Highlights
- Future Trunks' backstory and journey back in time shape him into a different character from the Trunks of the main timeline, as explained in Dragon Ball Z: The History of Trunks TV special.
- The special focuses on Gohan and Trunks, shifting the narrative away from Goku and Vegeta's rivalry, and develops the relationship between Gohan and Trunks as they fight against the Androids.
- The special showcases an emotional and immersive Super Saiyan transformation moment for Trunks, capturing the gravity of his grief and serving as one of the most memorable transformations in the entire series.
Future Trunks has been a core member of the Z Fighters ever since his introduction during the initial Androids Saga of Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball manga and the Dragon Ball Z anime adaptation. Having been present throughout the cataclysmic battles against Androids 17 and 18, as well as the Imperfect and Perfect forms of Cell, Trunks was a notable absence in the subsequent Majin Buu Saga which concluded the original series, as he went back to his original timeline via Bulma's Time Machine. However, he returned to the fore once again with the Future Trunks Saga of Dragon Ball Super. While this version of Trunks did explain his background and the circumstances to the Z Fighters prior to the start of the conflict against the Androids and Cell, there were many details left unexplained.
The circumstances of his journey back in time had a huge part to play in shaping Future Trunks as a character, as he is quite different from the Trunks of the main timeline in many respects. Fortunately, this part of his story was covered in a Dragon Ball Z TV special which adapted a one-off chapter of the Dragon Ball manga. Titled Dragon Ball Z: The History of Trunks, the special represented some of the best aspects of the series, condensed into a double episode which fans truly comprehend the plight of Future Trunks, capturing the essence of what makes Dragon Ball Z such a beloved shonen battle series. There are a number of areas in which this special surpasses some parts of the original series, making it truly stand out as a high point in both its respective saga and the narrative as a whole.
Shifting The Focus To Gohan And Trunks
The special opens into a post-apocalyptic scenario, where the Z Fighters have all perished, leaving only Gohan, Trunks, and Bulma behind. Prior to the Androids' arrival, Goku succumbed to a rare heart disease, which severely weakened the team's resistance to Dr. Gero's creations. Once Androids 17 and 18 entered the fray, Vegeta, Piccolo, Krillin, and the rest of the main cast were all defeated, leaving only a small resistance behind. Piccolo's death kills Kami and also destroys the Dragon Balls, preventing them from being wished back.
In this world, the Androids rain down terror upon the civilian populace, who are helpless against their overwhelming power. Within this scenario, the focus of the narrative is shifted from Goku and Vegeta's rivalry for the first time in Dragon Ball Z, allowing their sons Gohan and Trunks to shine. The relationship between the pair is developed quite well in a very short time, as both only have each other to rely on in the fight against the Androids. Whereas Gohan became a Super Saiyan after seeing all of his friends killed — making him the only person who stands a chance against the Androids — Trunks is still training to reach a similar level.
A Stirring Super Saiyan Transformation
After a few initial skirmishes, Gohan and Trunks go to confront the Androids when they attack Super World, an amusement park in this timeline. In the ensuing battle Gohan loses his left arm in a blast created by the Androids, and he is brought back to the Capsule Corporation by Trunks. On recovering from his injuries, Gohan continues training Trunks, but he is unable to transform into a Super Saiyan despite making massive strides in his development. Soon after, the Androids attack Pepper Town, and Gohan knocks Trunks unconscious to protect him, despite the latter's protests to be allowed to fight.
Unfortunately, Gohan proves to be no match for the Androids after the loss of his arm, even though he manages to put up a long fight and even gains the upper hand at certain points. Knocked to the ground when the Androids gang up on him, Gohan is killed by a series of energy blasts. When Trunks senses the disappearance of his mentor's energy, he awakes and rushes out, only to find Gohan's body lying lifeless in the rain. Overcome with emotion, Trunks gives in to his rage and finally transforms into a Super Saiyan for the first time, cracking the ground with the force of a single blow, with his newfound strength having come at the cost of Gohan's life.
Super Saiyan transformations are an essential part of most Dragon Ball Z story arcs, and this is perhaps one of the best yet in the series. The dark, moody images of an urban dystopia, highlighted by the reds and blues of police sirens, serves as the backdrop for Trunks finding Gohan's remains, as the music builds to a crescendo at the moment Trunk's rage breaks out and he transforms. By capturing the gravity of Trunks' grief, as he repeatedly shouts Gohan's name in the hopes of reviving him, the tension rises even further, as the audience realizes there is no one capable of even holding a candle to the Androids. However, at the moment he transforms, Trunks' scream overpowers all else, his anger at Gohan's death becomes a flood that cannot be tamed. This is perhaps the most immersive moment in the entire special, and checks all the boxes for a truly memorable transformation.
Setting Up The Cell Saga
Flashing forward three years into the future, the story picks up again when Trunks sees Bulma create the Time Machine which takes him back to the past. Trunks attempts to fight the Androids once again after becoming a Super Saiyan, but is also defeated and barely escapes with his life. Realizing that he needs the Z Fighters to help him, Trunks decides to travel back in time to warn the Z Fighters of the danger they face, carrying the medication needed to save Goku from his heart condition. This concluding act lays the necessary groundwork for the subsequent Cell Saga.
Noteworthy additions to the FUNimation release of this special are the score and soundtrack. The soundtrack itself features the music of bands such as Dream Theater, Slaughter, Bootsy Collins and Buckethead, and Tendril. Decidedly heavy and modern, painting the sonic portrait of the dystopian world depicted through the narrative, the soundtrack serves to elevate the tension and make the stakes seem even more real, heightening the experience to a whole new dimension. In more ways than one, The History of Trunks distills the most powerful themes and concepts in Dragon Ball Z into a two-part episode which leaves fans struggling to keep up with the pace of the action, providing one of the best examples of the series' universal appeal.
Dragon Ball Z is available to stream on Crunchyroll.