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Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies (1986) movie poster

Plot Summary

Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies (1986) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
1986 · 50 mins · Japanese
Directed by
Daisuke Nishio
Starring
Shûichirô Moriyama, Reiko Suzuki, Gorô Naya, Mami Koyama, Masako Nozawa, Hiromi Tsuru

King Gurumes is on a relentless quest for the Dragon Balls, hoping the wishes will finally quell his insatiable hunger. In the nearby village, Pansy, fed up with his cruelty, turns to Master Roshi for aid. The heroes rally, confronting Gurumes’s armies in a desperate battle to protect their home and halt his ruthless ambitions.

On this page (5)
  1. 1 What happens: full plot
  2. 2 Plot questions answered
  3. 3 Movie threads
  4. 4 Movies like Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies
  5. 5 Every angle

Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies (1986) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

Shûichirô Moriyama as Gurumesu ushers a ruthless regime in his kingdom, with his two chief enforcers, Mami Koyama as Pasuta and Gorô Naya as Bongo, hunting Blood Rubies (リッチストーン, Ricchi Sutōn) to break a curse that has turned him into a growing, purple monster hungry for more. As his curse intensifies, the king hopes to redeem himself by gathering the seven Dragon Balls and making a single wish. In the countryside, a rebellious young figure (a girl named Pansy in the tale) experiences the brutal consequences of Gurumesu’s ambition when her people are harmed, fueling her resolve to seek help.

In Mount Paozu, a young boy named Goku, renowned for his monkey-like strength and a powerful tail, lives in isolation until a blue-haired teenager named Bulma arrives with a Dragon Radar, intent on collecting Dragon Balls. When the two cross paths, Goku initially mistakes Bulma for a monster, but she clarifies she’s human, and he reveals a Dragon Ball his late grandfather gave him. Their fragile trust begins to form as Bulma’s quest overlaps with Goku’s own journey. Soon, Pasta and Bongo seize his Dragon Ball, leaving behind a gold coin and triggering a clash that ends with Goku wielding his trusty Power Pole to turn the tide.

Night brings a comedic, chaotic encounter with Oolong—the shape-shifting pig—who tries to dodge trouble by transforming and escaping, only to be knocked down by Goku’s strength when pursued. The trio then stumbles into Yamcha the Desert Bandit and his companion Puar. A lively duel erupts, with Yamcha showing off his Wolf Fang Fist and Goku demonstrating his Rock-Scissors-Paper moves, until Bulma’s timely arrival defuses the stand-off. Yamcha’s fear of beautiful women, a running gag, complicates things further when he faces Bulma directly, and a brash bite of fate—his stubborn pride—forces him to retreat along with Puar.

Meanwhile, Pansy describes the suffering of her people and pleads with Bulma for help, hinting that Master Roshi the Turtle Hermit is the one who can best counter Gurumesu. The looming threat continues as Gurumesu amasses the remaining Dragon Balls and intensifies his search, threatening to unleash his full hunger upon the land.

The friends finally reach Master Roshi’s island, but Yamcha has beaten them there and tricks Roshi into thinking Goku is there to steal his shell. Roshi tests the truth by calling down the Flying Nimbus Cloud, which only an honest rider can jump onto; Goku passes, while Yamcha acknowledges defeat and promises to return. Roshi’s generosity seems convenient—he offers a Dragon Ball to Bulma—until Pasta and Bongo strike Roshi’s home from a submarine, destroying the structure and forcing Roshi to unleash the legendary Kamehameha to drive them away. Pansy asks Roshi to aid her cause, but the Turtle Hermit steps back, insisting that Goku and Bulma have the tools they need to help her.

Back on the move, the party advances to Gurumesu’s palace, where aerial forces push them into a brutal confrontation. Bulma, Oolong, and Pansy are shot down; Goku battles Bongo again, sending him crashing through walls with the Power Pole, and Yamcha and Puar infiltrate the palace to join the others. Gurumesu—driven by curse and appetite—grows to a gigantic size, squashing Bongo and pressing his attack on Goku as he seeks the last Dragon Ball. When the Kamehameha fails to finish the monster, Bulma spots a crucial detail: the remaining Dragon Balls are not in the palace vault but inside Gurumesu’s own stomach. She risks everything, hurling her Dragon Ball into the creature’s mouth.

From Gurumesu’s belly, Shenron—the Eternal Dragon—erupts and offers to grant a single wish. The group watches as Panji’s wish for a peaceful, beautiful land is granted, and Shenron then releases all the Blood Rubies, restoring fertility to the countryside. Gurumesu is transformed back to a small, bald, naked man, his hunger quelled and his curse lifted. With the crisis concluded, Yamcha and Bulma begin dating, and Goku returns the gold coin to Pasta before heading off to Master Roshi’s island to continue his training. The adventure closes on a hopeful note: the world is saved, the Dragon Balls have fulfilled their purpose, and the friends part ways with new resolve to continue their journeys.

Finally, the tale is marked by a blend of action, humor, and the steady push toward growth for its young leads, all under the shadow of Gurumesu’s curse and the ever-present lure of the Dragon Balls. Shûichirô Moriyama and Gorô Naya help anchor the drama with strong villainous presence, while Masako Nozawa and Hiromi Tsuru give voice to Goku and Bulma, guiding their companionship through moments of danger and discovery. The climactic wish by Shenron brings resolution, and the journey toward mastery continues for Goku, who remains ready to train harder on the road ahead.

Last updated: December 03, 2025 at 23:58

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Plot questions answered

Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies (1986): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why does King Gurumes want the Dragon Balls?

King Gurumes is under a curse that has transformed him into a growing, purple monster with an insatiable hunger. He believes that gathering all seven Dragon Balls and making a wish will break the curse and restore him to his original form. The curse intensifies over time, making his hunger and size increase, which drives his desperate quest to collect the remaining Dragon Balls.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the film, the narrative establishes that Gurumes' curse is getting worse as he searches for the Blood Rubies to break it.

  • king gurumes
  • dragon balls
  • curse
  • hunger
  • transformation
Q2

What are the Blood Rubies in this movie?

The Blood Rubies are mystical red stones that King Gurumes has been obsessively collecting from his kingdom. They are tied to his curse - the more he collects, the more his curse intensifies. In the film, Gurumes mistakes the Dragon Balls for Blood Rubies, believing they will help break his curse. When Shenron is summoned, he removes all the Blood Rubies from the land, which restores fertility to the countryside.

Foreshadowing: The film opens with Gurumes' men collecting Blood Rubies while he suffers from his curse.

  • blood rubies
  • curse
  • kingdom
  • fertility
Q3

How did the Dragon Balls end up inside Gurumes?

During the battle at Gurumes' palace, Bulma realizes that the six Dragon Balls the heroes had collected were already taken by Gurumes' forces and are now inside his stomach. This is why the final confrontation happens inside his body - Bulma throws her Dragon Ball into his mouth to reach the others and summon Shenron from within.

Foreshadowing: The timeline shows Gurumes already possessed five Dragon Balls before the heroes reached his palace.

  • dragon balls
  • gurumes stomach
  • bulma
  • shenron
Q4

Why does Pansy ask Master Roshi for help?

Pansy's village has been suffering under King Gurumes' cruel rule as he hunts for Blood Rubies to break his curse. She explains to Bulma that Master Roshi, also known as the Turtle Hermit, is the only one powerful enough to counter Gurumes. Roshi is a legendary martial arts master with techniques like the Kamehameha that could potentially defeat the monster king.

Foreshadowing: Pansy reveals her people's suffering early in the film and identifies Roshi as their best hope.

  • pansy
  • master roshi
  • turtle hermit
  • village
  • help
Q5

Why does the Kamehameha fail against Gurumes?

The Kamehameha fails because Gurumes has grown too powerful from his curse. At this point in the story, Gurumes has transformed into a massive purple monster whose hunger and strength have reached their peak. The standard Kamehameha that defeated Pasta and Bongo's submarine is insufficient against his enlarged form. The heroes need a different approach - using the Dragon Balls inside him.

Foreshadowing: Roshi's earlier Kamehameha destroyed a submarine, showing its power level before Gurumes' full transformation.

  • kamehameha
  • gurumes
  • fails
  • rosli
  • battle
Q6

What does the final wish actually accomplish?

When Shenron is summoned from Gurumes' stomach, Pansy wishes for her land to become peaceful and beautiful again. Shenron grants this by removing all the Blood Rubies from the kingdom, which restores fertility to the countryside. Additionally, Gurumes is transformed from the giant purple monster back into a small, bald, naked man - his curse lifted and hunger finally quelled.

Foreshadowing: The wish directly addresses the central conflict established at the beginning: Gurumes' curse and the Blood Ruby oppression.

  • shenron
  • wish
  • blood rubies
  • peace
  • fertility
  • gurumes
Q7

Why does Goku return the gold coin to Pasuta?

When Pasuta and Bongo first stole Goku's Dragon Ball from his home, they left behind a gold coin as payment or a decoy. This coin was originally from Gurumes' treasury. After the adventure concludes and Gurumes is restored to human form, Goku returns the gold coin to Pasuta, completing the circle of events and showing Goku's sense of honor even toward enemies.

Foreshadowing: The gold coin is left as payment during the initial theft at Goku's house.

  • goku
  • gold coin
  • pasuta
  • return
  • theft
Q8

How do Yamcha and Bulma start dating after the movie?

Yamcha and Bulma's relationship develops during the journey to Gurumes' palace. Initially enemies, Yamcha helps the group infiltrate the palace and fight alongside them against Gurumes' forces. Their interactions throughout the adventure break the ice, and by the end of the film, they begin dating as a result of these shared experiences and his change of heart.

Foreshadowing: Yamcha's fear of beautiful women becomes a running gag that complicates his interactions with Bulma.

  • yamcha
  • bulma
  • dating
  • romance
  • relationship
Q9

Why does Goku go to train with Master Roshi at the end?

After the adventure concludes and peace is restored, Goku decides to go to Master Roshi's island to continue his martial arts training. This sets up the ongoing character arc of Goku seeking to become stronger. Roshi had previously tested Goku with the Flying Nimbus and recognized his potential as a honest and capable fighter worthy of teaching.

Foreshadowing: Roshi tests Goku with the Flying Nimbus early on, recognizing his pure heart.

  • goku
  • master roshi
  • training
  • island
  • martial arts
Q10

Why does Gurumes transform back to a human at the end?

Gurumes transforms back to a small, bald, naked man because the wish made to Shenron lifts his curse entirely. When Pansy wishes for peace and beauty to return to the land, Shenron removes all the Blood Rubies, which were the source of Gurumes' curse. With the curse broken, his monstrous form reverts to his original human appearance, and his insatiable hunger is finally quelled.

Foreshadowing: The film establishes that the Blood Rubies are directly tied to Gurumes' cursed transformation.

  • gurumes
  • transformation
  • human
  • curse
  • blood rubies
  • shenron
Q11

Why does Master Roshi give a Dragon Ball to Bulma so easily?

Master Roshi offers Bulma a Dragon Ball voluntarily after she and the group arrive at his island. However, this seemingly generous act is complicated when Oolong disguises himself as Bulma to pass Roshi's test and steal the Dragon Ball. Roshi then allows them to keep it, seeing their honest intentions. This creates a plot point where the Dragon Ball is later stolen by Pasta and Bongo.

Foreshadowing: The timeline shows Bulma gets a Dragon Ball from Roshi before the submarine attack.

  • master roshi
  • dragon ball
  • bulma
  • gift
  • oolong
Q12

Why doesn't Master Roshi fight Gurumes personally?

Master Roshi declines to directly confront Gurumes, telling Pansy that Goku and Bulma already have everything they need to help her. This is consistent with his character in the early Dragon Ball series - Roshi prefers to test and train young warriors rather than solve problems himself. He provides support through his Kamehameha defense and supplies a Dragon Ball, but leaves the main battle to the next generation of heroes.

Foreshadowing: Roshi tests Goku with the Flying Nimbus, showing he wants to evaluate rather than intervene directly.

  • master roshi
  • gurumes
  • fight
  • refuses
  • training
  • goku

Movie threads

More Movies Like Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies with energetic quest adventures like Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies

Heroes team up on a fast-paced adventure filled with action and lighthearted humor. Looking for movies like Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies? This section features similar fast-paced adventure stories where a team of heroes goes on a lively quest. If you enjoyed the playful humor, martial arts action, and triumphant teamwork in this film, you'll find more animated adventures with the same energetic vibe here.

  • adventurous
  • playful
  • energetic
  • friendship
  • triumphant
  • whimsical
  • Tone: light, playful, triumphant
  • Pacing: fast, action-oriented
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread typically follow a linear quest structure where a clear villain or goal is established early on. The heroes, often a found family of quirky characters, must overcome a series of obstacles and battles. The focus is on forward momentum and camaraderie rather than deep moral ambiguity, culminating in a decisive and positive victory.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here because they share a specific mix of a straightforward, action-driven plot, a light and humorous tone, and a strong emphasis on the dynamics of a heroic team. They deliver an experience that is exciting without being overly intense, and heartwarming without being sentimental.

Clear-cut heroic battle movies similar to Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies

Uncomplicated stories of good versus evil, where heroes fight to protect their world from a tyrant's greed. If you liked the clear good vs. evil conflict in Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies, this list is for you. Discover more movies featuring straightforward narratives where heroes confront a greedy villain. These stories share a medium intensity, fast pacing, and a happy ending, perfect for viewers seeking uncomplicated and triumphant action adventures.

  • triumphant
  • adventurous
  • heroic
  • confrontational
  • hopeful
  • simple stakes
  • Tone: hopeful, triumphant
  • Pacing: fast, confrontational
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern is a quintessential hero's journey against a corrupting force. The villain's motivations are simple (e.g., curse, greed), and their actions directly threaten a peaceful home. The heroes' path involves gathering allies and engaging in a series of confrontations, leading to a final battle that decisively defeats the antagonist and restores peace, often with the villain seeing the error of their ways.

Why they belong together: These movies are united by their narrative simplicity and moral clarity. They offer a comforting and exciting experience where the stakes are understandable, the heroes are unequivocally good, and the outcome is reliably positive. This makes them ideal for viewers seeking entertainment without complex moral dilemmas or bleak themes.

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Every angle

Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies (1986) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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