Dragon Ball Z: Season 8 (Babidi & Majin Buu Sagas)

The forces of good and evil have converged upon the planet Earth, and the fate of the universe hangs in the balance! The evil wizard Babidi has traveled across the galaxy on a quest for revenge, hoping to fulfill his father’s thwarted dreams of universal domination. Meanwhile, the Supreme Kai has come to enlist the aid of the Z-Fighters in an effort to prevent Babidi from completing his plans and awakening a monster of unimaginable terror—Majin Buu!

As Goku and the Z-Fighters descend into Babidi’s lair, they are confronted by an army of powerful minions, led by the Demon King Dabura himself! Can our heroes resist the wizard’s dark magic and battle their way through this host of villains before time runs out? With each passing second, more energy is gathered for the sleeping Majin Buu. And should this creature of pure evil be awakened, all life—everywhere—will be extinguished!

Season Eight contains the complete Babidi and Majin Buu sagas.

Stills from Dragon Ball Z: Season Eight (Click for larger image)

The eighth and penultimate season of Dragon Ball Z pits the Z Fighters, the Supreme Kai, and his attendant Kibito against the evil wizard Babidi, who hopes to release the monster Buu, which his father Bibidi created. (The names are apparently a back-handed salute to Walt Disney's Cinderella.) Goku, who's technically dead but still visting from the Other World, joins Vegeta and Gohan in the initial fights against Babidi's minions. As the battles escalate, Babidi use Vegeta's overweening pride to entrap the Saiyan Prince and turn him against his allies. It's all Goku can do to win Vegeta back, and the energy loosed in their stand-off enables Babidi to free Buu. Instead of one of the over-muscled behemoths the Z Fighters usually tackle, Buu is an obnoxious, infantile creature who looks like a sumo wrestler molded out of pink marshmallows. But he's incredibly powerful and resilient: even the Saiyans can't defeat him. Goku realizes only one warrior can destroy Buu: Goten and Trunks in their Super-Saiyan forms must fuse to form an über-hero. The boys initially balk, as the Dance of Fusion looks and feels silly. But Gohan and Picollo whip them into shape and the formidable Gotenks appears. Season 8 offers much more action and excitement than the World Tournament story that takes up most of Season 7. But unlike the earlier DBZ adventures, the Babidi & Majin Buu Sagas end on a cliffhanger, with the fate of the Earth and its inhabitants hanging in the balance. (Rated TV PG. suitable for ages 8 and older: violence, violence against women, tobacco and alcohol use, ethnic stereotypes) --Charles Solomon

(220. The Wizard's Curse, 221. King of the Demons, 222. Vegeta Attacks, 223. Next Up, Goku, 224. Battle Supreme, 225. Eighteen Unmasks, 226. Pay to Win, 227. Heart of a Villan, 228. The Dark Prince Returns, 229. Vegeta's Pride, 230. The Long Awaited Fight, 231. Magic Ball of Buu, 232. Buu is Hatched, 233. The Losses Begin, 234. The Terror of Mr. Buu, 235. Meal Time, 236. The Warrior's Decision, 237. Final Atonement, 238. Evil Lives On, 239. Find the Dragon Balls, 240. Revival, 241. Global Announcement, 242. Learn to Fuse, 243. The Z- Sword, 244. Race To Capsule Corp, 245. Super Saiyan 3?! 246. Buu's Mutiny, 247. The Fusion Dance, 248. Goku's Time is Up, 249. Return to Other World, 250. Out From the Broken Sword, 251. Gotenks is Born, 252. Unlikely Friendship, 253. I Kill No More)