When Akira Toriyama created Dragon Ball, the manga artist never imagined just how iconic the series would become. Today, it is one of the most popular and well-known anime series of all time. With over 500 chapters and many more episodes, Dragon Ball has become the epitome of action-packed shounen quality of slot gacor.

However, some anime fans shy away from the series. For those with no prior knowledge of Dragon Ball, the long-running series can seem intimidating, but fear not. ComicBook.com is here to help.

We’ve broken down Dragon Ball into its elements, separating the franchise’s manga from its anime series and feature films. If you’re curious about Dragon Ball and its record-breaking past, we’ve got your answers.

Manga

Let’s start at the beginning.

Before Dragon Ball was an anime, it was a manga. The story was written and drawn by Akira Toriyama from November 1984 to May 1995. Titled Dragon Ball, the series was published in full in Weekly Shonen Jump before Shisha gave it a tankobon deal for its readers.

Akira wrote the series soon after starting his 1980 manga Dr. Martin. Slump was a success. The comedy gave him the clout to pursue Dragon Ball, and the artist jumped at the chance to bring out a new story. Dragon Ball is known for its over-the-top action, but the series wasn’t always focused on that. The manga wasn’t about Super Saiyans when it debuted, but about mythological shenanigans. Loosely inspired by the Chinese tale “Journey to the West,” Dragon Ball began as a playful mix of comedy and slapstick action, moving towards more intense action sequences in later chapters.

Dragon Ball

When Dragon Ball hit the shelves, the series was popular with readers and critics praised its complex storyline. Therefore, Toei Animation quickly secured the animation rights to the series and released the anime version in February 1986.

Dragon Ball covers the first 159 chapters of the manga in about 153 episodes. The series lasted for over three years, but ended when Akira’s story split into two different eras. In the original series, the main character, Son Goku, went on a journey as a child to find seven wish-granting items called Dragon Balls. Goku trains in martial arts and begins traveling around the world collecting mystical objects, as he battles numerous villains.

Dragon Ball Z

Shortly after Dragon Ball ended, Toei Animation began work on the sequel, Dragon Ball Z. The second series was released in the same month as its predecessor, and gave fans a more serious, action-packed story than they had seen before.

Dragon Ball Z tells the story of an aged Goku who, along with his fellow Z Fighters, defends Earth from a nefarious and overpowered villain who seeks to destroy it. The series also introduces fans to second-generation characters; for example, Goku now has his own children, named Gohan and Goten, who he trains.

Speaking of popularity, Dragon Ball Z is an undisputed fan favorite. The series has captured the attention of international audiences and ushered in a new era for anime Bos5000 fans.

Dragon Ball GT

Be careful when talking about Dragon Ball GT with fans. Its canon has been questioned since it first premiered in 1996, so opinions on the series are mixed, to say the least.

Dragon Ball GT is the sequel to the Dragon Ball Z series. The series is set five years after the end of the series and shows Goku reverting to being a child. The protagonist then travels through space to find the Black Star Dragon Ball that rejuvenated him, and on his journey he also encounters enemies who seek to destroy the Saiyans.

Most fans don’t like watching Dragon Ball GT. Unlike its contemporaries, the anime isn’t adapted from the manga by Akira. Instead, it tells an original story by Toei Animation. As such, even though Akira calls Dragon Ball GT a “side story” to the original anime, avid Dragon Ball fans claim that the show isn’t considered canon to the entire series.

Dragon Ball Kai

Following the poor reception of Dragon Ball GT, Toei Animation decided to forgo the release of a new series. However, they did re-release Dragon Ball Z under a new name, Dragon Ball Kai.

Toei Animation produced the remake to celebrate the series’ 20th anniversary. And of course, this overhaul should help fans forget the bad taste that Dragon Ball GT left in their mouths. The studio took the original Dragon Ball Z series and digitally traced the animation to give the show a more modern look. For Dragon Ball Kai, content outside of Akira’s manga was also removed from the sequel, a move that ultimately reduced Dragon Ball Kai’s count from 291 to 167, and fans were happy to see much of that filler removed.

Dragon Ball Super

When Dragon Ball Kai ended, fans were left in eternal limbo. After Dragon Ball GT failed to impress audiences, no one knew if Toei Animation would produce another series. But after 18 years of waiting, the company finally released a much better series titled Dragon Ball Super.

Dragon Ball Super is the sequel to Dragon Ball Z, telling the story of Goku after his planet has become peaceful. The protagonist and his friends were almost returning to their normal lives, but another intergalactic threat strikes their atmosphere. The so-called God of Destruction is desperate to face Goku upon hearing of the hero’s strength, and the villain is willing to destroy the universe to do so.

Although the anime is not based on the Akira manga, Akira produced the series. The artist also provided inspirational character designs for Toei Animation, and fans are grateful for Akira’s return. Over 60 episodes have aired since the show’s debut, and Dragon Ball Super was simulcast in the United States this month so fans can watch the ongoing series.