10 Movies and TV Shows Similar to Dragon Ball (1986)

Description: Yu Yu Hakusho, created by Yoshihiro Togashi (who also made Hunter x Hunter), shares Dragon Ball's tournament arc structure and martial arts focus. Yusuke Urameshi, like Goku, starts as a delinquent with hidden potential who grows through spiritual and physical training. The Dark Tournament arc is particularly reminiscent of Dragon Ball's World Martial Arts Tournament.

Fact: The series was originally going to be about Yusuke solving cases in the spirit world. Togashi created the series while hospitalized for back pain. The English dub changed many attack names to make them sound cooler.

Description: As the direct sequel to Dragon Ball, DBZ continues Goku's story with even more intense battles and power escalation. The series establishes many shonen tropes that would be emulated by later shows, including transformation sequences, power levels, and universe-threatening villains. The Saiyan saga in particular introduces the concept of alien heritage that becomes central to the series.

Fact: The 'Z' in the title was meant to signify that the series was in its final phase. Vegeta was originally intended to die after his first arc. The famous 'over 9000' line was actually 'over 8000' in the original Japanese.

Description: One Piece, like Dragon Ball, is a quintessential shonen anime with a focus on adventure, camaraderie, and epic battles. The protagonist, Monkey D. Luffy, shares Goku's boundless optimism, love for food, and desire to become the strongest (in Luffy's case, the Pirate King). Both series feature a journey-based narrative where the characters grow stronger through their experiences and battles, with a mix of humor and serious moments.

Fact: One Piece holds the Guinness World Record for the most copies published for the same comic book series by a single author. Creator Eiichiro Oda initially planned the series to last only five years. The Going Merry ship was given a funeral in the anime, a rare honor for a fictional object.

Description: Naruto shares many similarities with Dragon Ball (1986) as both are long-running shonen anime that focus on a young, energetic protagonist with a dream to become the strongest in their world. Both series feature intense martial arts battles, power-ups, and a strong emphasis on friendship and perseverance. Naruto, like Goku, starts as an underdog and grows through training and battles, embodying the classic shonen trope of overcoming obstacles through sheer willpower.

Fact: Naruto was originally rejected by multiple publishers before being accepted. The series was inspired by creator Masashi Kishimoto's own childhood feelings of isolation. Naruto's iconic orange jumpsuit was chosen to make him stand out in black-and-white manga panels.

Description: Bleach shares Dragon Ball's focus on martial arts and supernatural power systems, with Ichigo Kurosaki's growth mirroring Goku's in many ways. Both protagonists start with latent power that grows exponentially through training and battles. The series features a similar structure of arcs where the hero faces increasingly powerful enemies, with a blend of action, humor, and dramatic moments.

Fact: The title 'Bleach' refers to the white color of Soul Reapers' robes, not the chemical. Creator Tite Kubo originally wanted to name the series 'Black' but changed it due to another manga with that title. The character Rukia was originally intended to be the main protagonist.

Description: Fairy Tail shares Dragon Ball's emphasis on friendship and teamwork, with a protagonist (Natsu Dragneel) who bears similarities to Goku in both personality (carefree, loves food) and abilities (fire-based powers that grow stronger). The series features guild battles and power-ups reminiscent of Dragon Ball's structure, with a mix of comedy and serious storylines.

Fact: The title refers to both the wizard guild and the phrase 'fairy tale.' Creator Hiro Mashima draws an astonishing 10-15 pages per day. The series features numerous cameos from characters in Mashima's other works.

Description: Hunter x Hunter shares Dragon Ball's exploration of martial arts and power systems, with a strong emphasis on training and personal growth. Gon Freecss, like Goku, is an innocent but determined boy with incredible potential. The series features complex battle systems (Nen) similar to Dragon Ball's Ki, and both shows balance intense action with lighthearted moments.

Fact: Creator Yoshihiro Togashi is married to Sailor Moon creator Naoko Takeuchi. The series is known for its frequent hiatuses due to the author's health issues. The Chimera Ant arc is considered one of the darkest in shonen anime history.

Description: While darker in tone, Attack on Titan shares Dragon Ball's themes of fighting against overwhelming odds and the protagonist's (Eren Yeager) transformation into a powerful being. Both series feature characters who can transform into more powerful forms (Titans/Super Saiyans) and explore themes of heritage and destiny. The intense action sequences and gradual power escalation are reminiscent of Dragon Ball's storytelling.

Fact: Creator Hajime Isayama initially planned a much darker ending. The series was inspired by a frightening encounter Isayama had with a customer at an internet cafe. The Colossal Titan's design was partially inspired by a professional wrestler.

Description: Dragon Ball Super continues the Dragon Ball saga with new transformations (like Super Saiyan God) and even more powerful enemies. The series maintains the core elements that made Dragon Ball popular: Goku's cheerful personality, intense battles, and a mix of humor and action. The Tournament of Power arc is particularly reminiscent of classic Dragon Ball tournament arcs but on a multiversal scale.

Fact: Super was the first new Dragon Ball TV series in 18 years. The series introduced female Super Saiyans for the first time. The animation quality improved significantly after initial criticism of early episodes.

Description: My Hero Academia follows the shonen formula established by Dragon Ball, with a young hero (Izuku Midoriya) striving to become the greatest in his world. Like Goku, Midoriya starts as an underdog who gains power through hard work and mentorship. The series features intense training arcs, tournament battles, and a clear progression of power levels, all hallmarks of Dragon Ball's influence.

Fact: Creator Kohei Horikoshi was inspired by American superhero comics as well as manga like Dragon Ball. All Might's design was partially inspired by classic American superheroes. The series' popularity led to a real-life 'UA High School' event in Japan.