As if Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z weren’t enough, Toei Animation decided to surprise fans with yet another addition to the franchise, that is Dragon Ball Z Kai.
Dragon Ball Z Kai is the recut and the remastered version of Dragon Ball Z released to celebrate the 20th and 25th anniversary of DBZ.
The term Kai means restoration, and only after seeing DBZ Kai will you realize how well this anime has nailed its essence.
If you had enjoyed the manga but secretly despised the draggy pacing and pointless filler episodes of Dragon Ball Z, this is the version for you.
Since all the filler episodes were scrapped out in this version, DBZ Kai gives us a total of 167 episodes. There are 127 partial fillers and just two actual filler episodes, making up 1 % of the total episodes.
Let’s take a quick tour of the episodes, and you decide whether or not you want to watch them.
Quick List
- Manga Canon Episodes: 1-6, 9, 12-18, 20-21, 24, 28-30, 35, 39-40, 48-49, 52, 54, 56, 62, 66, 75, 79-80, 99, 108-109, 116, 124, 161
- Partial Filler Episodes: 7-8, 10-11, 19, 22-23, 25-27, 31-34, 36-38, 41-47, 50-51, 53, 55, 57-61, 63-65, 67-74, 76-78, 81-98, 100, 102-107, 110-115, 117-123, 125-138, 140-160, 162-164, 166-167
- Filler Episodes: 101, 165
Filler List
- Filler Episodes (These episodes are normally created to let new manga chapters release so that the anime does not run out of content, but DBZ Kai has very low filler content as it adapts an anime)
| Episode No. | Title | Saga/Arc | Airdate | Watch Link |
| 101 | Videl’s Crisis? Gohan’s Urgent Call-out! | Great Saiyaman Saga | N/A | N/A |
| 165 | Peace Returns! A Time of Rest for the Warriors! | Kid Buu Saga | N/A | N/A |
- Partial Filler List (Also known as Mixed Canon/Filler episode, these are fillers but also have some of their content taken from manga)
| Episode No. | Title | Saga/Arc | Airdate | Watch Link |
| 7 | The Battle with Ten-Times Gravity! Goku’s Race Against the Clock | Vegeta Saga | 2009-05-17 | N/A |
| 8 | Shenron Appears! The Saiyans Arrive Sooner than Expected! | Vegeta Saga | 2009-05-24 | N/A |
| 10 | Sit Tight, Chiaotzu! Tien’s Screaming Tri-Beam! | Vegeta Saga | 2009-06-07 | N/A |
| 11 | Will Goku Make it in Time?! Three Hours Until the Battle Resumes! | Vegeta Saga | 2009-06-14 | N/A |
| 19 | A Powerful New Foe! Frieza, Ruler of the Universe! | Namek Saga | 2009-08-16 | N/A |
| 22 | Dodoriya’s Terrifying Chase! A Truth Revealed to Vegeta! | Namek Saga | 2009-09-06 | N/A |
| 23 | Vegeta’s Covert Maneuvers! A Tragic Assault on the Namekians! | Namek Saga | 2009-09-13 | N/A |
| 25 | Power Up, Krillin! Frieza’s Mounting Apprehension! | Namek Saga | 2009-09-27 | N/A |
| 27 | A Touch-and-Go Situation! Gohan, Protect the Four-Star Ball! | Namek Saga | 2009-10-11 | N/A |
| 31 | Goku Arrives At Last! Take Down the Ginyu Force! | Namek Saga | 2009-11-08 | N/A |
| 34 | Surprise! Goku is Ginyu and Ginyu is Goku?! | Captain Ginyu Saga | 2009-11-29 | N/A |
| 36 | Freia Closes In! Mighty Porunga, Grant Our Wish! | Frieza Saga | 2009-12-13 | N/A |
| 37 | A Nightmare Transformation! Frieza’s Power Level-One Million?! | Frieza Saga | 2009-12-20 | N/A |
| 38 | Frieza Bares His Fangs! Gohan’s Overwhelming Attack! | Frieza Saga | 2009-12-27 | N/A |
| 41 | The Moment of Truth Approaches! Goku Back in Action! | Frieza Saga | 2010-01-24 | N/A |
| 42 | Defeat Frieza, Goku! The Tears of the Proud Saiyan Prince! | Frieza Saga | 2010-01-31 | N/A |
| 43 | Goku vs. Frieza!The Super Showdown Begins! | Frieza Saga | 2010-02-07 | N/A |
| 44 | A Boundary-Pushing Brawl! Goku, Frieza, and Ginyu Again?! | Frieza Saga | 2010-02-14 | N/A |
| 45 | Kaio-Ken Times Twenty! An All-Or-Nothing Kamehame-Ha! | Frieza Saga | 2010-02-21 | N/A |
| 46 | The Final Trump Card! Goku’s Ultimate Spirit Bomb! | Frieza Saga | 2010-02-28 | N/A |
| 47 | Awaken, Legendary Warrior! Goku, the Super Saiyan! | Frieza Saga | 2010-04-07 | N/A |
| 50 | Full Power Frieza! Shenron, Grant Our Wish! | Frieza Saga | 2010-04-28 | N/A |
| 51 | Goku’s Furious Roar! A Last-Minute Wish! | Frieza Saga | 2010-04-04 | N/A |
| 53 | Goku’s Final Attack! Countdown to Planet Namek’s Destruction! | Frieza Saga | 2010-04-18 | N/A |
| 55 | There Is Planet Earth, Father! Frieza and King Cold Strike Back! | Trunks Saga | 2010-05-02 | N/A |
| 57 | Welcome Back, Goku! Confessions of the Mysterious Youth, Trunks! | Trunk’s Saga | 2010-05-16 | N/A |
| 58 | Goku’s New Move, Instant Transmission! The Three-Year Training Session Begins! | Trunk’s Saga | 2010-05-23 | N/A |
| 59 | Undetectable Monsters! The Androids Appear! | Androids Saga | 2010-05-30 | N/A |
| 60 | The Unbeatable Enemy Within! Goku vs. Android 19! | Androids Saga | 2010-06-06 | N/A |
| 61 | No Victory for Android 19! Enter Super Vegeta! | Androids Saga | 2010-06-13 | N/A |
| 63 | The Hunt for Doctor Gero! Discover the Hidden Laboratory! | Androids Saga | 2010-06-27 | N/A |
| 64 | Number 17 and Number 18! The Androids Awaken! | Androids Saga | 2010-07-11 | N/A |
| 65 | A Sweet Face and Super Power? Android 18 vs. Vegeta! | Androids Saga | 2010-07-18 | N/A |
| 67 | Another Time Machine?! Bulma Uncovers a Mystery! | Androids Saga | 2010-08-08 | N/A |
| 68 | The Monster Goes into Motion… Strike of the Super Namekian! | Imperfect Cell Saga | 2010-08-15 | N/A |
| 69 | I Am Your Brother! The Monster With Goku’s Energy! | Imperfect Cell Saga | 2010-08-22 | N/A |
| 70 | The Dizzying Deception and the Daring Escape! Defeat the Android Cell! | Imperfect Cell Saga | 2010-08-29 | N/A |
| 71 | The Hunt for Cell Is On! Goku, Back in Action! | Imperfect Cell Saga | 2010-09-05 | N/A |
| 72 | Break the Super Saiyan Barrier! Into the Hyperbolic Time Chamber! | Imperfect Cell Saga | 2010-09-12 | N/A |
| 73 | The Super Namekian Powers Up! Piccolo vs. Android 17! | Imperfect Cell Saga | 2010-08-19 | N/A |
| 74 | Run Android 17! Piccolo’s All-or-Nothing Struggle! | Imperfect Cell Saga | 2010-09-26 | N/A |
| 76 | Tien’s Desperate Attack! Save Your Friends, Goku! | Perfect Cell Saga | 2010-10-10 | N/A |
| 77 | Beyond Super Saiyan! Vegeta Confronts the Monster Cell! | Perfect Cell Saga | 2010-10-17 | N/A |
| 78 | Cell on the Verge of Defeat! Krillin, Destroy Android 18! | Perfect Cell Saga | 2010-10-24 | N/A |
| 81 | Vegeta’s Final Push! Defeat the Invincible Cell! | Perfect Cell Saga | 2010-11-14 | N/A |
| 82 | The Strongest Super Saiyan! Trunks’ Power Unleashed! | Perfect Cell Saga | 2010-11-21 | N/A |
| 83 | Cell Invades the Airwaves! Announcing, “The Cell Games! | Cell Games Saga | 2010-11-28 | N/A |
| 84 | Training Complete! Goku Sizes Up the Competition! | Cell Games Saga | 2010-12-05 | N/A |
| 85 | The Truce is Broken! The Defense Force Strikes Back at Cell! | Cell Games Saga | 2010-12-12 | N/A |
| 86 | A New Guardian! The Return of the Dragon Balls! | Cell Games Saga | 2010-12-19 | N/A |
| 87 | Mr. Satan Takes the Stage! The Curtain Rises on the Cell Games! | Cell Games Saga | 2010-12-26 | N/A |
| 88 | Showdown! Cell vs. Goku! | Cell Games Saga | 2011-01-09 | N/A |
| 89 | Battle at the Highest Level! Goku Goes All Out! | Cell Games Saga | 2011-01-16 | N/A |
| 90 | The Opening Round Is Concluded! Goku’s Moment of Decision! | Cell Games Saga | 2011-01-23 | N/A |
| 91 | Get Angry, Gohan! Release Your Hidden Power! | Cell Games Saga | 2011-01-30 | N/A |
| 92 | Tears For An Android! Gohan’s Inner Rage Bursts Forth! | Cell Games Saga | 2011-02-06 | N/A |
| 93 | Unleash the Warrior Within! Gohan Takes the Offensive! | Cell Games Saga | 2011-02-13 | N/A |
| 94 | Perfection’s End! A Fury Beyond Super Saiyan! | Cell Games Saga | 2011-02-20 | N/A |
| 95 | A Hero’s Sacrifice! Last Chance to Save the World! | Cell Games Saga | 2011-03-06 | N/A |
| 96 | Combine Your Strength! The Final Kamehame-Ha! | Cell Games Saga | 2011-03-20 | N/A |
| 97 | A Bittersweet Victory! Until We Meet Again! | Cell Games Saga | 2011-03-27 | N/A |
| 98 | Peace For the Future! The Spirit of Goku is Forever! | Cell Games Saga | 2011-08-02 | N/A |
| 100 | A New Hero, Great Saiyaman, Is Born! | Great Saiyaman Saga | 2014-04-13 | N/A |
| 102 | A Monster is Taken Away! The Culprit is Great Saiyaman? | Great Saiyaman Saga | N/A | N/A |
| 103 | Entering the World Martial Arts Tournament! Goten Shows Off His Explosive Power During Training! | Great Saiyaman Saga | N/A | N/A |
| 104 | Gohan the Teacher! Videl’s Flying Technique Tutorial | Great Saiyaman Saga | 2014-04-20 | N/A |
| 105 | The Dragon Team Fully Assembled! Goku Has Come Back! | Great Saiyaman Saga | 2014-04-27 | N/A |
| 106 | Who Is the World’s Greatest? The Tournament Preliminaries Begin! | World Tournament Saga | N/A | N/A |
| 107 | Everyone is Surprised! Goten and Trunks’ Super Battle! | World Tournament Saga | 2014-05-04 | N/A |
| 110 | What Happened, Piccolo? An Unexpected Outcome in the First Round | World Tournament Saga | 2014-05-18 | N/A |
| 111 | An Eerie Entity; Who Exactly Is Spopovich? | World Tournament Saga | N/A | N/A |
| 112 | Videl Battered! Gohan’s Fury Reaches Its Limit! | World Tournament Saga | 2014-05-25 | N/A |
| 113 | A Creeping Conspiracy! The Target is Gohan | World Tournament Saga | N/A | N/A |
| 114 | Terrifying Secret of the Majin; The Mastermind Revealed! | World Tournament Saga | 2014-06-01 | N/A |
| 115 | The Nefarious Wizard Babidi And Demon King Dabura’s Trap | Babidi Saga | 2014-06-08 | N/A |
| 117 | Whither Victory? A Battle Royal Championship Match! | Babidi Saga | 2014-06-22 | N/A |
| 118 | Stunning Youngsters! No. 18’s Uphill Battle | Babidi Saga | 2014-06-29 | N/A |
| 119 | Enter the Headliner! The Looming Demon King! | Babidi Saga | 2014-07-06 | N/A |
| 120 | A Heart of Evil Awakened; Vegeta, Prince of Destruction | Babidi Saga | 2014-07-13 | N/A |
| 121 | I am the Strongest! The Clash of Goku vs. Vegeta | Babidi Saga | 2014-07-20 | N/A |
| 122 | Countdown to Revival: Crush Babidi’s Ambitions! | Babidi Saga | 2014-08-03 | N/A |
| 123 | The Seal is Released? Gohan’s Kamehame-Ha of Resistance | Majin Buu Saga | 2014-8-10 | N/A |
| 125 | Turn Into Candy! A Hungry Majin’s Bizarre Power! | Majin Buu Saga | 2014-08-24 | N/A |
| 126 | I Will Deal With the Majin! Vegeta’s Final Mortal Combat! | Majin Buu Saga | 2014-08-31 | N/A |
| 127 | For His Beloved Ones… The End of the Proud Warrior! | Majin Buu Saga | 2014-09-07 | N/A |
| 128 | A Nightmare Revisited: The Immortal Monster Majin Buu! | Majin Buu Saga | 2014-09-14 | N/A |
| 129 | A Secret Plan to Defeat Buu! Its Name is Fusion | Majin Buu Saga | 2014-09-21 | N/A |
| 130 | Found! A Faint Ray of Hope – Awaken, Warriors! | Majin Buu Saga | 2014-09-28 | N/A |
| 131 | Find the Nuisances: Babidi’s Retaliation Begins! | Majin Buu Saga | 2014-10-05 | N/A |
| 132 | A Time of Trials! Lay Hold of Legendary Powers! | Majin Buu Saga | 2014-10-12 | N/A |
| 133 | Hold Majin Buu in Check! Limit — Super Saiyan 3!” | Majin Buu Saga | 2014-10-19 | N/A |
| 134 | True Worth Beginning to Show – The Treacherous Buu! | Majin Buu Saga | 2014-10-26 | N/A |
| 135 | Silly Looking? Drilling the Fusion Pose! | Majin Buu Saga | 2014-11-02 | N/A |
| 136 | Bye-bye, Everyone! Goku Returns to the Next World | Majin Buu Saga | 2014-11-09 | N/A |
| 137 | Gohan Located! Intensive Training in the World of the Kais! | Majin Buu Saga | 2014-11-16 | N/A |
| 138 | Birth of a Merged Superwarrior His Name is Gotenks! | Majin Buu Saga | 2014-11-23 | N/A |
| 140 | The Powering Up Continues? Super Gotenks is Achieved! | Majin Buu Saga | 2014-12-07 | N/A |
| 141 | What Anger Gives Rise To Another Majin! | Fusion Saga | 2014-12-14 | N/A |
| 142 | Buu Gobbles Up Buu! Onslaught of a New Majin! | Fusion Saga | 2014-12-21 | N/A |
| 143 | Headlong Rush Into Catastrophe! A One-Hour Time Limit! | Fusion Saga | 2014-12-28 | N/A |
| 144 | Training Complete! You’re Finished Now, Majin Buu! | Fusion Saga | 2015-01-11 | N/A |
| 145 | Eliminating Buu with Ghosts: A Knockout Kamikaze Attack! | Fusion Saga | 2015-01-18 | N/A |
| 146 | Gotenks’ Ace in the Hole! Transformation! Super Gotenks 3! | Fusion Saga | 2014-01-25 | N/A |
| 147 | On a Roll! Buu-Buu-Volleyball! | Fusion Saga | 2015-02-01 | N/A |
| 148 | Thanks for Waiting, Everyone! A Reborn Gohan Heads for Earth! | Fusion Saga | 2015-02-08 | N/A |
| 149 | Buu Overwhelmed! Ultimate Gohan’s Super Power! | Fusion Saga | 2015-02-15 | N/A |
| 150 | Buu’s Sinister Scheme: Gotenks is Absorbed | Fusion Saga | 2015-03-01 | N/A |
| 151 | The Elder Kai’s Brainstorm! Return to Life, Goku! | Fusion Saga | 2015-03-15 | N/A |
| 152 | Miracles Happen Once… Will Goku and He Make the Ultimate Combination? | Fusion Saga | 2015-03-22 | N/A |
| 153 | Invincible! The Ultimate Warrior Vegito | Fusion Saga | 2015-03-29 | N/A |
| 154 | Buu’s Ace in the Hole! The Warriors Are Absorbed! | Fusion Saga | 2015-04-05 | N/A |
| 155 | Rescue Gohan and the Others! Goku and Vegeta’s Infiltration Mission! | Fusion Saga | 2015-04-12 | N/A |
| 156 | Emergency Escape from the Body! Buu’s Retrogression Into Evil! | Kid Buu Saga | 2015-04-19 | N/A |
| 157 | Earth Destroyed! The Initial Buu’s Nefarious Strike | Kid Buu Saga | 2015-04-26 | N/A |
| 158 | A Final Showdown at the Summit! Face-Off in the World of the Kais! | Kid Buu Saga | 2015-05-03 | N/A |
| 159 | Hang In There, Kakarot! You Are No. 1! | Kid Buu Saga | 2015-05-10 | N/A |
| 160 | A One-Minute Match-Up! Vegeta’s Life-Threatening Stall for Time! | Kid Buu Saga | 2015-05-17 | N/A |
| 162 | Share Your Spirit Energy with Me! I’m Making a Huge Spirit Bomb! | Kid Buu Saga | 2015-05-31 | N/A |
| 163 | You Are the Savior of the World! Everybody’s Spirit Bomb Completed! | Kid Buu Saga | 2015-06-07 | N/A |
| 164 | You Really Are the Greatest, Goku!! The Demise of Majin Buu | Kid Buu Saga | 2015-06-14 | N/A |
| 166 | And So, Ten Years Later… A Long-Awaited World Martial Arts Tournament! | Peaceful World Saga | 2015-06-21 | N/A |
| 167 | Even Stronger! Goku’s Dream is Never-Ending! | Peaceful World Saga | 2015-06-28 | N/A |
Watch Dragon Ball Z Kai on:
Can You Skip The Filler Episodes?
The partial filler episodes are as crucial as the canon ones, even though some scenes are not adapted from the manga. They are equally important in understanding the main story of this anime.
The two filler episodes listed can be skipped as it has no connection to the main plot whatsoever are:
- Videl’s Crisis? Gohan’s Urgent Call-out! (episode 101)
- Peace Returns! A Time of Rest for the Warriors! (episode 165)
Although, if you like good animation and need a bit of laughter after all the super roaring battles. These two filler episodes can give you that much-needed dose of laughter.
Conclusion
Dragon Ball Z Kai is the shorter version of Dragon Ball Z. If you have already watched the whole Dragon Ball Z series, then you can skip DBZ Kai in its entirety.
Nonetheless, DBZ Kai has its own moments that were better than DBZ. If you are a hardcore Dragon Ball fan, though, you will probably want to watch this whole series. Trust me, the renewed animation, dubbing, and high-definition battle scenes will make the experience worth it.
About Dragon Ball Z Kai
Dragon Ball Z Kai is an updated and remastered form of Dragon Ball Z. It premiered in 2009 for the 20th anniversary of Dragon Ball Z.
Dragon Ball Z Kai is also the sequel to the initial Dragon Ball series and focuses on an adult Goku.
It removed a majority of the fillers from Dragon Ball Z and tries to provide a storyline that is faithful to Akira Toriyama’s original plot. The animation was also made more vibrant and the images and sounds were made much clearer.
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