I was lucky enough to view this feature about a week ago on YouTube, and it was one of the best views I've gotten in a while. The new-age animation works really well with DB material, contrary to some beliefs. It was like watching one of the anime openings they've done for the video games...only BETTER. The new 'Head Cha La' was great to, I particularly liked Chi Chi, Bulma, and Videl running from the Rex, that was great, especially since I figured it would be Goten and Trunks, since they stole the show. The story was great too, and had a great ending moral...or whatever. Moral's not the right word for it, but mentioning that the reason nobody remembered this event was because it happened too late? Genius. Now I say Goten and Trunks stole the show, and they did in their way, but for me, it was ALL about Goku and Vegeta's bickering. Yes, Roshi's perviness unchannged was great. Yes, seeing the "little people" like Krililn, Yamcha, and Yajirobe have a part was awesome. But nothing beats the Goku/Vegeta moments in this special. I can't decide what I like better, the final trick Goku pulls, or their eating contests. ^_^ Now that said, I do have a small problem with the feature, but it's just one of those things that bug me, even in a story as random as Dragon Ball. It's nothing that makes me dislike the feature, but it does bear mentioning. Table. Now, I'm not one of those people annoyed that he came out of nowhere. I mean, when would a good point for Vegeta to mention he had a brother even come up anyway? Especially considering he disowned his brother in his youth no doubt. I can't see Vegeta as he once was mentioning he had a low-level for a relative, can you? I've even come to except Table's youthful appearance. It's true, he looks AWFULLY young, but it's not as bad as I originally thought. In the screenshots we'd gotten before, he looked just barely older than Trunks, and add his height to the issue, it looked REALLY odd. But with the animation in motion, he looks enough older enough that I can buy it. And as for his shortness...well, Vegeta's no giant himself, now is he. My issue with Table is two things only. First off, there's not enough of him for me, not for a new character. Not when that was one of the big selling points on this feature, everyone all over the internet going 'VEGETA HAS A BROTHER!? o.O;;;'. I know he's a low-level, I get that, but I would have at least liked to see him fight. One punch, that's all I'm asking. I mean...the villains even say at one point that he caused them problems. I'm sure this could just mean by making them follow him all the way to a remote planet like Earth, but I can't help but wonder just how weak Table really is. Surely he has at least improved a littl bit since he was sent off. My other problem with Table is just a minor irk that almost doesn't bear mentioning. We don't see what happens to him. Yes, I know - the natural assumption must be that he returns to his home planet. Ok, I can buy that, it makes perfect sense. But, I would have liked that to be absolutely stated, a small scene of him leaving in his spacepod, maybe Vegeta trying to say goodbye without making it obvious, something like that would have been nice. SPOILER: Of course...I also wonder what happens to Abo and Cado. They seem to have reformed, since they're sitting there eating with the rest of them. That said, not a single thing that I DIDN'T like (as few as those are) makes this special any bit less enjoyable. It is still one of the better stories we've gotten out of the franchise, if for nothing else than the fact that it just isn't like anything else we've gotten. This is definitely something I'll be importing someday if FUNi doesn't get the rights to it. It's just that good, I HAVE to have this.
So all in all, I'd give this special a 10/10. If you've been a Dragon Ball fan for any substantial length of time, this special is for YOU. The only way you'll be disappointed is if you're coming into this expecting a fight fest. That's just not what this is about, it's about returning the franchise to it's roots in a way, back when the fights weren't all 'Your power level is lower than mine, HAHAHAHA!', and making the fights a bit more about strategy rather than throwing punches. The only other possible thing you just won't like is the length, I too definitely would have loved for this to be another 10 minutes or so, making it at least as long as the films of the franchise we've grown so used to.
But, I'm rambling. I officially give 'Dragon Ball: Heya! The Return of Son Goku and Friends!!' a resounding 10/10. This really takes me back to my first days of anime fandom, and I will forever be thankful to Toriyama and Toei for giving this great new story to us. To all who haven't seen it yet - Watch it, watch it again, and then again, and then just for the laughs, watch it a fourth time. You won't regret it.