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The primary serialized manga and television adaptations that form the series canon.

Dragon Ball (manga)

Dragon Ball is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Akira Toriyama. Originally serialized in Shueisha's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1984 to 1995, the 519 individual chapters were collected in 42 tankōbon volumes. Dragon Ball was inspired by the Chinese novel Journey to the West and Hong Kong martial arts films. It initially had a comedy focus but later became an action-packed fighting series. The story follows the adventures of Son Goku, from childhood to adulthood, as he trains in martial arts and explores the world in search of the Dragon Balls, seven magical orbs which summon a wish-granting dragon when gathered. Along his journey, Goku makes several friends and battles villains, many of whom also seek the Dragon Balls.

Dragon Ball (TV series)

Dragon Ball is a Japanese anime television series produced by Toei Animation. It ran for a total of 153 episodes on Fuji Television and its FNS affiliates from February 26, 1986, to April 19, 1989. The series adapts first 194 chapters of the manga series Dragon Ball by Akira Toriyama, which was published in Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1984 to 1995. The anime was broadcast in 81 countries worldwide and is the first animated television series in the Dragon Ball franchise. It follows the adventures of Goku, a young eccentric boy with a monkey tail and exceptional strength who has a passion for fighting and battling enemies.

Dragon Ball Z

Dragon Ball Z (DBZ) is a Japanese anime television series produced by Toei Animation. Part of the Dragon Ball media franchise, it serves as a direct sequel to the 1986 Dragon Ball television series, adapting the remaining 325 chapters of the manga series Dragon Ball by Akira Toriyama. The series aired in Japan on Fuji Television and its FNS affiliates from April 1989 to January 1996 and was later dubbed for broadcast in at least 81 countries worldwide.

Dragon Ball Super

Dragon Ball Super is a Japanese manga series written by Akira Toriyama and illustrated by Toyotarou. Set during the time frame of Toriyama's original Dragon Ball manga, it follows the adventures of Son Goku and his friends during the ten-year timeskip after the defeat of Majin Boo. After meeting the destructive deity Beerus, and attaining the power of a god, Goku ends up traveling to other universes. It began serialization in Shueisha's monthly shōnen manga magazine V Jump in June 2015, and is currently on hiatus following Toriyama's death in March 2024. Viz Media has licensed the series for release in North America.

Dragon Ball GT

Dragon Ball GT is a Japanese anime television series based on Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball manga franchise that ran from February 1996 to November 1997. Produced by Toei Animation, the series premiered in Japan on Fuji Television and its FNS affiliates, running for a total of 64 episodes. Unlike Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z, the previous two television adaptations in the Dragon Ball media franchise, Dragon Ball GT does not adapt the manga. It serves as an anime-exclusive sequel to the Dragon Ball Z anime series, with an original story incorporating the same characters and universe. It follows the exploits of Son Goku, the series' main protagonist who is turned back into a child due to a Black Star Dragon Ball wish. After discovering that if they do not recollect all the balls within one year, the Earth will explode, Goku, his granddaughter Pan, and Trunks set off to traverse the universe in an attempt to find them.