The Dragon Ball The series is a cornerstone of anime, captivating fans around the world with its thrilling battles, memorable characters, and ever-growing power levels. But for anyone looking to immerse themselves in the world of Dragon Ball, there's a major challenge: the complicated timeline and viewing order. Between the many series, movies, specials, and unofficial content, watching Dragon Ball for the first time can be intimidating.
Dragon Ball has a variety of viewing options that can help new or returning fans stay true to the core storyline, or canon, of the anime. There are three main viewing orders for Dragon Ball, including shortcuts for those who want to skip filler and avoid non-canon content. Each fan has the option to choose their own Dragon Ball experience, and Follow Goku's story from his early days as a child in Dragon Ball to his latest adventures in Dragon Ball Super.
Canon Tracking Order
How to watch Dragon Ball keeping the original story
1
Dragon Ball (1986)
2
Dragon Ball Z (Episodes 01-74)
3
DBZ Special (Bardock – Goku's Father)
4
Dragon Ball Z (Episodes 75-139)
5
DBZ Special (Trunks' History)
6
Dragon Ball Z (Episodes 140-288)
7
DBZ OVA (Yo Son Goku and his friends return)
8
Dragon Ball Super
9
Dragon Ball Super: Broly
10
Dragon Ball Super: Super Heroes
11
Dragon Ball Z (Episodes 289-291)
Dragon Ball canon refers to the official storyline created by Akira Toriyama, which closely follows the manga. Viewing the canon in order ensures that fans can follow the intended story without straying into alternate or side timelines. The canon includes the original Dragon Ball series, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball Super, and specific movies and specials. By viewing the canon timeline, viewers will see all the major storylines, character arcs, and transitions that fit Toriyama's vision.
Staying true to canon not only ensures an authentic experience, but also allows fans to follow the character development of Goku, Vegeta, and others. Starting from Goku's childhood in Dragon Ball and ending with the latest film, Dragon Ball: Super Hero, fans witness a continuous story filled with battles, friendships, and the ever-expanding Dragon Ball universe. Watching in canon order provides an in-depth look at the lore, ensuring that each transformation, like Super Saiyan or Ultra Instinct, feels worthy and meaningful to the story.
Canon Shortcut Tracking Commands
A Faster Way to Watch Dragon Ball
1
Dragon Ball (1986)
2
Dragon Ball Z Kai (Episodes 01-165)
3
Dragon Ball Z: Special: Bardock – Goku's Father
4
Dragon Ball Z Special: History of Trunks
5
Dragon Ball Z: Goku and Friends Return)
6
DBS Movie (Battle of God)
7
DBZ Movie (Resurrection of “F”)
8
Dragon Ball Super (Episodes 28-131)
9
Dragon Ball Super: Broly
10
Dragon Ball Super: Super Heroes
11
Dragon Ball Z Kai (Episodes 166, 167)
For fans who are short on time but still want to enjoy the main story of Dragon Ball without any filler or unnecessary content, the shortcut is the best approach. This method of watching Dragon Ball cuts out unnecessary filler episodes and condenses the viewing experience to focus on the main story. The main arcs, such as the battles against Frieza, Cell, and Majin Buu, remain intact, while filler episodes and unnecessary battles are eliminated.
This shortcut is especially useful for viewers who want to catch up before starting a newer series like Dragon Ball Super. By swapping the original Dragon Ball Z for Dragon Ball Z Kai, a remake with less filler content, fans can experience the same main storyline in less time. Additionally, skipping the early episodes of Dragon Ball Super that were covered in movies like Battle of the Gods and Resurrection 'F' speeds up the viewing process without sacrificing important content.
Unofficial tracking order
Exciting adventures outside the official storyline
1
Dragon Ball (Episodes 01-132)
2
Movie DB (Curse of the Blood Ruby)
3
Movie DB (Sleeping Beauty in the Devil's Castle)
4
DB Movie (Mysterious Adventure)
5
Movie DB (The Road to Power)
6
Dragon Ball (Episodes 133-153)
7
Dragon Ball Z (Episodes 01-06)
8
DBZ Movie (Dead Zone)
9
Dragon Ball Z (Episodes 07-35)
10
DBZ Movie (The World's Strongest Man)
11
DBZ Movie (The Tree of Power)
12
Dragon Ball Z (Episodes 36-74)
13
DBZ Special (Bardock – Goku's Father)
14
Dragon Ball Z (Episodes 75-94)
15
Movie DB (Lord of Slugs)
16
Dragon Ball Z (Episodes 95-125)
17
Movie DB (Cooler's Revenge)
18
Dragon Ball Z (Episodes 126-139)
19
DBZ Special (Trunks' History)
20
Dragon Ball Z (Episodes 140-174)
21
DBZ Movie (Return of Cooler)
22
DBZ Movie (Super Android 13)
23
DBZ Movie (Broly The Legendary Super Saiyan)
24
(DBZ OVA (Saiyan Extermination Plan)
25
Dragon Ball Z (Episodes 175-194)
26
DBZ Movie (Bojack Unbound)
27
Dragon Ball Z (Episodes 195-207)
28
DBZ Movie (Broly – Resurrection)
29
Dragon Ball Z (Episodes 208-241)
30
DBZ Movie (Biography – Broly)
31
Dragon Ball Z (Episodes 242-253)
32
DBZ Movie (Fusion Reborn)
33
Dragon Ball Z (Episodes 254-288)
34
DBZ Movie (Dragon's Wrath)
35
Dragon Ball Z (Episodes 289-291)
36
Dragon Ball GT (Episodes 01-40)
37
DB GT Special (Legacy of a Hero)
38
Dragon Ball GT (Episodes 41-64)
39
DBZ OVA (Bardock Episode)
40
DBZ OVA (Yo Son Goku and his friends return)
41
DBZ Movie (Cross Epach)
42
Dragon Ball Super
43
DBS Movie (Broly)
44
DBS Movie (Superhero)
45
SDBH Space Mission
46
SDBH's Big Bang Mission
47
SDBH's Super God Mission
48
Dragon Ball Z
While the official content makes up the core storyline of Dragon Ball, there is a lot of unofficial content that can be viewed alongside the official content for added entertainment. Unofficial refers to any series, movies, or specials that do not conform to Akira Toriyama's original storyline. While these episodes and movies do not fit into the official timeline, they are often popular for their action-packed battles and fan-favorite characters.
The Dragon Ball games in bold in the table above are those that are not part of the “canon” Dragon Ball canon.
The non-canon side of Dragon Ball includes many movies and specials that explore “what if” scenarios or introduce characters that don’t fit into the main storyline. One of the most popular non-canon elements is Dragon Ball Z GT, a sequel series that takes place after the events of Dragon Ball Z. Although non-canon, GT has garnered a loyal fan base for its unique storyline, such as the introduction of Super Saiyan 4. The movies also feature some interesting new villains, such as Cooler and the original version of Broly, who starred in three separate movies.
