Originating with the Dragon Ball manga in late 1984, the Dragon Ball canon runs popular to this very day. While the publication of the manga has been off and on for years, the original appeal has remained remarkably consistent. From the early stages of protagonist Goku’s life to his mastery of angel-level techniques, the Dragon Ball series has been one of the biggest international smashes in anime. Even today, with no animated series running, the property remains strong. So, what is it that made Dragon Ball stand the test of time where so many others blossomed, and then faded into obscurity?
The OG
The first series in what would become the Dragon Ball saga was much different from what the series would become. Starting out, the manga borrowed heavily from the Chinese classic Journey to the West, with Goku taking the place of the famed monkey king. This was a story of adventure, meant to last one major arc as Goku and his growing group of friends tracks down the eponymous wish-granting dragon balls.
It didn’t last this way for long, however, as creator Akira Toriyama saw significant jumps in interest whenever he leaned into the martial arts aspects of the story. Essentially creating what became known as tournament arcs in anime, people became invested in Goku as he grew as a fighter and faced increasingly dangerous threats. From local bullies to entire armies, Goku's journey kept the manga running for years, right up until later-adulthood.
It was the introduction of the animated series following an older Goku, titled Dragon Ball Z, that proved the most important step. At this point, something about the scale of the action allowed the story to reach far beyond its mostly Japanese roots. On August 31st, 1998, Dragon Ball Z premiered on the Cartoon Network block Toonami. It proved an overnight sensation in the West, with similar attention being given from Latin America and even the Middle East.
From this point onwards, at least on an animated level, Dragon Ball would always have a place. However, this place took a hiatus in April of 2003, when the final DBZ episode would play in English. Until the start of the Dragon Ball Super anime in 2017, all Dragon Ball fans had to keep them happy was related media and the united belief that Dragon Ball GT should be stricken from the record. Yet, despite over a decade of waiting, Dragon Ball's popularity never waned.
Multi-Faceted Support
Arguably the largest contributor to DB’s continued success was indirect, coming from the growing international success of anime. Due in no small part to DBZ’s appeal, the floodgates began to open, and increasingly more shows made the jump to worldwide shores. Aided by the age of the internet, subs, dubs, and even outside media relating to anime would build an overall culture of appreciation and acceptance.
One of the strongest illustrations of this in action was the Avatar: The Last Airbender animated series. While not Japanese in origin, the obviously anime-inspired visual design was a big part of the show’s initial hook. Going on to become one of the best-rated animated shows of all time, Avatar would play an important part in widening anime’s potential scope.
It wasn’t just animation that got in on this idea either, as outside media has also increasingly turned to anime influence. One such illustration of this idea could be found in slot games like Cherry Blossoms and Dragon Dance which, while unrelated to Dragon Ball, still utilize anime imagery and themes to draw players in. Accepted as a casual part of enormous libraries, usage in cases like these demonstrates how far anime has come.
In a more direct sense, we'd be remiss if we didn't touch on how much video games have played a part in Dragon Ball's long-term fame. As of this article, the total number of Dragon Ball games has just crossed the threshold into triple digits, with no signs of slowing down. Recently demonstrated by the undeniably gorgeous Dragon Ball FighterZ, the cross-section of anime/game enthusiasts was a huge help in keeping the property fresh.
Entering 2021, Dragon Ball still exists as a manga in Super, but there’s no official announcement yet of a new animated series. While an adaption of the manga is effectively a guarantee at this point, the past makes it abundantly clear that there's no rush. At this point in its life, Dragon Ball has effectively become an ingrained part of certain cultures, and this fascination has so far made it immune to the challenges of time. Dragon Ball isn't just about screaming and punching, it's one of anime's strongest foundations, and it’s not going anywhere.