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In the original Dragon Ball, nearly all of Goku's best friends and allies in battle were humans. This is a far cry from present-day Dragon Ball Super, where all his fighting partners are other Saiyans, Namekians, or Androids. There is a singular moment where the anime's priorities clearly shift, and it comes incredibly early in Dragon Ball Z.

One of Dragon Ball's greatest fights also carries the weight of being the end of the human Z-Warriors' relevance. Nappa's beatdown of the Earthlings in the Saiyan Saga ends with Tien Shinhan, Chiaotzu, and Piccolo dead, and while Piccolo gets many more chances to redeem himself, the fallen humans aren't given the same luxury. Even Krillin – by far the most prominent human in Dragon Ball Z – is never treated the same way after he loses to Nappa.

Tien, Yamcha, and Chiaotzu Are Never Relevant Again After Being Killed By the...

One would be hard-pressed to find a Dragon Ball Z fan who considers Yamcha their favorite character. Throughout the iconic Shonen anime, Yamcha does nothing except lose fights and humiliate himself, and his behavior doesn't render him particularly endearing. True as this may be, those who've watched the original anime are well aware that things weren't always like this.

Yamcha may be a joke to Dragon Ball fans, but he was the true hero of the series' first ever arc. In the Pilaf Saga, Yamcha is the character who overcomes personal struggles, changes as a person, and saves the day. While he may spend most of the arc working against Goku and Bulma, Yamcha's journey throughout the arc, culminating in his fight against Great Ape Goku, forms its emotional core.

Goku & Bulma Don't Act as Traditional Protagonists in the Pilaf Saga Goku and Bulma Only Work as a Lead Duo,...

Gohan has been one of Dragon Ball's most important characters since his introduction at the start of Dbz. In the time between the Saiyan Saga and his most recent starring role in Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, the original human/Saiyan hybrid has been redesigned numerous times. Sometimes Gohan dresses like his fathers, Goku and Piccolo, while other times his inner nerd shines through as he displays his own sense of style.

Gohan has grown up throughout Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Super, and his fashion sense and transformations have changed just as much as he has. His clothes range from poorly conceived civilian outfits, to gis, and his iconic Great Saiyaman costume. Gohan's first transformation was the basic Super Saiyan form but, since then, he's developed Full-Power Super Saiyan, Super Saiyan 2, and the "Ultimate" and "Beast" forms.

Gohan Beast's Design is Only Salvaged by His Gi The...

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.

Raditz Is Lower Than...

Compared to other anime series with lots of fan service, Dragon Ball is a comparatively tame and conservative piece of shonen anime. However, one character in early Dragon Ball remains a most prominent source of criticism: Master Roshi. The Turtle Hermit is a beloved and popular character as one of the main members of Dragon Ball’s iconic cast, but he’s also one of anime’s most infamously problematic perverts. Roshi singlehandedly popularized the trope of lecherous old men in shonen anime, and arguably did it better than any character after him.

That said, there’s a valid reason this trope has gone out of favor in modern anime, which is exactly why Roshi has been featured far less prominently in modern Dragon Ball media than he once was. While there’s a lot more nuance to the story than that, the reality is that much of what Roshi...

The Dragon Ball Zanime has a massive 291 episodes. No anime series, no matter its quality, can deliver perfection 100% of the time, and Dragon Ball is no exception, as despite being packed with great moments and stunning stories, the series features several below-average episodes. There are many reasons these episodes may fall below the standard fans expect from the Dragon Ball franchise.

Sometimes, the episodes are pure filler that only exist to fill time until the manga can catch up. Other times, the episodes are poorly structured, dulling the impact of the moment they're trying to convey. Finally, some episodes feature bizarre writing, animation, or pacing choices that degrade the entire experience.

Dragon Ball Z Episode 272 Shifts In Tone A Lot, But Candy Vegito Is A Little Far Dragon Ball Z Episode 272, "The Incredible Fighting Candy"

The battle against Buu is one of the most controversial sequences in Dragon Ball history.

In Dragon Ball SuperEpisode 110, Goku was engulfed by his own Spirit Bomb, marking the first sign that something monumental was about to happen to Dragon Ball's protagonist. When he emerged from the crater of the explosion, accompanied by a fantastic theme, fans witnessed Goku unlocking Ultra Instinct for the first time. This was only a brief glimpse of the form known as Ultra Instinct Sign, which served as a precursor to Goku's immense power within himself.

Now, two arcs after Dragon Ball Super's Tournament of Power Saga, Goku has mastered some control over Ultra Instinct and can trigger the form at will. With it, Goku overcomes his biggest weakness and achieves the power to rival the gods. Ultra Instinct places Goku on a path that nobody else can take. There's no doubt that fans will get to see more of Ultra Instinct Goku when Dragon Ball Super makes its eventual return.

Dragon Ball Daima is officially over. Episode 20, "Maximum," aired on Feb. 28, 2025, and is currently described as the series finale.

Although Goku and his friends waved goodbye to everyone in the Demon Realm, many unresolved questions remain about their journey. These include the messy continuity issues regarding Vegeta's transformation into Super Saiyan 3 and Goku's transformation into Super Saiyan 4. Before the release of Dragon Ball Daima, it was believed that Vegeta couldn't achieve Super Saiyan 3 due to his limited transformation into Super Saiyan 2 in Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods. Likewise, Super Saiyan 4 was an anime-original concept exclusive to Dragon Ball Gt that was never acknowledged in the mainline series, such as Goku listing Super Saiyan 3 as his last transformation at the beginning of Battle of Gods.

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Solo Leveling's Sung Jinwoo was supposed to have accomplished everything by conquering the Demon's Castle and gaining the Elixir of Life, but Season 2, Episode 9's preview teases that nothing is that simple.

Via the official X (formerly Twitter) account, Solo Leveling Season 2 revealed the preview trailer for Episode 9 (Episode 21) overall, titled "It was All Worth It." The episode premieres on Mar. 1, 2025, and reveals the Hunter's preparation for the upcoming battle with the Ants. It's also revealed that Jinwoo finally possesses the Elixir of Life after conquering the Demon's Castle. Nevertheless, he still appears wary of something. Readers can check out the Solo Leveling Season 2, Episode 9 trailer below.

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New Soul Eater watches and wallets from SuperGroupies let fans of the shonen series step out in style with looks inspired by Soul, Maka and more.

Dragon Ball Super Chapter 104 is a welcome one-shot nearly a year after the series went on hiatus following the passing of the legendary Akira Toriyama. While many fans were eager to see Goku and Vegeta finally take on Black Frieza, the chapter instead shifts focus to Goten and Trunks’ origins as Saiyamen X-1 and X-2—revealing that their superhero idol, Clean God, is none other than Son Gohan.

Gohan’s reveal as Clean God is a clever nod to his Great Saiyaman days in Dragon Ball's Majinn Buu Saga. Though some fans cringe at that era, Toyotaro and the Dragon Ball Super team have reimagined it in a way that highlights Gohan’s growth. This twist adds depth to his character, leaving readers intrigued and eager for what comes next.

What Happened in Dragon Ball Super Chapter 104: "The Birth of Saiyaman X" Gohan's Reveal as Clean God Proves...

Even the weakest Dragon Ball characters could defeat anyone in the real world. Fans can mock the likes of Yamcha, Oolong, and Mr. Satan all they'd like, but they wouldn't last a minute in a fight against any of them. What makes a Dragon Ball character stand out as weak isn't necessarily their power level, but their role in the story.

Powerful as many Dragon Ball characters are, there are others who are absurdly weak, or at least far weaker than they should be. Some heroes and villains feel like they should be much stronger than they are, while others fail to serve a real purpose in the series because of their weakness. These weaklings can be found all throughout the franchise, from Dragon Ball Z to Dragon Ball Daima.

Monaka is More of a Punchline Than a Character in Dragon Ball Super Beerus Couldn't Be Bothered to Find a...

Several times a week, Dragon Ball unearths elusive gems from the artistic vault of franchise creator Akira Toriyama. Now, Toriyama fans have the chance to see a rare manga episode portraying Master Roshi as a full-fledged manga instructor.

As detailed on Dragon Ball's official site, "Master Roshi's Manga Training" is a four-panel gag comic initially published in a 1991 issue of Weekly Shonen Jump magazine. Instead of his usual bowstaff, Roshi wields a teacher's baton and an artist's beret as he gives readers tips about what to focus on when creating their own comics. "In this one-of-a-kind original comic, Kamesennin (Turtle Hermit) is teaching the ropes on how to draw manga," the archive description reads. "When it comes to creating characters, he advises that you should not just focus on appearance, as he thinks that 'the best parts are the personality and actions.'" Cbr readers can check the comic out below.

The Dragon Ball Z anime is the main source of the Dragon Ballfranchise's popularity. However, there are many ways in which the original Dragon Ball manga is superior to its animated counterpart. The biggest advantage the manga has over the anime is the legendary artwork of the late Akira Toriyama. The Dragon Ball manga isn't as popular as the iconic Dragon Ball Z anime, but Akira Toriyama's illustrations make it unquestionably the visually superior work.

More so than his writing, Toriyama's varying art styles, superb line-work, and mastery over paneling in action scenes set him apart from every mangaka to come before and after him. The result of Toriyama's artistic genius is a large selection of manga panels with more emotion behind them than the anime could ever muster.

Goku Absolutely Destroys Drum With a Knee to the Face Dragon Ball Chapter 154, "Tenshinhan vs. Drum" Image via Shueisha

Goku has...

Dragon Ball is often considered one of the most iconic classic anime still being referenced today. Yet, some of the shōnen anime's more questionable scenes would have no place today. Many scenes featuring Master Roshi, like his introduction, are extremely dated as he often displays problematic behavior. While these scenes are largely omitted from the sequel series, they are a testament to some of the showrunners more questionable decisions.

Several of Dragon Ball's problematic gags weren't funny then and are unsettling now. For example, young Goku is infatuated with human anatomy and performs various invasive "checks". He does this with Bulma almost directly after meeting her. Needless to say, a gag like this wouldn't be allowed. While Dragon Ball remains iconic, many of its most controversial scenes would not have aired today.

Goku Walks In on Master Roshi Doing His Morning Work Out Dragon Ball Episode 14, "Goku's Rival"

Near Dragon Ball's beginning,...

There’s a grounded, humbler nature to the original Dragon Ball that makes it feel like any character is capable of becoming the world’s strongest fighter. Dragon Ball has its share of non-human enemies, whether it’s Giran, Buyon, or King Piccolo, but there’s something to be said for all the anime’s strongest characters being humans. Dragon Ball Z’s growing Saiyan obsession curbs the development of some unique characters who were set up for greatness in the original Dragon Ball.

Dragon Ball’s 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament is a pivotal turning point in the original series that establishes Tien as Goku’s worthy rival. This dynamic carries over for the rest of Dragon Ball, but there’s actually another character who was stronger than both Goku and Tien during this period. Yajirobe is a no-frills ronin martial artist who has comfortably embraced a leisurely lifestyle...

Dragon Ball Daima is a fresh take on the Dragon Ball series that received worldwide acclaim. It is the wish of Akira Toriyama that there is a revival of the style of work he initially started his journey with.

Vegeta’s Super Saiyan 3 | Credit: Toei Animation

The original Dragon Ball had little Son Goku (with a tail) roam around the world, journeying in an innocent manner and seeing all sorts of things. The King Yemma, who judges the dead to the reclusive Master Roshi, there are a lot of adventures with a light-hearted backdrop to them.

Dragon Ball Daima aimed to increase and widen its fanbase by giving a new approach to the old franchise, but there were a lot of problems with it. Let us take a look and understand why Daima falls short when it comes to major aspects like thrill and battles.

Dragon Ball Gt was a...

Dragon Ball Zis one of the most popular anime of all-time and the standout entry in Akira Toriyama’s acclaimed shonen masterpiece. Dbz raises the stakes and heightens the tension through more mature storytelling and exaggerated action sequences that feel like a true evolution to what the original Dragon Ball established. Dragon Ball Z features a bigger cast, stronger characters, and an expanded scope that extends to outer space and the afterlife.

All these changes help Dragon Ball Z grow for the better, but they also present some natural hurdles to Dragon Ball’s narrative. It’s tricky to maintain consistent lore across several decades while adapting hundreds of episodes of television. Dragon Ball Z does commendable work connecting its dots and making sure that all its developments make sense. That said, there are still some rather glaring plot holes which can seriously hurt the quality of certain story arcs,...

One of Dragon Ball’s greatest assets is featuring a diverse and daring cast of characters. There’s a certain mold of hero and villain fans now come to expect from modern Dragon Ball, but it’s interesting to see how much the franchise’s tone, inspirations, and characters have evolved since the original series. The original Dragon Ball is still rich with explosive action and intense martial arts, but it’s ultimately an epic adventure series with heavy fantasy undertones.

There’s a very natural transition between Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z, but not every character feels appropriately at home in the more action-oriented series. Certain Dragon Ball characters already felt fringe in the original series, but become even greater anomalies by the time Dragon Ball Z is in motion.

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Super Saiyan Trunks is one of Dragon...

Dragon Ballfans have no shortage of picks when it comes to favorite characters. There are certain heroes who have been around since the original Dragon Ball or early on in Dragon Ball Z’s run, while there are others who don’t enter the scene until Dragon Ball Z’s various time-skips. Trunks is Vegeta and Bulma’s son and represents the next generation of Dragon Ball’s heroes. Audiences are initially better acquainted with Trunks’ hardened time-traveling counterpart, Future Trunks, before they get to properly connect with the prime timeline’s younger version.

Trunks becomes one of Dragon Ball Z’s strongest characters, Goten’s best friend, and a Saiyan worthy of carrying on Vegeta’s legacy. Dragon Ball Super features an even stronger version of Trunks, albeit one who has struggled to experience the same greatness and completely follow through on his potential. Trunks has slightly regressed in...

It’s no secret that Dragon Ballis a series that’s absolutely packed with characters who are not just extremely powerful, but strong enough to destroy entire planets with a single attack. Goku is often front and center in terms of Dragon Ball’s strongest characters, but it’s not as if he just conveniently fell into this remarkable strength. Granted, Goku benefits from his Saiyan DNA, but so many of his gains in life result from rigorous training under accomplished martial artists.

Training has helped Goku learn some of his most powerful moves, while also teaching him valuable lessons about his body, energy, and balance. Characters can surpass their limits and reach unbelievable heights when they properly commit to training. Frieza has even emerged from a decade-long training session that resulted in his intimidating Black Frieza transformation. There are other powerful characters who would no doubt reach Goku’s...

Toei Animation has a number of franchises under its name that have kept it as one of the greatest animation studios. The studio has been narrating stories that have helped the anime industry to become a mainstream form of entertainment across the world.

From Sailor Moon to Digimon, each title is like a gemstone. However, none could match the allure of Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball and Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece. These two franchises are not only fan favorites but have also heavily contributed to Toei’s success.

A still from Sailor Moon. Credits: Toei Animation

With freshly baked reports coming right from the studio, showcasing their strong financial growth in both domestic and overseas markets. However, that’s not the main factor because a major shift in contribution has been noticed, where Goku’s Z-Fighters have toppled Luffy’s Straw Hat Pirates, despite Daima being a liability for the former franchise.

Tien Shinhan is one of the most underutilized characters in Dragon Ball. While Tien was one of the series' main characters during the second half of the original anime, he was shoved to the sidelines early on in Dragon Ball Z and he's remained irrelevant since. There are many ways in which Tien hasn't been used to his full potential, but one of them is now staring fans right in the eyes.

Goku's first major rival has finally been given the chance to be relevant again by Dragon Ball Daima. Despite Tien's third eye being the most notable element of his character design, its origins have never been explored, and it's never been implemented into his growth as a warrior. The Third Eye, also known as the tertian oculus, is the newest source of power in Dragon Ball. With how perfectly it corresponds with Tien's motif, it's the perfect...

Even someone as powerful as Son Goku from Dragon Ball has had his fair share of challenges ever since landing on Earth in his space pod. Goku became battle-tested in the World Martial Arts Tournament and protected planet Earth against villainous forces in the most important battles in history ever since he was a child. He’s squared off against beings completely out of his league, like Beerus, and those who couldn’t hold a candle to him, like Recoome.

Throughout his battles over the years, Goku has been able to adapt on the fly and grow exponentially stronger through each encounter, making him one of Universe 7’s mightiest warriors. But what has allowed Goku to push past his limits and evolve repeatedly are those special moments when he faces off against formidable opponents on a similar playing field. Countless evenly matched Goku fights come to mind, but there are...

Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ballis set in a fantastical world, but at the beginning of the shonen anime series, the stakes are still quite grounded. Goku and Bulma feel like small characters in a vast world, which Dragon Ball successfully developed with each new entry in the franchise. Not only did Dragon Ball venture into outer space and the afterlife, but it introduced a rich multiverse and the powerful Gods who hold dominion over these various realms.

This has become even more complex after the addition of Dragon Ball Daima’s robust Demon Realm and the many Majin tiers of power that exist there. Dragon Ball has reached a point where Gods of Destruction, Angels, and Zeno the Omni-King represent some of the most powerful and important deities in existence. However, Gods have subtly been around right from Dragon Ball’s start, and it’s been a long journey to...

There are countless Dragon Ball fights that are considered all-time classics. By and large, this isn't because their animation and/or choreography are anything special. Rather, it's because the narratives weaved into the clashes are dramatic and impacttful, and the stakes behind them are tangible.

Dragon Ball Daima has featured impressive battles like Goku vs Tamagami 3, but they've all been meaningless. Every fight in the anime has existed for the sake of existing, rather than being direct extensions of the narrative. None of the brawls contain any sense of tension or danger, the characters have no personal investment in them and, because of this, the audience has no reason to become invested either.

Related Goku & Vegeta's Biggest Flaws are Risking Everyone's Lives in Dragon Ball Daima

Goku and Vegeta's flaws are what make them who they are, but they're also putting the entire Demon Realm in danger.

Fights...

Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball is one of Shonen's most legendary franchises. Its success is due to its fantastic storytelling, outstanding and memorable characters, and powerful fights that shake the worlds and audiences alike. There's no doubt that Dragon Ball as a series deserves all its praise. But despite its legendary status, the series has some moments that may have never gotten into the series in the first place.

Dragon Ball is an old series, meaning a lot of it hasn't aged well. But even more, some moments didn't start well—some were large enough to put a bad taste in the audience's mouths on the first watch. Many of these moments involve the female characters and crude character jokes. Including the creepiest of all, that would get Master Roshi locked up in seconds.

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Dragon Ball movies don't always get the appreciation they deserve,...

Movies in the Dragon Ball franchise are infamously uneven in quality. For what they are, Wrath of the Dragon and Battle of Gods are fairly spectacular, while Return of Cooler and Super Android 13! represent the worst of what the film series has to offer. Of course, no fandom is a monolith, and there are many installments that don't have the reputations they should.

Dragon Ball movies don't always get the appreciation they deserve, especially not those from outside the Dbz era. Original Dragon Ball movies are often ignored, while Super's movies are some of the most divisive. There are also a number of Dragon Ball Z films that receive far too much vitriol, especially in light of how much praise lesser entries tend to receive.

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Yamcha has been the butt of jokes for decades, but...

Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball spans multiple decades, visiting outer space, the afterlife, and a rich multiverse. Dragon Ball Z even introduces time travel in the Cell Saga. Future Trunks’ timeline is a desolate wasteland where most of Earth’s heroes have brutally perished. Trunks valiantly rises above these punishing conditions and travels to the past in order to save them from a same dark fate. Future Trunks’ contributions are immeasurable, but his journey wouldn’t be possible without the support and encouragement of Future Gohan.

Future Gohan was Future Trunks’ mentor and one of the few surviving heroes left alive to actually help Trunks take on Future Androids 17 and 18. Future Gohan is a grittier version of Gohan who manages to become a Super Saiyan, but he nevertheless falls short against the Androids and is unable to defeat them. Future Gohan looks intimidating, but there are some major differences...

In the Dragon Ball universe, throughout the Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Super series, we see Saiyans dominate the narrative with their incredible transformations. With their constantly increasing strength that seems to have no limits, the Saiyan race manages to achieve legendary feats.

Goku’s Super Saiyan God form in Dragon Ball. [Credit: Toei Animation]

Yet, the often-overlooked Earthlings who seem to be relegated to the roles of being mere spectators may, in fact, hold an even greater warrior potential. This idea comes from a fascinating theory that says that humans are not just ordinary beings but an evolved offshoot race of the Saiyans.

By shedding the crutches of transformations like Super Saiyan or Great Ape, the human race might have lost out on innate abilities and lineage, but they’ve developed a seemingly endless potential for growth.

Humans’ hidden potential in the universe

The fact that humans hold a...

What-if stories and Dragon Ball have gone hand in hand since Dragon Ball Z: Super Butōden 2 for the Snes in 1993. The fandom and the official source material have indulged in the concept of alternate timelines, history, and events happening for decades now. Dragon Ball lends itself well to these hypothetical questions thanks to a simple and well-known timeline of events. Fans can easily digest the narrative of Dragon Ball even during a What If scenario, thanks to author Akira Toriyama's brilliant writing.

Dragon Ball Z Sparking Zero asked the ever-popular question, what if Gohan kept training and gave fans the best fix to the Goku Black arc? One what-if scenario with a simple answer but a fascinating chain of events involves the finale of Namek. Some have questioned why Frieza wounded Piccolo and killed Krillin instead of shooting down Goku, especially if he could lift people and explode them.

One of Dragon Ball’s greatest strength is its ability to bravely reinvent itself depending on whatever facilitates the story at hand. Dragon Ball has embraced broad gag comedy shenanigans, intense martial arts mayhem, and complex science fiction storytelling in order to push the franchise to challenging places. It’s easy to get caught up in Dragon Ball’s grandiose battles, many of which have the fate of the planet – or even the universe – on the line.

Dragon Ball’s battles often ends with villains dying, but many of Goku’s greatest allies are actually former villains who've redeemed themselves into heroes. For characters like Vegeta and Piccolo, their heroic transition gives them additional depth and a more compelling arc. It’s satisfying to watch a vicious villain become one of the good guys, but some characters lost their impact when they became heroes and left a much stronger impression...

Dragon Ball fans have been struck with more rough news, as long-time voice of Master Roshi, Mike McFarland, revealed a brain cancer diagnosis. While McFarland has had surgery, and it was successful, he's turned to fans for help on his road to recovery with a GoFundMe campaign.

Mike McFarland is a prolific voice actor; aside from his famed Dragon Ball roles, like Master Roshi and Yajirobe, he's also responsible for many other familiar characters, such as One Piece's Buggy, My Hero Academia's Mashiro Ojiro, Fullmetal Alchemist's Jean Havoc, and Attack on Titan's Jean Kirschtein, to name just a few. He has nearly 400 acting credits to his name on IMDb, and his work has become a part of many a fan's childhood. Now, the situation has McFarland looking for support from these fans as he faces difficult times ahead.

Mike McFarland's Journey to Recovery is Just Beginning The GoFundMe...

Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball is one of the most popular anime franchises of all time for good reason. The series' engaging mix of compelling characters, suspenseful storytelling, and unbelievable battles keep fans coming back for more. Dragon Ball’s chaos often takes place in a vacuum and the general public is able to live their lives, none the wiser – but this isn’t always the case.

Sometimes, fallout in Dragon Ball occurs on a more global scale. Goku and company do their best to contain and mitigate the wicked ways of Dragon Ball’s many villains. Between crazy plot twists, amazing fights, and killer character development, Dragon Ball's biggest moments would break the internet is social media were around when the anime was just coming out.

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Michael McFarland is a long-time voice actor and is best known for his work on English dubs of Japanese anime, including the legendary Dragon Ball series and other popular anime like One Piece, Attack on Titan, Fullmetal Alchemist, and Neon Genesis Evangelion.

Master Roshi is a defining character in the Dragon Ball series | Credits: Toei Animation

Mike McFarland is the original English voice of Master Roshi and Yajirobe in Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z. He also voiced many more characters like Buggy the Clown in One Piece, Jean Kirstein in Attack on Titan, and Makoto Hyuga in the Neon Genesis Evangelion film series.

McFarland has recently landed in unexpected trouble with his health. As for whether it is to be a boon or a bane, that depends on the generosity of Dragon Ball fans who can help raise funds for the legendary actor.

What happened to Michael McFarland?

Michael...

Dragon Ball was an iconic anime touchstone of the ‘80s and ‘90s, but now — four decades later — it continues to influence and inspire modern shonen series. The anime and manga industries would be very different without Dragon Ball and there are even certain customs from the franchise — like its signature Super Saiyan transformations — that have found their way into plenty of Western pop culture.

Dragon Ball deserves its success and enduring appeal, but this doesn’t mean that it’s a flawless franchise. In fact, there are certain details and developments in Dragon Ball that have not aged well and make it particularly painful to get through certain stretches of the series. Dragon Ball’s benefits more than outnumber its cons, but it’s still important to be aware of some of its more problematic missteps.

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Toei Animation's Dragon Ball Z...

The following contains spoilers for Dragon Ball Daima Episode 13, "Surprise".

With each new episode, Dragon Ball Daima continues to capture the spirit of adventure and excitement of journeying into the unknown in a way that hasn’t been seen since the early days of Goku and Bulma’s quest for the Dragon Balls. Dbz’s incredible action and exponentially increasing power levels were always mystifying in their own right, but there was definitely a sense of wonder lost after the Namek Saga that was never quite found again. Not only is Dragon Ball Daima bringing back that feeling, episodes like Episode 13, “Surprise”, move beyond nostalgia to offer the sense that Daima is itself journeying into new territory via Goku’s trek through the Demon Realm.

Few scenes in Dragon Ball history encompass the sense of wonder adventuring through a new world as fully as the final moments in Dragon Ball Daima...

Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball is one of the most celebrated shonen series of the past 50 years. Dragon Ball is heralded for its exaggerated action sequences, fantastical storytelling, and unforgettable villains, but none of this matters without a strong, heroic protagonist. Goku is Dragon Ball’s guiding light and he effortlessly embodies the perfect anime hero. Goku isn’t presented as a perfect person, but his flawed nature and tendency to learn from his mistakes and strive to be stronger are some of his most endearing qualities.

Goku’s courage and strength are in a league of their own, but there are plenty of Dragon Ball characters who rise to the occasion when the pressure is on. What makes Goku so special is that he’s able to accomplish things that everyone else would consider to be impossible. Goku is in his own class and his ability to overcome impossible...

Every other day, the Akira Toriyama Archive unearths rare artistic treasures from Dragon Ball's past. On Jan. 7, the franchise's staff released a particularly special gem -- one of Akira Toriyama's first attempts to "cosplay" as his Saiyan superstar, Goku.

Released on Dragon Ball's official website, the original January 1986 cover of the Toriyama-focused newsletter Bird Land Press featured a comical illustration of Akira Toriyama merrily riding his Flying Nimbus while a puzzled Goku looks on. Because this cover was created to commemorate the premiere of the Dragon Ball anime series, which initially aired on Feb. 26, 1986, Toriyama also appears with Dragon Ball animation director Minoru Maeda. Both creators are depicted wearing Goku's signature orange gi and wielding their own "nyoibo" (Power Pole). The illustration can be viewed below.

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Fans have rediscovered two long-lost forgotten video games based on...

Dragon Ball fans were recently treated to a rare piece of official artwork by Akira Toriyama, with a sketch over three decades old showcasing the original design of the Ginyu Force's cruel yet often hilarious Jeice.

The official Dragon Ball website unveiled a recent addition to the Toriyama Archives, the regular series where old and rare Akira Toriyama artwork is shown to the public for just 24 hours. The latest addition resurfaced the Ginyu Force's high-ranking Jeice, cracking one of his trademark smirks in black-and-white inked art. Readers can check it out below.

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The Dragon Ball Daima anime staff refuse to confirm the number of episodes for the 40th-anniversary series developed by the late Akira Toriyama.

Dragon Ball Releases '90s Concept Art Revealing What Jeice Originally Looked Like

The image was described: "'Akira Toriyama – The World Special' Jiece - Sketch.

By the beginning of Dragon Ball Super, Dragon Ball had amassed a gargantuan number of characters. With the anime greatly expanding the franchise's multiverse, it also introduces more new characters than any prior series. Yet, even with how packed things are, the series only has two main characters: Goku and Vegeta.

With Dragon Ball Super focusing so heavily on Goku and Vegeta, the rest of the cast are forced to fight for screentime. Apart from the Universe Survival Saga and various filler episodes, most portions of the series hardly give the supporting cast anything to do. This even applies to the most prominent of all the new characters introduced in Super, Beerus and Whis.

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Supreme Kai is...

Dragon Ball Online was an Mmo released back in 2010 by Ntl. The game is now considered to be a predecessor to other titles like Dragon Ball: Xenoverse and Dragon Ball Heroes, as the story takes place centuries after the events of Dragon Ball Z and has players creating avatars traveling back in time to revisit iconic moments from the anime and manga.

While the game's major servers shut down in 2013, it introduced a lot of eye-catching lore and additions to the Dragon Ball canon that Dragon Ball Daima seems to be expanding upon. These extra tidbits of world building could go a long way to make the world of Dragon Ball feel a lot more alive and expansive.

The Emergence of the Majin Race A Whole Species of Buus to Go Around

Dragon Ball Daima has already introduced viewers to Majin Kuu and Majin Duu, beings created by Dr. Arinsu...

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...

The Saiyan race wasn't so much as a thought in Akira Toriyama's mind when he was writing the original Dragon Ball manga. At most, he came up with the idea at some point during the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai, but it's almost entirely possible he decided on a whim to make Goku a space alien to keep the story moving. Dragon Ball Z's inaugural twist is a game-changer like no other, especially since the Saiyans are supremely powerful.

Out of nowhere, Goku's immense strength now makes perfect sense while also recontextualizing him as an underdog. Not just that, turning Goku into a Saiyan gives a few characters form the original Dragon Ball anime quite the feather in their cap. Defeating a Saiyan is no easy feat, especially one as tenacious and determined as Goku. While these characters have now been far outclassed by Goku and his fellow Saiyans, they've...

The original Dragon Ball is made up of 6 story arcs and 153 episodes. While Goku is the protagonist throughout the entire series, the characters around him vary from arc to arc. While some characters grow more prominent as Dragon Ball goes on, others fall by the wayside.

The original Dragon Ball had a vastly different core cast than Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Super, which can be seen in who appears in the most episodes. In his early days, Goku wasn't spending too much of his time with gods and aliens, but instead with friends like Krillin, Yamcha, and Bulma.

Turtle Appears in More Episodes Than Several Z-Warriors Turtle Appears in 47 Episodes

Among all of Goku's friends, Turtle is arguably the most forgettable. While saving Turtle is notable for being one of Goku's first heroic acts – and Goku never would have met Master Roshi without him – being saved by Goku...

Dragon Ball Daima is an excellent new addition to the iconic anime franchise created from Akira Toriyama’s legendary original manga series, Dragon Ball. Daima totes itself as a quasi-sequel taking place in the ten-year time skip between the final major arc of Dbz, the Buu Saga, and the final three chapters of the original series. This is far from the first of its kind, though. Dragon Ball Super also takes place within that same period of time, making the two newest entries in the franchise inseparably connected. Super has become a beloved series in its own right, due in part to Toyotarou’s manga continuation of the series that has only seemed to grow in quality over time under the guidance of Toriyama himself.

While the series was on an extended hiatus following Akira Toriyama’s passing in March of 2024, Super is confirmed to finally be returning in 2025, and...

Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball has resonated with several generations of audiences for over four decades. There’s still endless enthusiasm for Goku’s heroic adventures, inspirational training, and the breakthroughs that are experienced in battle that help characters achieve unprecedented power. All these factors resonate with Dragon Ball fans, but a series is often only as strong as its villains. Dragon Ball is fortunate enough to have some of the most memorable antagonists to ever appear in the shonen genre.

These villains are powerful and truly evil, but there are often personal stakes in play that make Goku particularly invested in their destruction. In fact, Dragon Ball creates some significant showdowns between Goku and his enemies because so many of them echo aspects of himself and operate as dark reflections. Dragon Ball’s antagonists all become much more intriguing when they’re considered through this lens and viewed as...

Yamcha has been part of the Dragon Ball franchise for four decades and is currently one of Goku's oldest friends. Although he is far from the strongest Z Fighter, Yamcha has protected the Earth multiple times and has died more than once. Yamcha is considered a comically weak character, but he is a great martial artist with superhuman physical abilities. Yamcha cannot defeat most of Dragon Ball's most notable villains, but he can defeat several villains from other anime series with relative ease.

Most of the anime villains that Yamcha can defeat are ordinary humans, which means he can overwhelm them with his superhuman strength. Yamcha can destroy moon-sized planets with special Ki blasts, which means he can reduce most villains to ash. Given his absurd strength, it is safe to say Yamcha can defeat many anime villains with a well-placed punch or kick.

Related Dragon Ball Z...

Dragon Ball features incredibly powerful heroes and villains who have reached such extreme heights that they can wipe out planets in a single attack. These are characters who cause shockwaves through the universe when their punches collide and their aura during epic transformations can alter the Earth’s weather system. Dragon Ball often focuses on incredible strength and which character is the most powerful.

However, might doesn’t always make right and some of Dragon Ball’s most valuable techniques are those that lack any physical offensive abilities. Many of Dragon Ball’s characters have gotten as far as they have because of versatile techniques that celebrate qualities beyond combat. There’s a delicate balance in Dragon Ball that puts a lot of emphasis on other skills that bolster defense, support, evasion, and more.

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Goku is one of...

Dragon Ball remains one of the biggest names in anime and manga, with the franchise recently launching the new anime series, Dragon Ball Daima. As part of its continued popularity and success, it's now collaborating with one of the most notable Japanese toy brands out there.

Via Oricon, a new line titled Dream Tomica Tomica x Dragon Ball combines Takara Tomy's legendary Tomica toy car line with Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball. Starting back at the beginning, the first two entries will represent the younger days of Goku and one of his friends. Expected for release sometime in spring, the toy vehicles bring together the best aspects of two beloved Japanese brands.

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A highly detailed Dragon Ball Z collectible diorama figure of Goku, Vegeta and their Super Saiyan fusions is now available for pre-order.

Goku's Flying Nimbus...

Although a minor character who rarely even appears in the main story, Goku's Grandpa Son Gohan was written in an incredibly unique way during the original Dragon Ball that could greatly benefit other characters if the same was applied to them. Unfortunately, the franchise has never replicated this type of dynamic again. Ironically, what resonates with me so much about Grandpa Gohan are the moments when he doesn't even appear. It's how numerous characters who Goku meets for the first time all happen to not only know but revere Gohan and consequently respect Goku more upon realizing he's Gohan's grandson.

Amplifying this is the fact that readers were already inclined to care about Grandpa Gohan or feel that he was relevant because he was the late grandfather of the series' main character, Goku. Our connection to Gohan was further intensified by Goku's sense of loss. Gohan had died years earlier,...