Both Dragon Ball and its successor, Dragon Ball Z, are exceptional, but there’s dissent over which of the two anime is superior. Dragon Ball Z is one of the most influential anime ever, but it owes its entire foundation to the original Dragon Ball – arguably the better series.
The Dragon Ball franchise has run for hundreds of episodes and while many long-running shows can feature a degree of stasis, it’s exciting to see how Dragon Ball is an anime that does in fact change over time, in ways that are both for the better as well as for the worse.
10 Its Sense Of Humor
One of the major demarcation lines between Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z is that the former is a much more comedic series that gradually becomes action-centric. Dragon Ball Z isn’t bereft of humor, but many of the jokes land better in the original series and it juxtaposes against the action in a way that has more impact. Dragon Ball Super actually finds a strong sense of humor and while Dragon Ball Z has its moments in filler episodes, it can’t compare to the original.
9 Goku Transforms Into A Great Ape For The First Time
It’s funny to think how the Great Ape transformation shifts from being Goku’s ultimate form into a transformation that’s been phased out of the series because it’s no longer practical. The first appearance of Goku’s Oozaru form features a confident injection of horror as the series still largely treats Goku’s condition like a mystery. It’s not until Dragon Ball Z that the Oozaru form is revealed to be a part of Goku’s Saiyan biology and it gets deconstructed & explored from a few different angles before it disappears.
8 The First Time The Dragon Balls Are Used
It should come as no surprise that an anime that’s named Dragon Ball is eventually going to reach a point where those legendary titular orbs are retrieved and used. Dragon Balls have almost turned into a joke by the time that Dragon Ball Z concludes, with two sets introduced that each have convenient rules around them and the Balls no longer a hassle to find.
It’s a really special and tense moment the first time the Dragon Balls are assembled by Pilaf. Shenlong’s first appearance still stands out as one of the series' best debuts and the humorous fallout with Oolong’s wish holds up, too.
7 The Introduction Of Krillin
The original Dragon Ball begins with Goku and Bulma on their unlikely journey together, as more characters enter their inner circle. The introduction of Krillin is a significant moment because it gives Goku a comparable foil and more appropriate rival for the first time.
Krillin begins with a wicked nature, but it makes his growing relationship with Goku all the more satisfying. Dragon Ball Z continues to bring in new supporting characters, but Krillin’s entry is still one of the best examples of Dragon Ball fundamentally shaking up its character dynamics.
6 The Tenkaichi Budokai
The Tenkaichi Budokai is one of Dragon Ball's ways of showcasing everyone’s strength while featuring a ton of battles in quick succession. The Tenkaichi Budokai continues all the way into Dragon Ball GT, but it’s an experience that works best the first time around in Dragon Ball.
The 21st Tenkaichi Budokai is Goku and Krillin’s first big tournament and it leads to some of the anime’s most exciting battles & biggest twists. Each tournament in Dragon Ball shines for different reasons, whereas in Dragon Ball Z they feel like background material for larger story events.
5 The Takedown Of The Red Ribbon Army
By the end of Dragon Ball Z, Goku has saved not just Earth, but several planets on multiple occasions. It’s exciting, but it’s a very exaggerated level of action. Dragon Ball slowly turns up the intensity of its danger and the Red Ribbon Army is the first threat that truly feels dangerous for Goku.
It’s genuinely exciting to see a still-young Goku face an entire army of professionals, which includes the first taste of Androids in the series, yet he’s able to take down the lot of them. The Red Ribbon Army arc markes one of the first major times that Goku’s power feels immense.
4 The First Major Character Deaths
Death becomes a very common occurrence in the Dragon Ball universe. By the end of Dragon Ball Z, every major character has been brought back to life at least once. It definitely weakens the dramatic stakes, especially when characters die more than once.
The original Dragon Ball broaches seriously emotional territory when Goku loses Krillin. Death continues to follow Goku throughout his life, but the loss of Krillin is a major moment that opens his eyes more than ever before.
3 The Introduction Of Tenshinhan & Enemies Turning Into Allies
Goku has a tendency to rehabilitate the enemies he faces whether he tries to or not, which sometimes results in them becoming permanent members of the Dragon Team. This continues even into Dragon Ball Super, and Piccolo & Vegeta are some of the stronger examples from Dragon Ball Z.
Dragon Ball's first major redemptions happens for the first time during the 22nd Tenkaichi Budokai. Goku meets his match against Tenshinhan, who even beats Goku during their first fight in the Tenkaichi Budokai. It’s a major surprise when Tenshinhan and Chaozu align with Goku and Master Roshi’s school of martial arts, setting a new precedent for villains who may turn teams.
2 The First Glimpse At Namekians And Extraterrestrial Enemies
The original Dragon Ball is so much fun because the characters are predominantly humans, albeit ones who have access to supernatural power. Dragon Ball Z immediately moves the story to an extraterrestrial place and eventually all of the Earthling characters become largely irrelevant because there’s no way that they can reasonably compete. It’s such a big moment when Demon King Piccolo reveals himself and his plans for the world.
Goku has faced oddities before this point, but it broadens the spectrum in a major way and it makes the enemy feel like a new and dangerous kind of evil. Dragon Ball pushes the mystery of Piccolo's backstory even further during the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai, when Piccolo Jr. and Kami speak in an alien language that's later revealed to be Namekian in Dragon Ball Z.
1 Goku Grows Up
One of the most impressive things about Dragon Ball as a whole is that the franchise actually allows Goku to grow up as the story spans his development from a young boy into a grandfather with a very full family. Goku’s growth continues in Dragon Ball Z, but it’s not as drastic as the shift that happens in Dragon Ball from childhood to adolescence to young adulthood. It’s powerful when Goku visibly ages for the first time and it’s clear that the series is going to slowly mature his character.
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