Dragon Ball, by the legendary manga artist Akira Toriyama, is among the hottest anime franchises on the earth, persevering with to captivate new generations of followers regardless of the passage of time. In consequence, for many years, Son Goku’s journey has been a supply of inspiration for quite a few subsequent anime collection.
Nevertheless, for the latest followers and people who grew up watching Goku combat and elevating their palms to present him their power with every Spirit Bomb, it is unattainable to seek out one other anime that fills the void left by Dragon Ball. Nonetheless, Akira Toriyama influenced a whole era of manga artists who adopted Dragon Ball‘s instance when crafting their works.
From their resemblance to Akira Toriyama’s writing type, their epic fights crammed with adrenaline, and characters that make viewers giggle out loud, a few of these anime aren’t solely animation masterpieces with unbelievable tales but in addition titles that Dragon Ball‘s followers should not miss.
Solo Leveling
Solo Leveling has just lately achieved large worldwide recognition as the final word energy fantasy, which makes it an awesome follow-up collection for Dragon Ball followers. Whereas Sung Jinwoo later reached an unbeatable state after leveling up, his beginnings had been a easy muscle exercise, very like with Saitama and Goku.
Regardless of being based mostly on a Korean novel, Solo Leveling‘s manhwa and anime have included references to Dragon Ball, proving the worldwide affect of Akira Toriyama’s story in shaping the brand new era of anime. Moreover, Solo Leveling not solely options unbelievable battle sequences but in addition a number of the finest animation that no motion fan ought to miss.
Kinnikuman: Excellent Origin Arc
Regardless of Akira Toriyama’s work being also known as the daddy of shōnen manga, Kinnikuman performed an enormous position in Dragon Ball‘s later success by pioneering lots of the tropes within the style. Dragon Ball later beat Kinnikuman, however the anime is a basic crammed with thrilling fights that parody actual WWE competitions.
A enjoyable anime, filled with motion, gags, distinctive character design, and that includes an alien protagonist and interspace tournaments, Kinnikuman is right for Dragon Ball followers. Whereas Kinnikuman was initially tailored many years in the past, Netflix’s latest revival collection, Kinnikuman: Excellent Origin Sequence, serves as an entry level to the franchise.
The God of Highschool
Whereas the anime adaptation of The God of Excessive Faculty has a divisive reception on account of its rushed pacing, its animation undeniably deserves reward as the most effective lately. The God of Excessive Faculty wears its influences on its sleeve, drawing inspiration from each Dragon Ball and Journey to the West.
The God of Excessive Faculty‘s protagonist has an identical character design to Goku, and the anime additionally encompasses a martial arts event with unbelievable fights that highlights the enchantment of recent animation. This makes The God of Excessive Faculty an possibility that will not disappoint viewers in search of spectacular battles with several types of martial arts.
BLEACH: Thousand-12 months Blood Battle
One of many large three shōnen manga, Bleach is an anime that has adopted Dragon Ball‘s legacy with thrilling, eye-catching powers, transformations, and large-scale fights with seemingly invincible enemies. Furthermore, like Dragon Ball, Bleach had complicated and well-developed villains with fascinating motivations that add one other degree of intrigue to the anime.
Though the anime was criticized for its variety of filler episodes, that is now not a difficulty in Bleach: Thousand-12 months Blood Battle, which adapts the ultimate arc of Tite Kubo’s manga. Subsequently, followers considering beginning a long-running anime have the proper time to binge-watch Ichigo’s journey and catch up earlier than the ultimate season.
One-Punch Man
Similar to Dragon Ball, One-Punch Man options one of many strongest heroes in anime historical past, however whereas Goku strives to achieve extra energy, Saitama is simply uninterested in defeating everybody. Whereas this exhibits the alternative ways each anime discover energy, One-Punch Man‘s playful method to overpowered characters satisfies a distinct yearning for viewers.
One-Punch Man is greater than your typical superhero story, with absurd characters, spectacular battles, and emotional scenes harking back to Dragon Ball, in addition to that includes beings from different planets searching for to problem Saitama and declare the title of strongest. Regardless of its inconsistent animation high quality, One-Punch Man is an entertaining anime with unbelievable combat sequences.
Jujutsu Kaisen
Although the plots of each anime aren’t significantly comparable, like a lot of the newer era of shōnen, Jujutsu Kaisen has been influenced by Dragon Ball. Jujutsu Kaisen takes up a number of the finest tropes from shōnen manga, having epic powers and lots of humorous and charismatic characters that can enchantment to Dragon Ball followers regardless of having a barely darker tone.
Nevertheless, whereas Jujutsu Kaisen has included clear Dragon Ball tributes, comparable to Yuji wanting to fireplace a Kamehameha and a Dodon ray, and the Grasshopper Curse within the Shibuya Arc resembling Cell, what makes the anime an important look ahead to Akira Toriyama followers is its wonderful combat choreography that has positioned it on the top among new-gen shōnen.
YAIBA: Samurai Legend
One of many most underrated anime of 2025, YAIBA was clearly impressed by Dragon Ball. Created by the creator of Case Closed, Gosho Aoyama, YAIBA shares sure key components with Dragon Ball, from the protagonist coaching remoted by civilization who needs to turn into the strongest, to a journey to gather particular spheres, and a perverted hermit instructor.
Nevertheless, regardless of the same shōnen tropes, YAIBA has its personal essence, managing to turn into an exponent of manga within the 90s. With unbelievable sword fights, power bursts, dazzling animation, and loads of gags, the YAIBA reboot is a must-see for viewers in search of an action-packed anime and people who benefit from the retro environment.
Sand Land: The Sequence
One other work coming from Akira Toriyama’s portfolio, which sadly premiered only a few days after his passing, Sand Land‘s anime adaptation relies on one of many outdated one-shots by the manga artist. Whereas the manga was first tailored into a movie, Sand Land: The Sequence additionally included a complete new arc specifically written by Toriyama for the anime.
Sand Land looks like a signature Toriyama story, with people and demons teaming up on an journey, however with a twist, because it units a street journey in a post-apocalyptic world the place sources are scarce. Sand Land additionally has superb CGI, permitting for fluid motion and life like automobiles, tanks, and chase scenes. This made Sand Land the proper tribute to Toriyama.
Dragon Quest: The Journey of Dai (2020)
Akira Toriyama was in control of character and monster design for the unique Dragon Quest video games. So, whereas he solely contributed to the characters’ look, it is no shock that his affect is current all through the Dragon Quest franchise. In Dragon Quest: The Journey of Dai, Dai is a younger boy who grows to turn into a hero just like Son Goku.
Moreover, past simply sharing the old-school artwork type, The Journey of Dai has all the pieces to fulfill Dragon Ball followers craving one other basic shōnen, from magic and friendship to battles in opposition to highly effective villains. Moreover, Toei Animation efficiently revived Dragon Quest: The Journey of Dai, making a devoted and full adaptation of the manga that can preserve followers hooked.
Dragon Ball Daima
Whereas it is pure to assume that no fan of Akira Toriyama’s franchise would miss his newest undertaking, many viewers skipped Dragon Ball Daima on account of its striking resemblance to Dragon Ball GT and its obvious give attention to a youthful viewers. Nevertheless, Dragon Ball Daima managed to earn a spot within the franchise by itself deserves.
Though Goku’s return to being a baby and exploration of one other world appears unoriginal, Dragon Ball Daima expanded the franchise’s lore, revealing extra in regards to the Demon Realms and its connection to essential characters. Moreover, Dragon Ball Daima options unbelievable animation, combat choreography, and transformations, sharing the sense of journey of the franchise and turning into a satisfying anime for Dragon Ball followers.
- Created by
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Akira Toriyama
- Newest TV Present
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Tremendous Dragon Ball Heroes
- First Episode Air Date
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April 26, 1989
From the inventive thoughts of Akira Toriyama, Dragon Ball is a mega multimedia franchise that spans again to the Eighties. Dragon Ball expanded shortly, beginning as a serialized manga for Weekly Shonen Soar in Japan. It made its means abroad by way of manga and an anime adaptation that’s loved worldwide. Dragon Ball was the preliminary beginning animated collection that adopted the adventures of the younger Son Goku as he wanted the Dragon Balls. These mystical orbs would grant the want of any who gathered them collectively. Then, the collection would department off into the immensely fashionable Dragon Ball Z, which adopted Goku as an grownup and featured high-intensity battles and Goku’s endless search to be the strongest. The collection has additionally loved a number of fashionable online game variations and continues to launch a number of new animated collection and theatrical movies as much as the latest fashionable Dragon Ball Tremendous: Tremendous Hero.
