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Dragon Ballhas no shortage of powerful characters, but the Saiyans stand out the most and often step into the spotlight as the franchise’s strongest characters. Saiyans have unique genetic dispositions that make them ideal for combat and conquest, whether it’s their Great Ape transformations, strength-increasing zenkai boosts, or Super Saiyan transformations.

Saiyans have taken over Dragon Ball’s story so much so it’s become difficult for other the humans to make much of an impression in battle. Saiyans always get the most destructive action in Dragon Ball Super, but everyone's gotten so strong since Dbz that even humans are strong enough to destroy planets. The Earthling will never defeat the likes of Goku, Vegeta, Future Trunks, or Broly, but they've become more than powerful enough to take on weaker Saiyans who would have given them a hard time just a few years earlier.

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Dragon Ballhas so many compelling characters, it's only natural more than a few slip through the cracks and fade into obscurity – especially when those characters are introduced in a non-canon Dragon Ball video games. Game franchises like Dragon Ball Xenoverse and Dragon Ball Heroes did wonders when it comes to fleshing out neglected settings like the Demon Realm at a point when Dragon Ball Daima wasn't even a thought in Akira Toriyama's mind.

Towa is a compelling character who was first introduced in 2010’s Dragon Ball Online and she's proceeded to have a rich arc across several games, despite never crossing over to the canon manga or anime. Fans were hopeful that Towa might make an appearance in Dragon Ball Daima – especially after the anime introduced a character who looks just like her – but this wasn't meant to be. Towa is still a fascinating character, however, and way more...

Anime fans love power-scaling debates. It is nearly impossible to venture into an online anime space without seeing at least one debate that pits various characters against one another to see who is the mightiest. In the eyes of many fans, Dragon Ball's Goku is the ultimate yardstick for power. To be considered truly powerful, a character must be able to stand a chance against the legendary Super Saiyan and his immense number of forms and moves.

It's easy to see why Goku has attained this status, as only a handful of Dragon Ball characters have been able to put Goku down. However, the list's length grows dramatically if you include non-canon characters from Dragon Ball's various sequels and spin-offs. But of this rogue's gallery of Goku-killers, who is the strongest?

Dragon Ball Z's Lord Slug Forces Goku's Friends To Help Lord Slug Beats Goku Senseless, Though It's...

Goku in Dragon Ball is fortunate enough to have trained under some prolific martial artists throughout the years, including the legendary King Kai during his first stay in Other World. King Kai is responsible for teaching Goku the Spirit Bomb, as well as the Kaio-Ken Attack. The Kaio-Ken is a strenuous strength and speed multiplier that becomes one of Goku’s most important techniques before he unlockes Super Saiyan on Namek.

The Kaio-Ken is a fascinating distillation of Goku’s ethos as a martial artist. He’s always willing to push himself beyond his limits – even if he puts his own life in danger – if it means beating a stronger foe. The Kaio-Ken doesn't always get the respect it deserves in Dragon Ball Z, but it's arguably a cooler transformation than Super Saiyan with even better fights.

The Kaio-Ken Helps Goku Keep Up With Meta-Cooler Used In: Dragon Ball Z: The Return Of Cooler...

The Dragon Ball series has some of the best anime films of all time. From the iconic Dragon Ball Z: Cooler’s Revenge to the legendary Dragon Ball Z: The Return of Cooler, many of these films have provided fans with epic battles, unique villains, and loads of nostalgia. But come on, not every Dragon Ball Z film is good, and Bio-Broly (released in July 1994) is actually one of the worst.

Dragon Ball Z: Bio-Broly is often regarded as the worst Dbz movie. | Credit: Toei Animation

While many fans have different opinions on what makes a bad Dragon Ball Z movie, Bio-Broly takes a lot of heat for having a dull plot, a terrible villain, and a disappointing execution. Unlike some of the others such as The Tree of Might or Super Android 13, this one just fails, even with the awesome characters like Trunks, Goten, Android 18, and Krillin making an appearance.

The canonicity of Dragon Ball movies is always up for debate. Some movies could fit into the series timeline, but others clearly can't. Films like Dragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might or Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug can't work within the existing canon without breaking it. The Dragon Ball Z films usually introduce a new villain, similar to the villains the cast just fought, and have Goku and the Z-Fighters attempt to fight them off before Goku scores the defeat with a final move. They usually don't extend off of canon much more than that.

For many movies, that's fine, while fans like Turles, Slug, and Hirudegarn can live with these villains, who never appear in canon again. But some villains aren't like this, and with the success of Dragon Ball Super: Broly, some movie events could even be reintroduced into the canon. Villains like the fan favorite Cooler,...

Dragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might isn’t exactly the strongest Dragon Ball movie within this franchise, but it still managed to bring some heat to the table. So despite having so many flaws, this film did give us one of the most iconic and coldest villains within the Dragon Ball universe, and it’s none other than Turles!

Turles’ scary demeanor was one of this biggest selling points | Credits: Toei Animation

This low-key character has surprisingly captured many of our hearts as it has a strikingly interesting backstory, a clear resemblance to Goku, and some slick fighting skills. So, although Tree of Might may not be everyone’s favorite Dragon Ball movie, there is no doubt that Turles managed to leave an indelible mark on the viewers through his limited screen time.

Turles literally had Gohan spinning! Turles from Dragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might | Credits: Toei...

Often considered one of the more forgettable films in the Dragon Ball Z franchise, The Tree of Might was certainly entertaining but also lacked some real substance. Marking the first appearance of Turles, Goku’s evil counterpart, this film’s central battle between the two, however, has been a nostalgic favorite for many fans.

The Tree of Might | Credits: Toei Animation

Yet it has produced such a minimal impact on the overall Dbz narrative that many viewers question whether Tree of Might was just a dream that Goku had on his way to Namek. Its questionable canonicity along with low stakes has placed it in a rather weird position within the Dbz universe. So how exactly does this 1990s classic movie fall within the Dragon Ball’s narrative?

Toriyama hinted that The Tree of Might movie could just be a dream A still from Dragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might...

Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball is one of the most successful franchises of all time, anime or otherwise. Audiences are genuinely invested in Goku’s heroic adventures and how he’ll continue to grow over time. That being said, it’s not uncommon for other characters and supporting players to become more popular than a series’ protagonist.

Dragon Ball has such a powerful and eclectic cast of characters that it's no surprise many of its heroes and villains have become even more popular and iconic than Goku himself. Goku is full of surprises, but he’s limited in terms of his design and actions. On the other hand, the rest of Dragon Ball’s cast are allowed more leeway in this department, which is an easy way for fringe figures to turn into celebrated characters fans can’t get enough of.

Related Who Were Akira Toriyama’s Favorite Dragon Ball Characters?...

Dragon Ball is among the most successful media franchises of all time, with numerous movies, TV shows, and video games under its belt. That said, the canon status of its films has often been questioned. The most recent films, 2018's Dragon Ball Super: Broly and 2022's Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, are considered canon to the overarching story, but most of the franchise's movies are not.

Frequently contradicting details from the main plot, many of the Dragon Ball films are entertaining what-if scenarios rather than direct continuations. However, several films are canon or, at least, don't actively contradict the main story, leaving their canonicity up for debate. As such, this leaves viewers in the confusing position of ascertaining the canonical value of each Dragon Ball film and figuring out which Dragon Ball films are canon.

Updated by Timothy Blake Donohoo on October 11,2024: Many Dragon Ball movies are in a continuity all their own,...

Its easy to forget that Dragon Ball started as a relatively grounded series where all its events were limited to the Earth. The mere concept of aliens and space travel seemed unfathomable when the franchise began, but Dragon Ball has taken great strides to naturally incorporate galactic adventures and alien interventions. Plenty of aliens have arrived on Earth or been featured in other scenarios, but theres also an even wider array of planets on display.

Some of these planets have played important roles in the series and even feature unique treasures and techniques such as Namek, Yardrat, and Cereal but there are also many other galactic destinations that have just amounted to curious footnotes or conversation pieces. There are some fascinating alien worlds in Dragon Ball that dont receive the same showcase as other planets, yet theyre still important to be aware of and contain compelling lore.

Related 10 Dragon Ball Gt...

Akira Toriyamas Dragon Ball begins in a reasonably grounded place where most of its characters are humans. Theres a slow push towards demons, aliens, Androids, Angels, and more, which makes sure that theres never a dull moment in the series. Saiyans are easily Dragon Balls most popular alien race and they make up many of the franchises strongest characters.

Dragon Ball has even reached a point where it seems like a character needs to be a Saiyan in order to stay relevant or so much as keep up with increasingly powerful antagonists. Saiyans are known for their raw power and intimidating transformations, but this doesnt mean that a Saiyan is guaranteed to succeed or become one of the franchises strongest characters. Saiyans like Goku, Vegeta, Gohan, and Broly have set new milestones for their people, but there are also plenty of Saiyans who rank among Dragon Balls weakest characters.

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With the new trailer for Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero only a few hours away, everyone’s in the dark as to which characters will be revealed. Up until now, several of them, including Goku, Piccolo, Fused Zamasu, and more, have been confirmed to make an appearance in the game.

But fans have their wild guesses, which, if they come true, will just add to the excitement they are experiencing ahead of the game’s launch. With no Shonen V-Jump Scans this week, they have to go completely blind and hope their arrows in the dark hits the right spot.

Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero Fans Are in the Dark for Now Over 80 characters have been revealed in the game by now.

Who is it is going to be? Fans have no idea but they hope to see some fighters in the upcoming trailer. The fact that every trailer of Sparking Zero...

Akira Toriyamas Dragon Ball excels in many diverse departments and one of the biggest reasons that its become an evergreen shonen hit thats endured for nearly four decades is the heightened world and rich lore thats been created. There is no shortage of anime that feature exaggerated action sequences and bold transformations. However, a big way in which Dragon Ball stands out from its peers is that its set in an unpredictable realm where monsters, anthropomorphic animals, aliens, and dinosaurs, coexist with humans.

It should come as no surprise that a series thats titled Dragon Ball has a certain fascination with dragons, but the franchise has catered towards this interest in many different ways. Dragon Balls dragons include godly wish-granting creatures, non-verbal pets, and heroic fighters. All these dragons have left strong impressions on the audience, but some of them resonate more strongly than others.

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Akira Toriyamas Dragon Ball is full of unique battle strategies that allow individuals to gain considerable power boosts and surpass their limits. Dragon Ball characters have a rich history with transformations and the unlocking of inner potential, but fusion is a fundamental process that forever changes the franchise. Curiously, conventional fusion doesnt get introduced until fairly late in Dragon Ball Z during the series concluding Buu Saga. However, fusion is a concept that Dragon Ball has progressively embraced and its still one of the most effective ways for characters to grow substantially stronger.

Fusion allows multiple characters to pool together their strength and skills and transform into a superior warrior. Its a gambit thats saved the heroes' lives on multiple occasions, and video games like Dragon Ball Fusions have explored the thousands of unique fusion combinations that are possible. Most Dragon Ball fans have experienced fusion in some shape or form,...

The official Dragon Ball website is sharing another rare and valuable illustration by the late Akira Toriyama. In the May 2, 2024, edition of the Toriyama Archives, two young characters from completely different series meet up for the first time.

From Akira Toriyama - The World Anime Special, an original illustration of Gohan in his youth and Arale Norimaki from the Dr. Slump series are pictured together for the first time. Described on the official site before the post was deleted as a "Dream Team" meetup, both characters are drawn in casual clothing that fits their personalities. Gohan's clothes evoke a well-behaved schoolboy persona, while Arale's shirt and overalls have a more troublemaker vibe to them. The book Gohan reads features the little "gas mask guy" that Toriyama liked to depict himself as in his artwork.

Related Dragon Ball Super Artist Tributes Akira Toriyama in New Drawing of Nearly 20-Year-Old Game Character...

The Dragon Ball franchise has been one of the most popular anime in the world since the 1980s, and 40 years after the initial release of its manga, it's showing no signs of slowing down. Goku and the Z Fighters have fought against aliens, cosmic beings, and even the God of Destruction, proving themselves to be some of the most powerful fighters in shonen history.

Dragon Ball and its various sequels include a variety of iconic attacks, but none play a bigger role in the series than the Kamehameha. Although the energy attack has become synonymous with Goku's adventures over the years, he's far from the only character to use the technique. In fact, there are a few instances where multiple Z Fighters join forces to perform a group Kamehameha, some of which are highlights of the entire Dragon Ball franchise.

Related Dragon Ball Releases New Monthly Calendar Series Ahead of...

Quick Links Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone Dragon Ball Z: The World's Strongest Dragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug Dragon Ball Z: Cooler's Revenge Dragon Ball Z: The Return of Cooler Dragon Ball Z: Super Android 13 Dragon Ball Z: Broly-- The Legendary Super Saiyan Dragon Ball Z: Bojack Unbound Dragon Ball Z: Broly-- Second Coming Dragon Ball Z: Bio-Broly Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn Dragon Ball Z: Wrath of the Dragon

The original 12 Dragon Ball Z movies can be frustrating to place on the canon timeline. Several time paradoxes prevent most of them from fitting comfortably where they should. People are in places they can't be during the ongoing story arcs due to a lack of downtime. Events play out as though the far-reaching consequences of said ongoing stories never happened.

Streaming recent and classic Dragon Ball movies has just gotten significantly easier.

According to Crunchyroll, they have added a slew of tie-in films from the long-running franchise to its streaming service. This includes Dragon Ball Z: Cooler's Revenge, which sees Goku and crew face off against Frieza's older brother, and Dragon Ball Z: Super Android 13, which depicts the epic showdown between Earth's strongest defenders and a new group of Androids that are faster and more dangerous than those created by the evil Doctor Gero.

Related: When Did Dragon Ball Z Become All About Power Creep?

The Dragon Ball Movies Coming to Crunchyroll

Other Dragon Ball movies that have already hit the platform include Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone, Dragon Ball Z: World's Strongest, Dragon Ball Z: Tree of Might, Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug and Dragon Ball Z: Return of Cooler. Multiple other films are scheduled to appear on...

Anime streaming service, Crunchyroll, has revealed that almost every Dragon Ball film ever made will now be available to stream. A press release from the company states that fifteen films from the hit franchise are going to be added to Crunchyroll's already impressive catalog. There are already seven available with the remaining eight coming soon in a total of three release waves.

The Dragon Ball franchise began with the manga's serialization in 1984. The anime adaptation came shortly after, beginning in 1986. It has since become one of the most popular manga and anime franchises in the world. There have been six animated series and twenty-one animated feature-length films following its debut. At present, Crunchyroll's streaming options will include films centered in the Dragon Ball Z franchise, with one Dragon Ball Super film also coming soon.

Crunchyroll Adds Dragon Ball Z Films to its Streaming Library

As of now, the following films...