Top 20 Most Emotional Episodes in Dragon Ball
This would be my selection of the most emotional episodes based on the scenes that correspond with each episode... these are basically the episodes that would make anyone swell with sadness or feed the viewer's morality meter. I also have another list for my overall favorite episodes in the series (which are just for action scenes and most brutal moments)
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- 1996–199724mTV-PG7.8 (461)TV EpisodeDirectorOsamu KasaiStarsMonika AntonelliElise BaughmanChristopher BevinsWith Earth about to explode, the Z Fighters form a plan to evacuate every living creature to the new Planet Vegeta.Piccolo dies with Earth, being attached to the planet by heart, and deciding to share the fate of the planet he grew to love, saying farewell to Gohan. He explains that sometimes the best thing to do may not be what we want. Very emotional. This, to me, is the deepest, most emotional episode in the entire Dragon Ball franchise.
- DirectorDaisuke NishioStarsIan James CorlettSaffron HendersonTerry KlassenPiccolo, 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!Piccolo dies in front of Gohan after running in front of Nappa's attack to save Gohan's life, but prior to his demise, he proceeds to tell Gohan of how fond he's grown of him during the time he spent training him.
- StarsKara EdwardsLaura BaileyChristopher SabatAfter fighting with Majin Buu, Vegeta realizes he isn't fighting for just himself, but for the entire planet, and commits the ultimate sacrifice.Vegeta sacrifices himself against Buu, directly after the emotional speech and when Piccolo tells Vegeta that if he were to sacrifice himself, he may be punished for his prior crimes. Vegeta still goes ahead with his decision regardless of the consequences.
- StarsSean SchemmelChristopher SabatJosh MartinWhen Super Saiyan 3 Goku collapses from exhaustion, Vegeta enters the fight, but he doesnâ€ôt last long! Just as Majin Buu is about to deliver the deathblow, Goku makes a comeback!Vegeta renounces his evil past when he says that Goku is better than him during the Kid Buu battle. In a long honorable speech, he reveals that Goku defines all the qualities that he could never accomplish himself.
- DirectorDaisuke NishioStarsIan James CorlettSaffron HendersonScott McNeilNappa begins his assault on the Z Warriors who can't seem to stop him.Chiaotzu sacrifices himself against Nappa as his friend Tien watches, which adds to the sadness... and Piccolo tells Gohan to watch in the name of honor.
- DirectorDaisuke NishioStarsSean SchemmelStephanie NadolnySonny StraitWith Goku recovered and on his way to the battlefield, the end of Vegeta is getting even more close.Vegeta is fatally wounded by Frieza and explains to Goku, exhausting his final breath, to beg Goku to avenge his fallen race. Vegeta cries as he reveals that it was Frieza who made him into a ruthless warrior and eradicated his race as he dies in front of Goku.
- DirectorDaisuke NishioStarsIan James CorlettSaffron HendersonTerry KlassenThe fight with Nappa continues as the gang continues to fall before his onslaught.Tien's death against Nappa; he goes all out and falls to the ground dead after exerting everything he's got. He falls down in an honorable fashion.
- DirectorDaisuke NishioStarsSean SchemmelStephanie NadolnySonny StraitWhen Frieza strikes at Goku's friends, he undergoes a raging, radical transformation.Krillin's death is caused by Frieza and Goku's rage erupts as a result.
- DirectorOsamu KasaiStarsMasako NozawaHiromi TsuruKôhei MiyauchiAfter Shenron restores the lives of everyone who has been killed recently, he invites Goku to go with him. Before they leave Earth, Goku says farewell to his friends and family, who reminisce about their time together.Goku fades with Shenron in the end of GT after saying farewell to all his friends and allies.
- StarsMonika AntonelliBrice ArmstrongVictor AtelevichBecause Tien Shinhan's Tri-Beam Cannon destroyed the stage, he and Goku must finish their match in the air.Krillin is killed by Tambourine and Goku finds his deceased friend, gripping him tight in his arms.
- DirectorDaisuke NishioStarsIan James CorlettSaffron HendersonLalainia LindbjergThe gang take on the Saibamen in the fight for the planet.The Saibamen attack... and one of them explodes itself, taking Yamcha with him.
- DirectorDaisuke NishioStarsSean SchemmelStephanie NadolnyChristopher SabatEven after being sliced into pieces by his own energy disk, Frieza isn't ready to release his stranglehold on the universe. With what little power he has left, Frieza fires a final energy blast after Goku as he leaves the battlefield!Guru fades when he reveals to his children he's glad to die peacefully.
- StarsMonika AntonelliBrice ArmstrongVictor AtelevichRoshi fights Piccolo. Meanwhile, Goku and Yajirobe continue toward Korin Tower.Master Roshi dies after attempting to use his last efforts to take down King Piccolo.
- StarsMonika AntonelliBrice ArmstrongVictor AtelevichPiccolo calls upon Shenron, the Eternal Dragon, and wishes for his youth to be restored. Meanwhile, Goku and Yajirobe reach Korin Tower.Chiaotzu is executed by King Piccolo when attempting to thwart his scheme.
- DirectorMitsuo HashimotoDaisuke NishioStarsMasako NozawaKazuyuki SogabeYûko MitaThe tale of Bardock, the father of Goku, and his rebellion against his master the mighty Frieza.Bardock is killed by Frieza after realizing his fate prior to his demise... and still fiercely attacking Frieza.
- StarsMonika AntonelliBrice ArmstrongVictor AtelevichGoku fights Krillin in the last semi-final match of the World Martial Arts Tournament, and Tien Shinhan confronts Roshi about quitting during their fight.Let's not be fooled by the title of this episode. What makes this one emotional is the revelation of Tien's spiritual anguish, which is triggered by words of wisdom from Master Roshi. Tien believes himself to be a ruthless cold-blooded killer, but Roshi tells him he has a conscience and is unlike Tien's mentors, (Crane Hermit and Mercenary Tao)... and this awakes emotions inside Tien, which forces him to question himself and who he truly is.
- StarsMonika AntonelliBrice ArmstrongVictor AtelevichThe fight between Goku and the masked man, who has now been revealed as Goku's grandfather Gohan, concludes. Meanwhile, Pilaf uses a satellite to spy on Goku.Grandpa Gohan reveals himself to be one of Fortuneteller Baba's fighters... and has traveled to the living world temporarily just to have a bout with his grandson, Goku. Goku is in shock when he finds out that the mysterious fighter is, in fact, Grandpa Gohan.
- StarsMonika AntonelliBrice ArmstrongVictor AtelevichGoku saves a fox named Konkichi from a group of thugs, and they befriend one another. In gratitude, Konkichi offers to take Goku to the airport so that he can get to Papaya Island for the next World Martial Arts Tournament, which begins the following day. Unfortunately, neither has enough money for a ticket, so they go to the carnival to win some quick cash at the games. Afterward they return to the airport, where they run into Fortune Teller Baba. She sees that Konkichi is a crook, and he realizes it, so he runs away and gets into more trouble. It is up to Goku to bail him out. Meanwhile, Master Roshi and the others leave for Papaya Island themselves.Konkichi befriends Goku... but he's a crook in real life... And after his thieving ways are revealed, he himself comes clean by telling Goku he's had a hard life. In the end, Konkichi promises to do better in his life as Goku bids him farewell and goes to enter the next upcoming World Martial Arts Tournament.
- DirectorYoshihiro UedaDaisuke NishioStarsMasako NozawaMayumi TanakaHiromi TsuruIn a dark future where the Androids have taken over Earth, Gohan and his student Trunks are the last defense against these deadly killing machines.Trunks is faced with the death of his mentor, Gohan... and as a result, erupts with rage.
- DirectorOsamu KasaiStarsMasako NozawaTôru FuruyaMiki ItôGoku Jr. is the great-great-grandson of the legendary warrior Goku, but unlike his predecessor he's not a brave fighter. He's constantly picked on by school bullies--his grandmother Pan sees this and is worried, but even though Goku Jr. is not a strong and powerful saiyan, he has a kind heart, and Pan loves him. When Pan gets sick, Goku Jr. realizes that he must do something if he doesn't want to lose her. Then he remembers about the legends of the Dragon Balls. It was told that they grant a wish to the bearer, and Goku Jr. needs a magical wish more than ever, so he sets out to find the dragon ball that his grandmother told him about.Goku Jr. must face his fears and meet his fate to save his grandmother, Pan, as she lies in bed. Goku Jr.'s destiny was to become the next protector of Earth as his predecessors had been before him.