Dragon Ball

Dragon Ball is the first part of the anime adaptation of the Dragon Ball manga written by Akira Toriyama and published in Japan in the Weekly Shonen Jump manga anthology comic. The second (and larger) portion of the manga was adapted into Dragon Ball Z.

The Dragon Ball anime is composed of 153 half-hour episodes and ran on Japanese television between February 26, 1986 and April 12, 1989. Two previous attempts at releasing Dragon Ball to American audiences failed. The first attempt was in the last 80s. It featured strange name changes for nearly all the characters. It became unknown, therefore it is referred to as "The Lost Dub" by fans. The second and more well known attempt was in 1995 with only the first 13 episodes translated and aired. This release was put out by KidMark and utilized Ocean Group for the dubbing. These original 13 episodes are still available on DVD as "The Saga of Goku." After Dragon Ball Z became immensely popular on Cartoon Network, the entire series was translated by FUNimation and released in the same scheduling block as its successor on the network. The complete series ran in the United States between August 20, 2001 and late 2003, due largely to 20th Television's renewed contract with Toriyama.

Dragon Ball is known as being a much less serious anime than its successor, though later sagas blur the lines a bit.

Main Characters

The Main characters of Dragon BallBulma
Chi-Chi
Goku (Son Goku)
Launch (a.k.a. Lunch)
Master Roshi (Muten-R担shi)
Krillin (Kuririn in the English Dragon Ball manga and the original Japanese)
Oolong
Yamcha
Puar
Tenshinhan
Chaozu
Shenron (Shenlong)

Supporters
Yajirobe
Korin
Kami
Mr. Popo
Uranai Baba
Ox King
Android 8
Bora
Upa
Suno
Nam
Giran
Ranfan
Master Roshi's Turtle
Dr. Briefs
Mrs. Briefs
Bacterian
Wolf Man
King Chapa
World Tournament Announcer
Mutaito

Villains
Emperor Pilaf
Shu (Shao)
Mai
Boss Rabbit
Tao Pai Pai
Red Ribbon Army
Commander Red
General Blue
Staff Officer Black
General White
Cononel Silver
Captain Yellow
Captain Violet
Ninja Musaraki (Agent Purple)
Monster Buyon
Sergeant Metallic
Hasky
King Piccolo (Piccolo Daimao)
Piccolo Junior
Tambourine
Cymbal
Drum
Piano
Tsuru-Sen'nin (Master Shen)
Pirate Robot

Sagas
Emperor Pilaf Saga
First World Martial Arts Championship Saga
Red Ribbon Army Saga
General Blue Saga
Commander Red Saga
Fortuneteller Baba Saga
Tenshinhan Saga
King Piccolo Saga
Piccolo Junior Saga