Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies (known in Japan as Doragon Bōru: Shenron no Densetsu; lit. "Dragon Ball: The Legend of Shenlong") is the first Dragon Ball movie, set in an almost entirely different continuity than that of the manga and anime.
The story focuses on Pansy - a little girl whose home is being destroyed and mined for valuable blood rubies by order of one King Gurumes. King Gurumes is an obese king who is having his troops and henchmen (Pasta and Bongo) gather the Dragon Balls to wish away his insatiable hunger for food.
The movie is a condensation of the first Dragon Ball arc, but with the extra story elements mentioned above. Notably, Chi-Chi, the Ox-King, and the Pilaf gang are not a part of the story. Goku's transformation into a Great Ape is not present either.
This film provides examples of the following:
- Adipose Rex: King Gurumes is a morbidly obese king, but not by choice - he wants to stop eating but is never full. He wants to use the Dragon Balls to wish away his appetite.
- Alternate Continuity: The events of this movie does not follow the continuity of the manga or anime.
- Co-Dragons: Pasta and Bongo to King Gurumes.
- Compressed Adaptation: The movie is a condensation of the first Dragon Ball arc, but with additional elements that take the story in a different direction. Notably, Chi-Chi, the Ox-King, and the Pilaf gang are not a part of the story. Goku's transformation into a Great Ape is not present either.
- Evil Overlooker: King Gurumes occupies the top of the poster, even though he's an Anti-Villain who only wants to collect the Dragon Balls to end his insatiable hunger.
- Heel–Face Turn: King Gurumes realizes the destruction he has caused to his kingdom once he is outside of his castle in the film's finale.
- Not His Sled: Goku's climatic transformation into a Great Ape is not present in this film despite playing such an important role in the first arc of the anime.
- Pocket Protector: Yamcha is unharmed by Pasta spraying his chest with bullets thanks to the blood rubies he was hiding in his shirt.
