Created by | Akira Toriyama |
Original work | Dragon Ball (1984–1995) |
Owner | Bird Studio/Shueisha |
Print Publications | |
Book(s) | Companion books |
Comics | Manga |
Animated series | List of anime |
Dragon Ball (1986–1989) | |
Dragon Ball Z (1989–1996) | |
Dragon Ball GT (1996–1997) | |
Dragon Ball Z Kai (2009–2011; 2014–2015) | |
Dragon Ball Super (2015–2018) | |
Super Dragon Ball Heroes (2018–) | |
Television special(s) | Bardock – The Father of Goku (1990) |
The History of Trunks (1993) | |
A Hero’s Legacy (1997) |
The Dragon Ball franchise has been around for 40 years and is an incredibly popular creation by Akira Toriyama. The franchise started as a manga inspired by the classical Chinese novel Journey to the West, incorporated with popular martial arts film ingredients.
Dragon Ball has evolved into a massive saga of movies, TV shows, fandoms, manga, and more. It may seem not very safe to pursue four decades of material into a linear timeline. Luckily, we’re here to show you how to watch Dragon Ball in order.
The Manga Series: Dragon Ball
There are two types of content: canonical and non-canonical range. The original TV show, Dragon Ball, controls Canon, with other series such as Dragon Ball Live and Dragon Ball Super also joining the group. But most of the movies in the franchise are outliers, utilizing original concepts but not in line with the stillness of the story.
Dragon Ball is one of the most prevalent, not to quote extensive, anime grants of all periods — and for beginners, the attainment of content can give rise to it being a little tough to understand exactly where to start.
Since first premiering in 1986, the actual series comprises a large number of spinoffs and sequels. It also includes Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball Super, and the most recent access in the franchise Super Dragon Ball Heroes.
In addition to the series, there are also several movies and television specials that further confuse matters. And then there is a complication that not all series are ‘canon.’
Dragon Ball Release Order
1. TV Series
Dragon Ball | 1986 |
Dragon Ball Z | 1989-1996 |
Dragon Ball GT | 1996-1997 |
Dragon Ball Z Kai | 2009-2011 |
Dragon Ball Super | 2015-2018 |
2. Movies
Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies | 1986 |
Dragon Ball: Sleeping Princess in Devil’s Castle | 1987 |
Dragon Ball: Mystical Adventure | 1988 |
Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone | 1989 |
Dragon Ball Z: The World’s Strongest | 1990 |
Dragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might | 1990 |
Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug | 1991 |
Dragon Ball Z: Cooler’s Revenge | 1991 |
Dragon Ball Z: The Return of Cooler | 1992 |
Dragon Ball Z: Super Android 13! | 1992 |
Dragon Ball Z: Broly – Legendary Super Saiyan | 1993 |
Dragon Ball Z: Bojack Unbound | 1993 |
Dragon Ball Z: Broly – Second Coming | 1994 |
Dragon Ball Z: Bio-Broly | 1994 |
Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn | 1995 |
Dragon Ball Z: Wrath of the Dragon | 1995 |
Dragon Ball: The Path to Power | 1996 |
Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods | 2013 |
Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’ | 2015 |
Dragon Ball Super: Broly | 2018 |
3. OVAs
Dragon Ball Z: Atsumare! Gokuu World | 1992 |
Dragon Ball Z: Plan to Destroy the Saiyajin | 1993 |
Dragon Ball Z: Plan to Eradicate Super | 1993 |
Saiyans OVA Remake | 2010 |
4. Specials
Dragon Ball Specials | 1988 |
Dragon Ball Z Special 1: Bardock, The Father of Goku | 1990 |
Dragon Ball Z: Summer Vacation Special | 1992 |
Dragon Ball Z Special 2: The History of Trunks | 1993 |
Looking Back at it All: The Dragon Ball Z Year-End Show! | 1993 |
Dragon Ball GT: A Hero’s Legacy | 1997 |
Dragon Ball: Yo! The Return of Son-Goku and Friends!! | 2008 |
Dragon Ball Z Kai: Bring Peace to the Future! Goku’s Spirit is Eternal | 2011 |
Dragon Ball: Episode of Bardock | 2011 |
Dragon Ball Super: Broly – Skytree Super | 2018 |
Want to know how to watch Dragon Ball in order? Here’s how you can watch it canonically, chronologically, and where you can see the saga:
How to watch Dragon Ball in Order?
While hardcore Dragon Ball fans may choose this strategy, one means to perceive the movies is to run in chronological order according to the time hierarchy of the story.
Some diehard Dragon Ball fans may despise this way of looking, but it’s worth the reference. This order does not take into account which parts are canon and which are not. This means that it contains much more material than just the canonical order.
The order doesn’t consider whether each series or movie is Canon. And as such, it contains a lot of material. Hence why some fans would say it’s not the best way to watch.
In the meantime, a reminder that we involve Dragon Ball Z but not Dragon Ball Z Kai. It exhibits that the two series are essentially the same thing.
Anyway, here’s each release in chronological order:
dragon ball | |
Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone | Movie |
Dragon Ball Z | Episode 1-86 |
Dragon Ball Z: Bardock – The Father of Goku | TV Special |
Dragon Ball Z | Episode 87-107 |
Dragon Ball: Episode of Bardock | Movie |
Dragon Ball Z: World’s Strongest | Movie |
Dragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might | Movie |
Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug | Movie |
Dragon Ball Z | Episode 108-123 |
Dragon Ball Z: Chronicles of the Tights | TV Special |
Dragon Ball Z | 124 and 125 |
Dragon Ball Z: Cooler’s Revenge | Movie |
Dragon Ball Z | Episode 126-146 |
Dragon Ball Z: Super Android 13 | Movie |
Dragon Ball Z | Episode 147-173 |
Dragon Ball Z: Return of the Cooler | Movie |
Dragon Ball Z: Broly – Legendary Super Saiyan | Movie |
Dragon Ball Z | Episode 174-194 |
Dragon Ball Z: BoJack Unbound | Movie |
Dragon Ball Z | Episode 195-207 |
Dragon Ball Z: Broly’s Second Coming | Movie |
Dragon Ball Z | Episode 208-250 |
Dragon Ball Z: Bio-Broly | Movie |
Dragon Ball Z | Episode 251-253 |
Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn | Movie |
Dragon Ball Z | Episode 254-288 |
Dragon Ball Z: Wrath of the Dragon | Movie |
Dragon Ball Z | Episode 289-Finish |
dragon ball gt | all episodes |
dragon ball super | episodes 1-3 |
Dragon Ball Z: Battle of the Gods | Movie |
Dragon Ball Super | Episodes 4-18 |
Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection F | Movie |
Dragon ball super | episode 19-finish |
Dragon Ball Super: Broly | Movie |
Dragon Super Dragon Ball Heroes | Movie |
How to watch Dragon Ball in Canon Order?
Suppose you want to omit everything that isn’t considered canon, i.e., series and movies that don’t follow the manga’s events. They existed without any input from creator Akira Toriyama, and there’s an alternate command below.
Entries considered non-canon include the series Dragon Ball GT in addition to most of the films.
Then you also get to choose whether to watch Dragon Ball Z for a more comprehensive experience or Dragon Ball Kai for a more sophisticated approach.
Want to see a start-to-finish story? It’s not in the same order that the franchise was released in real-time. But here, you can find the proper order in the Dragon Ball canonically.
Anyway, here’s a list of fans who want to know how to watch Dragon ball in order authentically:
dragon ball all episodes |
Dragon Ball Z or Kai, until the end of the Frieza Saga |
Dragon Ball Z: Bardock – The Father of Goku |
Dragon Ball Z, from the end of the Frieza saga to the end of the Cell saga |
Dragon Ball Z: Chronicles of the Tights |
Dragon Ball Z, all remaining episodes |
dragon ball super |
Where is Dragon Ball available to watch?
The hottest Dragon Ball universe is streaming on FUNimation. Dragon Ball Super can also be accessible on Crunchyroll, Adult Swim, and Hulu.
Conclusion
We have provided all the information about how to watch Dragon Ball in order. You can go through the list below if you’re a beginner to the series or are not willing to put in too much effort for a re-watch!
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