DragonBall Z: Fusion Reborn is a 1995 Japanese animated film directed by Shigeyasu Yamauchi, starring voice performances by Sean Schemmel, Kyle Hebert, Kara Edwards, Christopher R. Sabat, and Kent Williams.  Serving as the twelfth film in the DragonBall Z series, when a worker at King Yemma’s spiritual check-in station is accidentally covered in spiritual waste, he is transformed into a powerful monster named Janemba, who destroys the barrier between the real world and Other World, allowing the dead to walk the Earth.  As the living Z Fighters fend off the dead, it is up to Goku, Pikkon, and Vegeta to stop Janemba.

Positives:

• Good characters
• Interesting story
• Good animation style
• Good voice performances

Negatives:

• Lackluster characters
• Bland story

Plot: The gates of hell are broken and the Dead return to the world of the living and it is up to Goku and friends to return it back to normal. All in all, a pretty unique story compared to the typical bad guy shows up out of the blue to wreck havoc. However, the story is just as bland as it is interesting and the ending is anti-climatic. (3 out of 5)

Characters: Janemba’s first form is a pretty cool and unique because he isn’t just some evil villain bent on world domination. The child-like quality does make it stand out. There was an interesting chaotic feel to the character. Janemba’s second form is cool but sadly falls into the same cliched category of many of DragonBall Z’s villains. An antagonist that looks cool but has no depth, no backstory, no motivation. Especially the fact that he doesn’t even talk. Pikkon was completely screwed over. He had really nothing to contribute but it isn’t the character, it’s the bad writing.  He has like one good moment in the film. (3 out of 5)

Animation Style:  The animation style is actually pretty good, though it isn’t the current high definition, it still looks really good.  The Janemba character design, both first form and second form, look really cool.  (3 out of 5)

Score:  The score is decent.  Good voice performances but the Janemba voice acting sucked (mostly due to the lack of dialogue).  Grunts and laughter don’t count.  He would’ve been great with a deep demonic voice. There aren’t any songs that standout.  The opening theme “We Gotta Power” and ending theme “Saikyo no Fusion” are alright, but definitely not my cup of tea.  (3 out of 5)

Writing: As much as the film sticks out from the others it does fall just as short. And it’s mostly due to the lack of content. The afterlife’s affects on the real world should’ve been fleshed out better and not just shown a wave of enemies. And on the other side there should’ve been more fighting with past villains. The only shot given is Gohan punching Frieza’s through the stomach. Pikkon should’ve been given a bigger part, something more serious in the fight against Janemba. (3 out of 5)

The Verdict: In the end, DragonBall Z: Fusion Reborn is a decent film however it definitely could’ve been a helluva lot better.  It does have a memorable villain and an interesting story, however, the story lacks depth and outside of Goku and Vegeta there aren’t any characters fleshed out; including Pikkon and Janemba.  DragonBall Z: Fusion Reborn is a 3 out of 5.