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 existed for 40 years and is a trendy creation by Akira Toriyama. It started as a manga inspired by the classical Chinese novel Journey to the West and incorporated 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, and other series, such as Dragon Ball Live and Dragon Ball Super, are also joining the group. However, most of the movies in the franchise are outliers, utilizing original concepts that are 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 time—and for beginners, the attainment of content can make it a little challenging to understand precisely where to start.
Since first premiering in 1986, the series has included many spinoffs and sequels. It also includes Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball Super, and the most recent entry in the franchise, Super Dragon Ball Heroes.
In addition to the series, several movies and television specials further confuse matters. And then there is the 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 and 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 way to perceive the movies is to run chronologically according to the story’s time hierarchy.
Some diehard Dragon Ball fans may despise this way of looking, but it’s worth the reference. This order does not consider 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. As such, it contains a lot of material, which is why some fans would say it’s not the best way to watch.
In the meantime, this reminds us that we are involved in Dragon Ball Z but not Dragon Ball Z Kai. It shows 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 | Episodes 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 do you 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 input from creator Akira Toriyama, and an alternate command is below.
Entries considered non-canon include the Dragon Ball GT series and most films.
You can then choose 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 is also available 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 unwilling to put in too much effort for a re-watch!