<P> Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods (Japanese: ドラゴンボール Z 神 と 神, Hepburn: Doragon Bōru Zetto: Kami to Kami, lit . "Dragon Ball Z: God and God") is the eighteenth Japanese animated feature film based on the Dragon Ball series and the fourteenth to carry the Dragon Ball Z branding, released in theaters on March 30, 2013 . It is the first Dragon Ball movie in 17 years to have a theatrical release, the last being the tenth anniversary movie in 1996, which followed the first three Dragon Ball films and the thirteen Dragon Ball Z films . Unlike previous theatrical Dragon Ball releases, this was a full feature - length production with a stand - alone release and not shown as part of the now - discontinued Toei Anime Fair (formerly the Toei Manga Matsuri). </P> <P> It is the first - ever Japanese film to be screened at IMAX Digital Theaters, and was released on Blu - ray and DVD on September 13, 2013 . Funimation acquired the North American rights to Battle of Gods and produced an English dub that they co-released with 20th Century Fox in North American cinemas in August 2014 . Madman Entertainment acquired the Australasian rights and screened the movie at the 2013 Japanese Film Festival in Australia before screening the English dub to select theaters in August 2014, and Manga Entertainment released the film in the United Kingdom in November 2014 . </P> <P> Battle of Gods was the first film considered an official part of the Dragon Ball storyline, being set during the time skip in chapter 517 of the original manga, with original creator Akira Toriyama deeply involved . The plot involves Beerus, the God of Destruction, learning of the defeat of the galactic overlord Freeza at the hands of Son Goku . Seeking an opponent worthy of his power, Beerus, along with his companion Whis, travels to the North Galaxy to challenge Goku to a battle . The first story arc of Dragon Ball Super, the newest canonical anime series in the Dragon Ball franchise, retells the events of Battle of Gods . Some details have been altered, scenes added, and dialogue expanded to cover the 14 - episode arc . </P> <P> Whis wakes Beerus, the God of Destruction, from his long slumber and tells him that Frieza was defeated by a Saiyan . Thirty - nine years earlier, the Yogen - gyo (予言 魚) foretold that a mighty opponent would appear before Beerus, the Super Saiyan God . Beerus, with Whis, then tracks down the Saiyan warrior Goku, who defeated Freeza . On Kaiō - sama's planet, Goku proceeds to challenge Beerus . Despite having powered up to Super Saiyan 3, Goku is ultimately overwhelmed and defeated in two strikes . Disappointed by the subsequent lack of challenge, Beerus departs in order to seek out more powerful adversaries on Earth . </P>

Where does battle of the gods fit in