Dragon Ball was originally a comic that was serialized in the magazine, Shuukan Shonen Jump, or Weekly Boy's Jump starting in 1984. Later, due to popular demand, a cartoon TV series was launched, as well as Dragon Ball animated movies (14 in all).

The TV series, which basically followed the book series but adding in more detail and some new plot, was initially called Dragon Ball and then was renamed Dragon Ball Z after Goku defeated Evil Piccolo Jr. and married Chichi. The movies also changed their name from DB to DBZ.

After the comic series, which was always called "Dragon Ball," ended in 1995, the TV show and the movies wrapped up. A new DB TV series, based on totally new stories, aired at the same time slot, Dragon Ball GT.

Young Son Goku on his Kintoun (Cloud).

The main character of Dragon Ball is Son Goku, who starts off at the beginning of the story as a young boy. As the story unfolds through various adventures, we see him grow up and become an adult. He is learned in the art of kung-fu (gong-fu) from his step father, Son Gohan; and through his subsequent training (shugyou), he absorbs a tremendous amount of skills and special techniques.

The characteristic features of Goku is his explosive hair and, in the beginning, his tail (he loses his tail later on). The story begins when he fatefully encounters a teen-age girl named Bulma. She is out in search for the legendary Dragon Balls, which are 7 crystal spheres with the corresponding number of stars in them. If one collects all of them and invokes the Shenlon, a large dragon appears, granting the discoverer one wish. After the wish is given, the balls shoot up in the air, scattering all over the world, and they turn into stone until they reactivate a year later. She coaxes Goku to come along on her journey. Thus begins the Dragon Ball saga.

The story continues as Goku and company encounter many new adventures. They prevent a plot to take over the earth. Goku furthers his martial arts training and enters a championship martial arts tournament. He tangles with the world's most ruthless organization, the Red Ribbon Army.

Tambourine takes a big hit

Later, he is faced with the evil Piccolo Daimao, who is planning to recreate a hell on earth. Afterwards, following more years of training, a grown-up Goku enters another tournament, and the final match becomes a matter of life and death for himself and the planet. It is during this game where Goku abruptly marries.

Then comes... excuse me for a moment. Zuru, zuru, churu, chupa. Mogu mogu. Ah, instant ramen noodles! Good stuff. Well, maybe not for my health, but hey. OK, where were we? Ah yes. Then comes the Saiyajin invasion, whence Goku fights off aliens (they look just like humans) that are trying to take over earth. At this junction, the TV series is renamed Dragon Ball Z. In addition, at this time, we find out that Goku has a son, Gohan (named after his step father). The Saiyajin invasion touches off a whole new phase of Dragon Ball, when Goku and Co. battle space invaders and the cruel Freezer.

Kuririn about to throw Goku's Genkidama

Goku battles Freezer

During this time, Goku is able to reach the Super Saiyajin level of power, which increases his strength manyfold. Back on earth, our friends are informed of the impending arrival of civilization- destroying androids by a character from the future named Trunks. While Goku and his comrades are concentrating on these androids, an even more worrisome development occurs; a biologically-created warrior named Cell begins marauding around.

However, unlike the androids, Cell is a real threat. After the evil machinations of Cell are averted, the story jumps 7 years. At this junction, Gohan has become a high schooler, and also has a little brother, Goten, who was born after the Cell episode. During another TenkaichiBudoukai tournament, where the dragon warriors are united again, an incident occurs that involves them in a new adventure involving a cowardly, cold sorcerer creature who conjures up a monster named Buu.

Evil Buu vs. Good Buu

The fight with Buu takes us to the end of the long, epic story known as Dragon Ball. Throughout the story, the Dragon Balls become the targets of evil villains and also save the butts of our heroic friends. Well, that's the story, which I have boiled down quite a bit. I hope I didn't make the story sound too corny; if it does, then you just have to experience it yourself. I also tried to describe the events without giving away too much info, in case you want to watch/read Dragon Ball. For more detailed info about the characters, check out the Characters Page.