Summary
Akira Toriyama’s legendaryDragon Ballfranchise has changed millions of lives worldwide, even if the six anime series released so far are of differing quality. Some countries immediately fell in love with Goku and his early adventures with Bulma, Krillin, and Master Roshi during the firstDragon Ballanime, but certain countries like the US were introduced toDragon Ball Zfirst. Many fans like to debate which series is their favorite, but only one can be considered thebestDragon Ballseries so far.
It all began with Akira Toriyama’sDragon Ballmanga, which released its first chapter in 1984, with the anime’s first episodes beginning to air in 1986. Although the iconic manga told Goku’s story up to his defeat of Kid Buu, the anime broke the series up into two anime series:Dragon BallandDragon Ball Z.
After the epic conclusion of that story, the sequel anime,Dragon Ball GT, began shortly after and ran for 64 episodes. Years later,Dragon Ball Z Kairemastered and condensed theDBZanime. Many younger fans may have been introduced to the franchise with newer series likeDragon Ball Super, while hardcore fans who can’t get enough of Toriyama’s world also have the exuberant andcontroversialSuper Dragon BallHeroesanime. Here are how each Dragon Ball anime series rank against each other.
An entirely new anime series calledDragon Ball Daimawill release in Fall 2024.
6Super Dragon Ball Heroes Is Shallow and Hard To Recommend
Super Dragon Ball Heroes Anime Is Ongoing From 2018 to Present and Currently Contains 54 Episodes
Unlike every other anime series on the list,Super Dragon Ball Heroeshas not been broadcast on television. It’s a series that is only released online for free, with episodes that last around 10 minutes. It’s debatable ifSDBHeven belongs on the list of the best andworstDragon Ballseries, but because it has technically been running longer thanDragon Ball Superdid, it’s a series that some of the most hardcore fans may be willing to try.
Because of the franchise’s popularity, severalDragon Ballvideo games and trading card games have been released to the delight of fans. One particular trading card game,Super Dragon Ball Heroes, spurred the creation of the promotional anime of the same name. Video games focused on the trading card game feature storylines that use time travel, rifts, and other methods to include multiple versions of characters from different series to interact with one another in plotlines that explore other universes, demons, andfoes that threaten the entireDragon Ballmultiverse.
One of the most significant issues withSuper Dragon Ball Heroesis its pacing and writing, which fail to give its plot or characters time to grow effectively. Fan-favorite characters are smashed together like action figures, and tension is difficult to build with incredibly shallow plotlines. Fans who enjoy the intense build-up and moments of payoff that litter otherDragon Ballserieswill watchSuper Dragon Ball Heroesand feel like it’s a fever dreamthat tries to make everything epic but instead succeeds in making almost none of it feel epic.
5The Next Generation Gets Pushed Aside In Dragon Ball GT
Dragon Ball GT’s Anime Ran From 1996 to 1997 and Contains 64 Episodes
Until the promotionalSuper Dragon Ball Heroesanime,Dragon Ball GTwas the most divisive series in the franchise. After the overwhelming popularity ofDBZ, there was pressure to keep the story going beyond the manga.Akira Toriyama contributed very little to the sequel seriesthat took place ten years afterDBZ, which was essentially Toei Animation’s project. Still, the series introduced a few iconic transformations and characters that fans remember fondly.
The story ofDBGTbegins by focusing on Gohan’s teenage daughter Pan and a version of Goku who has been reverted into a child thanks to the old and mischievous Emperor Pilaf. The first substantialDragon Ballvillain returned and accidentally made the wish on a particularly cursed set of magical spheres known as the Dark Star Dragon Balls. While the first arcs of the series are difficult to recommend for their lackluster storytelling, the series eventually picks up steam to deliver some entertaining arcs like the Baby Saga.
By the timeDBGTends, it becomes clear that the series could have been better thought out with how much it shifts its focus from building up newer characters to relaying on features that have proven to work, such as large-scale battles centered around Goku. Still, theSuper Saiyan 4 transformationand the idea that Dragon Balls can be overused with dire consequences are story elements fans hope to be included and remade in futureDragon Ballcontent.
TheDragon Ball GTanime is available to stream on Crunchyroll and Hulu.
4Dragon Ball Super Revived The Franchise Like A Clever Wish
Dragon Ball Super’s Anime Ran From 2015 to 2018 and Contains 131 Episodes
Dragon Ball Superis one of the newest series that played a considerable role in rekindling the franchise, and it technically takes place beforeDragon Ball GT, which is canon to the timeline.DBSintroduced the God of Destruction, Beerus, and his more powerful Angel companion, Whis, who dramatically expanded the franchise’s universe by introducing Gods who surpass the Kais. Many of its arcs also introduce warriors from other universes who dramatically helped provide battles that excited the fanbase like never before.
The beginning of theDBSanime had an unconventional release. In 2013, the movieDragon Ball Z: Battle of Godscame out to high acclaim, but it wasn’t until 2015 that the anime series began by re-adapting the events ofBattle of Godsas a weekly series with dramatically extended scenes and moderate changes to its story. While the beginning of the anime suffered from horrific moments of animation thanks to a controversial production schedule, the series saw dramatic improvements that eventuallytransformedDragon Ball Superinto one of the most exciting animes the world has ever seen.
Moments featuring Goku using the iconic Kaio-Ken technique to amplify his godly Super Saiyan Blue powers and the series' epic final fights against Jiren thrilled audiences who’d waited years for newDragon Ballcontent. Several videos went viral after they captured the excitement of huge crowds grouped up in front of giant screens, all watching the final episodes of the Tournament of Power together.Dragon Ball Supernot only brought the franchise back to life, it played a massive role in helping make anime more socially acceptable than it ever had been.
TheDragon Ball Superanime can be streamed on Crunchyroll and Hulu.
3Dragon Ball Z Kai Refreshed The Series For A New Audience
Dragon Ball Z Kai’s Anime Ran From 2009 to 2011, 2014 to 2015 and Contains 167 Episodes
AlthoughDragon Ball Zis considered one of the best series in the anime medium, it arguably contained faults because of its weekly release schedule. Like many popular anime series, the manga was being published simultaneously, and because anime episodes often progress the story at a quicker pace than manga chapters, there was a risk thatDBZ’s anime would catch up to the manga. This is apparent with filler content and moments that drag the pacing ofDBZto fill time. Issues that theDragon Ball Z Kaiseries attempted to alleviate.
Nearly 13 years afterDBZended, the remastered and re-edited seriesDragon Ball Z Kaiwas released. It successfully condensedDBZ’s 291 episodes into 167 with improved pacing and a significant decrease in theDragon Ball Zfiller many fans preferred to skip. LikeDB Super, the series played a large part in creating a new generation of fans.Dragon Ball Z Kaiis arguably the best way to get into theDragon Ballfranchise, even if it does cut out some incredible content like Vegeta and Gohan’s training segments, which provide amazing moments of development for both characters.
TheDragon Ball Z Kaianime can be streamed on Hulu.
Dragon Ball Z Filler List: Every Episode You Can Skip
This Dragon Ball Z anime filler guide explores the series' best non-canon episodes that expand the series' characters & the ones that can be skipped.
2Dragon Ball Changed The World And Built A Strong Foundation
Dragon Ball’s Anime Ran From 1986 to 1989 and Contains 153 Episodes
The story of young Goku helped establish a franchise that has grown into one of the world’s most recognizable properties. Many people were lucky enough to grow up watchingDragon Ballwhen it was first released, which immensely helped solidify the series as their favorite. But now that multiple series have significantly expanded on the universe, its characters, and animation styles, many may be curious how well the first series holds up decades after its release.
There are many reasons why passionate fans of the franchise heavily recommend going back and watchingDragon Ballfor those who first fell in love with the series thanks toDBZandDBS. While not all of itshumor has aged well,Dragon Ball’s first few arcschanged anime forever. The series First World Tournament played a significant role in establishing how to execute engaging Tournament arcs that have helped formulate fan-favorite arcs from series likeYu Yu HakushoandNaruto. However, as theDragon Ballanime continued, its narrative threads would help evolve the series into something extraordinary.
Dragon Ballremains one of the best series in the franchise because of its incredible pacingand superb balance of action, humor, and tension. The methods in which the production team animated battles with detailed character acting showcased martial arts more effectively than most battles from every sequel series. Before the series ends, its characters and battles escalate to earth-shaking heights that perfectly transition into arguably thebest anime of all time.
TheDragon Ballanime can be streamed on Crunchyroll and Hulu.
1The Franchise Peaked With Dragon Ball Z
Dragon Ball Z’s Anime Ran From 1989 to 1996 and Contains 291 Episodes
Dragon Ball Zis the best series in the franchisebecause of how much of an impact it’s had on people around the world, an impact that has even helped shape multiple cultures. The series kicked off with a bang in a way that enticed both new and existing fans. With exciting battles and the shocking revelation that Goku was, in fact, an alien whose battle-hungry Saiyan race threatened his home, the series immediately raised the bar in both scale and storytelling with how to effectively expand a beloved franchise.
ThroughoutDBZ’s arcs, dozens of iconic moments still have the power to give fans the chills many years after it aired, thanks to its direction and animation that helped establish several of history’s greatest anime creators. People like Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru and Shigeyasu Yamauchi became forces of nature during the series Buu arc, and their legendary work would eventually go on to help craft beloved animes likeDigimon,One Piece, andBlack Clover. Still, after the tragic passing of Akira Toriyama, it became hard to ignore how muchDBZhas touched the lives of people around the world.
Several countries worldwide officially declared days of mourning topay tribute to Akira Toriyamabecause of how important the series was to its citizens. While other series in the franchise are also filled with impressive moments of action, excitement, and storytelling,DBZprovided several peaks that every series afterward has chased.
