Anime has become incredibly popular around the world, something few predicted back in the 1980s. Modern technology and streaming services have made countless anime series accessible to a wider audience. Even with so many options available, one franchise consistently stands out as the best. To mark a significant milestone, we’re celebrating forty years of Akira Toriyama’s incredible work, which continues to deliver new stories even now.
The original Dragon Ball anime first appeared on Japanese television on February 26, 1986. Created by Toei Animation, the series introduced audiences to Son Goku and his exciting world. Unlike later installments, the story began with a twelve-year-old Goku, who, while strong, only had a power level in the hundreds. Over the course of the three-year run – from 1986 to 1989 – the initial Dragon Ball series produced 153 episodes and several movies, ultimately establishing the foundation for the franchise’s massive success in the anime world.
The OG Dragon Ball Demands Attention
The original Dragon Ball series sometimes gets overshadowed by its incredibly popular sequel, Dragon Ball Z. Although it doesn’t feature the powerful Super Saiyans or Ultra Instinct techniques that Z is known for, the original series is still full of exciting fights and funny moments that make it worth watching. The first anime adaptation follows Goku as he grows up, searching for the Dragon Balls and battling a variety of unique enemies. From the Red Ribbon Army to the Demon King Piccolo, Dragon Ball focused more on martial arts and action than huge energy blasts.
Although a full remake hasn’t been announced, we’ve seen glimpses of the original Dragon Ball story reimagined with modern animation. A short segment in Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero showed what early scenes with Goku could look like today, and a special video for the Dragon Ball Genki Dama Festival recreated some classic moments. While these are just previews, the recent anime event did confirm that new Dragon Ball projects are coming, including Dragon Ball Super: Beerus and Dragon Ball Super: The Galactic Patrol. Hopefully, this means we’ll eventually see a complete revival of the original series created by Akira Toriyama.
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2026-02-26 20:41