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Dragon Ball

Original title: Dragon Ball: Doragon bôru
  • TV Series
  • 1986–1989
  • Tous publics
  • 25m
IMDb RATING
8.5/10
73K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,109
61
Tôru Furuya, Kôhei Miyauchi, Masako Nozawa, Mayumi Tanaka, Naoki Tatsuta, Hiromi Tsuru, and Naoko Watanabe in Dragon Ball (1986)
Home Video Trailer from FUNimation
Play trailer0:44
2 Videos
99+ Photos
Adult AnimationAnimeHand-Drawn AnimationKung FuMartial ArtsShōnenSuperheroActionAdventureAnimation

Young martial artist Goku and his friends race across Earth to gather seven wish-granting Dragon Balls, forging bonds, mastering mystic combat, and defending the planet from ever-stronger fo... Read allYoung martial artist Goku and his friends race across Earth to gather seven wish-granting Dragon Balls, forging bonds, mastering mystic combat, and defending the planet from ever-stronger foes in an ever-escalating adventure.Young martial artist Goku and his friends race across Earth to gather seven wish-granting Dragon Balls, forging bonds, mastering mystic combat, and defending the planet from ever-stronger foes in an ever-escalating adventure.

  • Stars
    • Masako Nozawa
    • Jôji Yanami
    • Brice Armstrong
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.5/10
    73K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    2,109
    61
    • Stars
      • Masako Nozawa
      • Jôji Yanami
      • Brice Armstrong
    • 57User reviews
    • 6Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Top rated TV #186
      • See the top 250 TV shows as rated by IMDb users

    Episodes153

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated1 season

    Videos2

    Dragon Ball
    Trailer 0:44
    Dragon Ball
    Dragon Ball (US Trailer)
    Trailer 1:53
    Dragon Ball (US Trailer)
    Dragon Ball (US Trailer)
    Trailer 1:53
    Dragon Ball (US Trailer)

    Photos415

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    + 409
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    Top cast99+

    Edit
    Masako Nozawa
    Masako Nozawa
    • Son Gokû
    • 1986–1989
    Jôji Yanami
    Jôji Yanami
    • Narrator…
    • 1986–1989
    Brice Armstrong
    Brice Armstrong
    • Narrator…
    • 1986–1989
    Stephanie Nadolny
    Stephanie Nadolny
    • Goku
    • 1986–1988
    Hiromi Tsuru
    Hiromi Tsuru
    • Bulma
    • 1986–1989
    Mayumi Tanaka
    Mayumi Tanaka
    • Kuririn…
    • 1986–1989
    Christopher Sabat
    Christopher Sabat
    • Yamcha…
    • 1986–1989
    Tôru Furuya
    Tôru Furuya
    • Yamcha
    • 1986–1989
    Naoko Watanabe
    Naoko Watanabe
    • Puar…
    • 1986–1989
    Kôhei Miyauchi
    Kôhei Miyauchi
    • Kamesennin Muten Roshi…
    • 1986–1989
    Mike McFarland
    Mike McFarland
    • Master Roshi…
    • 1986–1989
    Tiffany Vollmer
    Tiffany Vollmer
    • Bulma
    • 1986–1989
    Naoki Tatsuta
    Naoki Tatsuta
    • Oolong…
    • 1986–1989
    Mami Koyama
    Mami Koyama
    • Launch…
    • 1986–1989
    Bradford Jackson
    Bradford Jackson
    • Oolong…
    • 1986–1989
    Monika Antonelli
    Monika Antonelli
    • Puar…
    • 1986–1989
    Kenji Utsumi
    Kenji Utsumi
    • Announcer…
    • 1986–1989
    Laurie Steele
    • Krillin…
    • 1986–1988
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews57

    8.573.4K
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    Summary

    Reviewers say 'Dragon Ball' conveys themes of perseverance, friendship, and self-improvement, emphasizing character growth and camaraderie. It blends action and comedy for a whimsical narrative, exploring Goku's evolution from a naive child to a martial arts genius. The series incorporates fantasy and science fiction elements, balancing humor with serious, dramatic moments in later arcs. While praised for its engaging story and character development, some critics find the pacing inconsistent and certain plotlines underdeveloped. Overall, 'Dragon Ball' is celebrated for its imaginative world and memorable characters.
    AI-generated from the text of user reviews

    Featured reviews

    10rohithhn

    GOAT anime

    One of the best and underrated anime, so many people just skip og dragon ball and watch dragon ball z But this is one of the best anime I have ever seen 🔥
    AgentGunman

    Superb!

    Dragonball is one of the best cartoons ever made. Dragonball Z is a bit disapointing compared to this one. Dragonball tells the story of Son Goku, a kid with a tail(?), who's origin is really explained only on Dragonball Z, and the story is all made up around 7 crystal balls that when all are together, allow you to ask any wish to the Dragon. It doesn't have all those "Super" stuff of Dragonball Z, all characters have different combat tactics and special moves, and they obtain their skills through hard training and not fury or spells. For Dragonball Z fans, if you want to see Bulma still young and more beautiful, Yamcha still an honourable fighter and Piccolo a bad guy, you have to see this!
    9saifeeshaikh-89469

    Makes you stress free

    An amazingly unique concept with heartwarming storyline and screenplay. As you watch it you feel light and stress free. Amazingly binging.
    Evil_Chihuahua

    Good show, but read the Manga first

    As a fan of Manga and Anime, I really enjoyed the Dragonball TV series, but I thought it could have done a lot better, but before I get to that, let me just explain one thing about the show.

    DRAGONBALL IS NOT A KIDS SHOW! Some of the content of the show is not suitable for children, particularly the uncut Japanese version. The English translation does try to clean it up a bit, but it still contains some things anyone under 10 shouldn't be exposed to. For example, one character (Oolong) attempts to "have his way" with another while she sleeps (although in the English version he was just after the Dragonballs) and in several episodes we see some of the male characters nude.

    OK, that's cleared up, so what's the show about? The series is based on the manga by Akira Toriyama, which was based on a Chinese legend, and follows the Adventures of Son Goku, a child with incredible powers. Goku meets Bulma, a 16 year old girl, who is looking for the Dragonballs, magical relics that, when all 7 are united, can summon Shenlon (Shenron in the English versions), who can grant 1 wish. Goku agrees to give Bulma his Dragonball (which he calls "Grandpa as it is the only thing he has that reminds him of his Grandpa, Son Gohan) only if he can join her. But they are not the only ones after the Dragonballs.

    While Dragonball offers some entertainment (although it does get better as it goes along), the Manga was far better. This maybe because the manga series was just straight-ford, while the anime goes of the track a bit with pointless episodes that weren't featured in the manga. That and the extra scenes that try to develop the characters we don't really care about.

    Apart from that, the series is fun and never takes itself seriously. Any Dragonball Z fans who haven't seen Dragonball should do so.
    10Adavis9492

    It's a good show.

    I have watched this show and i guarantee its good. Well it may start off a little slow but it gets really good. It's child friendly and adults will enjoy it too. Like Dragonball Z and Dragonball Gt it will keep your interest. The fighting and powers of the warriors can keep children and adults all over the world amused. The show does have a little bit humor to it than the other two series, but thats what it was originally created for. The humor doesn't stop the show from having a good plot. Throughout the show they have great adventures and they always meet new allies and villains. To the last comment, I wouldn't say that your comment wasn't true, but I don't want to say it was true. The creators have made special uncut versions, but those must be bought on DVD or VHS. The edited version airs on television. They just wouldn't put extreme adult content on a show for children. So, what if a few of the characters like girl magazines and one is obsessed with females its all part of the humor. There are no female body parts that are revealed in the show, not even on the uncut versions. So, when i was reading the last comment I figured that the person who wrote must be misjudged. Watch the edited version. If you are not offended by anything enjoy the uncut version which is more adult oriented.

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    Daveigh Chase, Rumi Hiiragi, and Mari Natsuki in Le Voyage de Chihiro (2001)
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    Fantasy

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In the episode in which Bulma, Goku, and Oolong are camping out in the desert, there is a scene in which a nude Bulma looks out the window, and glare covers her bare breasts. Contrary to popular belief, this scene is not edited for the dub. The glare is there in all versions, uncut Japanese included.
    • Goofs
      When Master Roshi is introduced he knows nothing about the Dragon Balls. Yet later in the series, he tells Goku and company an extremely detailed story about their origin.
    • Quotes

      [Japanese opening song]

      Singer: Grab them in the hands! Dragon Ball! / One of the world's most thrilling secrets / Hunt those down! Dragon Ball! / One of the world's most pleasant miracles / This world is a huge treasure island / That's right, right now, Adventure! / The chest is tightened excitedly in love, dreaming lots of various colors / Somewhere in this world it's glowing / Let's go and find those, boy, striking out the ghosts and goblins / We'll also fly on the cloud machine today / Let's try, try, try, mystical adventure / Across the sky and over the mountains / Let's fly, fly, fly, great adventure / The wonderful trip has begun! / Grasp them in your hands! Dragon Ball! / One of the world's most tough chances / Chase those down! Dragon Ball! / One of the world's most enjoyable dramas / This world is a huge treasure island / That's right, right now, Adventure!

    • Crazy credits
      The closing credits are a montage of images based on covers from the "Dragon Ball" manga.
    • Alternate versions
      The French version, distributed across most of Europe during the 90s, reinterpreted or outright deleted several scenes in an effort to make the series suitable for their intended audience, young kids. Most famously, much of the perverted antics of Master Roshi and a great deal of crass jokes were rewritten, but the animation was often left intact. This has lead to the animation at times clearly showing that the characters were thinking "dirty" thoughts, even though the dialogue itself was more kid-friendly. For example, Yamcha's fear of seeing naked women was twisted into him being afraid of shampoo. However, several similar gags were actually kept and only slightly toned down.
    • Connections
      Alternate-language version of Dragon Ball Z (1989)
    • Soundtracks
      Dragon Ball
      Written by Alessandra Valeri Manera

      Performed by Max Longhi and Giorgio Vanni

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    FAQ16

    • How many seasons does Dragon Ball have?Powered by Alexa
    • Why is there two entries for Dragon Ball (1986) series?
    • Is Hollywood making a live-action Dragonball movie?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 2, 1988 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • Japan
    • Official sites
      • Official Site
      • TOEI Animation Co., Ltd
    • Language
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • Dragonball
    • Production companies
      • Bird Studios
      • Toei Animation
      • Toei Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 25m
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby

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