks tries to defeat the androids ravaging Earth.
and the death of the Z-Fighters at the hands of Android #17 and Android #18 six months later. The Dragon Balls are made permanently useless due to Piccolo's death. Thirteen years later an older Trunks and Gohan appear. Gohan, now a Super Saiyan, repeatedly tries to challenge the androids but they are too strong. He begins training Trunks, who is eager to defend the Earth. Gohan attempts to provoke Trunks enough to trigger his transformation into a Super Saiyan. Several times, Trunks comes close, but lacks enough motivation to maintain the form.
The androids attack an amusement park. Gohan transforms and battles them but is being overwhelmed. Trunks comes to his aid and fights Android #18 but is easily defeated. Gohan saves him and they hide in some debris. Unable to find their targets the androids bomb the entire area and leave. Trunks and Gohan survive although Gohan loses his left arm. They go home where he recovers and then resumes Trunks' training.
Just as the training is finished a huge explosion hits the city. Gohan pretends to agree to allow Trunks to join him in the battle, then knocks him unconscious and goes alone. Gohan holds his own against the androids for a while, but his lost arm proves to be a major disadvantage and he is eventually killed. Trunks awakens after sensing Gohan's energy signal vanish, and hurries to the city to find Gohan's body laying face down in a puddle of water. Ironically, his rage at the death of his best friend is what finally triggers his transformation into a Super Saiyan.
Three years later, Trunks and Bulma are working on a time machine when a warning sounds, indicating that androids are nearby. Trunks confronts them but is badly beaten and left for dead. He awakens in his house with his mother at his side. He decides they must use the time-machine to deliver the medicine needed to cure Goku's heart disease years ago by giving it to Son Goku. They hope this will prevent Goku's death and prevent their future from happening. As the credits roll, clips from the TV series show Trunks' arrival in the past, his battle with Mecha-Freiza, his delivery of the medicine to Goku, and the awakening of androids #17 and #18 in Goku's time.
on July 15, 2008. The film was released to DVD again on September 15, 2009 in a remastered single-disc edition. Progressive metal
band Dream Theater
's album Scenes From A Memory
is featured on the American version of the movie as the main soundtrack.
's reviewer Chris Shepard stated: "It is interesting... Gohan and Trunks
are both understandable characters who I was really able to get into and sympathize for during their battles" but also felt a "good understanding of the happenings of the TV series is recommended". He also felt that the action sequences were exceptional and did not "overdo themselves". He expressed some disappointment in the English dub
as the storyline sounded "completely alien" to the Japanese subtitles. For his final grade he noted "[the] Dub doesn't contain the original music... [it] isn't true to the original" but was pleased overall.
John Sinnott of DVDTalk praised the television special, seeing it as being separate from the other episodes of Dragon Ball. He believed this to be a positive attribute. Regarding the Blu-ray release of the film he was less impressed with the color and aspect ratio
, citing them as not particularly "exciting". However he expressed joy at Funimation
leaving the original Japanese soundtrack and the English voice dubs in, describing them as "enveloping". For fans of Dragon Ball he recommended watching the episode as it "worked a lot better than the average theatrical film since they follow DBZ continuity and expand the story while filling in details". Like Shepard the Sinnott review advised those who are not familiar to the Dragon Ball franchise to avoid the episode but that fans will enjoy it. In conclusion he felt the film was enjoyable at best.
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
series. Originally airing in Japan on February 24, 1993, between episodes 175 and 176, the special is based on an extra chapter of the manga series. It depicts an alternate version of the future in which Goku dies from a virus and a teenage Trunks tries to defeat the androids ravaging Earth.
Plot
The episode begins with Goku's death from a viral heart diseaseHeart disease
Heart disease, cardiac disease or cardiopathy is an umbrella term for a variety of diseases affecting the heart. , it is the leading cause of death in the United States, England, Canada and Wales, accounting for 25.4% of the total deaths in the United States.-Types:-Coronary heart disease:Coronary...
and the death of the Z-Fighters at the hands of Android #17 and Android #18 six months later. The Dragon Balls are made permanently useless due to Piccolo's death. Thirteen years later an older Trunks and Gohan appear. Gohan, now a Super Saiyan, repeatedly tries to challenge the androids but they are too strong. He begins training Trunks, who is eager to defend the Earth. Gohan attempts to provoke Trunks enough to trigger his transformation into a Super Saiyan. Several times, Trunks comes close, but lacks enough motivation to maintain the form.
The androids attack an amusement park. Gohan transforms and battles them but is being overwhelmed. Trunks comes to his aid and fights Android #18 but is easily defeated. Gohan saves him and they hide in some debris. Unable to find their targets the androids bomb the entire area and leave. Trunks and Gohan survive although Gohan loses his left arm. They go home where he recovers and then resumes Trunks' training.
Just as the training is finished a huge explosion hits the city. Gohan pretends to agree to allow Trunks to join him in the battle, then knocks him unconscious and goes alone. Gohan holds his own against the androids for a while, but his lost arm proves to be a major disadvantage and he is eventually killed. Trunks awakens after sensing Gohan's energy signal vanish, and hurries to the city to find Gohan's body laying face down in a puddle of water. Ironically, his rage at the death of his best friend is what finally triggers his transformation into a Super Saiyan.
Three years later, Trunks and Bulma are working on a time machine when a warning sounds, indicating that androids are nearby. Trunks confronts them but is badly beaten and left for dead. He awakens in his house with his mother at his side. He decides they must use the time-machine to deliver the medicine needed to cure Goku's heart disease years ago by giving it to Son Goku. They hope this will prevent Goku's death and prevent their future from happening. As the credits roll, clips from the TV series show Trunks' arrival in the past, his battle with Mecha-Freiza, his delivery of the medicine to Goku, and the awakening of androids #17 and #18 in Goku's time.
Cast
- Joji YanamiJoji Yanamiis a Japanese voice actor currently represented by Aoni Production.- Television :* Ookami Shōnen Ken , Boss* Hustle Punch , Professor Garigari/Garigari Hagase* Osomatsu-kun , Tou-san...
/ Dale D. KellyDale D. KellyDale D. Kelly is a voice actor, part of the original Funimation voice cast for their English version Dragon Ball Z. He played the role of Captain Ginyu, and was also the narrator for Seasons 3-6...
(Original), Kyle HebertKyle HebertKyle Henry Hebert is an American voice actor and podcaster who works with anime films, television series, as well as video games...
(Remastered) as Narrator - Takeshi KusaoTakeshi Kusaois a Japanese voice actor who works for Aoni Production.Among his many roles, he is best known as the voices of Future Trunks , Hanamichi Sakuragi , Lamune , Ryo Sanada , Cless Alvein , Yukimura Sanada , and Dororo is a Japanese voice actor who works for Aoni Production.Among his many roles, he is...
/ Eric ValeEric ValeChristopher Eric Johnson better known by his stage name Eric Vale, is an American voice actor, ADR Director, Script, and Head Writer who is affiliated with Funimation Entertainment...
as TrunksTrunks (Dragon Ball)is a fictional character from the Dragon Ball franchise by Akira Toriyama. Trunks is the half-Saiyan son of Vegeta, the prince of the dying race of fictional aliens called the Saiyans, and Bulma, the heiress of a massive company called Capsule Corporation... - Hiromi TsuruHiromi Tsuruis a Japanese voice actress from Kanagawa Prefecture. She is currently affiliated with Aoni Production.She is most known for the roles of Bulma , Ukyo Kuonji , Dokin-chan , Madoka Ayukawa , Miyuki Kashima , Reiko Mikami and Naomi Hunter is a Japanese voice actress from Kanagawa Prefecture. She...
/ Tiffany VollmerTiffany VollmerTiffany Vollmer is an American voice actress best known for voicing Bulma in the Dragon Ball franchise.-Career:Vollmer was cast as Bulma in 1999 for FUNimation's third season of Dragon Ball Z, replacing Leslie Alexander, who left the show after playing Bulma in DB Movie 2, that was dubbed much...
as Bulma - Masako NozawaMasako Nozawais a Japanese voice actress and actress affiliated with Office Nozawa. Her pet name is Mako. Her husband, Masa'aki Tsukada is also a voice actor....
/ Adrian Rodriguez as Gohan - Shigeru NakaharaShigeru Nakaharais a veteran seiyū . He works at Vi-Vo .-Notable voice roles:*Another Century's Episode 2 , *Arion *Aura Battler Dunbine *Biker Mice from Mars...
/ Chuck HuberChuck HuberChuck Huber is an American voice actor, ADR Director and Script writer who work for anime series at Funimation Entertainment and OkraTron 5000...
as Android #17 - Miki Itou / Meredith McCoyMeredith McCoyMeredith McCoy Mauldin is an American actress, singer, and voice actress who has worked for Funimation Entertainment. Meredith has done national commercials for Radio Shack, AT&T, 7-Eleven, and Chevrolet. Her father Jaan McCoy is a longtime radio personality in the Dallas/Forth Worth area...
as Android #18 - Kōhei MiyauchiKohei Miyauchi' was a veteran Japanese seiyū born in Kagoshima Prefecture. His real name was Takayuki Miyauchi and his nickname was "Miya-chan". On June 2, 1995, Miyauchi died on his hospital bed at the Nihon University Itabashi Hospital from abdominal varices...
/ Mike McFarlandMike McFarlandMichael Charles McFarland is an American voice actor, ADR Director, Script, and Line Producer at Funimation Entertainment. He also did work with ADV Films, Bang Zoom! Entertainment, New Generation Pictures and Okatron 5000...
as Master Roshi - Naoki TatsutaNaoki Tatsutais a Japanese voice actor affiliated with Aoni Production.He is most known for the roles of Buta Gorilla , Daima Jin , Oolong , Ashibe's Father , and Scoop-kun ....
/ Bradford JacksonBradford JacksonBradford Jackson is an American voice actor who worked for the FUNimation distributing company. He is best known for voicing Oolong in the Dragon Ball metaseries...
as Oolong - Naoko Watanabe / Cynthia CranzCynthia CranzCynthia Jane Cranz is an American voice actress who works for anime series of Funimation Entertainment...
as Chi-Chi - Naoko Watanabe / Monika AntonelliMonika AntonelliMonika Antonelli is a voice actress and librarian best known for voicing Puar and Chiaotzu in the Dragon Ball anime series, as well as earlier video games and other media for the franchise from 1999 to 2008...
as Puar - Daisuke GōriDaisuke Goriwas a Japanese voice actor, narrator and actor from Kōtō, Tokyo. Throughout his life, he was attached to TV Talent Center Tokyo, Yoshizawa Theatre School and then Mausu Promotion; he was attached to Aoni Production at the time of his death. His real name, as well as his former stage name, was...
/ Mark BrittenMark BrittenMark Britten is an American comedian from Arlington, Texas , whose chosen stage name is "The Chinaman". Born of a Chinese-American mother and a Caucasian father , his act employs material from his "dysfunctional background" and skews ethnic stereotypes of all kinds...
(Original), Kyle HebertKyle HebertKyle Henry Hebert is an American voice actor and podcaster who works with anime films, television series, as well as video games...
(Remastered) as Ox-King
Funimation Dub Soundtrack
The following songs were present in the Funimation dub of The History of Trunks- Shackler - Bootsy Collins with Buckethead
- Garden of Grace - Neck Down
- Immigrant Song - Triprocket
- Overture 1928 - Dream Theater
- Fatal Tragedy - Dream Theater
- Through Her Eyes - Dream Theater
- Home - Dream Theater
- Dance Of Eternity - Dream Theater
Releases
In the US The History of Trunks was first released to VHS on October 25, 2000 in two formats, "Uncut" and "Edited". The uncut English version was released on DVD that same year, as well as the original Japanese version. On February 19, 2008 it was released as part of a remastered double feature DVD with Bardock: The Father of Goku with some minor re-dubbings to the English vocal track. The same double feature was released on Blu-rayBlu-ray Disc
Blu-ray Disc is an optical disc storage medium designed to supersede the DVD format. The plastic disc is 120 mm in diameter and 1.2 mm thick, the same size as DVDs and CDs. Blu-ray Discs contain 25 GB per layer, with dual layer discs being the norm for feature-length video discs...
on July 15, 2008. The film was released to DVD again on September 15, 2009 in a remastered single-disc edition. Progressive metal
Progressive metal
Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
band Dream Theater
Dream Theater
Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of their studies to further concentrate on the band that would...
's album Scenes From A Memory
Scenes from a Memory
Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory is the fifth studio album by American progressive metal band Dream Theater, released in 1999. It is a concept album that deals with the story of a man named Nicholas and the discovery of his past life, which involves love, murder, and infidelity as Victoria Page...
is featured on the American version of the movie as the main soundtrack.
Reception
Anime News NetworkAnime News Network
Anime News Network is an anime industry news website that reports on the status of anime, manga, Japanese popular music and other otaku-related culture within North America, Australia and Japan. Additionally, it sometimes features similar happenings throughout the Anglosphere and elsewhere in the...
's reviewer Chris Shepard stated: "It is interesting... Gohan and Trunks
Trunks (Dragon Ball)
is a fictional character from the Dragon Ball franchise by Akira Toriyama. Trunks is the half-Saiyan son of Vegeta, the prince of the dying race of fictional aliens called the Saiyans, and Bulma, the heiress of a massive company called Capsule Corporation...
are both understandable characters who I was really able to get into and sympathize for during their battles" but also felt a "good understanding of the happenings of the TV series is recommended". He also felt that the action sequences were exceptional and did not "overdo themselves". He expressed some disappointment in the English dub
Dubbing (filmmaking)
Dubbing is the post-production process of recording and replacing voices on a motion picture or television soundtrack subsequent to the original shooting. The term most commonly refers to the substitution of the voices of the actors shown on the screen by those of different performers, who may be...
as the storyline sounded "completely alien" to the Japanese subtitles. For his final grade he noted "[the] Dub doesn't contain the original music... [it] isn't true to the original" but was pleased overall.
John Sinnott of DVDTalk praised the television special, seeing it as being separate from the other episodes of Dragon Ball. He believed this to be a positive attribute. Regarding the Blu-ray release of the film he was less impressed with the color and aspect ratio
Aspect ratio
The aspect ratio of a shape is the ratio of its longer dimension to its shorter dimension. It may be applied to two characteristic dimensions of a three-dimensional shape, such as the ratio of the longest and shortest axis, or for symmetrical objects that are described by just two measurements,...
, citing them as not particularly "exciting". However he expressed joy at Funimation
Funimation Entertainment
Funimation is an American entertainment company. Originally founded in 1994 by Gen Fukunaga, the company became a subsidiary of Navarre Corporation on May 11, 2005...
leaving the original Japanese soundtrack and the English voice dubs in, describing them as "enveloping". For fans of Dragon Ball he recommended watching the episode as it "worked a lot better than the average theatrical film since they follow DBZ continuity and expand the story while filling in details". Like Shepard the Sinnott review advised those who are not familiar to the Dragon Ball franchise to avoid the episode but that fans will enjoy it. In conclusion he felt the film was enjoyable at best.