For more than four decades, Dragon Ball has cast a long and powerful shadow over the world of shōnen manga and anime. Since its creator Akira Toriyama launched the original manga in 1984, the adventures of Goku and his friends have provided joy and inspiration across generations.
Many of today’s legendary manga and anime creators explicitly mention it Dragon Ball as a fundamental influence on their work. Without it, the modern shōnen genre as we know it might never have taken shape. Here are ten extraordinary series to which we owe a lot Dragon Ballthe legacy of:
Jujutsu Kaisen – The current contender to the big-shōnen throne, with a fighting style and power escalation that clearly echoes the Dragon Ball format.
One Punch Man – It turns Dragon Ball clichés on their heads, using the concept of increasing power levels to parody and pay homage to the original.
Demon slayer – With dynamic battle sequences, power-ups and signature moves, it’s a modern generation’s answer to Dragon Ball.
Yu Yu Hakusho – A direct peer of Dragon Ball in the late ’80s and early ’90s, with supernatural battles and tournament arcs inspired by what Toriyama pioneered.
Bleach – Its creator has openly acknowledged that he drew on Dragon Ball villains and developed an escalating combat structure.
Naruto – One of the “Big Three”, with the protagonist Naruto reflecting Goku’s cheerful and determined spirit and battles that develop through training and upgrades.
One piece – Even older shōnen giants owe a debt: Creator Eiichiro Oda grew up as a “Dragon Ball boy” and built Luffy’s journey on adventure, friendship, and escalating stakes.
The seven deadly sins – Combines fantasy, action and humor; its author recognized in Dragon Ball the spark that made him want to become a manga artist.
My academic world of heroes – A next-generation shōnen that draws on the power system structure, hero-villain dynamics, and training arcs first popularized by Dragon Ball.
Gintama – A loving tribute to shōnen clichés, Gintama references Dragon Ball countless times through parody, homage, and self-awareness.
Dragon Ball not only was it successful, but it created the blueprint for what a modern shōnen fighting series could look like. As critics note, it popularized transformation sequences, power increases, constant training arcs, and high-stakes battles, establishing many of the conventions we now take for granted.
Without it, the anime and manga landscape might look very different, and some of today’s biggest titles might simply not exist.
Sources: gamek
