Dragonball originally started out as a manga by Akira Toriyama. For the manga, Toriyama based his story on the old Chinese fable, the Monkey King legends. The story was played on certain characteristics of the king, and included some elements from the legend. After a few volumes in the manga, Toriyama changed his focus and went into a more martial arts concept. Akira Toriyama based the first part of his manga, and created Dragonball, the first of three series. (So Dragonball is basically a trilogy) In Dragonball he based the monkey-king, with Goku, a saiyan boy living with his adopted grandfather, Gohan. Gohan founded Goku, within a Saiyan Space pod. In this series though, it does not mention anything about the other two races, other than humans. The Dragonball series was a hit the first time its viewers had a taste of the battle scenes. Even though the Dragonball serie was more story-focused, than on the battles, it was successfully a hit. (Even though most American viewers like the other series more, and receive it as average at best. I, personally find it to be a fairly good anime.) Dragonball actually, started out as a manga. A manga is basically, a Japanese 'comic'. The only difference is between American comics, and Japanese mangas, is that they are traditionally in black and white, rather than in colors. The manga's story only differs in a few plots and twists, and that the manga was one whole serie, instead of three series. The manga was called Dragonball, even though the serie had the story and plot of the anime Dragonball Z in it.

   Although there was only one manga, called Dragonball; there was two series named Dragonball and Dragonball Z. Dragonball focused more on the early aspects of Gokou's life, while Dragonball Z reflected the change in Toriyama's focus, set when Gokou is grown up. This series was focused more on the battles scene, which pleased just about every fan of the series. In this series, they finally tells of the race of Saiyan, and Nameks. (never before mentioned in Dragonball) Gokou was a Saiyan sent to Earth, to destroy every inhabitants, so they could sell the empty planet to eager buyers. This information was first introduced to the series, by Gokou's brother, Radditz. This serie in America is dubbed, and is toned down for a wider audience. This made the true-Dragonball fans angry, and many of them complained about how much it was cut, that they took the true "art" of the series away. Some may agree, but the series was still a huge success (I like it cut or uncut, doesn't matter to me, plus I don't know Japanese very well -_-). DBZ fans out there is still going on till this day (So far 100+ episodes of Dragonball Z have been air in America). This series was an even bigger hit than the first. (And the best to some)

   The last and final serie, is Dragonball GT. Akira this time had no affiliation with the series, other than character designs. Other than that, the story and plot, was not those of the traditional Dragonball style that Akira apparently influenced in his work. In this serie, Gokou is accidently wished back with the Black Star Dragonballs, by Pilaf as a kid. The series was fairly received, and has never aired on American soil to this day (at least maybe, not yet). Some thought the series was doomed from the start, and they may be right, since the series ended after only 65 episodes, the shortest Dragonball serie ever. Some thought that the GT serie was just an excuse to squeeze a bit more from the Dragonball francise. Others, though, like the serie the way it is.

   All of the series have already been aired in Japan, and only some of the series have been aired in America. The Dragonball Z series is aired in "seasons," which did not happened in Japan. In Japan, there were Sagas, and each saga contained a new problem and villian(s). As of now, Dragonball Z has not been shown in it's entirely. Dragonball GT has yet to be aired, but FUNimation Productions owns the right to the series.