In case you haven’t heard, Burger King is releasing a Dragon Ball Z meal collaboration. While collabs such as this one aren’t uncommon in the grand scheme of things, there *is* something special about this iteration of DBZ x BK because, according to my research, the two haven’t collaborated since 2003…well over twenty years. That, in turn, has me thinking about the first time the two ever joined forces, which was in the year 2000.
Let’s set the scene a bit. In 2000, as Dragon Ball Z was taking over North American television screens via Cartoon Network’s Toonami block, Burger King launched a full-scale Kids Meal campaign across its U.S. restaurants. The promotion permanently etched itself into Y2K nostalgia, bringing heavy-duty collectibles and trading cards straight to the lunch table.
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Unlike standard lightweight plastic toys, the 2000 Dragon Ball Z collection stood out collectible nature and display-worthy design. Burger King released a seven-figure set of metallic character statues mounted on color-coded bases that included Goku, Gohan and more. But the crown jewel, however, was Super Saiyan Goku, which boasted a metallic silver finish.
For a generation of young fans in the early 2000s, stopping by Burger King wasn’t just about getting lunch—it was a quest to hunt down the rare gold Goku statue, trade CCG cards at school, and collect the full set.
Over two decades later, as fast-food brands regularly collaborate with major anime franchises, Burger King’s initial Y2K campaign remains a landmark moment that proved just how powerful anime crossovers could be.
Can we go back in time?
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