Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Screen & Stage • Anime

Dragon Ball

Dragon Ball is a Japanese media franchise created by Akira Toriyama, beginning with a manga serialized from 1984 to 1995.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Dragon Ball is a Japanese manga and anime franchise created by Akira Toriyama, following Son Goku from childhood into adulthood as he trains in martial arts and searches for the Dragon Balls.

What it is

The original Dragon Ball manga ran from 1984 to 1995 in Weekly Shōnen Jump, collected into 42 volumes. The first anime adaptation aired from 1986 to 1989 with 153 episodes. The story centres on Goku and his friends, who seek magical Dragon Balls that can summon a wish-granting dragon, while battling increasingly powerful foes.

Why it matters

Dragon Ball is one of the most influential manga and anime franchises globally, shaping action storytelling in anime, film, and video games. Its characters and battles are iconic in popular culture. In Canada, the series has a strong audience through TV broadcasts, streaming, manga sales, and fan conventions.

Key details

The franchise expanded with Dragon Ball Z (the better-known sequel), Dragon Ball GT, and Dragon Ball Super, plus films and spin-offs. Power rankings vary across series, with characters like Goku, Vegeta, and Zeno often debated as strongest. The main animated order is Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT, and Dragon Ball Super.

In short

  • Created by Akira Toriyama, manga ran 1984–1995.
  • First anime had 153 episodes (1986–1989).
  • Franchise includes Z, GT, Super, films, and games.
  • Major global and Canadian anime fandom presence.
Canadian angle

Dragon Ball has a substantial Canadian audience through television broadcasts, streaming, manga sales, conventions, and anime fandom communities across Canada.

Quick questions

What is Dragon Ball?
A Japanese manga and anime franchise about Son Goku and others searching for Dragon Balls and battling enemies.
Who created Dragon Ball?
Akira Toriyama wrote and illustrated the original manga.
How many episodes of Dragon Ball are there?
The original anime has 153 episodes.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_Ball
    Supports: Creator, original manga dates, 42 volumes, franchise overview
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_Ball_(TV_series)
    Supports: Original anime adaptation, broadcast dates, episode count
  3. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_Ball_Z
    Supports: Dragon Ball Z as sequel series and main story direction
  4. Simple English Wikipedia — https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_Ball
    Supports: Franchise structure and sequel series order
  5. Dragon Ball Wiki (Fandom) — https://dragonball.fandom.com/wiki/Dragon_Ball_(anime)
    Supports: 153-episode count and anime dates