Dragon Ball Z Side Story: Plan to Eradicate the Saiyans
Remember hunting through dusty video store shelves, or maybe getting a swapped tape from a friend, hoping for just one more fix of Saiyan action? Sometimes you didn't find the latest blockbuster movie, but something... different. Something like the 1993 Dragon Ball Z Side Story: Plan to Eradicate the Saiyans. This wasn't quite a movie, not exactly series canon, but a weird and wonderful slice of 90s anime history delivered straight to our VCRs, often in two intriguing parts. Finding this felt like uncovering a secret level in the DBZ universe.
### A Ghostly Gathering
The premise itself is pure DBZ B-movie gold: mysterious machines start pumping out Destron Gas across Earth, weakening our beloved Z-Fighters. Even Goku struggles! Behind it all is Dr. Lychee, the last survivor of the Tuffle race, seeking vengeance against the Saiyans who wiped out his people generations ago (remember King Kai’s history lesson about Planet Vegeta?). His master plan? Unleash ghost warriors – spectral duplicates of Frieza, Cooler, Turles, and Lord Slug – upon Goku, Gohan, Vegeta, Trunks, and Piccolo. Seeing these movie villains return, even as phantoms, was a wild treat back in the day. Wasn't it kind of awesome, yet slightly baffling, to see them all team up?
### The Famicom Connection
Here’s a nugget of retro gold for you: Plan to Eradicate the Saiyans wasn't conceived purely as an anime. It was originally created as an OVA (Original Video Animation) serving as a "visual guide" or strategy aid for a Famicom (the Japanese NES) RPG of the same name, Dragon Ball Z Gaiden: Saiyajin Zetsumetsu Keikaku. This explains its somewhat disjointed, almost episodic feel, especially if you found the original two-part VHS release. It was designed to walk players through the game's story beats! Knowing this context adds a whole new layer to watching it; it’s a fascinating example of transmedia storytelling, 90s style. This game-anime link also meant it wasn't as widely seen as the theatrical films, often circulating via fan subs and tape trading – pure VHS Heaven culture!
### 90s DBZ Energy Unleashed
Let's talk action. Directed by Shigeyasu Yamauchi, a name revered by many DBZ fans for his work on some of the most visually dynamic films like Fusion Reborn and Broly - The Legendary Super Saiyan, this OVA feels like classic 90s Dragon Ball Z. The animation might not have the slick digital polish of modern anime, but it possesses a raw energy. Yamauchi's signature sharp angles, dramatic close-ups, and kinetic storyboarding are evident. The ghost battles are fast, brutal, full of speed lines and those classic impact frames that made you feel every hit. Remember how visceral those energy blasts felt on a fuzzy CRT screen?
The voice work, as always, is legendary. Hearing Masako Nozawa embodying Goku and Gohan's fighting spirit, Ryō Horikawa dripping with Vegeta's arrogant fury, and Toshio Furukawa as the ever-stoic Piccolo grounds the fantastical elements. Their performances carry the same weight here as they did in the main series, lending legitimacy to this side story skirmish.
The main antagonist, beyond the ghost parade, is Dr. Lychee himself and his ultimate creation, Hatchiyack – a machine fueled by Tuffle hatred that powers up based on the grudges of the fallen. Hatchiyack is a suitably monstrous final boss, providing the Z-Fighters with a significant physical challenge that requires their usual blend of teamwork, desperation, and powering up beyond their limits. While perhaps not as iconic as Frieza or Cell, Hatchiyack served his purpose well as the ultimate expression of Lychee's vengeful plot.
### Legacy of a Side Story
Critically? Let's be honest, this was never going to win awards. It was, and is, essentially high-quality filler, a "what if" scenario born from a video game. Its canonicity is dubious at best. Yet, for dedicated fans in the 90s, more DBZ was always welcome, especially an adventure that brought back such popular villains. It scratched an itch, providing another dose of the action and characters we loved. Its slightly oddball status and unique origins make it a fascinating piece for collectors and historians of the franchise. It even got a modern facelift in 2010, remade as Plan to Eradicate the Super Saiyans included with the Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2 video game, smoothing out the animation but perhaps losing some of that raw 90s charm.
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VHS Heaven Rating: 6/10
Justification: The score reflects its status as a non-essential but genuinely fun piece of DBZ history. It delivers classic 90s action and features beloved voice actors, but the plot is thin, born from its video game origins, and the ghost villain concept feels a bit like recycled fan service. Its primary appeal lies in nostalgia and its unique place as an OVA artifact.
Final Thought: Plan to Eradicate the Saiyans is pure, uncut 90s anime OVA energy – a bit rough around the edges, slightly nonsensical, but pulsing with that unmistakable Dragon Ball Z spirit. It’s a time capsule perfectly suited for the fan who remembers the thrill of discovering obscure anime treasures on well-worn VHS tapes.