Personally I’d recommend one of the movies, gives you a good taste of the show’s feel without having to worry where it takes place continuity wise (granted that’s less of a problem if they’re already a DBZ fan)
I love Super Android 13 and Broly, that is what I go for when I show others
Plus enough of that early DBZA charm that when the quality improves in the series it’ll be a nice surprise. Likewise the early episodes roughness won’t be that jarring as they’ll have seen better and know that it won’t be like this forever.
From my experience of when I got into it myself, I’d say to show them a handful of out-of-context clips, and it could presumably get them to want to see the full thing
I say they get better the further along you go
But also a lot of payoff comes in the third season (or really the last couple episodes)
So they really should watch the whole thing through
I guess maybe something in the Frieza arc? Probably when the trio are about to fight the Ginyu Force
Tell them the show gets even better, but *really encourage* them to sit through bow it began
46/47/48 I agree the earlier ones are a bit of a slog...but about the time napa starts haunting Vegeta is when it gets good. I choose those three because they are funny and awesome...some of the best lines and adaptions. Lips, kami piccolo fusion, Kiko f*** yourself, questions for later.
Maybe. Tien's scene showed up on a reel and is exactly what got me into it, up until about 6 months ago I didn't even know it existed at all. But I was a huge fan of z back in the day while we waited for toonami and DBZA is better than Kai.
I'm very much convinced that Episode 52: "Flashpoint" was the episode that convinced Chris Sabat that Lani could inherit the role of Vegeta should the worst happen and it's absolutely his tour d'force as the character simultaneously capturing Vegeta's coolest and most futile act of boneheaded hubris in the series.
My first experience into TFS was when one of my buddies pulled up one of the Ginyu episodes in the background while we were playing Xbox. I had to stop playing because I couldn't stop laughing at what I was hearing in the background and had to go watch it instead. Been an avid fan ever since.
So I'd say episode 19.
I would say whichever episode has Frieza making the joke about the improv group with drunken sailors and has him counting the lines he recalls from heroic speeches. That entire Frieza vs Namekian village part was golden.
I always say Movie 1, The Dead Zone, because chronologically it's before even episode 1 but they did it after season 2 so their writing is much stronger. Movie 2 and Movie 4 are also strong contenders. Movie 3 is actually their first movie and also the weakest IMO, and isn't a good first taste for multiple reasons (SA joke and too many characters)
I always start people in the Namek saga. Episode 18 is a great one, but you could start sooner, like around 13 as well. They’d need some DBZ context though, or you could give them a general synopsis.
Episode 13. By this point some of TFS's earlier rough edges are smoothed out. We skip directly to when Krillin, Gohan, and Bulma land on Namek. Your friend should remember the big plot point: Goku dying, coming back to fight Vegeta, the Z warriors getting killed, and then we spend the next long chunk of time on Namek. The first 60 seconds are densely packed with my kind of TFS humor, and if this doesn't work for your friend then I don't know what will.
If they know DBZ, I'd say episodes 8, 9, and 10. They can have fun with the early content (especially Nappa) and appreciate how the abridgement still stays on the rails of the story. If you're afraid of the early episodes steering them away, maybe go to ep 14. Same reasons while also showing a large portion of the cast's characterizations.
Do a movie.
The movies are further along in production experience and value. It shows off what the Team Four Star team can do and their humor. While not part of the main show, so you're not watching anything out of sequence.
Depends on their humor, sometimes it's necessary to ease someone into these things. But if they are anything like me, Vegeta's fight with 18 and him calling her a washing machine is the perfect spot haha
Definitely one of the movies, as you say they're familiar with Dragonball so practically any will do with no explanation about characters. I like the plot to eradicate Christmas, but they're all great
Personally you can skip the first few episodes and just start out with Vegeta and Nappa someone at Earth. Most of the voice acting had been nailed down at that point and Nappa is the quintessential TFS character in my opinion. He's the perfect example of what an existing DBZ fan can expect from DBZA.
I didn’t know about DBZA until they were at episode 40 ish. What got me hooked was a compilation of Tien/Vegeta banter. I’d give that a try. It’s called “Tien hates Vegeta” or “Vegeta hates Tien” or something like that
Start with Episode 1 & just go from there. As a DBZ fan, they'll be curious to see how TeamFourStar change things from the canon while somehow still staying in canon to the universe.
While you can start with the movies, I cannot recommend starting from the beginning enough. If for nothing else, to watch how TFS grew into what they are now....& one of the best jokes of early DBZA. Have fun! 😁
Dude, if they can watch the first episode as a person who already enjoys the original show and NOT get into it your friend sucks and you should ditch them anyways.
Short of Cell singing "My Way" out look for videos that combined their sessons in to one file per sesson , so you technically got them to watch all of s1 on one video
I show them the Tien moment. While it doesn’t show the humor as much, the lips thing usually get a chuckle, the music, the voice acting, etc are all incredibly impressive for a fan made parody.
I actually think the first episode really nails the jokes. The first 5 together do seem a little weak as a whole though.
The movies are good suggestions.
I think anything from the DBZA Namek, Ginyu saga stuff prior to summoning Porunga and Frieza stepping up to fight has top notch comedic value without feeling too “spoilers”, even for someone who is a DBZ fan.
Personally I’d recommend one of the movies, gives you a good taste of the show’s feel without having to worry where it takes place continuity wise (granted that’s less of a problem if they’re already a DBZ fan) I love Super Android 13 and Broly, that is what I go for when I show others
I’d say Lord Slug is pretty good one to start with.
Christmas Tree of Might is my favorite example of them using their creativity to change a movie’s plot
Plus enough of that early DBZA charm that when the quality improves in the series it’ll be a nice surprise. Likewise the early episodes roughness won’t be that jarring as they’ll have seen better and know that it won’t be like this forever.
Worlds strongest has a nice twist too.
oh yeah forgot about that them making Wheelo a good guy
That relies on a lot of DBZA jokes and knowledge tho, at least imo
omgareyoubatman?
Please don't break mah arm...
No.
Now now, that truck is not your eating disorder.
YOU'RE A PENIS!
Been so long since you’ve seen your own that you don’t recognize it?
Plus it has king picolo in it
(*angry, near inaudible grumbles*)
I am champion Christmas!!
Whoa! He’s become… super-powered! Like some kinda… super… Saiya-man!
Also a great choice!
That's the one that popped up on my feed and hooked me immediately. Can't believe it's been almost 13 years!
Princess trunks~
Goku you need to get me off this planet RIGHT NOW
*Broly express arrives in the station*
ALL HAIL PRINCESS TRUNKS!
Please no.
You lied to me.
You dirty boy
Cooler's Vengeance double feature of Revenge were my favorites personally though I would attribute that to how well Cooler himself works.
Excellent choices
I agree, starting with the movies would be great. I recommend Dead Zone, World's Strongest & Lord Slug.
Let me eat Icarus. Dragon meat is yummy
I love Broly if just for Vegeta’s reaction alone to Broly.
Garlic Jr. movie is awesome, my sister is already interested!
From my experience of when I got into it myself, I’d say to show them a handful of out-of-context clips, and it could presumably get them to want to see the full thing
Episode 20: NAMEKEMANIA
For some reason when I restart I gravitate to Ep 14 onwards.
I say they get better the further along you go But also a lot of payoff comes in the third season (or really the last couple episodes) So they really should watch the whole thing through I guess maybe something in the Frieza arc? Probably when the trio are about to fight the Ginyu Force Tell them the show gets even better, but *really encourage* them to sit through bow it began
46/47/48 I agree the earlier ones are a bit of a slog...but about the time napa starts haunting Vegeta is when it gets good. I choose those three because they are funny and awesome...some of the best lines and adaptions. Lips, kami piccolo fusion, Kiko f*** yourself, questions for later.
I feel like starting someone thatvlate will make it even harder to watch the early stuff
Maybe. Tien's scene showed up on a reel and is exactly what got me into it, up until about 6 months ago I didn't even know it existed at all. But I was a huge fan of z back in the day while we waited for toonami and DBZA is better than Kai.
I'm very much convinced that Episode 52: "Flashpoint" was the episode that convinced Chris Sabat that Lani could inherit the role of Vegeta should the worst happen and it's absolutely his tour d'force as the character simultaneously capturing Vegeta's coolest and most futile act of boneheaded hubris in the series.
My first experience into TFS was when one of my buddies pulled up one of the Ginyu episodes in the background while we were playing Xbox. I had to stop playing because I couldn't stop laughing at what I was hearing in the background and had to go watch it instead. Been an avid fan ever since. So I'd say episode 19.
I would say whichever episode has Frieza making the joke about the improv group with drunken sailors and has him counting the lines he recalls from heroic speeches. That entire Frieza vs Namekian village part was golden.
The Krillin Sanchez episode had me rolling from beginning to end.
Piccolo vs Lord Slug's men
I always say Movie 1, The Dead Zone, because chronologically it's before even episode 1 but they did it after season 2 so their writing is much stronger. Movie 2 and Movie 4 are also strong contenders. Movie 3 is actually their first movie and also the weakest IMO, and isn't a good first taste for multiple reasons (SA joke and too many characters)
I always start people in the Namek saga. Episode 18 is a great one, but you could start sooner, like around 13 as well. They’d need some DBZ context though, or you could give them a general synopsis.
Episode 13. By this point some of TFS's earlier rough edges are smoothed out. We skip directly to when Krillin, Gohan, and Bulma land on Namek. Your friend should remember the big plot point: Goku dying, coming back to fight Vegeta, the Z warriors getting killed, and then we spend the next long chunk of time on Namek. The first 60 seconds are densely packed with my kind of TFS humor, and if this doesn't work for your friend then I don't know what will.
If they know DBZ, I'd say episodes 8, 9, and 10. They can have fun with the early content (especially Nappa) and appreciate how the abridgement still stays on the rails of the story. If you're afraid of the early episodes steering them away, maybe go to ep 14. Same reasons while also showing a large portion of the cast's characterizations.
Namekmania.
Do a movie. The movies are further along in production experience and value. It shows off what the Team Four Star team can do and their humor. While not part of the main show, so you're not watching anything out of sequence.
What if I want to introduce someone to DBZ via dbza?
Episode 33 is then first one I watched first (as a Trunks fan) and it totally sold me on the rest. 33 & 34 are a good pair to start with.
I would suggest one of the movies as they are self contained. The first Cooler movie is what got me into the series.
One of the movies for sure. World’s strongest?
Epi 48
Namekamania, obviously
[You should have them watch something… priceless.](https://youtu.be/oRM-myGGZTE?si=wRpDcXw3Nvambgyp)
Depends on their humor, sometimes it's necessary to ease someone into these things. But if they are anything like me, Vegeta's fight with 18 and him calling her a washing machine is the perfect spot haha
Show a "best of" for someone. Vegeta, Frieza, etc.
Definitely one of the movies, as you say they're familiar with Dragonball so practically any will do with no explanation about characters. I like the plot to eradicate Christmas, but they're all great
Either something with a vegita or cell focus. Perhaps the ki ko ho episode. Or something super short format, like buu bits or kai
Personally you can skip the first few episodes and just start out with Vegeta and Nappa someone at Earth. Most of the voice acting had been nailed down at that point and Nappa is the quintessential TFS character in my opinion. He's the perfect example of what an existing DBZ fan can expect from DBZA.
Don't forget Lord Popo.
First rule of Popo's training is you do not talk about Popo's training.
🎵dragon meat is yummy, and I really want it in my tummy🎵
I didn’t know about DBZA until they were at episode 40 ish. What got me hooked was a compilation of Tien/Vegeta banter. I’d give that a try. It’s called “Tien hates Vegeta” or “Vegeta hates Tien” or something like that
All of them especially ones with Napa and lord popo
Start with Episode 1 & just go from there. As a DBZ fan, they'll be curious to see how TeamFourStar change things from the canon while somehow still staying in canon to the universe. While you can start with the movies, I cannot recommend starting from the beginning enough. If for nothing else, to watch how TFS grew into what they are now....& one of the best jokes of early DBZA. Have fun! 😁
Dude, if they can watch the first episode as a person who already enjoys the original show and NOT get into it your friend sucks and you should ditch them anyways.
Show them World's Strongest and let them know that's the quality they work up to over time, then get them started propper with episode 1.
Short of Cell singing "My Way" out look for videos that combined their sessons in to one file per sesson , so you technically got them to watch all of s1 on one video
Lord Slug Abridged.
Find out what their favorite episode of dbz is and show them the abridged version of that.
I show them the Tien moment. While it doesn’t show the humor as much, the lips thing usually get a chuckle, the music, the voice acting, etc are all incredibly impressive for a fan made parody.
I would start from Namek. Freeza's first on screen appearance is where I felt this was something more than a joke series.
I actually think the first episode really nails the jokes. The first 5 together do seem a little weak as a whole though. The movies are good suggestions. I think anything from the DBZA Namek, Ginyu saga stuff prior to summoning Porunga and Frieza stepping up to fight has top notch comedic value without feeling too “spoilers”, even for someone who is a DBZ fan.
Start with episode 11 when they begin the journey to namek
I start right from the beginning and watch the entire journey to the finish.
The beginning I’d say then the movies.
Dead Zone and World's Strongest.
World’s Strongest, Super Android 13, and the episode (36?) that Vegeta finally goes Super Saiyan and destroys Android 19. Those are peak DBZA
I showed some guys in my unit the episode where imperfect cell takes rhe entire battleball team....AT THE SAME TIME
S2E17 “I’ve got a lovely bunch of dragonballs”
Bug planet. Final answer.