Spring 1989 Anime

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.