The Complete History of Dragon Ball: From Kid Goku to DAIMA and Dragon Ball Super
Since its debut in 1984, Dragon Ball has become much more than a manga: it is a global phenomenon that has accompanied several generations of fans.
From the meeting between Goku and Bulma to the battles against Frieza, Cell, and Majin Buu, then to Dragon Ball Super and Dragon Ball DAIMA, the universe imagined by Akira Toriyama has never stopped growing.
Here is the story of Dragon Ball from the very beginning to the new releases announced for 2026, with the major sagas, characters, transformations, and moments that have shaped the franchise.
No. The original story of Akira Toriyama’s manga does have a conclusion, but the Dragon Ball universe continues to evolve. After Dragon Ball DAIMA, the franchise continues to expand, notably around Dragon Ball Super and new animated projects.
Dragon Ball: How It All Began
It all begins with Son Goku, a young boy with extraordinary strength who lives alone in the mountains. He was taken in and raised by his adoptive grandfather, Son Gohan.
His life changes when he meets Bulma, a young scientist searching for the seven mysterious Dragon Balls.
Once brought together, these balls can summon the sacred dragon Shenron, who can grant a wish.
Goku happens to own one of them: the four-star Dragon Ball, a precious keepsake from his grandfather.
before the immense cosmic battles, the series is first and foremost an adventure full of humor, martial arts, journeys, strange creatures, and discoveries.
The Major Sagas of the First Dragon Ball
The Search for the Dragon Balls
Goku and Bulma set off on an adventure and meet Oolong, Yamcha, and Puar, among others. Their quest eventually leads them to Emperor Pilaf.
The 21st Tenkaichi Budokai
Goku and Krillin become Master Roshi’s students and take part in the great World Martial Arts Tournament. Goku realizes that there is always someone stronger than him.
The Red Ribbon Army
Goku single-handedly faces a powerful military organization that is also searching for the Dragon Balls. This adventure notably introduces Tao Pai Pai and Korin Tower.
The 22nd Tenkaichi Budokai
Goku reunites with his friends and faces new fighters, including Tien Shinhan. Rivalry gradually gives way to respect.
King Piccolo
After Krillin's death, Goku faces a much darker threat: the demon King Piccolo, determined to take control of the world.
Piccolo Junior
A few years later, Goku, now a young adult, faces Piccolo Junior at the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai. This battle brings the first great era of Dragon Ball to a close.
Did you grow up with Goku?
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Discover Dragon Ball wall artDragon Ball Z: Goku discovers his true origins
Dragon Ball Z radically changes the scale of the story. Goku is now an adult, father of Son Gohan, and discovers that he is not human.
His real name is Kakarot and he belongs to the Saiyan people, a race of warriors from space.
Raditz reveals Goku's past
Raditz arrives on Earth and tells Goku that he is his brother. To save Son Gohan, Goku and Piccolo are forced to fight together.
Vegeta and Nappa arrive on Earth
One year later, two new Saiyans arrive: Nappa and Vegeta, the prince of the Saiyans. The battle leaves a lasting mark on the heroes and turns Vegeta into one of the central characters of the entire franchise.
Namek and Frieza: the birth of the Super Saiyan
After the battle against the Saiyans, Bulma, Krillin and Gohan head to the planet Namek to use its Dragon Balls.
They discover that the tyrant Frieza is also searching for the Dragon Balls in the hope of gaining immortality.
This saga becomes one of the most famous in the entire history of manga.
after Krillin dies before his eyes, Goku unleashes his anger and transforms for the first time into a Super Saiyan.
The Androids and Cell: Gohan takes over
After Frieza, a mysterious young man from the future, Trunks, warns Goku of the imminent arrival of fearsome androids.
This threat eventually leads to the appearance of Cell, an artificial being created from the cells of several fighters.
Cell then organizes the famous Cell Games and invites the best warriors to come and face him.
When his anger erupts, Gohan reaches the Super Saiyan 2 level and reveals a power even his father had never achieved.
Majin Buu: the final great saga of the original manga
Several years after Cell, Gohan leads the life of a student and takes part in the Tenkaichi Budokai. But the wizard Babidi attempts to awaken an extremely dangerous being: Majin Buu.
The saga notably introduces the fusion of Goten and Trunks into Gotenks, Vegeta's return under Babidi's influence, and the fusion of Goku and Vegeta through the Potara to form Vegito.
After various transformations, Majin Buu finally returns to his most dangerous form: Kid Buu.
Goku defeats him with a gigantic Spirit Bomb powered by the energy of Earth's inhabitants.
The original story then jumps ahead ten years. Goku meets Uub, Buu's human reincarnation, and decides to leave to train him. It is with this new adventure that the original manga comes to a close.
Dragon Ball DAIMA: a return to adventure and the Demon Realm
In 2024, for Dragon Ball's 40th anniversary, a brand-new series appears: Dragon Ball DAIMA.
Akira Toriyama was directly involved in the original concept, story, and character design.
Following a mysterious conspiracy, Goku and several of his companions are transformed into miniature versions. Their journey leads them into the mysterious Demon Realm.
The series deliberately reconnects with the spirit of adventure from the early days: new worlds, never-before-seen Dragon Balls, original characters, and spectacular battles.
The series concluded in February 2025 after its adventure in the Demon Realm. It now stands as an important chapter in the modern history of Dragon Ball.
Dragon Ball Super: Gods, Multiverse and Ultra Instinct
Dragon Ball Super considerably expands the universe after the battle against Majin Buu. Goku and Vegeta no longer fight only to protect Earth: their adventures now involve entire universes.
Battle of Gods
Beerus, the God of Destruction, awakens and searches for the mysterious Super Saiyan God. Goku then discovers a whole new dimension of power.
The Return of Frieza
The tyrant is resurrected and returns with a new transformation. Goku and Vegeta must then master their divine powers.
The Tournament of Universes
Beerus and his brother Champa organize a tournament between the fighters of Universes 6 and 7.
Trunks and Goku Black
Trunks returns from the future to ask for help against an enemy who strangely has Goku's appearance.
The Tournament of Power
Teams from different universes face off for their survival. Goku reveals one of his most famous techniques there: Ultra Instinct.
Dragon Ball Super: Broly
Goku and Vegeta meet Broly, a Saiyan whose power seems almost limitless. The film also introduces Gogeta into this continuity.
The Dragon Ball Super manga goes even further
The manga continues the story beyond the Tournament of Power with several major arcs.
The Galactic Patrol Prisoner
Goku and Vegeta face the formidable Moro, an enemy capable of absorbing the energy of planets.
Granolah the Survivor
Granolah seeks revenge against the Saiyans and Frieza, while Goku and Vegeta continue to develop their new techniques.
Super Hero
The return of the Red Ribbon Army places Piccolo and Gohan at the center of the action against Gamma 1, Gamma 2, and Cell Max.
Gohan Beast and Orange Piccolo
This period brings Gohan and Piccolo back to the forefront with new transformations that quickly became popular with fans.
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View the Dragon Ball collection Discover all Manga wall artDragon Ball GT: where does it fit in the story?
Aired from 1996, Dragon Ball GT long served as the television sequel to Dragon Ball Z.
However, the series is not adapted from the original manga and develops its own continuity.
It imagines Goku turned back into a child and sends him on a space adventure with Trunks and Pan.
GT notably introduces: Baby, Super Android 17, the Shadow Dragons and the famous Super Saiyan 4 transformation.
It is simpler to consider Dragon Ball GT as a distinct television branch, while Dragon Ball Super and DAIMA develop other stories around the universe imagined by Akira Toriyama.
Dragon Ball in 2026: the story continues
More than forty years after its debut, Dragon Ball continues to reinvent itself. The year 2026 is especially important for fans.
Dragon Ball Super: Beerus
A new enhanced edition of the first part of Dragon Ball Super will arrive in fall 2026.
It offers a reworked narrative, many redrawn scenes, and a modernized visual presentation of the conflict between Goku and Beerus.
Dragon Ball Super: The Galactic Patrol
A new animated production has also been officially announced.
It is set to continue Dragon Ball Super around the Galactic Patrol, paving the way for a part of the story previously known mainly to manga readers.
talking today about “the entire story of Dragon Ball from beginning to end” is almost impossible: Dragon Ball has not finished writing its story.
The essential Dragon Ball characters
Son Goku
A Saiyan raised on Earth, always seeking opponents and new challenges.
Vegeta
Prince of the Saiyans and Goku’s longtime rival, whose evolution is one of the most important in the saga.
Son Gohan
Goku’s son, able to unleash extraordinary power when he surpasses his limits.
Piccolo
First an opponent of Goku, he gradually becomes an essential ally and Gohan’s mentor.
Bulma
A brilliant scientist whose inventions and quest for the Dragon Balls have been essential since the very first chapter.
Krillin
Goku’s best friend and one of the most important human fighters in the story.
Trunks
Son of Vegeta and Bulma. His future version remains one of the saga’s most memorable entrances.
Frieza
One of the most iconic and enduring enemies in the Dragon Ball universe.
Dragon Ball’s most memorable moments
The first summoning of Shenron
The dream of bringing together the seven Dragon Balls becomes reality and reveals all the magic of the series’ universe.
The Goku vs. Piccolo fight
The 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai marks the end of Goku’s youth and directly sets up Dragon Ball Z.
Goku becomes Super Saiyan
Facing Frieza on Namek, Goku’s anger triggers one of the most famous transformations in the history of Japanese animation.
Gohan reaches Super Saiyan 2
During the Cell Games, Gohan surpasses his father and becomes the true hero of the fight against Cell.
The sacrifice of Majin Vegeta
Vegeta accepts sacrificing himself to try to protect his family and the Earth. An essential scene in his personal evolution.
The Spirit Bomb against Kid Buu
The entire Earth symbolically takes part in the final battle by giving its energy to Goku.
Ultra Instinct
In Dragon Ball Super, Goku reaches a state where his body can react almost independently of his mind.
Dragon Ball: a saga turned icon of manga décor
Dragon Ball no longer lives only in manga, animated episodes, or video games. For many fans, the saga is part of their personal story.
A Dragon Ball wall art piece lets you bring that energy into a bedroom, office, contemporary living room, or gaming space.
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Explore the Dragon Ball collectionFAQ: the complete history of Dragon Ball
When did Dragon Ball begin?
Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball manga began publication in Japan in 1984. It would later give rise to several animated adaptations, films, video games, and spin-off series.
In what order should you watch Dragon Ball?
To discover the main story, you can start with Dragon Ball, then Dragon Ball Z. You can then explore Dragon Ball DAIMA, Dragon Ball Super, and the films connected to Super. Dragon Ball GT is a separate television continuity.
When does Goku become a Super Saiyan for the first time?
Goku becomes a Super Saiyan for the first time during his fight against Frieza on planet Namek, after Krillin's death.
Does Gogeta appear during the Majin Buu saga?
In the Majin Buu saga, Goku and Vegeta fuse with the Potara earrings to become Vegito. Gogeta is a different fusion, performed through the Fusion Dance, and appears notably in Dragon Ball Super: Broly.
Is Dragon Ball DAIMA finished?
Yes. The Dragon Ball DAIMA series ended in February 2025. It tells an adventure in the Demon Realm during which Goku and several of his companions are transformed into miniature versions.
Is Dragon Ball Super continuing in 2026?
Yes. The Dragon Ball Super universe continues to be the focus of new projects. A new edition titled Dragon Ball Super: Beerus is announced for October 2026, and Dragon Ball Super: The Galactic Patrol is also in production.
Is Dragon Ball GT part of the same continuity as Dragon Ball Super?
Dragon Ball GT was designed as a television sequel to Dragon Ball Z but does not come from the original manga. Dragon Ball Super develops a different continuity around stories originally created or supervised by Akira Toriyama.
Who is the main character in Dragon Ball?
Son Goku remains the central character of the franchise, although several major arcs also place Gohan, Vegeta, Piccolo, or other heroes in the spotlight.
Who is the final major enemy in Dragon Ball Z?
The final major opponent in Dragon Ball Z is Kid Buu, an extremely dangerous form of Majin Buu. Goku defeats him with the Spirit Bomb.
Dragon Ball: a story that still has not had its final say
What began in 1984 as the fun quest of a young boy with a monkey tail and a scientist searching for seven magic balls has become one of pop culture's most influential sagas.
Goku has grown up, started a family, discovered his Saiyan origins, and faced tyrants, cyborgs, gods, and even fighters from other universes.
And more than forty years after Goku and Bulma's first meeting, the adventure still continues in 2026.
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