Dragon Ball From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search This article is about the media franchise. For other uses, see Dragon Ba

Dragon Ball
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
This article is about the media franchise. For other uses, see Dragon Ball (disambiguation).
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Dragon Ball
DB Tankōbon.png
First tankōbon volume, released in Japan on November 10, 1985
ドラゴンボール
(Doragon Bōru)
Genre Bangsian fantasy, Martial arts, Science fiction
Manga
Author Akira Toriyama
Publisher Japan Shueisha
English publisher Australia New Zealand Chuang Yi

Canada United States Viz Media
United Kingdom Gollancz Manga
[show]Other publishers:
Brazil Conrad Editora

People's Republic of China Juvenile & Children's Publishing House
Denmark Carlsen Comics
Finland Sangatsu Manga
France Glénat
Germany Carlsen Comics
Hong Kong CitiComics, Culturecom
Hungary Semic Interprint
Indonesia Elex Media Komputindo
Italy Star Comics
Lithuania Grand Comics
Malaysia Comics House
Mexico Grupo Editorial Vid
Netherlands Glénat (Studio de Raaf)
Poland Japonica Polonica Fantastica
Spain Portugal Planeta deAgostini
Sweden Bonnier Carlsen
Republic of China Tong Li Publishing
Thailand NED comics
South Korea Seoul Munhwasa
Vietnam Kim Dong Publishing House
Demographic Shōnen
Magazine Japan Weekly Shōnen Jump
United States Shonen Jump
Republic of China Formosa Youth
Hong Kong EX-am
Thailand Boom
Original run 1984 – 1995
Volumes 42 (List of volumes)
TV anime
Director Minoru Okazaki
Daisuke Nishio
Studio Toei Animation
Licensor Japan Pony Canyon
United States FUNimation Entertainment
Network Fuji TV, Animax
English network Canada YTV

United Kingdom Cartoon Network, CNX, Toonami
United States Cartoon Network, CoLours TV, FUNimation Channel, Toonami Jetstream, KIKU
[show]Other networks:
Argentina Cartoon Network, Magic Kids

Basque Country (autonomous community) ETB1
Brazil SBT, Globo, Cartoon Network
Catalonia TVC
Chile Megavisión
Colombia Canal Caracol, Citytv
Costa Rica Repretel 4
Dominican Republic Telesistema Dominicano
France TF1, TMC, AB1, Mangas, MCM, NT1
Galicia (Spain) TVG
Germany RTL II
Hong Kong Singapore Thailand Animax
Italy Italia 1
India AnimaxIndia
Lithuania LNK
Malaysia TV9, RTM 2, Animax
Mexico XHGC-TV
Philippines GMA 7, RPN 9, IBC 13,Animax
Poland RTL 7, TVN Siedem
Portugal RTP1, SIC, SIC Radical
Spain Antena 3, Cuatro, Canal Sur, Cartoon Network, Telemadrid
Thailand Modern Nine TV, iTV, Animax
Turkey ATV
Vietnam Hanoi1
United Arab Emirates Spacetoon
Original run February 26, 1986 – April 12, 1989
Episodes 153 (List of episodes)
TV anime
Dragon Ball Z
Director Daisuke Nishio
Studio Toei Animation
Licensor Japan Pony Canyon
United States FUNimation Entertainment
Network Japan Fuji TV, Animax, Tokyo MX
English network Australia Network Ten, Cartoon Network

Canada YTV
United Kingdom Cartoon Network, Toonami
United States Cartoon Network
[show]Other networks:
Argentina Magic Kids, Canal 9, Cartoon Network

Basque Country (autonomous community) ETB
Belgium MCM, AB3, Club RTL
Brazil Band, Cartoon Network, Globo
Catalonia Televisió de Catalunya
Chile Megavisión, Etc...TV
Colombia Cartoon Network, Canal Caracol, CityTv
Costa Rica Repretel
Dominican Republic Telesistema Dominicano
Egypt Cartoon Network
Finland Subtv
France TF1, TMC, RTL9, AB1, Mangas, MCM, NT1
Galicia (Spain) TVG
Germany Tele 5, RTL II
Greece ANT1
India Cartoon Network, Toonami
Indonesia Indosiar
Israel The Children's Channel
Italy Italia 1
Lithuania LNK
Malaysia RTM 2, TV 9
Mexico XHGC-TV, Cartoon Network
Netherlands Cartoon Network
New Zealand TV 3, Cartoon Network
Pakistan Cartoon Network, Toonami
Peru Cartoon Network
Philippines RPN 9, IBC 13, GMA Network
Poland RTL 7, TVN Siedem
Portugal SIC, SIC Radical
Singapore Philippines Thailand Hong Kong Malaysia Animax
Spain Antena 3, Cartoon Network, Canal Sur, Telemadrid, Cuatro, Televisió de Catalunya, TVG, ETB
Thailand Modernine TV, ITV and TITV, Channel 3
Template:Country data United Arab Spacetoon
Venezuela Televen, Cartoon Network
Original run April 26, 1989 – January 31, 1996
Episodes 291 (List of episodes)
TV anime
Dragon Ball GT
Director Osamu Kasai
Studio Toei Animation
Licensor Canada United States Funimation Entertainment
Network Japan Fuji TV, Animax
English network Australia Network Ten, Cartoon Network

Canada YTV
United States Cartoon Network
United Kingdom Toonami, CNX
[show]Other networks:
Brazil Cartoon Network, Globo

Chile Megavisión
Colombia Cartoon Network Caracol
Dominican Republic Telesistema Dominicano
France TF1, TMC, RTL9, AB1, Mangas, MCM, NT1
Germany RTL II
Israel The Children's Channel
Italy Italia 1
Lithuania LNK
Malaysia TV2
Mexico XHGC-TV, Cartoon Network
Netherlands Cartoon Network, Yorin
Peru America Television
Philippines RPN 9 , GMA Network
Poland RTL 7, TVN Siedem
Portugal SIC, SIC Radical
Spain Antena 3, Canal Sur, TVC, ETB, TVG, Telemadrid, Cartoon Network, Cuatro
Venezuela Televen
Thailand Modernine TV MCOT
Original run February 7, 1996 – November 19, 1997
Episodes 64 (List of episodes)
TV anime
Dragon Ball Kai
Studio Japan Toei Animation
Network Japan Fuji TV
Original run April 5, 2009 – ongoing
Episodes 30 (List of episodes)
Related

* Films, specials, and original video animations
* Video games
* Soundtracks
* Collectible card games
o Dragon Ball
o Dragon Ball Z

Anime and Manga Portal

Dragon Ball (ドラゴンボール, Doragon Bōru?) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Akira Toriyama. It was originally serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1984 through 1995, and later the 519 individual chapters were published into 42 tankōbon volumes by Shueisha. Inspired by the Chinese folk novel Journey to the West, it follows the adventures of Son Goku from his childhood through middle age as he trains in martial arts and explores the world in search of the seven mystical objects known as the Dragon Balls, which can summon a wish-granting dragon. Along his trip, Goku meets several friends and fights against several villains who also seek the Dragon Balls.

The 42 tankōbon have been adapted into three anime series produced by Toei Animation: Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball GT. Additionally, Toei has developed seventeen animated feature films and three television specials. During 2009, Toei started rebroadcasting Dragon Ball Z under the name of Dragon Ball Kai which changes the footage from the original anime. Several companies have developed various types of merchandising such as a collectible trading card game, and a large number of video games.

The series is licensed for an English language release in North America by Viz Media, in the United Kingdom by Gollancz Manga, and in Australia and New Zealand by Chuang Yi. Several companies have dubbed and aired the three anime series in North America. In China, it was produced a live-action film adaptation in 1989. In 2002, 20th Century Fox began production of the first American-made live-action film which was released on April 10, 2009.

Since its release, Dragon Ball has become one of the most popular manga series of its time in both Japan and North America. It enjoys a high readership, with over 150 million volumes of the series sold by 2007. Several manga artists have noted that the manga series was the inspiration for their own now popular works, including Naruto and One Piece. The anime is also highly popular, ranking number 12 among the best anime series of all time in 2006. Reviewers praise the art, characterization, and humor of the manga story. The anime series have had more mixed reviews, with the first also praised for its characterizations, but the second was criticized for its long, repetitive fights, and the third series considered repetitive.