Dragon Ball Z: Cooler's Revenge, known in Japan as , is a 1991 Japanese anime science fiction martial arts film and the fifth Dragon Ball Z animated feature film, originally released in Japan on July 20 at the Toei Anime Fair. It was preceded by Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug and followed by Dragon Ball Z: The Return of Cooler. Set in an alternate continuity to the Android Saga, the movie introduces Cooler, the estranged older brother of Frieza, who travels to Earth to challenge Goku and avenge his younger brother's death. The film was first released in theaters in Japan on July 20, 1991. The film also premiered in the Philippines with an English dub produced by Creative Products Corporation on July 11, 1996 as Dragon Ball Z: The Greatest Rivals. The film first aired in the United States on Cartoon Network's Toonami block on September 19, 2003 with an English dub produced by Funimation Productions with the localized title of Cooler's Revenge.
Plot
Cooler watches as his younger brother Frieza destroys the Saiyan home world's Planet Vegeta. His henchmen prepare to destroy a space pod fleeing the doomed planet, transporting a Saiyan infant to Earth. Cooler allows it to go, accounting that it is Frieza's responsibility. More than 20 years later, this Saiyan, Goku, defeats Frieza in Namek's destruction. After learning of his younger brother's death, Cooler takes his men – Salza, Neiz, and Dore- to reclaim his family's honour. On Earth, Cooler's forces ambush Goku and his friends while on a camping trip. Goku is badly wounded when he protects Gohan from Cooler and goes into hiding.
Krillin and Oolong find shelter in a cave with Goku, while Gohan travels to obtain the magic Senzu beans that can heal his father. Cooler orders his men to completely obliterate the forest to locate Goku. After obtaining the beans, Gohan is ambushed by Cooler's men before Piccolo arrives to save him. Piccolo kills Dore and Neiz, but Cooler arrives and incapacitates him. Salza tracks Gohan to the cave and destroys the Senzu. However, Gohan successfully heals Goku with a spare one. Salza quickly defeats Krillin and Gohan, but Goku emerges. Cooler taunts Goku by further injuring Piccolo; Goku incapacitates Salza and attacks Cooler.
After Goku proves to be a worthy opponent, Cooler reveals that he discovered a new and final transformation above Frieza's capabilities. They fight, and Cooler pummels Goku. However, after Goku reflects on the well-being of his loved ones and the danger Cooler poses, he transforms into his Super Saiyan form that defeated Frieza.
Cooler finds himself grossly outclassed by Super Saiyan Goku. He powers up an enormous ki sphere and launches an attack in hopes of destroying Goku and the Earth along with him. After Goku manages to resist and overpower the attack with Kamehameha, he sends it hurdling toward Cooler, who is launched into space and collides with the sun. As he is incinerated, Cooler realises that Goku was the Saiyan infant he spared decades ago. As he laments over his mistake, he is disintegrated.
Drained after his victory, Goku is found by his loved ones. They celebrate and search for Piccolo when Salza reappears and prepares to kill them, but Piccolo kills him, leaving Gohan overjoyed knowing he survived.
Cast Character nameVoice actorJapaneseEnglish Goku Masako Nozawa Nesty Calvo Ramirez David Gasman Sean Schemmel Gohan E.J. Galang Jodi Forrest Stephanie Nadolny Piccolo Toshio Furukawa Ray Buyco Christopher SabatPaul BandeyKuririnMayumi Tanaka Apollo Abraham Sharon MannSonny StraitHire DragonNaoki Tatsuta Jodi Forrest Ethel LizanoChristopher Sabat OolongApollo Abraham David Gasman Brad Jackson Chi-Chi Naoko Watanabe Mitch Frankenberger Pelicer Sharon Mann Cynthia Cranz KarinIchirō NagaiRay BuycoPaul Bandey Christopher SabatEric Vale Yajirobe Mayumi Tanaka Ethel Lizano Ed Marcus Mike McFarland Kame-SenninKōhei Miyauchi Nesty Calvo Ramirez Mike McFarlandCoolaRyūsei NakaoApollo AbrahamDoug RandAndrew ChandlerShō HayamiR.J. CeldranDavid Gasman Michael MarcoMasato HiranoDavid SoonPaul Bandey Bill Townsley Masaharu Satō Ed Marcus Manuel R. Abello Mike McFarland BurdockMasako Nozawa Doug Rand Nesty Calvo Ramirez Sonny Strait Freeza Ryūsei Nakao Apollo Abraham Ed MarcusLinda Young Narrator Jōji Yanami Bob Karry Kyle Hebert
Cast notes
A fourth English version released exclusively in Malaysia by Speedy Video features an unknown voice cast.
Music OP (Opening Theme): "Cha-La Head-Cha-La" Lyrics by Yukinojō Mori Music by Chiho Kiyooka Arranged by Kenji Yamamoto Performed by Hironobu Kageyama ED (Ending Theme):
Lyrics by Dai Satō Music by Chiho Kiyooka Arranged by Kenji Yamamoto Performed by Hironobu Kageyama and Ammy
English dub soundtracks The following songs were present in the 2002 Funimation dub of Cooler's Revenge. These songs were removed in later releases due to licensing restrictions.
Drowning Pool - "Reminded" Dust for Life - "Poison" American Pearl - "Seven Years" Breaking Point - "Under" Finger Eleven - "Stay and Drown" Breaking Point - "Falling Down" Drowning Pool - "Mute" Disturbed - "The Game" Drowning Pool - "Told You So" Deftones - "Change (In the House of Flies) American Pearl - "Revelation" Breaking Point - "Phoenix"
The Double Feature release contains an alternate audio track containing the English dub with original Japanese background music by Shunsuke Kikuchi and an ending theme of "The Incredible Mightiest vs. Mightiest".
The 1996 dub made by Creative Products contained English versions of the Japanese opening and ending theme songs, performed by Gino Padilla along with a children's chorus known as the Age of Wonder. These songs were featured on the album Dragon Ball • Dragon Ball Z: Songs of a High Spirited Saga - Volume I, along with other English versions of Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z songs.
Releases It was released on DVD and VHS in North America on January 22, 2002. It was later released in Double Feature set along with The Return of Cooler (1992) for Blu-ray and DVD on November 11, 2008, both feature full 1080p format in HD remastered 16:9 aspect ratio and an enhanced 5.1 surround mix. The film was re-released to DVD in remastered thinpak collection on November 1, 2011, containing the first 5 Dragon Ball Z films.
Other companies Creative Products Corporation made an English dub for the Philippines, combined with its follow-up film, to make a feature-length film titled Dragon Ball Z: The Greatest Rivals. This feature was released in over 30 Metro Manila theaters on July 11, 1996. Later that year, on November 6, it received an extremely limited VHS release, only sold at Dragon Ball-based promotional events that were hosted by Gino Padilla, who performed the theme music for this version.
Reception
Notes
References
External links Official anime website of Toei Animation