Chronologically speaking, this is the second live-action adaptation of Akira Toriyama's "Dragon Ball" manga (although an unlicensed and therefore unofficial adaptation).
Seetou changes clothes at the start of almost every scene. This is an homage to Bulma's many outfits throughout the "Dragon Ball" series.
Since the rights to adapt "Dragon Ball" had not been acquired, some changes (mostly in name) had to be made:
- Son Goku was renamed the Monkey Boy
- Grandpa Gohan was renamed Sparkle
- Bulma was renamed Seetou
- Oolong was renamed Piggy
- Yamcha was renamed Westwood
- Yamcha's companion Puar was replaced with a cockatoo
- Master Roshi was titled simply the Turtle Man
- Penny was renamed Jen Jen
- King Gourmeth was renamed King Horn, and his henchmen Bongo and Raven were renamed Zebrata and Malilia.
The film was mostly shot in the forests of Nantou County, Taiwan, with some scenes also shot in Thailand.