<p><em>Kai</em> is not too bad as I'm currently watching it on KIX, but there are silly things chopped away from what I remember in <em>Dragon Ball Z</em>, like:</p>
<blockquote class="spoiler">
<p> Cell stomps and crushes Android 16's head after he's done telling Gohan to embrace his inner anger to defeat Cell. In <em>Dragon Ball Z Kai</em>, this is cut out and only Android 16's brain cartridge and a few bolts are seen MAGICALLY on the scene. Yet, during the Frieza saga, you get to see Krillin use 'Destructo Disc' to cut off Frieza's tail which did happen in both Z and Kai but this clashes with the head crushing.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>To me, <em>Dragonball Z</em> destroys <em>Kai</em> in every form and shape because it's more influential in all the character's development. Not to mention I've yet to see Yamcha use his technique The Wolf Fang Fist.</p>
<p>From what I've read as well, we are going to lose out on the Majin Buu Saga, the Kid Buu Saga, and the Super Android 17 Saga.</p>
<p>Lastly, it hasn't been mentioned from what I've read, but even though it's only a filler, what happened to the Garlic Jr. Saga? If I remember correctly, it was based on the return from Namek. I could be wrong. So much is cut from <em>Z</em>, it's sort of depressing.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-29T17:35:49.413Z
Super 17 Saga is not DBZ, but its bastard son: Dragonball GT. Garlic Jr. saga doesn't appears on comics, and it's based on a plot that comes from an OVA which was plot-incompatible with the series, so it's possibly the best part to cut.
Flamma
CC BY-SA 4.0
2013-11-21T07:15:47.107Z
2023-07-05T14:51:48.897Z
2023-07-05T14:51:48.897Z
Guest
<p>First off, <em>Dragon Ball Z Kai</em> doesn't include anything from <em>Dragon Ball</em>, which is the story of Goku as a child. Secondly, the main difference is that <em>Kai</em> lacks the filler content of the original <em>Dragon Ball Z</em>, and stops at the end of the Cell saga. </p>

<p>By filler I mean content not originally in the manga. Some (like myself) enjoyed the filler, while others thought it to be extra fluff. <em>Kai</em> is more faithful to the manga than the original anime was. In some cases though, this could affect how some see the development of characters. For example: In the original <em>DBZ</em>, one of the most intriguing, and perhaps touching, moments is Gohan surviving alone in the wilderness. The challenges and events he faces, as well as the people he meets, all influence the person he becomes later on. Much of this was cut in Kai, and so, unless you've already seen <em>DBZ</em>, it might seem a little choppy.</p>

<p>By ending at the Cell saga, it ends in the place where the original author Akira Toriyama wanted it to. In doing so, you miss the two-three seasons that came afterward.</p>

<p>The are also other small differences between the two, including different music in some cases, and new scenes added/redone in <em>Kai</em>.</p>

<p>As for censorship, some scenes where updated to fit the new standards of Japanese Television. In American productions of the anime (namely dubs), there could have been further censoring. I can't remember the name of the company at the moment, but one went so far as to make the character Mr. Popo blue, to lessen claims of racism.</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/yVlIn.jpg" alt="Scene edited to remove blood"> <img src="https://i.sstatic.net/VBWu9.png" alt="Mr. Popo&#39;s skin is normally pitch black."></p>

<p>Given the facts, you can make up your mind as to which you will watch, but in my humble opinion I would go with the originals first, and later on, if you want, you can look into <em>Kai</em> as an abridgment. As someone who has personally watched both, I must say that I only enjoyed <em>Kai</em> because I was able to fill in the details myself. If I had never seen <em>DBZ</em> I doubt I would have felt this comfortable.</p>

<p>I hope I helped! :) </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-26T11:43:54.227Z
Not sure if this needs to be updated, since at this point DBZ Kai doesn't end at the Cell saga. Since april this year they have started airing the Majin Buu saga too.
Peter Raeves
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-18T19:01:32.817Z
Someone should make some sort of guide on how to merge Kai and the original: replace the original episodes that overlap with Kai and keep the ones that aren't covered by it. This way we can enjoy the higher fidelity without missing out on the story.
thebunnyrules
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-03-23T23:45:27.370Z
2017-06-18T02:50:24.103Z
2017-06-18T02:50:24.103Z
Miguel
<p>I've read that <em>Dragon Ball Z Kai</em> is an HD remaster and recut of <em>Dragon Ball</em> and <em>Dragon Ball Z</em>. However, <em>Kai</em> has <a href="http://dragonball.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_Dragon_Ball_Z_Kai_episodes">98 episodes</a> while <em>Dragon Ball</em> has <a href="http://dragonball.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_Dragon_Ball_episodes">153</a> and <em>Z</em> has <a href="http://dragonball.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_Dragon_Ball_Z_episodes">almost 300</a>.</p>

<p>If I watch only <em>Dragon Ball Z Kai</em>, do I miss anything I would get by watching the other two series? And is anything censored in <em>Kai</em> that is not censored in the others?</p>

<dragon-ball-series><dragon-ball-z><dragon-ball-z-kai>
Will I miss anything by watching Dragon Ball Z Kai instead of the other series?
# Will I miss anything by watching Dragon Ball Z Kai instead of the other series?
Posted by: username_0 on 2013-03-23
I've read that *Dragon Ball Z Kai* is an HD remaster and recut of *Dragon Ball* and *Dragon Ball Z*. However, *Kai* has [98 episodes](http://dragonball.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_Dragon_Ball_Z_Kai_episodes) while *Dragon Ball* has [153](http://dragonball.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_Dragon_Ball_episodes) and *Z* has [almost 300](http://dragonball.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_Dragon_Ball_Z_episodes).

If I watch only *Dragon Ball Z Kai*, do I miss anything I would get by watching the other two series? And is anything censored in *Kai* that is not censored in the others?
**Tags:** dragon-ball-series dragon-ball-z dragon-ball-z-kai
---
## 2 answers
### Answer by username_3 on 2013-03-23. Score: 36 | Accepted answer
First off, *Dragon Ball Z Kai* doesn't include anything from *Dragon Ball*, which is the story of Goku as a child. Secondly, the main difference is that *Kai* lacks the filler content of the original *Dragon Ball Z*, and stops at the end of the Cell saga.

By filler I mean content not originally in the manga. Some (like myself) enjoyed the filler, while others thought it to be extra fluff. *Kai* is more faithful to the manga than the original anime was. In some cases though, this could affect how some see the development of characters. For example: In the original *DBZ*, one of the most intriguing, and perhaps touching, moments is Gohan surviving alone in the wilderness. The challenges and events he faces, as well as the people he meets, all influence the person he becomes later on. Much of this was cut in Kai, and so, unless you've already seen *DBZ*, it might seem a little choppy.

By ending at the Cell saga, it ends in the place where the original author Akira Toriyama wanted it to. In doing so, you miss the two-three seasons that came afterward.

The are also other small differences between the two, including different music in some cases, and new scenes added/redone in *Kai*.

As for censorship, some scenes where updated to fit the new standards of Japanese Television. In American productions of the anime (namely dubs), there could have been further censoring. I can't remember the name of the company at the moment, but one went so far as to make the character Mr. Popo blue, to lessen claims of racism.

![Scene edited to remove blood](https://i.sstatic.net/yVlIn.jpg) ![Mr. Popo's skin is normally pitch black.](https://i.sstatic.net/VBWu9.png)

Given the facts, you can make up your mind as to which you will watch, but in my humble opinion I would go with the originals first, and later on, if you want, you can look into *Kai* as an abridgment. As someone who has personally watched both, I must say that I only enjoyed *Kai* because I was able to fill in the details myself. If I had never seen *DBZ* I doubt I would have felt this comfortable.

I hope I helped! :)
> **Comments:**
> **username_4** (2014-06-26): Not sure if this needs to be updated, since at this point DBZ Kai doesn't end at the Cell saga. Since april this year they have started airing the Majin Buu saga too.  
> **username_5** (2017-11-18): Someone should make some sort of guide on how to merge Kai and the original: replace the original episodes that overlap with Kai and keep the ones that aren't covered by it. This way we can enjoy the higher fidelity without missing out on the story.  
---
### Answer by username_1 on 2013-11-21. Score: 1
*Kai* is not too bad as I'm currently watching it on KIX, but there are silly things chopped away from what I remember in *Dragon Ball Z*, like:

> Cell stomps and crushes Android 16's head after he's done telling Gohan to embrace his inner anger to defeat Cell. In *Dragon Ball Z Kai*, this is cut out and only Android 16's brain cartridge and a few bolts are seen MAGICALLY on the scene. Yet, during the Frieza saga, you get to see Krillin use 'Destructo Disc' to cut off Frieza's tail which did happen in both Z and Kai but this clashes with the head crushing.

To me, *Dragonball Z* destroys *Kai* in every form and shape because it's more influential in all the character's development. Not to mention I've yet to see Yamcha use his technique The Wolf Fang Fist.

From what I've read as well, we are going to lose out on the Majin Buu Saga, the Kid Buu Saga, and the Super Android 17 Saga.

Lastly, it hasn't been mentioned from what I've read, but even though it's only a filler, what happened to the Garlic Jr. Saga? If I remember correctly, it was based on the return from Namek. I could be wrong. So much is cut from *Z*, it's sort of depressing.
> **Comments:**
> **username_2** (2013-12-29): Super 17 Saga is not DBZ, but its bastard son: Dragonball GT. Garlic Jr. saga doesn't appears on comics, and it's based on a plot that comes from an OVA which was plot-incompatible with the series, so it's possibly the best part to cut.  
---
