Dragon Ball Beginner’s Guide: Everything you Need to Know
Dragon Ball has been a well-known brand for almost three decades. It is a franchise that has made an enormous impact on pop culture, and whether you remember it as Dragon Ball or its first boom years as Dragon Ball Z., You can feel its influence in everything from animation to comics and live sports.
Although there are energy explosions, big hair, and power-ups that can take three episodes, the real story of the franchise is about conviction, competition and connection. There are many things to be explained as a long-runner since the late-80s. Before you can start firing off your Kamehameha with the Dragon Ball beginner’s manual, we’re here to help you understand this popular shonen franchise.
Akira Toriyama was the mangaka behind all the Dragon Ball mythos. Toriyama, who was taking a break from Dr Slump’s action-comedy manga, created Dragon Ball to pay homage to the Chinese fairy tale epic Journey to the West. Toriyama decided to continue the project after its popularity surpassed anything he had ever done.
His art style is so well-known that even some of his earlier works, especially those in the West, can be recalled. He is most famously responsible for the ChronoTrigger art and his entire aesthetic, which are the foundation of the Dragon Quest series visuals.
What is Dragon Ball?
Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Z follow Son Goku, a young, energetic, and powerful man. He learns the magic of the mystical Dragon Balls, seven magical orbs that, when combined, summon Shenron the Eternal Dragon to grant any wish. Many fights and adventures follow, pushing Goku to the limits as a martial arts artist. This makes him happy.
Goku has become a father by the time Dragon Ball Z arrives. The allure of Dragon Balls is not restricted to Earth anymore. After Goku’s long-lost brother Raditz visits Earth and lets Goku know that his unnatural power is due to him being from a bloodthirsty alien race called the Saiyans, Goku and an ensemble cast including his son Gohan, rival-turned-coparent Piccolo. Eternal rival Vegeta must save the galaxy from extraterrestrial, magical, and mechanical threats. All of this while focusing on the central theme of constantly striving to improve as both a fighter and a person.
What is the difference between all the series?
Three canonical series carry the Dragon Ball name, based on the manga. However, there is a fourth anime-only series, which is not canon but is still licensed and recognized by Dragon Ball.
The Dragon Ball original manga covers the first 194 chapters. It also covers Goku’s more action-comedy adventures from childhood to adulthood, as they protect and defend the Dragon Balls.
We have Dragon Ball Z from chapter 195. This series follows Goku but more closely his son Gohan as their adventures expand beyond Earth and into space. The series adopts a darker tone and focuses more on power and action, making it an iconic series. Dragon Ball Z Kai is a re-release that has been cut down on filler. There is no distinction between Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Z in Japan. However, they are split into two separate properties in the West.
Dragon Ball Super is set just two years after Dragon Ball Z’s end. It focuses on Goku, Vegeta and other characters. The series’ scope is extended even more, with space (or at least one version) expanding to include multiple universes and timelines. While the series retains some of its comedy chops, it demonstrates a more extraordinary ability to scale up the action and power. Toriyama writes the super’s story. The art is by Toyotarou.
The fourth, most unusual series, Dragon Ball GT, is an anime-only licensed offering. It was made with the permission (but not involvement) of Toriyama. It is set five years after Dragon Ball Z’s events. Goku, Pan and Trunks, whiz kids, must travel across the universe in search of a new, more substantial set of Dragon Balls. Although it fully embraces the sci-fi aspect of Dragon Ball, it is not considered canon. Official releases such as Dragon Ball FighterZ include characters from the show, including Super Saiyan 4 Gogeta. This keeps it part of the Dragon Ball universe.
Dragon Ball: Where can you watch it?
Crunchyroll and Funimation currently stream Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Super. Hulu streams Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Super. Hulu and Crunchyroll also offer Dragon Ball GT.
Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball GT all had physical versions throughout the years, which are now available on Amazon.
Where can I read the Dragon Ball Manga?
Viz Media has everything you need to know about Dragon Ball. Amazon and Barnes & Noble also sell complete physical collections. The comics can also be downloaded digitally through Comixology, Kindle and Viz’s website.
What about the Dragon Ball Movies?
Twenty movies are available across all three major Dragon Ball series. These include three movies from Dragon Ball, 13 Dragon Ball Z movies, and four that fall under the Dragon Ball Super umbrella.
Notably, neither the Dragon Ball Z nor Dragon Ball movies are canonical. They can, however, be considered alternate universes because Dragon Ball Super introduces multiverses and wonky timelines. All three Dragon Ball Super movies (Battle of Gods and Resurrection F; Broly and the newly released Super Hero) are canonical.
You can also find TV specials in all series. However, they are not considered “movies”. They are still considered to be part of the canon. These are the History of Trunks and Bardock: Father of Goku. An episode of Bardock is also included. These aren’t required viewing, but they help to give more insight into the world of Dragon Ball.
The live-action monster that is Dragon Ball: Evolution was received. The better part is that there’s not much to be said about this crime against humanity.
Dragon Ball: The Best Anime
Dragon Ball’s legacy as the father of modern shonen means that almost any genre in the genre could be considered a solid next step.
It is the best One-Piece. It’s a story about a powerful, goofy hero and a group of friends who stay together until adulthood to find an elusive object that will fulfil all their hopes and dreams. Although the series is notoriously long, Eiichiro Oda (the mangaka behind it) has said that Akira Toriyama, Dragon Ball, and other mangakas are his most significant influences.
My Hero Academia is a show with a cast of characters with incredibly different personalities. It takes many tropes, ideas and themes Dragon Ball created and tweaks them to near perfection. This show could be described as X-Men meets Dragon Ball. It features a group of superpowered young characters who go to school to learn how to control their superpowers better and find their place among a population with many superpowers.
Mobile Fighter G Gundam is the first Gundam series in an alternate continuity. Every nation sends a Gundam from Earth to participate in the Gundam Fight Tournament. This is in a future in which most people live in space colonies. The political drama is not as prominent as in other Gundam series. Instead, the incredible pilots and their giant robots take centre stage so that the absurd action can be the main focus.
