Dragon Ball Z

About Dragon Ball Z

Meet Dragon Ball Z, an action, adventure and fantasy anime by Toei Animation (1989). Here is the premise in a nutshell. In short: Five years after winning the World Martial Arts tournament, SON-Goku is now living a peaceful life with his wife and son. This changes, however, with the arrival of an enigmatic adversary named Raditz who presents himself as Goku's long-lost brother.

Soon after, he uncovers that Goku is a warrior from the once mighty but now virtually extinct Saiyan race, whose homeworld was completely annihilated. When he was sent to Earth as a baby, Goku's sole purpose was to conquer and destroy the planet; but after suffering amnesia from a head injury, his violent and savage nature changed. With his failed attempt at forcibly recruiting Goku as an ally, Raditz warns Goku's allies of a new threat that's rapidly approaching Earth—one that could plunge Earth into an intergalactic conflict and cause the heavens.

In an action series like this, fight choreography, pacing and sound design carry much of the weight. Think of it as a pick for viewers who like fast, high-impact fights.

Production & Appeal

Production sits with Toei Animation, which means the visual identity of Dragon Ball Z follows that studio's craft. Within the action category, fight choreography, pacing and sound design carry much of the weight. A community score of 8.2/10 puts it among the better-received action titles. It aired in 1989, which makes it easy to place in the wider anime calendar.