What is Dragon Ball?#
Dragon Ball is an epic saga that follows the adventures of Son Goku. The story tracks his growth from childhood into adulthood as he masters the art of martial arts and explores the world in search of the seven mystical Dragon Balls. When gathered, these orbs can summon a wish-granting Dragon. Throughout his journey, Goku forms lasting friendships and faces a diverse array of villains—some from Earth and others from distant planets—who seek the Dragon Balls for their own ends.
Combining elements of action, comedy, drama, fantasy, and science fiction, the series is centered around themes of superpowers, androids, aliens, and the lifelong pursuit of martial arts mastery. It is best suited for viewers who enjoy high-stakes battles, character growth, and expansive world-building. If you’re looking to start your journey, you can watch the anime on Prime Video.
Is the Anime Finished?#
If you are wondering, “Is Dragon Ball finished?”, the answer is a resounding no. While several major series have concluded, the franchise is actively expanding with new content.
Recent and upcoming releases prove that the story is still evolving. Dragon Ball Daima aired from late 2024 into early 2025, and there is significant excitement surrounding the announcement of the Dragon Ball Super: Beerus TV anime, which is slated for a Fall 2026 release. Because the franchise continues to produce new sequels and series, viewers can expect the story of Goku and his friends to continue well into the future.
If you find this guide helpful in navigating the massive world of Dragon Ball, consider supporting our site on Ko-fi to help us keep investigating more series!
Recommended Watch Orders#
Because the series has many sequels, prequels, and alternate retellings, the order in which you watch can vary depending on your goals. Please refer to the relationship tree provided on this page for a visual map of these connections.
The Recommended Order (The Modern Path)#
For most new viewers, the best way to experience the core story is to follow the primary continuity:
- Dragon Ball (The original adventure)
- Dragon Ball Z (or Dragon Ball Z Kai for a more streamlined compilation experience)
- Dragon Ball Super
- Dragon Ball Super: Broly (Movie)
- Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero (Movie)
The Release Order#
If you prefer to experience the series as it was originally released to the public:
- Start with the original Dragon Ball (1986), followed by Dragon Ball Z (1989), and then Dragon Ball GT (1996). From there, move into the modern era starting with Dragon Ball Z Kai (2009) and Dragon Ball Super (2015), ending with the most recent films and the upcoming Dragon Ball Super: Beerus (2026).
The Completionist Order#
For those who want every single piece of content, you will need to dive into the extras. This includes:
- Prequels: Dragon Ball Z: Bardock - The Father of Goku.
- Side Stories & Specials: Dragon Ball Z: The History of Trunks and Dragon Ball Daima.
- The GT Timeline: Dragon Ball GT and its special A Hero’s Legacy.
- Movies: The various Dragon Ball Z movies (such as Dead Zone, Cooler’s Revenge, and Fusion Reborn) and the alternate retellings of the original series (Movies 1-4).
- Remakes: Dragon Ball: Plan to Eradicate the Super Saiyans.
The Manga-Integrated Order#
If you don’t mind reading source material, you can start with the original Dragon Ball manga (serialized from 1984 to 1995) before moving into the anime adaptations. You can also explore manga spinoffs like Jaco the Galactic Patrolman or Neko Majin Z to add more flavor to the universe. Buy the Dragon Ball manga here.
Additional Tips for Fans#
Whether you are a newcomer or a returning fan, there are plenty of ways to immerse yourself in the world of Dragon Ball. Beyond the screen and page, you can buy Dragon Ball merchandise to bring the action into your home.
Keep an eye on the latest news regarding Dragon Ball Super: Beerus and other upcoming releases to ensure you don’t miss the next chapter of Goku’s journey.
Dragon Ball • manga • 1984-11-20 to 1995-05-23 (serialized in Shonen Jump 1984 #51-1995 #25)
└─(adaptation)→ Dragon Ball • anime • 1986-02-26 to 1989-04-19
└─(sequel)→ Dragon Ball Z • anime • 1989-04-19 to 1996-01-31
└─(sequel)→ Dragon Ball GT • anime • 1996-02-07 to 1997-11-19
└─(sequel)→ Dragon Ball GT: A Hero's Legacy • anime • 1997-03-26
└─(adaptation)→ Dragon Ball GT TV Special Anime Comics • manga • 1997-07-23
└─(adaptation)→ Dragon Ball GT Anime Comics • manga • 2019-12-04
└─(related)→ Dragon Ball Z: Plan to Destroy the Saiyajin • anime • 1993-07-23 to 1993-08-25
└─(remake)→ Dragon Ball: Plan to Eradicate the Super Saiyans • anime • 2011-11-11 (bundled with <i>Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2</i> game)
└─(related)→ Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone • anime • 1989-07-15
└─(related)→ Dragon Ball Z: The World's Strongest • anime • 1990-03-10
└─(related)→ Dragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might • anime • 1990-07-07
└─(related)→ Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug • anime • 1991-03-09
└─(related)→ Dragon Ball Z: Cooler's Revenge • anime • 1991-07-20
└─(sequel)→ Dragon Ball Z: The Return of Cooler • anime • 1992-03-07
└─(related)→ Dragon Ball Z: Super Android 13! • anime • 1992-07-11
└─(related)→ Dragon Ball Z: Broly - The Legendary Super Saiyan • anime • 1993-03-06
└─(related)→ Dragon Ball Z: Bojack Unbound • anime • 1993-07-10
└─(sequel)→ Dragon Ball Z: Broly - Second Coming • anime • 1994-03-12
└─(sequel)→ Dragon Ball Z: Bio-Broly • anime • 1994-07-03
└─(related)→ Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn • anime • 1995-03-04
└─(related)→ Dragon Ball Z: Wrath of the Dragon • anime • 1995-07-15
└─(adaptation)→ Dragon Ball Z: Ryūken Bakuhatsu!! Gokū ga Yaraneba Dare ga Yaru • manga • 1995-11-22
└─(adaptation)→ Dragon Ball Z: Fukkatsu no Fusion!! Goku to Vegeta • manga • 1995-08-26
└─(adaptation)→ Dragon Ball Z: Super Senshi Gekiha!! Katsu no wa Ore Da Anime Comics • manga • 1994-12-13
└─(adaptation)→ Dragon Ball Z: Kiken na Futari! Super Senshi wa Nemurenai Anime Comics • manga • 1994-08-19
└─(adaptation)→ Dragon Ball Z: Ginga Girigiri!! Bucchigiri no Sugoi Yatsu Anime Comics • manga • 1993-11-24
└─(adaptation)→ Dragon Ball Z: Moetsukiro!! Nessen Ressen Chō-Gekisen Anime Comics • manga • 1993-07-19
└─(adaptation)→ Dragon Ball Z: Kyokugen Battle!! San Dai Super Saiyajin Anime Comics • manga • 1993-03-19
└─(adaptation)→ Dragon Ball Z: Gekitotsu!! 100-Oku Power no Senshi-tachi Anime Comics • manga • 1992-07-01
└─(adaptation)→ Dragon Ball Z: Tobikkiri no Saikyō tai Saikyō Anime Comics • manga • 1992-03-25
└─(adaptation)→ Dragon Ball Z: Super Saiyajin Da Son Goku Anime Comics • manga • 1994-03-23
└─(adaptation)→ Dragon Ball Z: Chikyū Marugoto Chōkessen Anime Comics • manga • 1994-05-24
└─(adaptation)→ Dragon Ball Z: Kono Yo de Ichiban Tsuyoi Yatsu Anime Comics • manga • 1994-06-22
└─(adaptation)→ Gekijō-ban Dragon Ball Z Anime Comics • manga • 1994-07-24
└─(prequel)→ Dragon Ball Z: Bardock - The Father of Goku • anime • 1990-10-17
└─(spinoff)→ Dragon Ball: Episode of Bardock • manga • 2011-06-21 to 2011-08-20 (serialized in V Jump)
└─(adaptation)→ Dragon Ball: Episode of Bardock • anime • 2011-12-17 (premiered at Jump Festa '12)
└─(adaptation)→ Dragon Ball Z TV Special 1 Anime Comics • manga • 1993-01-12
└─(related)→ Dragon Ball Z: The History of Trunks • anime • 1993-02-24
└─(adaptation)→ Dragon Ball Z TV Special 2 Anime Comics • manga • 1993-05-31
└─(sequel)→ Dragon Ball: Yo! The Return of Son Goku and Friends!! • anime • 2008-09-21
└─(adaptation)→ Dragon Ball: Ossu! Kaette Kita Son Goku to Nakamatachi!! Anime Comics • manga • 2010-09-03
└─(compilation)→ Dragon Ball Z Kai • anime • 2009-04-05 to 2011-03-27
└─(sequel)→ Dragon Ball Z Kai • anime • 2014-04-06
└─(side story)→ Dragon Ball Daima • anime • 2024-10-11 to 2025-02-28
└─(related)→ Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods • anime • 2013-03-30
└─(sequel)→ Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F' • anime • 2015-03-30
└─(adaptation)→ Dragon Ball Z: Fukkatsu no F Anime Comics • manga • 2015-12-04
└─(adaptation)→ Dragon Ball Z: Kami to Kami Anime Comics • manga • 2013-10-04
└─(related)→ Dream 9 Toriko & One Piece & Dragon Ball Z Chō Collaboration Special!! • anime • 2013-04-07
└─(sequel)→ Dragon Ball Super • anime • 2015-07-05 to 2018-03-25
└─(adaptation)→ Dragon Ball Super • manga • 2015-06-20 (serialized in <i>V Jump</i>)
└─(sequel)→ Dragon Ball Super: Broly • anime • 2018-12-13
└─(sequel)→ Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero • anime • 2022-06-11
└─(sequel)→ Dragon Ball Super: The Galactic Patrol • anime •
└─(adaptation)→ Dragon Ball Super: Broly Anime Comics • manga • 2019-05-02
└─(related)→ Super Dragon Ball Heroes • anime • 2018-07-01 (streaming on YouTube)
└─(related)→ Super Dragon Ball Heroes: Avatars!! • manga • 2020-12-04 (one-shot in Saikyo Jump, Jan 2021)
└─(remix)→ Dragon Ball Super: Beerus • anime • 2026-10
└─(adaptation)→ Dragon Ball Z Anime Comics • manga • 2005-11-04
└─(adaptation)→ Dragon Ball Z Anime Kids Comics • manga • 1994-08-25 to 1995-12
└─(alternate retelling)→ Dragon Ball Movie 4: The Path to Power • anime • 1996
└─(adaptation)→ Dragon Ball: Saikyō e no Michi Anime Comics • manga • 1996-05-22
└─(alternate retelling)→ Dragon Ball Movie 1: Curse of the Blood Rubies • anime • 1986-12-20
└─(adaptation)→ Dragon Ball: Shenlong no Densetsu Anime Comics • manga • 1995-01-24
└─(alternate retelling)→ Dragon Ball Movie 2: Sleeping Princess in Devil's Castle • anime • 1987-07-18
└─(adaptation)→ Dragon Ball: Majin-Jō no Nemuri-Hime Anime Comics • manga • 1995-02-22
└─(alternate retelling)→ Dragon Ball Movie 3: Mystical Adventure • anime • 1988-07-09
└─(adaptation)→ Dragon Ball: Makafushigi Dai-Bōken Anime Comics • manga • 1995-03-22
└─(side story)→ Gokū no Kōtsū Anzen • anime • 1988-06
└─(related)→ Dragon Ball: Goku's Fire Fighting Regiment • anime • 1988-06
└─(spinoff)→ Neko Majin Z • manga • 2001-06 to 2005-02
└─(spinoff)→ Cross Epoch • manga • 2006-12-25
└─(spinoff)→ Dragon Ball: That Time I Got Reincarnated as Yamcha! • manga • 2016-12-12 to 2017-08-14 (serialized on Shonen Jump+)
└─(spinoff)→ Dragon Ball Heroes: Victory Mission • manga • 2012-09-21 to 2014-12-20 (Nov 2012 V Jump - Feb 2015 V Jump+)
└─(spinoff)→ Jaco the Galactic Patrolman • manga • 2013-07-13 to 2013-09-30 (serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump)
└─(alternate retelling)→ Dragon Ball SD • manga • 2010-12-03 (serialized in Saikyō Jump)
└─(related)→ Gekijō-ban Dragon Ball Jump Remix Anime Comics • manga • 2004-07-12
└─(related)→ Chō Kochikame • manga • 2006-09-15
