Dragon Ball Z Anime, #2710

Dragon Ball Z

Dragon Ball Z (ドラゴンボール Z, Doragon Bōru Z) is the long-running sequel to the popular shōnen anime Dragon Ball. Though it is based on the second part of the Dragon Ball manga, it is called "Dragon Ball Z" in the United States to reduce confusion for American audiences. The anime is a close adaptation of the manga, though due to its considerable length it also features characters, situations, and backstory which were not present in the original. (This "filler" material is generally considered non-canonical and occasionally contradicts itself.)

Specifically, it follows the adventures of the adult Son Goku who defends the earth against assorted villains. While the original Dragon Ball anime followed Goku through childhood into adulthood, Dragon Ball Z continues his adventures until he is a grandparent. The distinction between the two is significant in that Goku's earlier adventures were largely comedic, while as an adult the series takes on a dramatic and decidedly serious tone.

The anime first premiered in Japan on April 18, 1989 (on Fuji TV) and ended on January 31, 1996. In the U.S., the series ran between 1996 and 2003, though not always on the same networks or with continuity of dubbing.

After Dragon Ball Z, the story of Son Goku and friends continue in the anime-only series Dragon Ball GT. That series was not based on a manga by Akira Toriyama and many fans reject it as an entire series of "filler." Toriyama's humor/parody manga Neko Majin Z features several concepts introduced in Dragon Ball Z (several Dragon Ball Z characters even make various appearances), but that manga is designed as a parody and not a true continuation of the series.

Son Goku, the protagonist, is an extremely powerful martial artist who is simpleminded and kindly. After a visit from his previously unknown brother Raditz, he discovers that he is an alien that was sent to Earth to destroy it. When he informs Raditz that he has no intention of doing this, Goku and his friends become the erstwhile defenders of the Earth from the oncoming invasion by more of his kind.

As the series progresses, Son Goku, his son, Son Gohan, and their companions age, get immensely stronger, and fight increasingly powerful and sinister villains. Many of the main characters die, are resurrected, get married and/or have children. The series progresses dramatically throughout its entire run.

Many important facts were introduced into the series that add a different, more Sci-Fi oriented, story arc to Dragon Ball Z from its predecessor:

Son Goku is an alien from Planet Vegeta. This is the source of his previously unexplained abilities, and why he has a tail (which was later removed, and not seen again until the next series Dragon Ball GT).
Son Goku's enemy from the first series, Piccolo, is an alien from Planet Namek. He is the product of Kami (guardian of Earth) splitting himself in half to purge the evil from himself.