Dragon Ball

Dragon Ball (the original anime series from 1986–1989) follows the adventures of Son Goku, a cheerful, super-strong boy with a monkey tail who lives alone in the wilderness.

The story kicks off when he meets Bulma, a brilliant teenage inventor searching for the legendary Dragon Balls — seven mystical orbs that, when collected, summon a powerful dragon named Shenron who can grant one wish of almost anything.

Goku joins her quest (initially because he owns one of the balls, the four-star one left by his grandfather), and along the way they team up with quirky characters like the shape-shifting pig Oolong, the desert bandit Yamcha, the monk Krillin, and the perverted martial arts master Master Roshi.

What starts as a fun, comedic adventure full of exploration, tournaments, and light-hearted fights gradually evolves into more serious martial arts battles against increasingly powerful villains (like the Red Ribbon Army and the demon king Piccolo), while Goku trains to become stronger and uncovers more about his own mysterious origins.

It's basically a wild mix of action, comedy, martial arts tournaments (like the World Martial Arts Tournament arcs), friendship, and over-the-top fights — heavily inspired by the classic Chinese tale Journey to the West.

(Note: People often refer to the whole franchise as "Dragon Ball," but the original series is distinct from the more intense Dragon Ball Z continuation, which picks up when Goku is an adult.)

If you're thinking of jumping in, the original Dragon Ball is a great, lighter starting point before Z ramps up the stakes! 🚀🐉