Dragon Ball Z: Bojack Unbound
Toei Animation
Dragon Ball Z: Bojack Unbound is set after the Cell Games in a non-canonical timeline, making it one of the few DBZ films where Goku is deceased and unable to serve as the primary protagonist. Instead, the film centers on Gohan as the lead fighter during a World Martial Arts Tournament taken over by Bojack — an ancient alien pirate who was sealed away by the Kais and has now escaped. With Goku gone and the other Z Fighters struggling against Bojack's galaxy soldiers, Gohan must unlock the power he demonstrated against Cell and carry the burden of Earth's defense alone.
Bojack Unbound is notable for being the only DBZ theatrical film that attempts to genuinely explore a world where Goku is not the fallback solution. Gohan's arc — the reluctant successor struggling with the pressure of a power that erupts from trauma rather than cultivation — is the film's most interesting dimension. A brief posthumous appearance by Goku adds emotional weight at a critical moment. The film is set in an ambiguous post-Cell Games timeframe that doesn't cleanly fit the canonical timeline, but its premise of a Goku-free heroic test for Gohan makes it one of the more thematically distinctive DBZ theatrical entries.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When was Bojack Unbound released?
Released July 10, 1993 in Japan — the ninth Dragon Ball Z theatrical film (released alongside the first Broly film).
Is Goku in Bojack Unbound?
Only briefly — Goku is dead at the time of the film's setting and appears only in a short posthumous cameo. Gohan is the main hero.
What do fans think of Bojack Unbound?
Appreciated for putting Gohan front and center after Cell Games. The Goku-less premise is unusual and makes the film stand out. Bojack himself is not particularly deep, but the Gohan focus elevates it.