Dragon Ball Z
Earth's strongest fighters push past every limit to protect their planet.
Last updated: 1 November 2026
Dragon Ball Z is the landmark 1989 action anime from Toei Animation, adapting the later chapters of Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball manga. Across 291 episodes, Goku and his fellow warriors defend Earth against the Saiyans, Frieza, Cell and Majin Buu in the battles that defined shonen anime.
About Dragon Ball Z
Goku and his friends defend Earth against ever stronger enemies, from the Saiyan warriors to Frieza, Cell and Majin Buu. Dragon Ball Z is the 1989 sequel to Dragon Ball, made by Toei Animation, and it picks up five years after Goku's childhood adventures, when he is married with a young son, Gohan. The peaceful years end in a single day: a warrior from space arrives, reveals that Goku himself was born on another planet, and turns the whole story toward the stars. From there the scale keeps climbing, an interstellar tyrant on the planet Namek, time-travelling androids, a shape-shifting monster built from the cells of the greatest fighters, and an ancient magical being who can destroy planets. Alongside the battles, the series is about family and growth: Gohan grows from a frightened child into a warrior, old enemies become friends and fathers, and Goku's friendly rivalry with the proud Saiyan prince Vegeta drives much of the story. First aired in Japan from 1989 to 1996 across 291 episodes, Dragon Ball Z became the face of anime for a generation worldwide and remains the most famous action anime ever made.
Dragon Ball Z is a TV anime from 1989, first released in Spring 1989. It belongs to the Action and Adventure genres and is listed as a completed series. The summary above is written by the AnimeYug team in our own words.
Official Trailer
Story & Plot
Five years after the end of Dragon Ball, Goku has settled down with Chi-Chi and their son Gohan. The calm ends when Raditz, a warrior from the planet Vegeta, lands on Earth and reveals the truth: Goku is a Saiyan, sent to Earth as a baby. Goku dies stopping Raditz, and while his friends train for the arrival of two stronger Saiyans, he trains in the afterlife. The battle that follows costs several heroes their lives and leads the survivors to the planet Namek, where the wish-granting Dragon Balls of Goku's people are hunted by Frieza, the tyrant who destroyed the Saiyan home world.
Back home, peace never lasts. A boy from the future warns of deadly androids created by the Red Ribbon Army, and soon a new threat, Cell, absorbs the androids to reach his perfect form, forcing Gohan to unlock his hidden power. Years later, an ancient evil named Majin Buu is released, and the fight for the universe pushes Goku, Vegeta and their sons beyond every limit. Through it all, rivals become allies, children surpass their parents, and the Dragon Balls offer hope, but never an easy win.
Story Arcs & Episode Guide
The Dragon Ball Z anime is split into story sagas. Here is every saga in order, with its episodes and years.
| Arc | Episodes | Years | About |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saiyan Saga | 1–39 | 1989–1990 | Raditz reveals Goku's alien origin, and the Saiyans invade Earth |
| Frieza Saga | 40–107 | 1990–1991 | The race for Namek's Dragon Balls and the first Super Saiyan transformation |
| Garlic Jr. Saga | 108–117 | 1991 | Anime-original story: Garlic Jr. escapes the Dead Zone (filler) |
| Trunks and Androids Sagas | 118–139 | 1991–1992 | A mysterious youth from the future warns of killer androids |
| Cell Saga | 140–165 | 1992 | Cell absorbs the androids and hunts for his perfect form |
| Cell Games Saga | 166–194 | 1992–1993 | Cell's tournament decides Earth's fate, and Gohan steps up |
| Great Saiyaman and World Tournament Sagas | 195–219 | 1993–1994 | A grown-up Gohan balances school, hero work and the 25th World Tournament |
| Babidi and Majin Buu Sagas | 220–253 | 1994–1995 | The wizard Babidi reawakens the ancient monster Majin Buu |
| Fusion Saga | 254–275 | 1995 | Gotenks, Vegito and desperate fusions against Buu's new forms |
| Kid Buu Saga | 276–291 | 1995–1996 | The final battle for the universe on the Supreme Kai's world |
Why Watch Dragon Ball Z
- The battles that defined shonen anime: beam struggles, transformations and power-ups.
- Goku's first Super Saiyan transformation against Frieza is one of anime's most famous scenes.
- Vegeta's journey from villain to rival to hero is a series-long highlight.
- Gohan's growth from shy child to Earth's defender gives the action real heart.
- A huge cast of heroes and villains across 291 episodes and seven years of story.
Who Is It For?
Dragon Ball Z is a family action adventure built around martial-arts battles. Common Sense Media suggests it for ages 10 and up: expect frequent cartoon-style fighting, characters being hurt or killed (and wished back), and mildly scary designs for villains like Frieza and Cell, but very little strong language or adult content. The original Japanese version is slightly more intense than the edited TV versions many fans grew up with.
Main Characters
View all characters →
Voice Actors
The Japanese voices behind the main characters of Dragon Ball Z.
- Son GokuSaiyan warrior raised on EarthJapanese voiceMasako Nozawa
- VegetaPrince of the SaiyansJapanese voiceRyō Horikawa
- Son GohanGoku's sonJapanese voiceMasako Nozawa
- PiccoloNamekian warrior and Gohan's mentorJapanese voiceToshio Furukawa
- KrillinGoku's best friendJapanese voiceMayumi Tanaka
- BulmaCapsule Corporation heiressJapanese voiceHiromi Tsuru
- Future TrunksTime-travelling swordsmanJapanese voiceTakeshi Kusao
- FriezaGalactic tyrantJapanese voiceRyūsei Nakao
- CellBio-android built from great fighters' cellsJapanese voiceNorio Wakamoto
- Android 18Cyborg warriorJapanese voiceMiki Itō
- Majin BuuAncient magical monsterJapanese voiceKōzō Shioya
- Son GotenGoku's second sonJapanese voiceMasako Nozawa
- TrunksVegeta and Bulma's sonJapanese voiceTakeshi Kusao
- Master RoshiThe Turtle Hermit, Goku's first masterJapanese voiceKōhei Miyauchi
- Tien ShinhanThree-eyed martial artistJapanese voiceHirotaka Suzuoki
- YamchaFormer desert bandit and Z FighterJapanese voiceTōru Furuya
Staff & Production
- Original Creator
- Akira Toriyama
- Animation Studio
- Toei Animation
- Series Director
- Daisuke Nishio (episodes 1–199); Shigeyasu Yamauchi (episodes 200–291)
- Series Composition
- Takao Koyama (series organisation)
- Music
- Shunsuke Kikuchi
Manga & Source Material
Dragon Ball Z adapts the second half of Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball manga. The anime was renamed to mark the story's jump in scale.
- Written and drawn by Akira Toriyama
- Serialised in Weekly Shonen Jump from 1984 to 1995
- 42 collected volumes and 519 chapters in total
- The Z anime adapts the manga's remaining 325 chapters, from the Saiyan arc to Majin Buu
- The manga is complete, and Toriyama's story ends with the same finale as the anime
- Dragon Ball is one of the best-selling manga series of all time
Music
Shunsuke Kikuchi's score mixes brass, rock and orchestral themes; English-speaking fans also know Bruce Faulconer's replacement score from the original US broadcast.
Opening Themes
- “Cha-La Head-Cha-La”by Hironobu KageyamaThe iconic first opening (episodes 1–199)
- “We Gotta Power”by Hironobu KageyamaSecond opening (episodes 200–291)
Ending Themes
- “Detekoi Tobikiri Zenkai Power!”by MannaFirst ending (episodes 1–199)
- “Bokutachi wa Tenshi Datta”by Hironobu KageyamaFinal ending (episodes 200–291): 'We Were Angels'
Series Timeline
- 1984
Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball manga begins in Weekly Shonen Jump.
- 1986
The Dragon Ball TV anime premieres, following Goku's childhood adventures.
- 1989
Dragon Ball Z premieres on Fuji TV on 26 April 1989.
- 1995
Toriyama ends the Dragon Ball manga after 519 chapters.
- 1996
Dragon Ball Z ends with episode 291 on 31 January 1996; Dragon Ball GT begins the following week.
- 2009
Dragon Ball Z Kai, a remastered cut with reduced filler and re-recorded voices, begins airing.
- 2013
The film Battle of Gods revives the franchise and leads directly into Dragon Ball Super.
Quick Answers
Is Dragon Ball Z finished?
Yes. Dragon Ball Z has finished airing, so you can watch the complete story from start to end without waiting for new episodes.
What genre is Dragon Ball Z?
Dragon Ball Z is a Action and Adventure anime. You can browse more titles like it on our Action anime page.
When did Dragon Ball Z release?
Dragon Ball Z first released in Spring 1989. It is a TV series.
How many episodes does Dragon Ball Z have?
Dragon Ball Z has 291 episodes, aired in Japan from 1989 to 1996. A remastered, filler-reduced version called Dragon Ball Z Kai retells the same story in 167 episodes, which some fans prefer for its faster pacing.
What should I watch after Dragon Ball Z?
The story continues in Dragon Ball Super (2015), which is set in the ten years before Z's final episodes. Dragon Ball GT (1996) is an older anime-original sequel that sits outside the main manga storyline, and Dragon Ball Daima (2024) is the newest series.
Should I watch Dragon Ball before Dragon Ball Z?
It helps but is not required. Dragon Ball (1986) covers Goku's childhood, his first searches for the Dragon Balls and how he met Bulma, Krillin and Master Roshi. Z explains its own story clearly, so you can start with Z and go back later.
Is the Dragon Ball Z manga different from the anime?
The manga is simply called Dragon Ball. The 'Z' name was created for the anime. The anime adapts the manga's later chapters and adds extra filler scenes and episodes to avoid catching up with it, while the manga moves faster and reaches the same ending.
Watch Order
Here is the release order for Dragon Ball Z and the series connected to it. Start at step 1 and work your way down.
- 1Dragon BallTV series (1986–1989): where it all begins, with Goku's childhood, the first Dragon Ball hunts and the original World Tournaments.
- 2Dragon Ball filmsFour films: Curse of the Blood Rubies (1986), Sleeping Princess in Devil's Castle (1987), Mystical Adventure (1988) and the anniversary retelling The Path to Power (1996). Optional side stories.
- 3Dragon Ball ZTV series (1989–1996): this series; the Saiyan, Frieza, Cell and Buu sagas in 291 episodes.
- 4Dragon Ball Z films, part 1Dead Zone (1989), The World's Strongest (1990), The Tree of Might (1990), Lord Slug (1991), Cooler's Revenge (1991), The Return of Cooler (1992), Super Android 13! (1992), Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan (1993) and Bojack Unbound (1993). Standalone adventures set between the sagas.
- 5Dragon Ball Z films, part 2Broly – Second Coming (1994), Bio-Broly (1994), Fusion Reborn (1995) and Wrath of the Dragon (1995).
- 6Dragon Ball GTTV series (1996–1997) plus the special A Hero's Legacy (1997): an anime-original sequel outside the main manga storyline.
- 7Dragon Ball Z: Battle of GodsFilm (2013): Beerus, the God of Destruction, arrives; the story that revived the franchise.
- 8Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F'Film (2015): Frieza is revived and returns with his Golden form.
- 9Dragon Ball SuperTV series (2015–2018): the sequel series; its first two arcs retell the two Z films, so you can watch either version of those stories.
- 10Dragon Ball Super: BrolyFilm (2018): Broly reimagined within the main storyline.
- 11Dragon Ball Super: Super HeroFilm (2022): Gohan and Piccolo lead the fight against the new Red Ribbon Army.
- 12Dragon Ball DaimaTV series (2024–2025): Goku and friends are turned small in Akira Toriyama's final Dragon Ball story.
- 13Dragon Ball Super: BeerusTV series (2026): the remastered, enhanced retelling of Super's opening arc.
Where to Watch
Dragon Ball Z is officially available to stream on these platforms:
Streaming availability changes often and differs by country. Please check the platform in your region.