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July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Screen & Stage • Anime

Dragon Ball Z

Dragon Ball Z is a Japanese anime television series and sequel to Dragon Ball, adapting part of Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball manga.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Dragon Ball Z is a Japanese anime series that continues the story of Son Goku as an adult, defending Earth alongside his allies against powerful foes. It adapts part of Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball manga and ran for 291 episodes from 1989 to 1996.

What it is

Dragon Ball Z is the second anime series in the Dragon Ball franchise, produced by Toei Animation. It shifts focus to large-scale battles against extraterrestrial, android, and magical threats, while also developing characters like Gohan, Piccolo, and Vegeta.

Key details

The series originally aired on Fuji TV in Japan from 26 April 1989 to 31 January 1996, spanning 291 episodes. It is based on the Dragon Ball manga by Akira Toriyama and is a sequel to the original Dragon Ball anime.

Why it matters

Dragon Ball Z became a global pop-culture phenomenon after international dubbing and broadcasts, including in Canada, where it helped fuel the North American anime boom. It remains one of the most recognizable anime series worldwide.

In short

  • Sequel to Dragon Ball, focusing on adult Goku and his allies.
  • 291 episodes aired from 1989 to 1996 on Fuji TV.
  • Key enemies include Vegeta, Frieza, Cell, and Majin Buu.
  • International success made it a cornerstone of global anime culture.
Canadian angle

Dragon Ball Z was widely broadcast and dubbed internationally, including in Canada, where it became part of the broader North American anime boom.

Quick questions

What is Dragon Ball Z?
It is a Japanese anime television series that continues the Dragon Ball story, adapting part of Akira Toriyama’s manga.
How many episodes does Dragon Ball Z have?
The series has 291 episodes.
Who created the source material?
It is based on the Dragon Ball manga created by Akira Toriyama.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_Ball_Z
    Supports: Premise, sequel status, five-years-later setup, main characters and enemies.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/Dragon-Ball-Z
    Supports: Description as Japanese anime series, source manga, worldwide popularity, original air period.
  3. Wikipedia (Polish) — https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_Ball_Z
    Supports: Japanese title, Toei Animation production, original broadcast dates, 291 episodes.
  4. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_Ball
    Supports: Dragon Ball franchise context and relationship to Dragon Ball Z.