10 Shows & Movies Like Dragon Ball Z (1989)

Description: Yu Yu Hakusho shares Dragon Ball Z's focus on martial arts, supernatural battles, and the protagonist's growth in strength. Both series were created by artists who worked under Akira Toriyama and share a similar art style and storytelling approach. The Dark Tournament arc is reminiscent of the World Martial Arts Tournament in Dragon Ball.

Fact: Yu Yu Hakusho was created by Yoshihiro Togashi, who also created Hunter x Hunter. The series was originally supposed to be a detective story but shifted to a battle-focused narrative. The English dub was one of the first anime to air on Adult Swim.

Description: One Piece, like Dragon Ball Z, is a long-running shonen anime with a focus on adventure, friendship, and overcoming powerful foes. Both series feature a protagonist with a unique ability (Luffy's rubber body and Goku's Saiyan heritage) who constantly seeks to become stronger. The themes of camaraderie and never giving up are central to both shows.

Fact: One Piece holds the Guinness World Record for the most copies published for the same comic book series by a single author. The creator, Eiichiro Oda, was inspired by Akira Toriyama's work, including Dragon Ball. The series has been running for over 20 years and shows no signs of ending soon.

Description: Naruto shares many similarities with Dragon Ball Z, including its focus on martial arts, superhuman abilities, and the protagonist's journey to become the strongest. Both series feature intense battles, power-ups, and a strong emphasis on friendship and perseverance. Naruto, like Goku, starts as an underdog and grows into a powerful hero.

Fact: Naruto was originally a manga series created by Masashi Kishimoto. The series has spawned multiple movies, spin-offs, and a sequel series called Boruto. Naruto's signature move, the Rasengan, was inspired by the Spiraling Sphere from Dragon Ball.

Description: Bleach shares Dragon Ball Z's focus on intense battles, power scaling, and supernatural elements. Both series feature protagonists who start off relatively weak but grow exponentially stronger through training and battles. The concept of 'Bankai' in Bleach is similar to the 'Super Saiyan' transformations in Dragon Ball Z.

Fact: Bleach was originally a manga series created by Tite Kubo. The series was initially rejected by Shonen Jump but was later accepted after Kubo reworked the concept. The name 'Bleach' comes from the idea of 'cleansing souls' and the color white, which is prominent in the series.

Description: Fairy Tail, like Dragon Ball Z, is a shonen anime with a focus on friendship, adventure, and epic battles. Both series feature a close-knit group of friends who grow stronger together and face increasingly powerful enemies. The magic system in Fairy Tail is as varied and battle-oriented as the techniques in Dragon Ball Z.

Fact: Fairy Tail was created by Hiro Mashima. The series is known for its fanservice and comedic moments. Mashima was inspired by Dragon Ball and other classic shonen series when creating Fairy Tail.

Description: Hunter x Hunter, like Dragon Ball Z, features a young protagonist on a journey to become stronger and face increasingly powerful enemies. Both series explore themes of friendship, perseverance, and the moral complexities of power. The 'Nen' system in Hunter x Hunter is as intricate and battle-focused as the 'Ki' system in Dragon Ball Z.

Fact: Hunter x Hunter was created by Yoshihiro Togashi, who is married to the creator of Sailor Moon. The series is known for its frequent hiatuses due to the author's health issues. The 2011 adaptation is actually the second anime adaptation of the manga.

Description: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, like Dragon Ball Z, features intense battles, unique powers, and a focus on the protagonist's growth. Both series have a multi-generational story and a distinctive art style. The 'Stands' in JoJo are as creative and battle-focused as the techniques in Dragon Ball Z.

Fact: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure was created by Hirohiko Araki. The series is known for its references to Western music and fashion. Araki has cited Dragon Ball as one of his influences for the series.

Description: While darker in tone, Attack on Titan shares Dragon Ball Z's themes of fighting against overwhelming odds and the protagonist's struggle to become stronger. Both Eren and Goku undergo significant transformations that increase their power but come with personal costs. The series also features intense, high-stakes battles.

Fact: Attack on Titan was created by Hajime Isayama. The series was initially rejected by publishers but became a massive success. The Titans' designs were inspired by a drunk person Isayama saw stumbling home one night.

Description: Dragon Ball Super is a direct sequel to Dragon Ball Z, continuing the adventures of Goku and his friends. The series maintains the same themes of strength, friendship, and epic battles, while introducing new transformations and enemies. The animation style and storytelling are consistent with the original series.

Fact: Dragon Ball Super was created by Akira Toriyama as a continuation of the Dragon Ball story. The series introduces new transformations like Super Saiyan God and Ultra Instinct. The Broly movie from the Super series is considered one of the best Dragon Ball movies.

Description: My Hero Academia shares Dragon Ball Z's themes of heroism, training to become stronger, and the importance of protecting others. Both series feature protagonists who start off weak but have immense potential (Deku's One For All and Goku's Saiyan blood). The battles in My Hero Academia are as intense and strategic as those in Dragon Ball Z.

Fact: My Hero Academia was created by Kōhei Horikoshi, who was inspired by American superhero comics. The series has been praised for its diverse and well-developed cast of characters. The protagonist, Deku, was originally supposed to have a different quirk called 'Deku Punch'.