Toonami, the program block that introduced many fans to anime, will broadcast a Dragon Ball Z Kai marathon this weekend to pay tribute to the legendary Akira Toriyama. Many American anime fans were first introduced to Dragon Ball Z and the Japanese animation medium through Toonami. The channel it aired on and fans owe a lot to the Dragon Ball franchise, and Toonami is preparing to pay tribute to the passing of its creator with an epic marathon in honor of Toriyama’s massive legacy.
Toriyama’s series helped make Cartoon Network’s after-school program block extremely popular in the US when DBZ ran between 1998 – 2003. An entire generation of fans was created because of it, and even more were cultivated by the re-edited and condensed series Dragon Ball Z Kai. Starting on Saturday, March 16, 2024, fans will be able to enjoy a four-hour marathon of the series on Toonami.
Dragon Ball Z Kai condenses DBZ‘s original 291 episodes into 167. While the late-night four-hour block won’t be able to air the entire series in one go, it will provide an effective introduction for new fans and a cathartic revisit for existing fans by airing the first eight episodes of DBZ Kai.
Fans Can Watch Dragon Ball Z Kai On Toonami Once Again
Because DBZ initially aired in Japan as a weekly anime series along with the manga’s release, it suffered from filler material that interfered with the story’s pacing. Some episodes included entertaining slice-of-life episodes that explored humorous situations like Goku and Piccolo attempting to attain driver’s licenses and a teenage Gohan clashing with classic Dragon Ball villain Mercenary Tao. However, other filler techniques prolonged DBZ episodes with drawn-out character reactions and atmospheric cutaways that did little to move the plot forward. DBZ Kai looked to remedy those issues, and viewers can see the difference during the upcoming marathon.
Related
Where to Watch Dragon Ball Z: How to Stream Online
Dragon Ball Z is possibly the biggest anime in history, and fans new and old are still watching today. Here are all the platforms it’s available on.
Toonami used to air popular anime series that would broadcast after most kids got home from school. This clever decision helped give the new generation of fans something to look forward to after classes and to talk about the next day with other excited students. However, US viewers now have more difficulty viewing the program block because of its late night time block. With the tribute airing on Saturday, March 16, between 2 AM and 6 AM ET, fans must either be up early or stay up late to catch the Dragon Ball Z Kai marathon.
People Around The World Are Honoring Akira Toriyama In Many Ways
The impact and inspiration of Akira Toriyama’s work can be felt around the globe, along with the heartbreak of his loss. World leaders and today’s greatest artists and entertainers have provided some of the best tributes to the Dragon Ball creator in the wake of his passing. Thankfully, with streaming services, fans can enjoy their marathons by viewing the Dragon Ball anime series. Still, thanks to Toonami’s tribute, fans will be able to relive their childhoods by watching Dragon Ball Z Kai on the programming block once again this coming weekend.
Watch Dragon Ball Z Kai On Hulu
Watch On Hulu
Dragon Ball Z
Dragon Ball Z continues Goku’s adventures after defeating King Piccolo and Red Ribbon army as a child. Focusing on Goku’s Saiyan roots and his role as a father, Akira Toriyama’s second anime series takes Goku on a journey to save the world multiple times from powerful villains like Frieza, Cell, and Majin Buu while he gathers more unlikely allies such as Vegeta and Future Trunks.
