Dragonball (1986–1989)
"Dragon Ball: Doragon bôru" (original title)

Son Gokû, a fighter with a monkey tail, goes on a quest with an assortment of odd characters in search of the Dragon Balls, a set of crystals that can give its bearer anything they desire.

Stars:

Masako Nozawa, Jôji Yanami, Doug Parker

Cast

Series cast summary:
Masako Nozawa	...	Son Gokû (153 episodes, 1986-1989)
Jôji Yanami	...	Narrator (153 episodes, 1986-1989)
Doug Parker	...	Beast Oolong (151 episodes, 1986-1989)
Hiromi Tsuru	...	Bulma (114 episodes, 1986-1989)
Mayumi Tanaka	...	Kuririn (105 episodes, 1986-1989)
Tôru Furuya	...	Yamcha (101 episodes, 1986-1989)
Naoko Watanabe	...	Puar (101 episodes, 1986-1989)
Kôhei Miyauchi	...	Kamesennin Muten Roshi (100 episodes, 1986-1989)
Naoki Tatsuta	...	Oolong (91 episodes, 1986-1989)
Mami Koyama	...	Lunch (78 episodes, 1986-1989)
Kenji Utsumi	...	Announcer (71 episodes, 1986-1989)
Hirotaka Suzuoki	...	Tenshinhan (64 episodes, 1987-1989)

Storyline

What starts off as a bizarre re-telling of the Chinese legend "Journey to the West" quickly transforms into pure madness. On a twisted version of Earth, the ridiculously strong child-fighter Son Gokû is joined by several companions in the quest for the seven "dragon balls", which, when assembled, will summon the Grand Dragon, who will grant the bearer of the balls one single wish. The problem is, the Grand Dragon can only be invoked once a year, and villains battle Gokuu and friends constantly for possession of the Dragon Balls.

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Plot Keywords:

dragon | transformation | innocence | martial arts | tournament | 

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Genres:

Animation | Action | Adventure | Comedy | Fantasy | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Certificate:

TV-Y7

Details

Official Sites:

TOEI Animation Co., Ltd

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Also Known As:

Dragonball

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bird Studio, The, Toei Animation Company, Toei Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

25 min 25 min (153 episodes)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Series creator Akira Toriyama often makes cameos in the series in name and appearance. Some examples include a car dealer called Toriya Motors in the Boss Rabbit episode, and a wanted poster modeled after him inside the old west-style bar in the episode in which Lunch is introduced.

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Goofs

As King Piccolo is getting ready to make is wish, he pulls the five balls out of the ground that Roshi hid there. He brings them toward him and there are seven balls. Then he proceeds to take out of his mouth the two that he swallowed earlier.

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Quotes

Son Gokû: Well, this blows.

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Crazy Credits

The closing credits are a montage of images based on covers from the "Dragon Ball" manga.

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Connections

Referenced in Demo Reel: Lost in Translation (Bromance Version) (2012)

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Soundtracks

"Makafushigi Adobenchâ!"
(Mysterious Adventure!)
Performed by Hiroki Takahashi
Lyrics by Yuriko Mori
Music by Takeshi Ike
Arrangement by Kôhei Tanaka
(Opening theme)

User Reviews

Superb!

Dragonball is one of the best cartoons ever made. Dragonball Z is a bit disapointing compared to this one. Dragonball tells the story of Son Goku, a kid with a tail(?), who's origin is really explained only on Dragonball Z, and the story is all made up around 7 crystal balls that when all are together, allow you to ask any wish to the Dragon. It doesn't have all those "Super" stuff of Dragonball Z, all characters have different combat tactics and special moves, and they obtain their skills through hard training and not fury or spells. For Dragonball Z fans, if you want to see Bulma still young and more beautiful, Yamcha still an honourable fighter and Piccolo a bad guy, you have to see this!