Dragon Ball, a Japanese anime series created by Akira Toriyama, has been a beloved and iconic franchise worldwide since its debut in 1986. The series has undergone several revisions, sequels, and spin-offs, making it challenging for new fans to keep track of the total number of episodes. This report aims to provide an exhaustive overview of the various Dragon Ball series and their episode counts.
Adding up the episodes from all the main series:
(2018–present)
First, there is Dragon Ball GT . Released in 1996, this was an anime-original story (meaning it was not based on Toriyama’s manga). It is a polarizing entry among fans but remains part of the official count, totaling .
The first series, simply titled Dragon Ball , covers Goku’s childhood. It adapts the original arcs of the manga, focusing on the hunt for the titular Dragon Balls and the Tenkaichi Budokai tournaments. This series comprises . It ran from 1986 to 1989 and remains beloved for its whimsical charm and focus on exploration.
However, if one were to watch the "HD" version of the middle saga ( Kai ) instead of Z , the count drops to roughly 451 episodes. If you include the non-canon GT and the original Z count, the franchise sits at roughly .