Dragon Ball is undoubtedly one of the most influential anime of all time. Its impact on action style, character development, and storytelling in countless anime and manga is undeniable. From major titles like One Piece and Naruto openly acknowledging its influence, to Western creators expressing admiration.
Here are 10 anime that have notably inherited and expanded on Dragon Ball’s legacy.
10. Dragon Quest: The Adventure Of Dai
Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai is one of the clearest examples of an anime inheriting Dragon Ball’s legacy. As part of the JRPG brand with character designs by Akira Toriyama, this spin-off manga perfectly recreates his art style and character building.
The 2020 anime adaptation uses excellent animation to bring explosive battles to life, delivering a work that honors Dragon Ball’s spirit while telling a unique story.
9. The Seven Deadly Sins
The Seven Deadly Sins effectively carries on Dragon Ball’s legacy. Like Dragon Ball, it features grand battles and extraordinary powers. It even introduces its own versions of “Scouters” and “power levels,” core elements from Dragon Ball Z.
Its story draws inspiration from Dragon Ball, blending drama and humor while emphasizing willpower and friendship.
8. Zatch Bell!
When it comes to mimicking Dragon Ball’s storytelling style, Zatch Bell! is one of the most successful series. While the fighting style differs, the story shares many similarities, from its humor and focus on willpower and friendship to its protagonist Zatch, who, like Goku, is a boy with extraordinary strength and an endless appetite.
7. Black Clover
As a Weekly Shonen Jump manga, Black Clover draws inspiration from Dragon Ball. The main character Asta is a passionate and somewhat goofy hero with unwavering determination, much like Goku.
Battles in Black Clover share similarities with Dragon Ball, using magic like energy attacks. Plus, Asta and others have transformations reminiscent of Super Saiyan.
6. Fairy Tail
Fairy Tail also inherits Dragon Ball’s legacy through its magic-based story. Like Black Clover, it features grand, explosive battles. The protagonist Natsu embodies the goofy hero archetype popularized by Goku, with a fierce love for fighting.
Additionally, Fairy Tail’s art style shares similarities with Dragon Ball, using dynamic imagery created with simple techniques.
5. My Hero Academia
Though it might not seem related at first, My Hero Academia shares many traits with Dragon Ball. Its art style recalls Dragon Ball’s simplicity while effectively highlighting action scenes.
Both series emphasize well-choreographed hand-to-hand combat, a feature often overlooked in Dragon Ball, showing genuine respect for its signature style.
4. One-Punch Man
One-Punch Man is one of the few anime that brilliantly captures Dragon Ball’s over-the-top action. Each episode features massive battles that continuously push limits, perfectly capturing Dragon Ball’s essence.
The very first episode even includes a villain resembling Piccolo, clearly signaling the show’s intent to continue Dragon Ball’s legacy.
3. Toriko
Toriko is another anime that excels at emulating Dragon Ball’s battles. Fights start on a large scale and escalate until characters can unleash world-destroying attacks. This drama and destruction helped Toriko follow Dragon Ball’s path. The two series even had an official crossover event, a rare acknowledgment of Dragon Ball’s influence.
2. Naruto
When it comes to anime comparable to Dragon Ball’s legacy, few are as notable as Naruto. His orange outfit, blond hair, goofy nature, and extraordinary determination clearly pay tribute to Goku. Even his later power-ups directly reference Super Saiyan. Moreover, Naruto’s fighting style and the scale of his jutsu share many similarities with Dragon Ball.
1. One Piece
One Piece is the most notable anime to follow Dragon Ball’s path. The main character Luffy shares a similar style with Goku and even has a transformation called Gear 5, reminiscent of Super Saiyan and Ultra Instinct.
Additionally, One Piece’s storytelling style shares many traits with Dragon Ball, featuring unique settings, quirky characters, and humor. Its character development, comedic elements, and intense fight scenes all evoke Dragon Ball’s style while maintaining its own identity.