Dragon Ball

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Alternative Titles

Synonyms: Dragonball, DB
Japanese: ドラゴンボール
English: Dragon Ball
More titles

Information

Type: TV
Episodes: 153
Status: Finished Airing
Aired: Feb 26, 1986 to Apr 12, 1989
Premiered: Winter 1986
Broadcast: Wednesdays at 19:00 (JST)
Producers: Fuji TV
Licensors: Funimation
Studios: Toei Animation
Source: Manga
Genres: ActionAction, AdventureAdventure, ComedyComedy, FantasyFantasy
Theme: Martial ArtsMartial Arts
Demographic: ShounenShounen
Duration: 24 min. per ep.
Rating: PG-13 - Teens 13 or older

Statistics

Score: 7.981 (scored by 712420712,420 users)
1 indicates a weighted score.
Ranked: #7262
2 based on the top anime page. Please note that 'Not yet aired' and 'R18+' titles are excluded.
Popularity: #150
Members: 1,116,356
Favorites: 17,579

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Streaming Platforms

7.98
Ranked #726Popularity #150Members 1,116,356
Add to My List
Episodes: /153

Synopsis

Gokuu Son is a young boy who lives in the woods all alone—that is, until a girl named Bulma runs into him in her search for a set of magical objects called the "Dragon Balls." Since the artifacts are said to grant one wish to whoever collects all seven, Bulma hopes to gather them and wish for a perfect boyfriend. Gokuu happens to be in possession of a dragon ball, but unfortunately for Bulma, he refuses to part ways with it, so she makes him a deal: he can tag along on her journey if he lets her borrow the dragon ball's power. With that, the two set off on the journey of a lifetime.

They don't go on the journey alone. On the way, they meet the old Muten-Roshi and wannabe disciple Kuririn, with whom Gokuu trains to become a stronger martial artist for the upcoming World Martial Arts Tournament. However, it's not all fun and games; the ability to make any wish come true is a powerful one, and there are others who would do much worse than just wishing for a boyfriend. To stop those who would try to abuse the legendary power, they train to become stronger fighters, using their newfound strength to help the people around them along the way.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Background

Adapts the first 194 chapters of Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball manga.

Characters & Voice Actors

Piccolo

Supporting
Tsuru, Hiromi
Japanese

Tenshinhan

Supporting
Suzuoki, Hirotaka
Japanese

Norimaki, Arale

Supporting
Koyama, Mami
Japanese

Mr. Popo

Supporting
Nishio, Toku
Japanese

Lunch

Supporting
Koyama, Mami
Japanese

Staff

Cook, Justin
Producer, ADR Director
Watson, Barry
Producer, Script
Shimizu, Kenji
Producer
Nishio, Daisuke
Director, Episode Director, Storyboard


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Opening Theme

Preview
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Apple Music
Amazon Music
Youtube Music
"Makafushigi Adventure" by Hiroki Takahashi
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Ending Theme

"Romatikku Ageru Yo" by Ushio Hashimoto

Episode Videos




Reviews

May 10, 2008
Ah, Dragonball. The beginning of one of the longest and arguably most popular anime franchise on both sides of the pacific. Unfortunately, this anime seems to be shunned by a few based on its affiliation with its sequels. That's a shame, really.

One huge reason why this anime holds its own is that the entire franchise is in its infancy. There are no Super Saiya-jin stages to worry about, and the fights aren’t stretched out to their barely tolerable limits. The various quests that the young Z-Senshi embark on are just that: quests. There are no interstellar enemies to fight (early on), and the majority of ...
Mar 2, 2021
Mixed Feelings
Well-writtenWell-written
#1: Emperor Pilaf Saga

Just like it happened with so many other people of my generation, I instantly fell in love with Dragonball. And I am talking about the original series, not Z which was what most watched in America and didn’t know there was more before it. By then, the plot had become the stereotype everybody was copying, instead of something completely different from everything else that was airing at that moment. Unless for some reason you were lucky enough to get another action adventure comedy series, with plot continuity, where everybody was a selfish idiot, instead of picture perfect boyscouts and one-dimensional bad guys. ...
May 31, 2025
Many expectations and few of them met...

That was my first thought when I watched this part of Dragon Ball because I expected to see at least one fight that would be memorable in this part, but I ended up disappointed. I didn't see anything worth remembering. I was a little frustrated but I kept watching, thinking that would change that. Unfortunately, there was no change in that regard. For me, who always had a problem with Dragon Ball, watching the anime was a real war against the desire to abandon the work. The only thing that made me want to watch it was the fact ...

Interest Stacks

50 Entries · 8 Restacks
50 Entries · 885 Restacks
by elchie
50 Entries · 10 Restacks

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