Dragon Ball is a franchise that extends far beyond Super Saiyans, power levels, and villains whose ashes literally need to be obliterated from existence for them to actually die. Any series that has run as long as Dragon Ball has gone through several phases. Although the original manga was simply titled Dragon Ball, Toei Animation chose to split their adaptations up.
In addition, the anime extended into an official sequel in the form of Dragon Ball GT. Even without Toriyama’s involvement, Dragon Ball has been continuously pumping out new content for years. The video games took the place of the anime as the “main” product for a time, but Dragon Ball Super and the newest film — Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero — have ensured that the series’ anime is here to stay. Overall, it’s tough to follow the Dragon Ball series in order, but it’s extremely rewarding for fans who do. This is especially the case with the new Dragon Ball DAIMA anime on the way.
Updated by Timothy Blake Donohoo on September 8, 2024: Given how popular the series still is and how it continues to add fans, many wish to go back and watch Dragon Ball in order. This includes not only the various anime shows but also the movies that round out the Dragon Ball series. Now, a new entry is on the way in the form of Dragon Ball DAIMA, so those wishing to watch all the Dragon Ball shows should catch up soon.
Dragon Ball Is Arguably The Best Of The Franchise (1986–1989)
Simply titled Dragon Ball, the series’ original anime adaptation is arguably the best of the bunch. Not only does the anime adapt its story arcs far better than the more action-oriented Dragon Ball Z, but Dragon Ball also doesn’t suffer from nearly as much inconsistent animation or awkward filler. Dragon Ball‘s filler contributions tend to add depth to the main story, expanding on what was already present in the manga.
Interestingly, Dragon Ball’s shift into Dragon Ball Z can be traced back to the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai, when most of the staff that would eventually make up DBZ started working on the series. In terms of pacing, the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai is much slower than everything that came before, really getting the most out of every single moment. While this style of pacing would later become a massive problem for Dragon Ball Z, it gives DB‘s last tournament some added gravitas. Dragon Ball is the first in the Dragon Ball watch order, which makes it the perfect place to start.