Dragon Ball Z’s latest release has brought back a fight from over 30 years ago, which laid the groundwork for Gohan’s biggest narrative turning point.
Per the official Dragon Ball website, Banpresto’s Match Makers series has released two separate figures recreating the battle between Imperfect Cell and Android 16 from the Cell Saga of Dragon Ball Z. The individual figures capture the exact moment from Episode 151 of the anime series, titled “Silent Warrior,” as both characters rush head-on and tackle one another.
The Android 16 figure stands 17 centimeters tall, while the Imperfect Cell figure measures 16 centimeters in height. Both non-articulated figures are available as crane game prizes in amusement centers across Japan, although internationally, fans can pre-order the figures from official retailers such as BigBadToyStore for US$28.99, with shipping expected to begin in August 2026. The two figures are designed to be displayed together.
Dragon Ball Z Revives Its Android 16 vs. Imperfect Cell Fight in New Banpresto Release
Android 16 originally stepped in to challenge Imperfect Cell due to the threat the creature posed to Earth. This decision was driven by the android’s serene and gentle personality, which also made him one of the most tragic characters in the series.
Although the two fighters were initially evenly matched, Cell gained the upper hand after sneakily absorbing Android 17 during the fight to advance his evolution. The battle between these two characters was responsible for setting Gohan down the path to his eventual transformation, while also establishing Cell as one of the most fearsome opponents the Z fighters ever faced.
During Imperfect Cell’s rampage, Gohan was stuck at Kami’s Lookout as a mere spectator. Despite witnessing his allies and his mentor, Piccolo, lose to Cell, Gohan was not permitted to interfere in the battle. This left the young Saiyan frustrated, primarily due to his lack of strength and his constant reliance on others for protection.
Later, while training with Goku in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, Gohan tapped into this anger to achieve his first Super Saiyan transformation. Despite achieving this new level of power, Gohan remained unable to defeat Perfect Cell during the subsequent Cell Games saga, watching helplessly as his companions were beaten by Cell Juniors.
However, once again, Android 16 came through in this clutch moment delivering one of the greatest speeches ever in the series, urging Gohan to release his anger and protect the planet, ultimately triggering the latter’s Super Saiyan 2 transformation. The fight featured in this latest release thus initiated a sequence of events that concluded with the antagonist’s defeat.
Banpresto’s Match Makers line is designed to recreate such high-intensity battles from across the franchise, with figures released in pairs intended for display together. The Android 16 and Imperfect Cell figures will join the existing lineup of collectibles, including ones that have brought back Goku’s very first face-off with Vegeta from the Saiyan Saga, as well as the fight between Goku and Goku Black from Dragon Ball Super.
- Release Date
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1989 – 1996
- Network
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Fuji TV
- Directors
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Daisuke Nishio, Shigeyasu Yamauchi, Osamu Kasai
- Writers
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Akira Toriyama, Neil Bligh, Hiroshi Toda, Katsuyuki Sumisawa, Aya Matsui, Keiji Terui, Reiko Yoshida, Toshiki Inoue
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Masako Nozawa
Son Goku / Son Gohan / Son Goten (voice)
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Ryo Horikawa
Vegeta (voice)
