Now that Dragon Ball Daima is officially over, you might be wondering exactly where it fits in the DB timeline and how to watch it without losing the plot. To help you out, I have prepared this article, which shows you how to watch the Dragon Ball series in order!
The Dragon Ball franchise is one of the most popular anime franchises in the world; it’s the show that brought worldwide recognition to the anime industry.
Growing up, this was my favorite show, but I had no idea what anime was and never knew about the other anime shows that were airing then. Now I know what anime is, and I was able to watch Dragon Ball in order once I found out about the entire series.
Believe me, I watched Dragon Ball Z, and I didn’t even know that there was a series before that titled “Dragon Ball,” which featured Goku’s adventures as a kid. I learned of that much later.
Since I don’t want you to make the same mistakes I did, I prepared this Dragon Ball watch order guide. If you are like me, who watched only a couple of episodes or movies without knowing about the entire series, then this article will help you watch the whole show in proper order.
How to Watch Dragon Ball Series in Order?
The Dragon Ball anime series is an iconic series unlike any other. It has more than 800 episodes and is divided into multiple seasons that are further divided into numerous sagas.
Several movies were also released while the show was on air, and we will discuss them, too.
So, let’s look at the Dragon Ball watch order you should follow, and begin with the release order!
1. Dragon Ball in Release Order (TV Series):
- Dragon Ball (1986)
- Dragon Ball Z (1989-1996)
- Dragon Ball GT (1996-1997)
- Dragon Ball Kai (2009-2011)
- It is the revised version of DBZ.
- Dragon Ball Kai: The Final Chapters (2014-2015)
- It is the revised version of DBZ (specifically the Buu Saga)
- Dragon Ball Super (2015-2018)
- It takes place after the “Buu Saga,” in the 10-year time skip before the final episodes of Dragon Ball Z.
- Dragon Ball Daima (2024-2025)
- It takes place right after the “Buu Saga,” and before the events of Dragon Ball Super.
These are the various parts that make up the entire Dragon Ball anime series. But there’s some info that you should know before you begin watching it.
Dragon Ball GT is an anime-only series. It’s well done, and the animation is top-notch, but the story isn’t canon. I enjoyed watching it, but some fans don’t really care about it. However, I recommend you watch it because it features one of the most popular Super Saiyan forms ever!
The recently-released Dragon Ball Daima is much like Dragon Ball GT, and it made one of the most iconic Super Saiyan forms canon to the story!
Next, Dragon Ball Kai is a revised version of Dragon Ball Z. It’s mostly the same but has less filler content than DBZ, and Kai ends at the Cell Games Saga. Dragon Ball Kai: The Final Chapters cover the Majin Buu Saga!
2. Dragon Ball Movies In Order
The movies in the franchise aren’t canon, but they are worth watching. However, the recently released movies, starting from Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods, are all canon, and you should watch them!
- Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies (1986)
- Dragon Ball: Sleeping Princess in Devil’s Castle (1987)
- Dragon Ball: Mystical Adventure (1988)
- Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone (1989)
- Dragon Ball Z: The World’s Strongest (1990)
- Dragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might (1990)
- Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug (1991)
- Dragon Ball Z: Cooler’s Revenge (1991)
- Dragon Ball Z: The Return of Cooler (1992)
- Dragon Ball Z: Super Android 13! (1992)
- Dragon Ball Z: Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan (1993)
- Dragon Ball Z: Bojack Unbound (1993)
- Dragon Ball Z: Broly – Second Coming (1994)
- Dragon Ball Z: Bio-Broly (1994)
- Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn (1995)
- Dragon Ball Z: Wrath of the Dragon (1995)
- Dragon Ball: The Path to Power (1996)
- Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods (2013)
- Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’ (2015)
- Dragon Ball Super: Broly (2018)
- Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero (2022)
3. Dragon Ball Specials
- Dragon Ball Specials (1988)
- Dragon Ball Z Special 1: Bardock, The Father of Goku (1990)
- Dragon Ball Z: Summer Vacation Special (1992)
- Dragon Ball Z Special 2: The History of Trunks (1993)
- Looking Back at it All: The Dragon Ball Z Year-End Show! (1993)
- Dragon Ball GT: A Hero’s Legacy (1997)
- Dragon Ball: Yo! The Return of Son-Goku and Friends!! (2008)
- Dragon Ball Z Kai: Bring Peace to the Future! Goku’s Spirit is Eternal (2011)
- Dragon Ball: Episode of Bardock (2011)
- Dragon Ball Super: Broly – Skytree Super (2018)
4. OVAs
- Dragon Ball Z: Atsumare! Goku World (1992)
- Dragon Ball Z: Plan to Destroy the Saiyajin (1993)
- Dragon Ball Z: Plan to Eradicate Super Saiyans OVA Remake (2010)
These are all the episodes, movies, and OVAs that make up the entire Dragon Ball universe! There are over 800 episodes and several movies, but I guarantee you will enjoy watching it.
If you ask me how I would watch it, I would first watch the anime series, and once I am done with that, I would then take my time watching the movies, OVAs, and specials or spin-offs.
But there’s also the chronological order to watch the show, and if you want to follow that, I’ve got you covered. In the next section, I will tell you how to watch the Dragon Ball series and movies chronologically!
How to Watch Dragon Ball Series in Chronological Order?
If you don’t know what chronological order means, here’s a short explanation. It means watching the story according to the time the events unfold.
I am unsure why anyone would want to watch the series in this order because it includes everything in the closest timeline possible. The movies might somewhat conflict with the show’s timeline, which is why they are not considered canon.
But if you are ready for this Dragon Ball watch order, by all means, go ahead. Here’s the chronological order to watch Dragon Ball series:
- Dragon Ball – All Episodes
- Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone (Movie)
- Dragon Ball Z – Episodes 1-86
- Dragon Ball Z: Bardock – The Father of Goku (TV Special)
- Dragon Ball Z – Episodes 87-107
- Dragon Ball: Episode of Bardock (Movie)
- Dragon Ball Z: The World’s Strongest (Movie)
- Dragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might (Movie)
- Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug (Movie)
- Dragon Ball Z – Episodes 108-123
- Dragon Ball Z: The History of Trunks (TV Special)
- Dragon Ball Z – Episodes 124 and 125
- Dragon Ball Z: Cooler’s Revenge (Movie)
- Dragon Ball Z – Episodes 126-146
- Dragon Ball Z: Super Android 13 (Movie)
- Dragon Ball Z – Episodes 147-173
- Dragon Ball Z: The Return of Cooler (Movie)
- Dragon Ball Z: Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan (Movie)
- Dragon Ball Z – Episodes 174-194
- Dragon Ball Z: Bojack Unbound (Movie)
- Dragon Ball Z – Episodes 195-207
- Dragon Ball Z: Broly’s Second Coming (Movie)
- Dragon Ball Z – Episodes 208-250
- Dragon Ball Z: Bio-Broly (Movie)
- Dragon Ball Z – Episodes 251-253
- Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn (Movie)
- Dragon Ball Z – Episodes 254-288
- Dragon Ball Z: Wrath of the Dragon (Movie)
- Dragon Ball GT – All Episodes
- Dragon Ball Daima – All Episodes
- Dragon Ball Super – Episodes 1-3
- Dragon Ball Z: Battle of the Gods (Movie)
- Dragon Ball Super – Episodes 4-18
- Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection F (Movie)
- Dragon Ball Super – Episodes 19-131
- Dragon Ball Super: Broly – Skytree Super
- Dragon Ball Super: Broly (Movie)
- Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero (Movie)
- Dragon Ball Z – Episodes 289-291
How to Watch Dragon Ball Series In Canon Order?
For those fans who aren’t willing to watch everything with the Dragon Ball name on it, here’s a canon order of the series. When you watch the show according to the info mentioned below, you won’t have to waste time behind movies or episodes that aren’t canon and aren’t considered part of the main story.
I recommend everyone watch Dragon Ball in canon order. Once you are done, you can watch all the movies and OVAs!
- Dragon Ball – All Episodes
- Dragon Ball Z- Until the end of the Frieza Saga
- Dragon Ball Z: Bardock – The Father of Goku (TV Special)
- Dragon Ball Z – From Frieza Saga until the end of the Cell Saga
- Dragon Ball Z: The History of Trunks (TV Special)
- Dragon Ball Z – From the Cell Saga to Episode 288
- Dragon Ball Daima – All Episodes
- Dragon Ball Super – All Episodes
- Dragon Ball Super: Broly (Movie)
- Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero (Movie)
- Dragon Ball Z – Episodes 289-291
Conclusion
After reading this article, I hope you know everything you need to watch the entire Dragon Ball series in order. If you ask my opinion, I recommend you watch the series in the canon order if you haven’t watched it completely.
But if you are already a fan and want to rewatch the show and revisit all the epic moments, go ahead with the chronological order and consume everything the franchise has to offer.
For now, this is all the info I can give you. I hope that you will use this Dragon Ball watch order guide to familiarize yourself with one of the most epic, popular, and best anime series out there, and then you might get interested in checking out all the other epic shows that the world of anime is filled with!
Other Anime Watch Orders:
