History of the Dragon Ball Program
The Dragon Ball phenomenon was original created in 1984 by Akira Toriyama, it was based on
a chinese legend called "The Monkey King". The original Dragon Ball was a comedy more than a
out and out fighting fighting program like Dragonball Z and GT. It was first shown in
America in 1993, but was shown at 5 in the morning so no one watched it. Later it was taken
by Cartoon Network who started to show it in the afternoon. It came out in Australia and
England as well.
Dragon Ball
Episodes: 153
First aired in Japan: Feb 1986-April 1989
Main Characters: Goku, Bulma, Oulong, Krillen, Yamcha, Puar and
Master Roshi.
This is the first program in the Dragon Ball series. It shows a young 12 year old Goku
and his adventures to find the Dragon Balls.
Sagas
- The Palif Saga
- The Red Ribbon Saga
- Piccolo Daiomo Saga
Movies
- The Legend of the Magic Dragon (Shenron no Himitsu)
- The Sleeping Princess of the Demon Castle (Majinjou no Nimmuri Hemie)
- The Mysterious MAKA adventure (MAKA fushigi Diaboken)
- Dragon Ball 10th anniversery special
Dragonball Z
Episodes: 291
First aired in Japan: April 1989-Feb 1996
Main Characters: Goku, Vegeta, Gohan, Trunks, Piccolo, Yamcha and
Tien-Shinhan
The story starts when Goku is an adult, he introduces his son Gohan and is revealed to be a
Saiyan. In this program there is a lot more fighting rather than comedy like in original DB.
This is the main program in the DB series and the characters develop a lot in it, some
have children and a few of Goku's enemies become his friends when they team up to fight a
stronger force.
Main Sagas
- The Saiyan Saga
- The Frieza Saga
- The Android/Cell Saga
- The Buu Saga
TV Specials
- The Lonely Final Battle(Tata Hitori no saishuu kessen). This is the story of Goku's father
Bardock and how the Saiyan's planet is destroyed.
- The Ultimate Surviving Fighters: Gohan and Trunks! (Nokosareta chou senshi. Gohan to
Trunks). Story of Trunks alternate future.
Movies
- Dragonball Z movie 1
- Movie 2: The worlds number one fighter (Kono yo de Ichiban tsuyoi yatsu)
- Movie 3: Earth's Ultimate Battle (Chikuu Marugoto Chokessen) Called Tree Of Might here,
introduces another Saiyan survivor Taurus.
- Movie 4: Super Saiyan Son Goku!! (Supa Saiya-jin Son Gokuh da)
- Movie 5: Ultimate strength vs ultimate strength. The fantastic battle! (Tobikkiri no
Saikyou tai Saikyou) Cooler looks for the person who defeated his brother Frieza.
- Movie 6: Crash the 10 billion power fighters! (Gekitotsu! 100 Oku Pawa no senshi tachi)
Cooler comes back as a cyborg.
- Movie 7: The battle limit! Three Super Saiyans! (Kyokugen Batoru!! Sandia Supa Saiya-jin)
The story of androids 13, 14 and 15 created by doctor Gero.
- Movie 8: Burn your spirits to the max! The close, violent, super bloody battle!
(Moetsukiro! Nessen, ressen, chou gekisen) Introduces Brolli the Legendary Super Saiyan.
- Movie 9: The most incredible guy in the universe! (Ginga Girigiri! Butchi giri no sugoi
yatsu) Bojack arrives to take over the Earth.
- Movie 10: The dangerous pair! The super fighter cannot sleep! (Kikenna Futari! Supa
senshi wa nemurenai) Brolli somehow survived and comes looking for Goku.
- Movie 11: Super fighter shootout! I will be the winner! (Supa senshi gekiha! Katsu no ore
da) Brolli cloned!
- Movie 12: The fusion of Goku and Vegeta!! (Fukkatsu no fushion! Gokuh to Vegeta)
- Movie 13: Dragon fist explosion, if Goku can't do it no one can! (Ryuken bakuhatsu!
Gokuh ga Yaraneba dare ga Yaru)
Dragon Ball GT
Episodes: 64
First aired in Japan: Feb 1996-Feb 1997
Main Characters: Goku, Pan and Trunks.
This program was not made by Akira Toriyama, he wanted to stop making Dragon Ball and move
on to something else but the animation company Toei wanted to keep making them so did without
Toriyama, they called it Grand Tour or GT for short. It follows the adventure of Goku, Pan
and Trunks on their quest to find the Black Star Dragon Balls
Main Sagas
- The Babi Saga
- The Super Android 17 Saga
- The Evil Shenron Saga Saga
TV Specials
- Goku's great, great grandson, Goku Jr