Dragon Ball Z has always been known for its explosive battles and iconic transformations that shape the fate of the universe. But amidst the epic fights, the series is also known for some of the goriest and unsetting scenes, where moments of pure terror creep into the story. One scene in particular stands out as one of the most chilling moments in the Dragon Ball Z universe: Majin Buu’s horrific encounter with a man named Smitty in Episode 255.
This scene is from the Majin Buu Saga, where Majin Buu; the pink, childlike creature with unimaginable strength and an unpredictable nature, brings the story to new heights of horror as he unleashes devastation on Earth. While this scene is indeed horrifying in the manga, the anime version takes it to a new level of grotesque.
Episode 255 of Dragon Ball Z: Majin Buu’s Reign of Terror
In the Majin Buu saga of Dragon Ball Z, Majin Buu quickly proved that his lust for chaos and violence was his own. Buu goes on an unrestrained rampage, annihilating cities and eliminating anyone unfortunate enough to cross his path. At this point in the saga, the audience has already seen glimpses of Buu’s unpredictable personality, ranging from childlike innocence to cold-blooded cruelty.
But what happened in episode 255 was beyond anyone’s expectations. Smitty was a very insignificant character from Dragon Ball Z who used to hang around with Van Zant. As a gunman, this guy loved hunting down people with his young master Zant, and this unusual habit led them to attack Majin Buu which turned out to be Smitty’s nightmare.
Majin Buu became incredibly mad upon seeing Mr. Satan getting shot in the hands of Smitty and lost control of his anger. Soon after, he created Evil Buu, which vaporized Van Zant. Afterward, the Evil Buu started to dominate Good Buu, eventually devouring him and turning into Super Boo.
The next scene was one of the goriest events that happened in the Dragon Ball universe. Super Boo liquified himself and went down Smitty’s throat making him expand until he exploded.
The Unfathomable Terror of Majin Buu in Majin Buu Saga
The devouring of Smitty sparked an immense reaction among Dragon Ball Z fans, who were shocked by the sheer brutality of the scene. Many fans noted that this was one of the few moments in the series that truly crossed the line into the grotesque of its time.
It’s More brutal than Dragon Ball Z Manga. Super buu killed the shooter (Smitty) during the MAJIN Buu Saga of Dragon Ball Z pic.twitter.com/jv8wPPPsSl
— Gaming NextDoor (@GamingNextDoor) October 31, 2024
You ever got bloated from eating? you know the pain. Now looking at this, dial it up to 100
— Not really here (@OccupantGhost) October 31, 2024
That scene hit hard! 😱💔
— SarcastiX (@sarcastix7) October 31, 2024
I can only imagine how the TV version of DBZ Kai censored this brutal scene
— Omega Surge X (@surge_omega) October 31, 2024
The perfect scene for halloween
— sonmikael (@sonmikael5) October 31, 2024
This scene solidifies Buu as more than just a physical threat; he embodies a kind of terror that Dragon Ball Z had rarely touched upon until this point. Although Smitty was definitely at fault there, the way Super Buu devoured him was one of pure horror, as audiences are forced to confront the idea that Buu’s attacks aren’t just about power, but they’re about his sadistic enjoyment of causing pain.
This scene perfectly captures why the Majin Buu Saga is so memorable as it didn’t shy away from showing the brutality of a villain who didn’t operate by any rules or principles. While earlier sagas focused on clashes of power and pride, Buu’s reign of terror brought an unsettling unpredictability that changed the tone of the series.
Additionally, this scene also serves as a haunting reminder of what sets Dragon Ball Z apart — it’s a series that doesn’t just explore epic battles and power but also confronts the terrifying consequences of unchecked evil.
Dragon Ball Z is currently available to watch on Crunchyroll.
