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

Timeline

Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies (1986) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

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

King Gurumes prowls the land, seeking the Dragon Balls to satisfy his endless hunger. In the nearby village, the brave girl Pansy, fed up with his cruelty, travels to the wise hermit Muten Rōshi for help. Together with the heroes, she strives to defend the village and stop the Gurumes army once and for all in a desperate battle.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (14)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies
  6. 6 Every angle
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14 events in order · contains spoilers

Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies (1986) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Gurumes's tyranny and the Blood Ruby hunt

    King Gurumes devastates farmers' lands in search of Blood Rubies, spreading fear across his kingdom. His enforcers Pasta and Bongo carry out raids and are tasked with collecting Dragon Balls to fuel his power. The king's curse has transformed him into a monstrous, insatiable purple giant who believes the Dragon Balls can lift the curse.

    When
    Early
    Where
    Gurumes' kingdom
  2. Goku meets Bulma on Mount Paozu

    Goku, a boy with a monkey tail, lives alone in the wilderness when he encounters Bulma, a blue-haired girl searching for Dragon Balls with a Dragon Radar. He learns Bulma is a human and that his own Dragon Ball was given to him by his late grandfather. The two decide to team up to pursue their goals.

    When
    Daytime
    Where
    Mount Paozu
  3. Pasta and Bongo steal Goku's Dragon Ball

    Pasta and Bongo infiltrate Goku's home and steal his Dragon Ball, leaving a gold coin as a decoy. They escape in a fighter jet, but Goku uses his Power Pole to pursue them and defeats them.

    When
    Evening
    Where
    Goku's home
  4. Oolong revealed and Yamcha encounter

    Goku and Bulma meet Oolong, a shapeshifting pig who joins the journey after being unmasked. They land in Yamcha the Desert Bandit's territory, triggering a brief duel with weapons before Bulma arrives and the trio retreats.

    When
    Night
    Where
    Oolong's camp and Yamcha's territory
  5. Pansy seeks Master Roshi's help

    Pansy explains her people's plight under Gurumes and pleads with Master Roshi the Turtle Hermit to help. The group learns more about the Dragon Balls and the hope they offer to restore peace.

    When
    Night
    Where
    Oolong's camp
  6. Yamcha and Puar head toward Master Roshi's island

    The next day, Yamcha and Puar prepare to reach Master Roshi's island to remove Goku and friends from the mix while pursuing the Dragon Balls for themselves. Yamcha even jokes about wishing away his shyness around girls as part of their plan.

    When
    Next day
    Where
    Desert
  7. Gurumes gains five Dragon Balls

    Gurumes already holds five Dragon Balls and expects the remaining two to come to him soon. He remains furious and hungry, ready to unleash his power to secure the rest.

    When
    Daytime
    Where
    Gurumes' palace
  8. Master Roshi’s island visit and Nimbus test

    The team arrives on Master Roshi's island, but Yamcha reaches first and frames Goku as someone trying to steal Roshi's shell. Roshi summons the Flying Nimbus to test honesty, and Goku proves worthy by riding it, prompting Yamcha to retreat.

    When
    Daytime
    Where
    Master Roshi's island
  9. Bulma tricks Roshi to secure Dragon Ball

    Roshi offers to give Bulma his Dragon Ball only if she reveals herself, but Bulma uses Oolong to transform into her own image and deceives Roshi, allowing the deal to proceed. The Dragon Ball exchange continues as planned.

    When
    Daytime
    Where
    Master Roshi's island
  10. Pasta and Bongo attack Roshi's island

    Pasta and Bongo arrive in a submarine and attack the island, stealing one of Bulma's Dragon Balls and destroying Roshi's house. Enraged, Roshi powers up and destroys the submarine with a Kamehameha.

    When
    Night
    Where
    Master Roshi's island
  11. Pansy pleads again; plan to confront Gurumes

    Pansy asks Roshi to join the effort against Gurumes, but Roshi declines, believing Goku and Bulma are enough. The team resolves to travel to Gurumes's palace and end his cruelty.

    When
    Evening
    Where
    Master Roshi's island
  12. Assault on Gurumes's palace

    The team reaches Gurumes's palace and is attacked by the king's air force. Bulma, Oolong, and Pansy are shot down, while Goku duels Bongo in the air and Yamcha and Puar infiltrate the palace to join the others.

    When
    Daytime
    Where
    Gurumes's palace
  13. The giant battle and the Dragon Balls inside Gurumes

    Gurumes grows to a gigantic size and attacks the group, crushing Bongo in the process. Goku's Kamehameha fails to stop him, and Bulma realizes the other six Dragon Balls are inside Gurumes's stomach, prompting a dramatic rescue.

    When
    Final battle
    Where
    Gurumes's palace
  14. Shenron and the ending

    Bulma throws her Dragon Ball into Gurumes's mouth, and Shenron appears to grant a wish. Pansy wishes for her land to be peaceful and fertile again, and Gurumes is reduced to a small, bald man. Yamcha and Bulma begin dating, while Goku heads back to Master Roshi to train for the next adventures.

    When
    After the wish
    Where
    Gurumes's palace

Last updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:21

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Timeline questions answered

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

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies (1986): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why is King Gurumes a purple beast?

King Gurumes was once a greedy ruler whose endless appetite for power and wealth transformed him into a monstrous purple giant. His curse stems from his own greed, which grew so great that it physically warped him into a hulking beast with an insatiable hunger. He believes gathering all seven Dragon Balls will lift this curse and restore his human form.

Foreshadowing: Early scenes show his soldiers ruthlessly hunting for Blood Rubies, hinting at the king's corrupting obsession with wealth and power.

  • king gurumes
  • curse
  • purple beast
  • greed
  • dragon balls
Q2

How did the Dragon Balls end up inside King Gurumes?

King Gurumes had already collected five Dragon Balls and sent his enforcers Pasta and Bongo to steal the remaining two. Rather than using them himself, he apparently swallowed them, either intentionally to keep them safe or as part of his monstrous transformation. Bulma discovers all six of the missing Dragon Balls are lodged inside Gurumes's stomach when their attacks have no effect.

Foreshadowing: The timeline notes Gurumes already holds five Dragon Balls and expects the remaining two to come to him soon.

  • dragon balls
  • gurumes stomach
  • six dragon balls
  • bulma discovery
Q3

Why does King Gurumes want the Dragon Balls?

King Gurumes hopes to use the Dragon Balls to lift his curse and restore his original human form. As a purple beast, he is trapped in a body with an endless appetite that he cannot satisfy. He believes that by gathering all seven Dragon Balls andsummoning the wish-granting dragon Shenron, he can reverse the transformation and regain his throne and humanity.

Foreshadowing: His enforcers Pasta and Bongo relentlessly hunt for Dragon Balls throughout the film, driving the main conflict.

  • king gurumes
  • lift curse
  • wish
  • shenron
  • dragon balls
Q4

What is the Flying Nimbus test that Master Roshi uses?

Master Roshi tests honesty by summoning the Flying Nimbus Cloud, which only those with pure hearts can ride. When Yamcha attempts to ride it, he falls off immediately, exposing his dishonest nature. Goku, with his genuinely pure heart, successfully summons and rides the Nimbus, proving he is worthy of Roshi's training.

Foreshadowing: Roshi initially questions the newcomers' sincerity and frames his test as a way to filter out dishonest people.

  • flying nimbus
  • master roshi
  • purity test
  • goku
  • yamcha
  • honest heart
Q5

Why does Pansy ask Master Roshi for help?

Pansy witnesses her father being brutally beaten by Bongo and decides to take action against King Gurumes's tyranny. After seeing her village suffer under the king's cruelty, she travels to seek the legendary Master Roshi, known as the Turtle Hermit, hoping his legendary martial arts skills can help defeat Gurumes and restore peace to her land.

Foreshadowing: Pansy's determination to stand up for her village is established early when she witnesses her father's beating.

  • pansy
  • master roshi
  • help
  • village
  • gurumes tyranny
Q6

How does Goku meet Bulma?

Goku lives alone on Mount Paozu in a simple, wild existence when Bulma arrives searching for Dragon Balls with her Dragon Radar. Goku initially believes Bulma is a monster due to her strange appearance, but his curiosity leads him to learn she is human. They discover they share a common goal, Goku's grandfather gave him a Dragon Ball, and team up to collect them before Gurumes's forces do.

Foreshadowing: The story opens with Goku living in solitude, establishing his isolated life before any visitors arrive.

  • goku
  • bulma
  • meet
  • mount paozu
  • dragon radar
  • grandfather dragon ball
Q7

What wish does Pansy make to Shenron?

When Shenron appears after Bulma throws her Dragon Ball into Gurumes's mouth, Pansy wishes for her land to become peaceful and beautiful once more. This single wish restores the Blood Rubies to their proper state, makes the soil fertile again, and reverses Gurumes's curse by transforming him into a small, bald man, stripping away his power and tyranny.

Foreshadowing: Pansy has been fighting throughout the film to save her village and restore peace to the land.

  • pansy wish
  • shenron
  • peaceful land
  • restore
  • blood rubies
Q8

Why does Gurumes become a small, bald man at the end?

Pansy's wish to Shenron for peace and beauty directly reverses Gurumes's curse. The wish strips away his stolen power and transforms him from the towering purple beast back into a small, bald, naked man. Without the Blood Rubies and Dragon Balls powering him, Gurumes loses all his supernatural abilities and returns to his original, powerless human form.

Foreshadowing: Gurumes's transformation into a monster was caused by his greed, so reversing that greed through the wish logically reverses the curse.

  • gurumes
  • small bald man
  • curse reversed
  • wish
  • shenron
  • power lost
Q9

Why does Goku's Kamehameha fail against Gurumes?

Goku's Kamehameha, which he recently learned from Master Roshi, fails to stop Gurumes because Gurumes has become too powerful. The Kamehameha damages the throne room but doesn't seriously harm the gigantic tyrant. The real solution comes from Bulma's quick thinking, she realizes the Dragon Balls are inside Gurumes and uses her own Dragon Ball to summon Shenron from within his body.

Foreshadowing: This is Goku's first major use of the Kamehameha, and the film establishes early that Gurumes already holds five Dragon Balls, making him extremely powerful.

  • goku
  • kamehameha
  • fail
  • gurumes
  • dragon balls inside
  • bulma solution
Q10

Who are Pasta and Bongo?

Pasta and Bongo are King Gurumes's two primary enforcers tasked with hunting down the Dragon Balls. They are ruthless soldiers who raid villages and terrify civilians to accomplish their mission. Pasta is female while Bongo is male, and they pilot vehicles like jets and submarines to pursue the heroes throughout the film.

Foreshadowing: The film opens with their village raids, establishing them as the primary antagonists before Gurumes himself appears.

  • pasta
  • bongo
  • enforcers
  • king gurumes
  • soldiers
  • dragon ball hunt
Q11

Why does Master Roshi decline to join the fight against Gurumes?

Master Roshi declines Pansy's request to join the fight, believing that Goku and Bulma, along with their new friends, are strong enough to handle Gurumes themselves. He chooses to stay on his island rather than directly intervene, allowing the younger heroes to prove themselves and grow through the challenge.

Foreshadowing: Roshi tests the heroes with the Flying Nimbus, suggesting he wants to evaluate their worthiness before deciding how much to help.

  • master roshi
  • decline
  • fight
  • gurumes
  • trust
  • goku bulma

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.

Fun-First Animated Action Adventures like Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies

Action-packed animated journeys where lighthearted fun balances the heroic battles. Looking for movies like Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies? This list features similar animated adventures where a fast pace, light tone, and action-packed heroics create an exhilarating and fun viewing experience. If you enjoyed the blend of comedy and determined optimism with fantasy battles, you'll find more films with this vibrant energy here.

  • action-packed
  • playful
  • hopeful
  • energetic
  • heroic
  • colorful
  • Tone: light, hopeful
  • Pacing: fast, action-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread typically follow a classic quest structure: a clear villain threatens a community, prompting a group of heroes to unite. The journey involves collecting items, mastering skills, and engaging in a series of escalating, stylized battles. Character arcs are simple but effective, often centered on themes of friendship, courage, and teamwork, culminating in a decisive and positive victory.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped together because they share a specific energetic formula: a fast pace driven by action, a light tone that keeps the emotional weight low, and a visual style that is vibrant and dynamic. They offer a cohesive experience of optimistic, high-energy storytelling where fun and excitement are the primary goals.

Movies about a Heroic Team vs Evil like Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies

Stories where a diverse group unites to defend a community from a greedy oppressor. If you enjoyed the 'team vs tyrant' plot of Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies, this collection features similar stories where a group of heroes comes together. Discover other action and adventure films where a community under threat is saved by a determined band of fighters working in unison against a powerful, greedy antagonist.

  • determined
  • adventurous
  • hopeful
  • united
  • heroic
  • community
  • Tone: hopeful, determined
  • Pacing: fast, confrontational
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a catalyst—often a brave individual from the oppressed community—seeking out help. This leads to the recruitment of a diverse team, each member contributing a specific skill. The plot progresses through a series of challenges that test their unity, building towards a final, large-scale confrontation where their combined effort overcomes the villain's overwhelming power or resources.

Why they belong together: These films are connected by their core plot engine: the formation of a team to combat a centralized threat. They share a mood of determined optimism, a straightforward complexity that makes the journey easy to follow, and a happy ending that reinforces the theme of unity. The enjoyment comes from watching the team dynamic evolve and succeed.

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Every angle

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

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