Dragon Ball Z: The History of Trunks is the second TV special based on the Dragon Ball Z anime. It was first broadcast in Japan on February 24, 1994. Funimation released its English dub on October 25, 2000. The special was re-released with an edited version, which was sold together🐲 Dragon Ball Z: Bardock-Goku’s Father. In May 2008, Funimation released a standalone edited version.

“You know that you cannot win! It is impossible to destroy me in reality. Even if you can dismantle my body, I will be replaced by someone stronger! There will not be a single death ignored.”
– Future Gohan

The History of Trunks tells the story of Future Trunks, and his life during the time that the androids put the entire world under siege. It is unique among the Dragon Ball Films and specials in that it’s referenced in a chapter of the Dragon Ball manga, called “Trunks The Story- The Lone Warrior. The special makes changes to make it more dramatic (e.g. Trunks becomes a Super Saiyan before Future Gohan’s demise).

Summary

The film begins with the tragic loss of Future Goku from a heart virus and, except for Future Gohan, the death of the entire Dragon Team by Androids 17 and 18 six months later, on May 12th, Year 767. Unfortunately, the Dragon Team’s Piccolo’s suicide also meant that the Dragon Balls were permanently ineligible for use due to Kami’s death. Super Saiyan Gohan takes on Android 17.👾

The TV Special shows the events thirteen years later, in Year 780, where we meet a fourteen-year-old Trunks and a twenty-three-year-old Gohan. Gohan is the only person who can defeat the Androids. He became a Super Saiyan after witnessing and assisting in the deaths of the Dragon Team. Gohan trains Trunks to fight and increases his power. Trunks is also very close to becoming a Super Saiyan. The Androids attack Super World Park one day. Gohan and Trunks are there to confront them. Android 17 fights 💪 Gohan. Android 18 monitors them. Gohan transforms into a Super Saiyan and, despite some hits from the android, quickly gains control. Android 18 joins them in battle, and the two take control. Trunks, although not at the level of the Androids, joins in the battle to help Gohan. Trunks fights her for just a few minutes before succumbing to her. However, Gohan saves him when they hide in the park’s rubble. They are unable to find them so the droids bombard the park to make them appear. Gohan and Trunks survive, but Gohan’s left arm is broken. Gohan tries giving Trunks a Senzu bean. He is saved from his death by the Capsule Corporation. Trunks returns to Capsule Corporation to receive his mentor. He is able to recover and continue to train Trunks.

Due to an android attack, the training is cut short in Pepper City. Trunks begs Gohan to fight with him, but Gohan stuns Trunks with a blow to his back to stop him from joining in the fight. Android 17 is attacked by the one-armed Super Saiyan, and despite his disability, he fights a long, painful battle with the droids. He is defeated by the droids who attack him in the rain, knocking him to the floor. They use The Accel Dance technique to kill the fallen warrior. Trunks awakens as his mentor’s energy disappears. Trunks searches the city and finds Gohan’s dead body. Trunks’ body is weak and his training appears to be failing. Trunks finally releases the anger in him and transforms into a Super Saiyan. Training without the encouragement of his mentor, Bulma and Trunks are the foundation of the Time Machine.

The story continues three more years later, in Year 783. Trunks enters the room as Bulma is building the Time Machine. He tells Bulma that he doesn’t need anyone from his past to defeat them since he’s a Super Saiyan. She reminds him that Gohan was a Super Saiyan; however, that was not enough. Bulma pleads for Trunks to confront the droids in Bridgetown. A radio broadcast informs them of their attack and Trunks decides to confront them. He discovers the droids and starts fighting them. Future Trunks travels back in time.

However, the droids 👾 are completely outmatched by the young Super Saiyan who barely fights them. Trunks is able to take hits from the droids that are just playing with him, and narrowly survives. A powerful energy blast from Android 18. Trunks is able to regain consciousness at his home, with Bulma his mother. After a brief conversation, Trunks decides to go into the time machine when he’s ready (after six months to one year) to give the Heart Medicine to Goku. Bulma is hopeful that all will go well when Trunks enters the time machine to travel back in time.