10 Anime That Would Be Impossible Without Dragon Ball

Dragon Ball may very well be the most influential anime series ever. During the initial run of Akira Toriyama’s masterpiece manga in the 1980s, through to the major worldwide theatrical premiere of 2022’s Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, Goku and Earth’s greatest heroes have entertained and inspired generations of fans.

Among those fans have been some of the greatest manga and anime creators ever, with countless artists over the years taking the time to express how Dragon Ball has inspired their work. Some have directly referenced Goku and company in their stories. For over four decades, Dragon Ball has been incredibly influential, and these 10 anime series wouldn’t exist without it.

Jujutsu Kaisen

Animated by MAPPA, Based on the Manga by Gege Akutami

The way that Dragon Ball and its anime adaptation battled with other top Shōnen Jump titles like Fist of the North Star, Yuyu Hakusho, and Slam Dunk during the 1980s and 1990s is how Jujutsu Kaisen is currently battling the likes of One Piece and Demon Slayer.

Jujutsu Kaisen, like most other major battle shōnen stories of the last 30 years, owes quite a bit to Dragon Ball and Akira Toriyama’s groundbreaking action storytelling. With similar stylish combat and a unique power system, it’s easy to find the similarities.

Artist Gege Akutami took part in the 40th anniversary Dragon Ball celebration, drawing his own take on the manga’s 41st volume cover art and explaining that he felt honored to be included in such a project.

One-Punch Man

Animated by Madhouse and J.C.Staff, Based on the Manga by ONE

When One-Punch Man premiered in 2015, it was clear that anime’s latest smash-hit action series had arrived. Built on the tropes that series like Dragon Ball helped to establish, One Punch Man then turned around and flipped those very tropes on their head, examining them through a comedic lens while still offering top-notch action.

The series takes loving jabs at characters like Goku, who become ever stronger as the years pass, while also making good use of the many trends series like Dragon Ball popularized. One-Punch Man artist Yusuke Murata took to X to express his grief over Akira Toriyama’s passing, and shared his own drawing of Goku.

Demon Slayer

Animated by Ufotable, Based on the Manga by Koyoharu Gotouge

Much like Jujutsu Kaisen, Demon Slayer is today what Dragon Ball was during its initial run in Japan, and later in its early 2000s explosion in the West. For the past six or so years, Demon Slayer has sat comfortably atop the shōnen anime throne, and its run is only continuing with the recent release of the first Infinity Castle movie.

Dragon Ball‘s impact on today’s biggest anime smash-hit is almost tangible in the way Tanjiro and others shout the names of their major attacks, and in the show’s quickly paced, stylish action. Though artist Koyoharu Gotouge has never directly mentioned Dragon Ball as an inspiration, the series’ influence is apparent in her most famous work.

Yuyu Hakusho

Animated by Pierrot, Based on the Manga by Yoshihiro Togashi

While Dragon Ball‘s original manga was setting up to reveal Goku’s first ever Super Saiyan transformation, Yoshihiro Togashi was making his Shōnen Jump debut with Yuyu Hakusho, a title that would go on to directly compete with Dragon Ball for the top spot in the iconic manga magazine.

Though Togashi would later become better known for Hunter x Hunter, Yuyu Hakusho was a powerhouse in its own right, featuring supernatural action and a compelling adventurous narrative. Its later tournament arcs display a clear Dragon Ball influence.

Togashi expressed his admiration for Akira Toriyama on a number of occasions, also taking part in the 40th anniversary project with his own rendition of the Dragon Ball volume #5 cover art.

Bleach

Animated by Pierrot, Based on the Manga by Tite Kubo

The early and mid-2000s anime and manga industries were dominated by what fans have dubbed the ‘Big Three’, consisiting of One Piece, Naruto, and Bleach. Countless fans consider this era of Shōnen Jump to be the best ever, and there’s a common trait shared between the biggest artists of the time. They grew up with and adored Dragon Ball.

Bleach‘s Tite Kubo has expressed just how influential Dragon Ball has been to his work on a number of occasions, and he even had a longtime personal friendship with Akira Toriyama. He cited villains like Piccolo, Frieza, and Cell as major inspirations for his own villains. Kubo also took part in the Dragon Ball 40th anniversary tribute project.

Naruto

Animated by Pierrot, Based on the Manga by Masashi Kishimoto

As another member of Shōnen Jump‘s ‘Big Three’, Naruto and its creator, Masashi Kishimoto, were heavily influenced by Dragon Ball. From the naturally good and endearing protagonist, to the flashy, over-the-top action and fighting techniques, it’s evident that Naruto was created with the spirit of Dragon Ball in mind.

Kishimoto recounted his experience as a young Dragon Ball fan in an information pamphlet called “Dragon Ball Children”, and described the anticipation he and so many others had waiting for the series’ next major developments. Upon learning of Akira Toriyama’s passing, Kishimoto wrote, “For me, he was truly the God of Manga.”

One Piece

Animated by Toei Animation, Based on the Manga by Eiichiro Oda

Of Shōnen Jump‘s ‘Big Three’, the most successful and lasting title is Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece. For nearly three decades, the series has ruled the pages of the iconic magazine, while the ongoing anime series has long eclipsed the 1,000 episode mark. Like Naruto‘s Masashi Kishimoto and Bleach‘s Tite Kubo, Eiichiro Oda was also a ‘Dragon Ball kid’.

The two artists had a close personal relationship, and sat down for an interview together in 2001. As manga royalty himself, Oda’s excitement about speaking with Toriyama is incredibly endearing, going so far as to reference characters like Mercenary Tao, who Toriyama had a hard time remembering.

Luffy is very much built from the same build as Goku, and he stands as one of anime’s greatest heroes ever.

The Seven Deadly Sins

Animated by A-1 Pictures, Based on the Manga by Nakaba Suzuki

The Seven Deadly Sins anime series debuted in 2014 and rose to immediate fame thanks to a high-quality blend of action, comedy, and fantasy, in which likable and interesting characters take part in a compelling narrative. Though its fantasy setting may be more traditional than that of Dragon Ball‘s, the influence is undeniably present.

Artist Nakaba Suzuki has expressed his love for Dragon Ball throughout his professional career, and also took part in sharing his experiences with the series in the “Dragon Ball Children” information pamphlet. Though their premises may be quite a bit different, Suzuki has stated that Dragon Ball led him to wanting to become a manga artist.

My Hero Academia

Animated by Bones, Based on the Manga by Kohei Horikoshi

My Hero Academia‘s premiere predates most of the modern major shōnen anime and manga titles, though with its final season on the horizon, it remains one of the biggest names in the industry. Like others, the series utilizes many of the trends and tropes Dragon Ball helped establish during its initial ’80s and ’90s run.

From its character designs, their personalities, powers and abilities–Dragon Ball can be seen throughout several aspects of My Hero Academia. Horikoshi has mentioned the series as a major influence on his work, and also took part in Dragon Ball‘s 40th anniversary tribute project.

Gintama

Animated by Sunrise and Bandai Namco Pictures, Based on the Manga by Hideaki Sorachi

Gintama, in its entirety, is a love letter to shōnen anime and manga. On countless occasions, the series has directly referenced Dragon Ball, especially on the anime side of things, with nods, spoofs, and jokes about Akira Toriyama’s masterpiece manga. Creator Hideaki Sorachi has cited Dragon Ball as a major influence.

When Akira Toriyama passed away, Sorachi shared a heartfelt message, explaining that works like Dragon Ball and Dragon Quest were worlds in which he grew up. Gintama pays tribute to a number of classic anime titles, and among them is the endlessly iconic Dragon Ball.