Ultimate Guide: How To Watch The Dragon Ball Series In Order

Diving into the Dragon Ball series can be daunting for newcomers and long-time fans. The order you choose to watch the shows can affect how much you understand and enjoy the story. This guide outlines different ways to watch the series, whether following the story chronologically or sticking to the main events. Picking the right order can help you better understand how the characters evolve and the story unfolds.

How To Watch Dragon Ball Series In Order

Chronological order

To get the full Dragon Ball story, it’s best to watch it in order. Start with ‘Dragon Ball.’ Young Goku begins his journey here, discovering his powers and the world around him. This series lays the groundwork for everything that comes after. Next up is Dragon Ball Z. This series ramps up the action with bigger fights and more dramatic transformations, and it’s a step up in intensity from the original.

Then, move on to ‘Dragon Ball Super.’ The battles reach an even larger scale, stretching across the universe. The stakes are high, and the action is intense. Along the way, fit in the movies where they belong in the timeline. They add more layers to the story and the characters. Watching in this order lets you see how the characters grow and how the story builds on what came before. It’s the best way to appreciate Goku’s journey and how the other important characters evolve.

Canon order

To get the Dragon Ball series as the creators planned, start with ‘Dragon Ball.’ This is where Goku’s story kicks off. You’ll meet essential characters and set the stage for everything that comes after. Then, move on to ‘Dragon Ball Z’ or ‘Dragon Ball Z Kai.’ The latter cuts out the filler, making it a quicker watch. This part dives into deeper character stories and some intense fights. Next up is Dragon Ball Super. This picks up after Majin Buu is defeated and introduces new, powerful transformations and universes.

Just a heads up, ‘Dragon Ball GT’ isn’t part of the main story. It’s a different path that follows after ‘Dragon Ball Z.’ So, it’s optional but still fun if you want more from the Dragon Ball world.

Recommended Order to Watch Dragon Ball Series

To get the full Dragon Ball experience, start with ‘Dragon Ball.’ It’s where everything begins.

After that, you can watch ‘Dragon Ball Z’ or ‘Dragon Ball Kai.’ ‘Kai’ is just a shorter version of ‘Z.’

Next up, give ‘Dragon Ball GT’ a try. It’s a bit different and not everyone’s favorite, but it adds to the story.

Then, move on to ‘Dragon Ball Super.’ It picks up the story and adds new adventures.

Finish with the movie ‘Dragon Ball Super: Broly.’ It wraps things up and shows some great character developments.

This order helps you see how the characters grow and how the big stories unfold.

Dragon Ball (1986-1989)

Starting with the original ‘Dragon’ Ball series from 1986 to 1989 is critical to understanding the characters and the story. This show introduces us to Goku, a young martial artist with a monkey tail and incredible strength. Over 153 episodes, we follow Goku as he searches for the magical Dragon Balls, which can summon a dragon to grant any wish.

Along the way, Goku meets new friends and faces tough enemies, including the Red Ribbon Army and King Piccolo. He also fights in exciting martial arts tournaments.

This first series lays the groundwork for the characters’ growth and establishes important relationships throughout the Dragon Ball saga.

Dragon Ball Z (1989-1996) or Dragon Ball Kai (2009-2011 & 2014-2015)

After ‘Dragon Ball,’ we get ‘Dragon Ball Z’ (1989-1996) and ‘Dragon Ball Kai’ (2009-2011 & 2014-2015).

Here, we dive deeper into Goku’s story and meet some vital new faces. ‘Dragon Ball Z’ gives us a rich look at its world with fierce fights, new abilities, and a closer look at Saiyan roots.

‘Dragon Ball Kai’ cuts out the extra stuff and focuses more on the main story, making everything faster and clearer. Both show the big chapters like Saiyan, Frieza, Cell, and Majin Buu, each adding a lot to the world and Goku’s journey as a fighter and a person.

Dragon Ball GT (1996-1997)

After diving into the rich stories of ‘Dragon Ball’ and ‘Dragon, ‘ the series took a different path with ‘Dragon Ball GT’, which aired from 1996 to 1997. Unlike previous series, this one wasn’t based on Akira Toriyama’s original manga.

‘Dragon Ball GT’ brings in the Black Star Dragon Balls, kicking off an adventure that spans the galaxy. The series brings back Goku, but this time, he’s turned back into a kid because of these powerful orbs. One big highlight is the introduction of Super Saiyan 4, which pushes past the limits set by earlier series.

Though ‘Dragon Ball GT’ adds a unique twist to the Dragon Ball story, it’s a bit controversial among fans.

Dragon Ball Super (2015-2018)

‘Dragon Ball Super’ shows where the story left off after Majin Buu’s defeat. In this series, Goku and his friends face new challenges and transformations. The show brings back favourite characters and introduces tough new enemies and complex stories. It features several exciting sagas like the Battle of Gods, the Resurrection ‘F’ saga, and the Universe Survival saga. These add a lot to the story and character growth.

The series also brings in the idea of multiple universes, making the Dragon Ball world even bigger. Fans can look forward to thrilling fights, clever tactics, and seeing their favourite characters grow.

Dragon Ball Super: Broly (2018)

‘Dragon Ball Super: Broly’ (2018) is a thrilling addition to the Dragon Ball series. It offers a fresh look at the Saiyan race and its backstory. The film brings back Broly, a previously non-canonical character, redefines his story and incredible strength.

It touches on the destruction of Planet Vegeta and the ongoing feud among Saiyan families. Broly’s powerful abilities emerge, sparking fierce fights with Goku, Vegeta, and Frieza. The animation is top-notch, and the battles are engaging.

Additional Tips for Watching Dragon Ball Series

Dragon Ball Characters to Know

Getting to know the main characters in Dragon Ball is crucial for really getting into the story. Goku is at the centre of it all. He starts as a young fighter and grows into a mighty Saiyan warrior, shaping the series. Important characters like Vegeta, Bulma, and Piccolo also change significantly over time, playing big roles in the story and battles. Then you have the bad guys like Frieza, Cell, and Majin Buu. These villains bring big challenges that push the story forward.

There’s also a group of supporting characters like Krillin, Gohan, and Trunks. They’re not just there for show; they have their essential moments and victories. Understanding who these characters are and how they connect with each other makes the show much more enjoyable. It helps you see why they do what they do and how they fit into the bigger picture.

Where to Watch Dragon Ball Series?

We’ve covered the critical characters in the Dragon Ball universe, so let’s discuss where to watch the series and movies.

Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, and Dragon Ball Super are available on Funimation, Crunchyroll, and Hulu. Each platform might have different parts of the series, so it’s a good idea to check each one to see what they have.

For example, Hulu has the original Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z Kai. If you want to get the full picture of the characters, start with Dragon Ball. Also, using JustWatch can help you find out where specific titles are streaming or available to buy.

How to Skip Dragon Ball GT if Desired?

If you want to stick to the main story, skip Dragon Ball GT. It wasn’t written by the original creator, Akira Toriyama, and many fans don’t see it as part of the main storyline.

Just move from Dragon Ball Z or Dragon Ball Z Kai right into Dragon Ball Super to keep things simple. This way, you follow the story as it was meant to be, continuing right after the Majin Buu Saga from Dragon Ball Z, which matches the manga.

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Conclusion

In conclusion, there are several ways to watch the Dragon Ball series, and each method offers perks. You can watch the shows in the order they were released, skip the extra scenes, or view them from the beginning to follow the story chronologically. Depending on what you prefer, each option gives you a complete and enjoyable experience.

It’s a good idea to start with the original ‘Dragon Ball,’ then move on to ‘Dragon Ball Z’ or ‘Dragon Ball Z Kai,’ and then explore ‘Dragon Ball Super’ and ‘Dragon Ball GT.’ If you want to make your watching experience smoother, you can use tools like JustWatch to find where the series is streaming and find guides that help you skip the filler episodes.

Sara Sabrena

Sara Sabrena is an experienced content writer and a passionate movie fan. She loves analyzing movies and writes engaging reviews and in-depth analyses of films, from independent ones to big blockbusters. With her background in literature and media studies, Sara adds depth and her own unique viewpoint to her writing.