Comparing any shonen anime to Dragon Ball is like talking about life based on carbon and molecular structures – it’s fundamental. Dragon Ball is not just a reference; it’s an intrinsic part of the DNA of shonen anime, like Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure.
Even those who don’t know the series can feel its presence in pop culture. Since the 1980s, Dragon Ball has changed the game, leaving marks like the Fusion Technique, Kamehameha, and Super Saiyans on global culture.
Dragon Ball influenced several animes of different genres. Some anime have taken what Akira Toriyama brought back and done something amazing with it. Let’s take a look at these examples.
10. Toriko: A Dragon Ball-Style Culinary Adventure
Toriko is a perfect mix of shonen action and cooking. The protagonist, obsessed with food, resembles Goku and his adventures in the gourmet world are pure Dragon Ball action, with exaggerated attacks and bulging muscles.
9. Zatch Bell!: Taking Dragon Ball Themes Forward
Zatch Bell! It may seem like a strange Pokémon, but it has a deep connection to Dragon Ball. Themes of determination and overcoming limits are key here, carrying on Dragon Ball’s legacy in a unique way.
8. My Hero Academia: A Rivalry to Match Goku and Vegeta
The rivalry between Midoriya and Bakugo in My Hero Academia reflects the tension between Goku and Vegeta. The series emulates this dynamic of power and ability, showing how both characters evolve, similar to Goku and Vegeta’s relationship.
7. Naruto: A Worthy Successor to Dragon Ball
Naruto, one of the Big Three anime of the 2000s, follows the classic shonen formula of Dragon Ball. With a protagonist from humble beginnings and a great source of energy, Naruto is a hero in the style of Goku.
6. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Multigenerational and Awesome Fights
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure is a mix of violence, bizarreness, and multigenerational fights, following the Dragon Ball tradition. The early parts of JJBA have a similar feel to the original Dragon Ball.
5. Yu Yu Hakusho: Perfecting the Tournament Arc
Yu Yu Hakusho, from the same creator as Hunter x Hunter, shines for its simplicity and perfection in the tournament arc, a hallmark of Dragon Ball.
4. Gintama: Comedy and References to Dragon Ball
Gintama is full of references to Dragon Ball, mixing quick humor with clever parodies of the series that inspired the anime so much.
3. One Punch Man: Humor and Outsized Power
One Punch Man is a parody of shonen anime and Western comics, focusing on humor and anticlimactic fights. Just like Dragon Ball, it subverts expectations about the supreme hero.
2. One Piece: Inspired by Goku
One Piece, especially Monkey D. Luffy, is heavily inspired by Goku. With his endless appetite and determination, Luffy carries Goku’s DNA into his story.
1. Hunter X Hunter: The Best of Dragon Ball with a Darker Twist
Hunter x Hunter is considered a masterpiece. The anime asks deep questions and features great fights, humor and power-ups, all inspired by the legacy of Dragon Ball.
In short, Dragon Ball is not just an inspiration, it is a milestone in the history of anime. It has influenced countless series, each absorbing and adapting its elements in unique and innovative ways.
