Dragon Ball Z: Season 1
1989 · 39 episodes · ★ 8.1
Saiyan Saga
What Season 1 of Dragon Ball Z
After years of peace since the defeat of Piccolo Daimaoh, Goku now lives peacefully with his wife, Chi-Chi, and their son, Gohan. But everything changes when a mysterious warrior called Raditz arrives on Earth, revealing that he is Goku's brother and that they both belong to the warrior race of the Saiyans, a brutal people who conquer planets.
Season 1 Episodes
1x01 The New Threat
Goku’s quiet life with his family and friends is about to be interrupted. A new threat - a powerful and sinister alien - is on its way to Earth.
Directing: Daisuke Nishio · Writing: Takao Koyama · Starring: Ginzo Matsuo, Shigeru Chiba
1x02 Reunions
Goku and Gohan attend a reunion on Roshi’s island, where Goku introduces his son to all of his old friends. The smiles quickly fade, however, as an unexpected visitor - Raditz - lands on the island.
Directing: Osamu Kasai · Writing: Katsuyuki Sumisawa, Takao Koyama
1x03 Unlikely Alliance
Raditz has kidnapped Gohan, and unless Goku agrees to join the sinister Saiyan, he may never see his son again! All hope is not lost, however, as a second visitor arrives, and Goku forges an unlikely alliance!
Directing: Kazuhisa Takenouchi · Writing: Katsuyuki Sumisawa
1x04 Piccolo's Plan
Piccolo may have a way to stop Raditz - the Makankosappo! There’s only one problem. He needs time to gather energy for the blast, which means Goku must fight Raditz alone!
Directing: Yoshihiro Ueda · Writing: Toshiki Inoue
1x05 Gohan's Rage
Gohan unleashes a mighty attack that not even Radtiz can resist! But as quickly as his power appears, it vanishes. When Raditz prepares to strike back, Goku must make the ultimate sacrifice to save his son!
Directing: Kazuhisa Takenouchi
1x06 No Time Like the Present
Piccolo takes Gohan into the wild for a harsh training program. Meanwhile, Goku embarks on a new adventure in the next world, as he travels the endless Snake Way to reach the legendary King Kai!
Directing: Mitsuo Hashimoto
1x07 Day 1
Gohan begins his first day of Piccolo’s training. Alone in the wilderness, he must quickly learn to take care of himself. But that isn’t easy when he’s tired, hungry - and being chased by bloodthirsty dinosaurs!
Directing: Minoru Okazaki
1x08 Gohan Goes Bananas!
Korin wants Krillin, Yamcha, Tien, and Chiaotzu to report for special training! Meanwhile, Gohan’s grueling training causes him to undergo a shocking transformation!
Directing: Yoshihiro Ueda · Writing: Takao Koyama
1x09 The Strangest Robot
To escape a pack of wild animals, Gohan ventures into an ancient cave, where he meets an old Capsule Corp robot. The robot has lived alone in the cave for over 30 years, and he’s not happy to have visitors!
Directing: Osamu Kasai · Writing: Katsuyuki Sumisawa
1x10 A New Friend
Gohan’s wilderness adventure continues, as he makes a new dinosaur friend! He’s happy to finally have some company until he’s harshly reminded that not all dinosaurs are friendly!
Directing: Kazuhisa Takenouchi · Writing: Keiji Terui
1x11 Terror on Arlia
On planet Arlia, Vegeta and Nappa become prisoners of the tyrant king who rules the planet. After a brief scuffle with the monster Yeddy, the Arlians realize that the two Saiyans are more than they can handle.
1x12 Global Training
Gohan spends his day tormenting a T-Rex. Across the planet, Tien and Chiaotzu find their training interrupted by Launch. Meanwhile, Goku tries to find King Kai on Snake Way.
1x13 Goz and Mez
Goku encounters two giant ogres who want nothing more than to use the hero as a play toy! If he can defeat their challenges, the ogres vow to show him the way back to Snake Way.
1x14 Princess Snake
Back on Snake Way, Goku comes across a house he believes might belong to King Kai! Unfortunately, the dwelling is inhabited by Princess Snake, and she’ll do anything to keep Goku as her prisoner forever!
1x15 Dueling Piccolos
Piccolo flies off the handle during his fight with Raditz and splits in two! Meanwhile, Gohan decides to take a raft across the sea to visit his mother, gets caught in a storm, and suddenly remembers that he can’t swim!
1x16 Plight of the Children
Gohan finds shelter with a gang of orphans living on the run from meddling adults. The group’s leader hatches a plan to take the kids to a safer hiding place, but when the police show up everything goes wrong!
Starring: Yuka Ōno
1x17 Pendulum Room Peril
Earth’s top warriors visit Kami’s Pendulum Room where the past, present, and future co-exist. After a trip back in time, they realize they’ll need to train harder to stand a chance against the approaching Saiyans.
1x18 The End of Snake Way
Gohan continues training, but a full moon causes the young Saiyan to rampage out of control! Meanwhile, Goku makes it to the end of Snake Way only to mistake a friendly ape named Bubbles for King Kai!
1x19 Defying Gravity
The intense gravity of King Kai’s planet makes Goku’s training difficult, but when he learns that the Saiyans are used to extreme fighting conditions, Goku is inspired to give it his all. Will it be enough?
1x20 Goku's Ancestors
After Goku struggles to bash Gregory with a hammer, King Kai inspires him with the story of the Saiyan race - and offers to train him personally! Will it be enough to stop the looming Saiyan invasion?
1x21 Counting Down
Goku’s training is complete, so the gang summons the Eternal Dragon to wish him back to life. There’s only one day left before the Saiyans arrive. Unfortunately, it will take Goku two days to return!
1x22 The Darkest Day
Vegeta and Nappa mark their arrival with the destruction of an entire city! When the Z-Fighters confront them, the heroes must face an onslaught of Saibamen under the command of the Saiyans.
1x23 Saibamen Attack!
Krillin, Piccolo, and Gohan stand face to face with the sinister Saiyans and their diabolical henchmen. The villains have already proven terrifyingly powerful. Can Earth’s heroes hold out until Goku arrives?
1x24 The Power of Nappa
Enraged over the loss of Yamcha, Krillin unleashes a powerful attack that destroys the maniacal Saibamen once and for all. Now Earth’s defenders must battle the Saiyans themselves - starting with Nappa.
1x25 Sacrifice
Chiaotzu sacrifices himself to save his friends from Nappa, but when the smoke clears, the villain still stands! Luckily, Tien has one trick left that could forever silence the Saiyan warrior!
1x26 Nappa's Rampage
Vegeta has called a halt to the fighting, and Nappa uses the time to go on a rampage! Meanwhile, Goku reaches the end of Snake Way and races to rejoin his friends - but is he already too late?
1x27 Nimbus Speed
Piccolo, Gohan, and Krillin do their best to stop the Saiyans from finding the Dragon Balls. Meanwhile, Goku rushes back to Earth on the Flying Nimbus, armed with more power than ever before!
1x28 Goku's Arrival
Piccolo makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Gohan from the rampaging Saiyans. Just when all seems lost, Goku returns to Earth with an incredible new level of power and confronts the invaders.
Directing: Minoru Okazaki · Writing: Hiroshi Toda
1x29 Lesson Number One
Locked in battle with the Saiyans, Goku gives Nappa a brutal demonstration of the training he received from King Kai. Broken and defeated, Nappa must now face the ferocious wrath of Vegeta!
Directing: Yoshihiro Ueda · Writing: Katsuyuki Sumisawa
1x30 Goku vs. Vegeta
Goku decides to take on mighty Vegeta all by himself! The two appear evenly matched, but both are hiding their true strength. The epic battle is underway - which mighty warrior will claim victory?
Writing: Keiji Terui
1x31 Saiyan Sized Secret
Vegeta and Goku continue trading brutal blows, but the action intensifies when Vegeta reveals the secret power of the Saiyans: the ability to transform into a giant, planet-destroying ape!
Directing: Daisuke Nishio · Writing: Toshiki Inoue
1x32 Spirit Bomb Away!
Goku feels the brunt of Vegeta’s fully-realized Saiyan power! Earth’s greatest hero is left with no choice except to use the Spirit Bomb. If his attack fails, he may find himself completely doomed!
Directing: Yoshihiro Ueda · Writing: Katsuyuki Sumisawa
1x33 Hero in the Shadows
With Goku caught in the clutches of the giant ape Vegeta, Krillin attacks with his Destructo Disk! When his effort falls short, an unlikely hero steps out of the shadows!
Directing: Mitsuo Hashimoto · Writing: Keiji Terui
1x34 Krillin's Offensive
Goku passes the power of the Spirit Bomb to Krillin, who - with King Kai’s guidance - launches the bomb at Vegeta. The Saiyan is sent flying into the sky, but is the evil warrior really gone for good?
Directing: Minoru Okazaki
1x35 Mercy
Vegeta is crushed beneath the full weight of Gohan’s giant ape form! With the Saiyan battered and defeated, Krillin moves to finish the Saiyan with a final blow - but Goku has other plans.
Directing: Daisuke Nishio · Writing: Hiroshi Toda
1x36 Picking Up The Pieces
The gang mourns the loss of Yamcha, Tien, Chiaotzu, and Piccolo. With Kami gone, Earth’s Dragon Balls have disappeared. Will the surviving heroes find a way to wish their fallen friends back to life?
1x37 Plans for Departure
Bulma accidentally destroys the Saiyan spaceship! Luckily, Mr. Popo reveals the existence of another ship that may be able to reach Namek. Can they find it in time, and will the old ship still work if they do?
1x38 Nursing Wounds
Goku, Krillin, and Gohan prepare for the return of the Saiyans. Meanwhile, Bulma and Mr. Popo search for a second spaceship capable of transporting her to Planet Namek.
1x39 Friends or Foes? Season Finale
Gohan, Bulma, and Krillin blast off for Planet Namek in search of the magic Dragon Balls, but their journey quickly turns chaotic when they encounter a bizarre situation in the vacuum of space!
Season 1 Cast
Toshio FurukawaPiccolo (voice)39 episodes
Mayumi TanakaKrillin / Uranai Baba (voice)39 episodes
Naoki TatsutaOolong / Karin (voice)39 episodes
Hirotaka SuzuokiTien Shinhan (voice)39 episodes
Hiroko EmoriMama / Chaozu / Bulma / Bulla (voice)39 episodes
Mayumi ShoChi-Chi (voice)39 episodes
Toru FuruyaYamcha (voice)39 episodes
Tomiko SuzukiMarron (voice)39 episodes
Shin AomoriKibit (voice)39 episodes
Kohei MiyauchiMaster Roshi (voice)39 episodes
Kozo ShioyaMajin Buu (voice)39 episodes
Reizō NomotoRō Kaiōshin (voice)39 episodes
Ryuuzaburou OotomoDabura (voice)39 episodes
Yuko KobayashiMarron (voice)39 episodes
Hiroshi MasuokaMaster Roshi (voice)39 episodes
Mariko MukaiMama (voice)39 episodesAll Seasons
Season 21990 · 35 ep. · ★ 8.1
Season 31991 · 33 ep. · ★ 8.2
Season 41991 · 32 ep. · ★ 8.2
Season 51992 · 26 ep. · ★ 8.3
Season 61992 · 29 ep. · ★ 8.3
Season 71993 · 25 ep. · ★ 8.1
Season 81994 · 34 ep. · ★ 8.0
Season 91995 · 38 ep. · ★ 7.9Where to Watch Season 1 of Dragon Ball Z
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes are in Dragon Ball Z Season 1?
Dragon Ball Z Season 1 has 39 episodes.
When did Dragon Ball Z Season 1 premiere?
It premiered on April 26, 1989.
Where to Watch Dragon Ball Z Season 1
In Spain, it airs on Movistar Plus+, Movistar Plus+ Ficción Total and Animebox Channel Amazon Channel.
What is the best episode of Season 1?
According to the TMDB audience score, episode 1x05, “Gohan's Rage,” with a 8.8.