Summary

• Dragon Ball is a long-lasting anime franchise created by Akira Toriyama in the 1980s, expanding into Dragon Ball Z and Super.
• The original Dragon Ball series introduces key characters, iconic fights, and important storylines that shape the entire franchise.
• The Dragon Ball episodes showcase pivotal moments like Master Roshi's mentorship, Goku's proposal to Chi Chi, and iconic battles like Goku vs. Piccolo.

The Dragon Ball franchise is one of the most popular anime franchises of all time. Although the original Dragon Ball series has been largely overshadowed by Dragon Ball Z, the influential original series is a very important milestone in anime history. The best Dragon Ball episodes prove that the original series still holds up.

Although the tone of the franchise changes as it progresses, many of Dragon Ball's familiar and beloved characters, iconic fighting techniques, and major plot elements are first introduced in the original Dragon Ball. These familiar aspects of the franchise have remained largely consistent since the early days of the franchise. The franchise has undeniably come a long way from the early days of the original Dragon Ball, but it has never forgotten its roots.

10 Master Roshi's Introduction Gave Goku His Most Important Mentor

Episode 3: "The Nimbus Cloud of Roshi"

As Goku's primary mentor, Master Roshi is one of the most important characters in the Dragon Ball franchise, embodying Dragon Ball's central themes. Even from his very first appearance, the main aspects of his character are quickly established. He's eccentric and lecherous. Beneath the surface, however, he quickly proves himself to be capable, crafty, and firmly on the side of good. Despite appearing to be a bizarre old man, Master Roshi has been given plenty of opportunities to prove that he lives up to his reputation as one of the world's greatest martial arts masters.

9 Krillin's Introduction Gave Goku His First Real Rival (& Best Friend)

Episode 14: "Goku's Rival"

Given Krillin's reputation as a joke in Dragon Ball Z and Super, it can be easy to forget that he was one of the most important characters in the original Dragon Ball. Initially introduced to serve as Goku's training partner and rival in the turtle school, Krillin becomes Goku's best friend and staunchest ally in the original series.

Though Krillin is best known as Goku's friend and ally, he and Goku started off with a far more adversarial relationship.

In light of his later reputation, Krillin actually comes across as surprisingly capable in the original Dragon Ball. Many of the major characters from the original Dragon Ball end up overshadowed by characters introduced in Z and Super. Although this includes Krillin, his status as Goku's best friend allows him to remain one of the emotional cores of the franchise.

8 The 21st World Martial Arts Tournament's Climax Saw Goku Face Roshi

Episode 28: "The Final Blow"

The annual World Martial Arts Tournament is a major recurring element of the plot of the original Dragon Ball, with three Tournaments being depicted on-screen in the series. Tournaments continue to be a major aspect of the later Dragon Ball franchise.

According to Akira Toriyama, the 21st World Martial Arts Tournament actually saved Dragon Ball.

As the first Tournament depicted in the series, the 21st World Martial Arts Tournament makes a strong first impression, culminating in a fight between Goku and Master Roshi in disguise under the alias of Jackie Chun. The Tournament final offers important insight into the two characters. Despite his young age, Goku is a sufficiently powerful and determined fighter to make it to the finals with minimal preparation, barely losing the fight. For his part, Master Roshi not only proves himself to still be a peerless martial artist despite his advanced age and goofy personality.

7 Goku Proposes to Chi-Chi in a Rare Sweet Moment

Episode 137: "Anonymous Proposal"

Goku's happy marriage to Chi-Chi is one of the major aspects of their characters. The moment Goku decides to fulfill his earlier promise from years back to marry Chi-Chi is so memorable for Dragon Ball fans that it was voted by the fans as one of Goku's ten most memorable quotes. It's a remarkably sincere and heartfelt moment for a series oriented towards martial arts action and humor, though one that is still filtered through the franchise's humor. Goku's trademark obliviousness adds a lot of levity and even comedy to the heartwarming moment.

6 Goku's First Encounter with the Red Ribbon Army is a Major Moment

Episode 34: "Cruel General Red"

Although Goku's first encounter with a member of the Red Ribbon Army in his fight with Colonel Silver is a fairly minor battle, the Red Ribbon Army's introduction has long-lasting implications for the Dragon Ball franchise.

The Red Ribbon Army has continued to be a threat to the heroes as recently as Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, decades later both in real life and within the Dragon Ball franchise's own chronology. Colonel Silver doesn't pose much of a challenge to Goku. As a member of the Red Ribbon Army, he represents the introduction of one of the franchise's most important villainous factions.

5 Piccolo Junior's Introduction Was the Series' Biggest Turn to Darkness

Episode 123: "Lost and Found"

Even in its darkest storylines, the Dragon Ball franchise has never completely abandoned its comedic tone. Nevertheless, the introduction of King Piccolo and Piccolo Junior represents the original Dragon Ball's most notable turn towards the dark and dramatic. Fittingly for the offspring of a literal demon, even in his childlike first form, Piccolo Junior is ruthless and single-mindedly focused on avenging Goku's defeat of his father. Piccolo Junior's introduction tells the audience everything they need to know about the character who will be Goku's greatest challenge in the original Dragon Ball.

4 The Very First Episode Set a High Standard

Episode 1: "Secret of the Dragon Ball"

Dragon Ball could not have asked for a better first impression. The very episode is the perfect introduction to the series' tone, plot, and characters. Goku and Bulma's personalities are succinctly established and the basis for a friendship that will span decades and drive the entire direction of the franchise is quickly made apparent.

Goku is a naive but kindhearted fool. Bulma is a technological genius and while she's undeniably selfish and arrogant, she's ultimately good-hearted. Similarly, Emperor Pilaf is introduced as a cartoonish villain also searching for the Dragon Balls. The series' comedic, and often surprisingly raunchy, tone is on full display from the very first episode. Based on such a strong first episode, it's not hard to see why Dragon Ball grew to become one of the most popular anime franchises of all time.

3 Shenron is Summoned for the First Time

Episode 12: "A Wish to the Eternal Dragon"

Shenron's appearance is what the first story arc of Dragon Ball is leading towards. Summoned by Emperor Pilaf after stealing the seven Dragon Balls from the heroes, the godlike Shenron makes a suitably epic and impressive entrance, poised to grant Pilaf's wish to rule the world.

Of course, Dragon Ball still being a primarily comedic series at this point, the gravitas of the moment is immediately ruined by Oolong wishing for a pair of comfortable underwear, hilariously thwarting Emperor Pilaf and saving the world in the process. This culmination of the series' first story arc is the perfect embodiment of Dragon Ball's narrative tone.

2 The First Kamehameha Leaves an Impression

Episode 8: "The Kamehameha Wave"

The Kamehameha is likely the single most famous special technique in anime. The use of the Kamehameha has become ubiquitous in the Dragon Ball franchise, so its first appearance is one of the most important episodes in the entire franchise.

While creative variations and uses of the Kamehameha have appeared throughout the franchise, Master Roshi's first on-screen demonstration stands out as particularly noteworthy. Master Roshi uses the force of the blast to extinguish the flames of Fire Mountain, allowing the Ox King to move back into his castle. Notably, following this demonstration, Goku proves his ability by instantly mastering the technique, something that took Master Roshi himself 50 years of practice.

1 Goku vs. Piccolo Was Instantly Iconic

Episode 148: "The Victor"

The original Dragon Ball saves its best adversary for last. Allowing several episodes of denouement to follow Goku's battle with Piccolo, Piccolo himself is the last major enemy faced by Goku. Piccolo is Goku's most powerful and dangerous foe in the original Dragon Ball and dominates most of their fight. Thanks to such a strong showing, it's not hard to see why Piccolo has gone on to become one of the most important characters in the later franchise.

Despite Piccolo's villainous origins, he would go on to become one of the most beloved characters in the franchise and even Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama's favorite character. In fact, Piccolo's switch to an ally of Goku and one of the cast's main heroes would mark one of the earliest and most significant tonal changes from the original Dragon Ball to Dragon Ball Z. All of this adds up to making The Victor the best episode from the original Dragon Ball.

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