Dragon Ball stands as one of anime's most enduring franchises, created by Akira Toriyama with the manga launching in 1984 and Toei Animation's television adaptation premiering in Japan on February 26, 1986. The original anime ran for 153 episodes from 1986 to 1989 on Fuji TV, establishing the foundation for a global phenomenon. Dragon Ball Z followed in 1989 and became the defining entry for international audiences, cementing the franchise's status across generations.
The franchise has evolved through multiple eras including Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT, Dragon Ball Z Kai, Dragon Ball Super, and most recently Dragon Ball Daima, which premiered in October 2024 and ran into February 2025. Dragon Ball Daima was announced in 2023 as a 40th-anniversary project and marked the final Dragon Ball series heavily supervised by Toriyama before his death in March 2024. From the Saiyan and Namek sagas to the Tournament of Power and Demon Realm eras, each chapter has contributed iconic moments that fans continue to celebrate through art and collectibles.
