DBZ has anime filler episodes that fail to do that, but some are so enjoyable that many fans may have yet to realize they were filler in the first place.

DBZ was initially released as a weekly anime series that aired along with the manga's publication. However, once an anime gets too close to catching up with the manga's storyline, filler episodes are one method used to give the manga extra time to pull ahead. This led to many iconic moments of the anime like Goku training on his way to Namek and Gotenks' first fight with Majin Buu. However, entire episodes of filler can be skipped for viewers who want to enjoy the story without the extra fluff, but some are more than worth a watch.

Every Filler Episode Of Dragon Ball Z

Every Episode That Can Be Skipped

Well Written And Entertaining DBZ Filler That's Worth Watching

Episode #9 - 16: Gohan's Training and Goku On Snake Way

The first prominent chunk of Dragon Ball Z filler episodes has comedy with Goku on Snake Way and terrific character development for both Gohan and Piccolo. It's been revealed that in the past, Akira Toriyama originally intended to have Gohan be the main character of the beloved series, and the anime does a better job of setting that idea up. For first-time viewers, the excitement of seeing Vegeta and Nappa arrive on Earth made the filler episodes seem annoying. Still, in hindsight, they planted pivotal seeds that would grow into more of an emotional payoff than the manga.

Gohan and Piccolo's touching bond plays a significant part in several of the Dragon Ball franchise's greatest moments. Several anime-only episodes helped establish their relationship further by exploring Gohan's training with Piccolo. The episodes focus on Goku's four-year-old son, who is beginning to grow his confidence and his power level. At the same time, Piccolo's cold demeanor begins to melt away as he watches over the son of his arch-enemy. The anime's extra focus on Gohan's growth and the unlikely bond with Piccolo ultimately made the Namekian's sacrifice against Nappa feel particularly heartbreaking.

Episode #11 features some canon material with Goku but also a large filler section of Vegeta and Nappa wiping out a populated alien world. The filler material reveals a few of their abilities but in a dramatically less effective manner than their original introductions.

Goku also had his share of adventures in the filler episodes that explored his trek across the 625,000-mile-long Snake Way in the afterlife. Dragon Ball's version of Hell and several comedic encounters provided additional lore for the series as Goku tries his best to reach King Kai's planet. The first batch of filler episodes effectively sees the series' characters grow meaningfully and are, for the most part, entertaining and successful at improving later sections of the story.

Episodes #100 and #102: Super Saiyan Goku Versus Full Power Frieza Extended, Plus Gohan's Epic Assult

The manga makes it clear that Goku is far stronger than Frieza after achieving his first Super Saiyan transformation. However, the anime decided to make it seem less one-sided by extending the fight. The epic battle against the galactic tyrant crescendoed in dramatic fashion, especially in the anime adaptation, which gave fans more action than manga readers expected. Goku wasn't the only one to put on an entertaining show in the anime.

These two episodes provide another glimpse into Gohan's hidden powers when Super Saiyan Goku becomes temporarily disposed of after being struck into a lava pit by Frieza. In a fit of rage after believing his father had been killed, Gohan launches into an impressive assault against Frieza in his final form. Stellar combos and powerful attacks stop the iconic villain in his tracks until Goku reappears to finish the job.

Episode #108 - #117: Garlic Jr.'s Revenge

Several Dragon Ball Z filler episodes focus more on Gohan than the manga was able to, especially during the Garlic Jr. filler arc. The immortal villain who debuted in the DBZ movie "The Dead Zone" was a small Namekian-like foe who successfully wished upon the dragon balls to become unkillable. He put up an incredible battle against Piccolo and Goku, but it was a flash of Gohan's latent powers that proved strong enough to push the hulking Garlic Jr. into a portal he'd summoned to destroy the world. There, he stayed until he was ready for his revenge.

With Goku still missing after his battle with Frieza and the destruction of Namek, Earth was more vulnerable than it had been in years. Garlic Jr. seizes the opportunity to return and transforms much of the world's population into bloodthirsty creatures. Clever strategies from Piccolo and several intense encounters, including a battle on top of Kami's lookout with Garlic Jr. and his Spice Boys, make the filler arc one of the most entertaining and original.

Episode #124: Goku, Gohan, and Piccolo Grow Stronger While Vegeta Breaks

Training arcs often help build anticipation for epic battles and allow viewers to see their favorite heroes grow stronger before testing their new strength against a previously overwhelming force. Before the Androids from Future Trunk's warning appeared, the anime showed more training with the Z warriors than the manga. A short time is spent with Goku, Gohan, and Piccolo training, but it's a peek into Vegeta's obsessive and torturous desire for a power-up that makes the episode one fans shouldn't miss.

Vegeta's time at capsule corp and training at 300 times Earth's gravity provides scenes that are arguably the Saiyan prince's first pivotal steps towards beginning his life on Earth and eventually becoming a reliable ally. Vegeta's pride had been hurt by Goku and Trunk's ability to unlock Super Saiyan, so he began to push his body and, eventually, his mind to the breaking point. More of Vegeta's brutal training and iconic monologue about attaining the transformation is included in extended scenes in episode #129, but not before one of the most beloved anime filler episodes.

Episode #125: Goku and Piccolo's Driving Lesson

pushes Goku and Piccolo to get Driver's Licenses if they want her to continue to wash their training clothing and cook meals. The resulting test saw Piccolo in one of his most humorous outfits: tight blue jeans, a vibrant yellow t-shirt, and a backward baseball cap. At the same time, he and Goku fail miserably at a driving test.

Dragon Ball is a franchise that arguably has more comedy than action, and episode #125 is a prime example. While Goku struggles even to turn the car on, Piccolo begins to become an effective driver while a woman with severe road rage acts as his teacher. The two begin to aggressively race and even crash their cars before helping save a bus filled with kids. It's a filler episode of Dragon Ball Z that does not move the overall plot forward, but it is a goofy adventure that's stuck with fans years after viewing it.

Episode #195 - #199: Other World Tournament

Another short but exciting Tournament arc shows Goku's adventure in the other world after he sacrifices his life to save the world against a self-destructing Cell. Although the sequel series, Dragon Ball Super, expands the universe drastically by introducing a multiverse containing 12 separate universes, the Other World Tournament introduced other Kai's and their strongest warriors from each quadrant of the universe in a tournament comprised of the deceased fighters.

Each Dragon Ball series contains its fair share of Tournament arcs, many of which feature Goku making short work of several opponents. However, the Saiyan met a formidable foe during the Other World Tournament in Pikkon. When introduced as the West Kai's number one pupil, the warrior made a big impression with fans. His skills were demonstrated when he quickly dispatched Frieza and Cell in Hell. He and Goku faced off in one of DBZ's more entertaining filler fights and returned in one of the series' best movies: Dragon Ball Z Fusion Reborn.

Episode #274: Super Buu's Worst Meal Bites Back

Goku and Vegeta's plan to rescue their absorbed family and friends from the inside of Super Buu is slightly extended from the manga. The filler episode features the two Saiyans fighting to avoid being digested, a fate Vegeta adamantly refuses to accept. The two eventually make their way toward Buu's brain, fighting versions of the captives who consistently regenerate until Super Buu becomes distracted by eating sweets. They take the opportunity to discover the unconscious original bodies of their loved ones before canon disaster strikes.

Episode #170, #171, and #174: Slice-Of-Life Before The Cell Games

After Cell achieved his perfect form and became one of Dragon Ball Z's most powerful antagonists, he gave the Z Warriors and the world a week to prepare before his Cell Games Tournament would begin. While several scenes showcased the heroes training for the battle, some episodes included the return of a classic Dragon Ball villain and a look back at Gohan's life before his dramatic fight against Cell.

Before the climatic battles against Cell, the anime took some time to breathe with lower-stake episodes that contained charming slice-of-life moments. Goku and Gohan trained by maintaining their Super Saiyan forms for long periods of time and were shown struggling to control their strength to the detriment of Chi-Chi's dishes and the now partial-cyborg General Tao. The scenes give the heroes relaxing moments away from the series' usually intense situations, showing a side of the characters that is often not explored while their lives are under constant threat.

The DBZ Filler That Does Little But Fill Time

Episodes #39 - #44: The Journey To Namek Hits Some Road Bumps

The hero's first ship on the way to planet Namek and the only other set of Dragon Balls they knew about contained Gohan, Bulma, and Krillin. Filler episodes explored their journey towards the Namekian homeworld, where they encountered space pirates and a planet filled with mind-reading aliens. They successfully fool the trio into thinking they have made it to Namek and collected several Dragon Balls, but the illusion is dispelled. The small episode collection provides nearly nothing to the Dragon Ball Z story or lore, right before arguably one of the Shonen medium's best arcs.

Episode #44 features the conclusion of the filler material on Fake Namek, but it also features the beginning of cannon material with Gohan, Bulma, and Krillin landing on the real Namek.

Episodes #202 - #204: The Hijinks Of The Great Saiyaman And Gohan's Love Life

Before the incredibly desperate Majin Buu arc began, the Dragon Ball Z anime provided filler episodes devoted to exploring Earth several years after Cell's defeat. Gohan is now a high school student who has donned the secret identity of The Great Saiyaman to fight crime. However, his looks and exploits earned him the attention of girls in his class, including Hercule's daughter and fellow crime-fighting student Videl. While the plots featured in these filler episodes often border on ridiculousness, they look at the origins of Gohan and his future wife's relationship.

Gohan's first date with a girl from his class, an assault from a Hercule-hating gang, and a potential dinosaur attack on the city each feature Videl fighting to save her hometown while trying to figure out who the Great Saiyaman really is. While the episodes do a great job of showing viewers what life is like for an older Gohan, they are difficult to recommend to anyone other than completionist fans who can not get enough of the Dragon Ball universe.

Episode #204 features filler regarding a conflict with enormous dinosaurs trying to find their kidnapped child, but it also features some canon material where Videl discovers that The Great Saiyman is Gohan. She threatens to reveal his secret if he doesn't for the World Martial Arts Tournament, which effectively begins the Majin Buu arc.

Episode #288: Celebrations Of Kid Buu's Defeat Before DBZ's Dramatic Ending

The defeat of Kid Buu would have been impossible without Hercule's help fueling Goku's massive Spirit Bomb. However, the anime features several extended scenes and an entire filler episode of the heroes celebrating their hard-earned time of peace. Scenes of Buu acclimating to living on Earth and a BBQ at Bulma's are not in the manga. After the incredibly intense ending of Dragon Ball Z's Buu arc, the heroes and viewers deserved a sigh of relief, precisely what the filler provides before jumping ahead ten years into the future to deliver a much more effective ending to the Dragon Ball Z series.

How Is Dragon Ball Z's Filler Compared To Other Big Shōnen Anime?

How Does Dragon Ball Z's Filler Stack Up?

Despite Dragon Ball Z's length and history, it has surprisingly few filler arcs and episodes compared to other long-running shōnen anime. At 38 episodes, not counting episodes that drag out canon material with original content, Dragon Ball Z's filler only s for roughly 13% of its anime; by comparison, two of its most immediate contemporaries, Naruto and Bleach, are 40% and 45% filler, respectively. That means that despite its staggering length, Dragon Ball Z has some of the least filler of any major shōnen anime, making its length the only major hurdle a prospective fan would have to deal with.

Dragon Ball Z does fall short of other long-running shōnen anime in of filler content, of course. One Piece, for example, only has roughly 9% of its anime as filler, despite being almost four times as long as Dragon Ball Z. Not only that, but anime like Jujutsu Kaisen and Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, have no filler to speak of due to being seasonal anime as opposed to running for years without any breaks, so while it's not a completely fair comparison, Dragon Ball Z's small amount of filler is still large by the standards of modern anime.

Should Fans Watch All Of Dragon Ball Z Or Just Skip The Filler?

Is Dragon Ball Z's Filler Worth Watching?

Most of Dragon Ball Z's filler content does little more than drag out plot points that were originally just short sequences in the manga, if they were even sequences at all. In addition to being tedious, that sort of writing is also antithetical to the typical quick pacing of the manga, as it rarely ever let things drag out longer than needed to get the point of the story across. Overall, most of Dragon Ball Z's filler, as is often the case with anime, isn't worth watching, and fans would typically be better off skipping around to the canon stories.

That being said, it's not like none of Dragon Ball Z's filler is worth watching. The episode where Goku and Piccolo take driving lessons, for example, is a fun slice-of-life episode rife with great comedy, and the way the anime expanded on Gohan's training in the Saiyan saga and his time as the Great Saiyaman did a lot to expand on his character in the way the manga never did. While few and far between, some of Dragon Ball Z's filler does a good job of complementing or outright elevating the manga, and those few episodes are certainly worth watching.

Some of Dragon Ball Z's filler does a good job of fleshing out the story, but at the same time, a lot of it is largely pointless and outright detracts from the story more often than not. Because of that unevenness, the best way to watch Dragon Ball Z is probably to skip the filler episodes that aren't just one-off stories and save the longer arcs for later viewing; watching it like that can give a fan a largely accurate portrayal of Dragon Ball Z from the start, and as such, it's easily the best way to go about things.