Year: 1990
Runtime: 61 mins
Language: Japanese
Director: Daisuke Nishio
From the seeds of destruction, a new menace emerges. Goku and his friends must confront a band of space pirates intent on harvesting the fruit of the Tree of Might, a colossal tree whose energy‑draining power could sap Earth’s life force. They race to stop the pirates before the tree’s destructive power empties the planet.
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Read the complete plot breakdown of Dragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might (1990), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
During a forest camping trip with Gohan, Masako Nozawa and Krillin, Mayumi Tanaka join Bulma, Hiromi Tsuru and Oolong for a peaceful outing that is abruptly interrupted by a crushing forest fire. Gohan and Krillin work quickly to contain the blaze, and with a few well‑aimed Dragon Balls, they manage to restore the forest and bring back the animals that were lost in the inferno. In the process, Gohan forms a bond with a small dragon that he names Icarus, a companion who will later become a symbol of hope amid the danger they face. Icarus watches as the group watches the land heal, while a shadowy threat stirs beyond the trees.
Unseen by the travelers, the fire was no accident. It was set by a probe sent by Turles, a Saiyan space pirate who bears a striking resemblance to Goku, Masako Nozawa. Turles’ ruthless plan is to plant the Tree of Might on Earth, a sinister tree that drains life to produce a fruit that grants immense power to those who eat it. Turles’ henchmen begin to plant the seed, and King Kai, Joji Yanami telepathically warns Goku, Masako Nozawa, of the impending danger. The Earth’s defenders—Goku, Krillin, Yamcha, Tien Shinhan, and Chiaotzu—unite with Bulma and Piccolo to stop the threat, firing energy blasts in a valiant but initially futile effort to destroy the growing tree.
As the tree’s influence spreads, the world grows harsher: water vanishes, flora and fauna wither, and life itself seems to fade away. Gohan steps forward in defense, drawing Turles’ attention with his latent power. Turles realizes that Gohan is part‑Saiyan and marks him as a potential ally or obstacle, depending on how the boy’s strength aligns with his own ambitions. Gohan impresses Turles with his power, even as the elder warrior tries to sway him to join the conquest. When Turles recognizes the danger Gohan represents, he presses his assault, forcing Piccolo to intervene and rescue the young fighter. Piccolo’s arrival proves pivotal, and the Namekian is eventually overwhelmed, forced to fall back as Turles presses the fight.
The clash escalates as Turles uses his Earth‑blasting might to push the heroes to their limits. Gohan’s tail reappears, a remnant of his mixed heritage, and Turles seizes the moment by conjuring an artificial moon. He forces Gohan to gaze at it, triggering a fearsome transformation into a Great Ape that threatens Goku and the team. The rampage shakes the battlefield until Icarus boosts Gohan’s resolve, and Goku slices through the danger by severing Gohan’s tail with an energy disc, restoring him to his normal form just before Turles unleashes another wave of energy. The fight sways back and forth as Goku and his friends push to the limit, but Turles’ power continues to surge as he consumes a fully grown piece of the Tree of Might.
With Earth’s fate hanging in the balance, Goku—bolstered by the energy drawn from the Tree—begins shaping a Spirit Bomb. Yet the planet’s depleted life force cannot fuel it fully, and Turles destroys the first attempt before the Tree can finish feeding Goku. Undeterred, Goku taps into a more potent surge of energy from the Tree itself, directing it into a second Spirit Bomb that gleams with burning power. In a climactic moment, Goku confronts Turles beneath the tree’s gnarled roots and detonates the second Spirit Bomb, sending Turles and the corrupted fruit outward and into a crushing collapse that destroys both him and the Tree of Might.
With the Earth beginning to recover, the heroes pause to savor their hard‑won victory. The forest and its inhabitants slowly return to life as Piccolo sits in quiet contemplation by a tranquil waterfall, reflecting on the cost of triumph and the fragile balance that keeps their world safe. The bond between the team—Goku, Gohan, Krillin, Yamcha, Tien Shinhan, Chiaotzu, Bulma, Piccolo, and their steadfast allies—remains stronger than ever as they look toward a future where peace must be earned anew, one battle at a time.
Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 15:03
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Heroes unite against a colossal force threatening to annihilate their entire world.If you liked the high-stakes action and global threat in Dragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might, explore these movies featuring heroic last stands against powerful foes threatening entire worlds. These films deliver intense battles, high-powered confrontations, and a tense, fast-paced race against annihilation.
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