Dragon Ball Z

Now happily married and with a son, martial arts champion Goku must defend Earth from a series of extraterrestrial invaders bent on destruction.

Dragon Ball Z (1989-1996) is a Japanese animated shonen action series produced by Toei Animation and broadcast on Fuji TV, running nine seasons and 291 episodes. Martial artist Goku (voiced by Masako Nozawa) is now a married father who must keep defending Earth against a parade of extraterrestrial invaders. Goku's rival Vegeta (Ryo Horikawa) and the wary Piccolo (Toshio Furukawa) join the fight alongside the earthling Krillin (Mayumi Tanaka), and the engine of the show is escalation: each saga pits the heroes against a stronger foe, forcing new transformations and grueling training regimens. Episodes are built from long, kinetic fights, rapid power-up sequences and comic interludes with the family and friends who keep the stakes personal. The series is serialized in sagas that build toward a larger threat, giving it a long-form, cumulative momentum. Its tone is earnest and optimistic, with bright colors and cheerful humor softening the bloody, high-intensity battles. Fans of Dragon Ball, One Piece, Yu Yu Hakusho and Naruto will find the same mix of sincere friendship and relentless combat.

Viewers broadly acclaim the series as a long-running, high-energy action saga whose tournament battles and escalating power levels deliver the franchise's signature appeal.

• Dragon Ballshared shonen action, martial arts tournaments and escalating power battles against alien threats
• One Pieceshared shonen battle format, escalating power levels and rival-driven heroic action
• Yu Yu Hakushoshared long-running shonen structure with recurring tournaments and rivalry-fueled training arcs
• Narutoshared shonen martial arts action with rivalry and self-improvement through combat

Release Date

1989-04-26

Episode runtime

26 min

Rating

8.8 / 10 (5043)

What is Dragon Ball Z about?

Now a married father, martial arts champion Goku keeps defending Earth against a string of extraterrestrial invaders bent on destruction.

What is Dragon Ball Z like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Dragon Ball Z as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.

Is Dragon Ball Z violent?

Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Dragon Ball Z as moderate.

What did critics think of Dragon Ball Z?

Viewers broadly acclaim the series as a long-running, high-energy action saga whose tournament battles and escalating power levels deliver the franchise's signature appeal.

Which shows are like Dragon Ball Z?

Shows with a similar feel include Dragon Ball, One Piece, Yu Yu Hakusho, and Naruto.

How long is Dragon Ball Z?

Dragon Ball Z: 9 seasons, 291 episodes.

Is Dragon Ball Z still running?

No, Dragon Ball Z has ended.

Where can I watch Dragon Ball Z?

In United States, Dragon Ball Z streams on Crunchyroll, Crunchyroll Amazon Channel.