Series Guide

Dragon Ball

1986-1989 TV 9 arcs 153 episodes 14 movies 16 characters

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Dragon Ball poster

Spoiler-Safe Summary

safe read

Dragon Ball follows the adventures of young Goku, a monkey-tailed boy with incredible strength who lives alone in a forest. One day he meets Bulma, a brilliant teenage girl searching for the mystical Dragon Balls — seven balls that, when gathered, summon the eternal dragon Shenron to grant any wish. Together, Goku and Bulma embark on an adventure across the world. Along the way, Goku meets Master Roshi, the legendary martial arts master, and trains under his guidance. He also encounters colorful characters like Oolong the shape-shifter, Yamcha the desert bandit, and his future wife Chi-Chi. The story builds toward the World Martial Arts Tournament, where Goku faces powerful fighters from around the globe.

Full Plot Summary

spoilers

Dragon Ball opens with Goku, a young boy with a monkey tail and superhuman strength, living alone in the mountains. He encounters Bulma, a teenage girl on a quest to find the seven Dragon Balls, one of which is in Goku's possession. Together they travel the world in search of the remaining balls. Their journey takes them through deserts, forests, and villages as they gather Dragon Balls while evading the villainous Emperor Pilaf, who also seeks the balls for world domination. Goku eventually trains under Master Roshi, learning martial arts and ki manipulation, while befriending Krillin, who becomes his lifelong rival and closest ally. At the World Martial Arts Tournament, Goku competes against Krillin, Yamcha (now an ally), and the mysterious Jackie Chun, revealed to be Master Roshi in disguise. After the tournament, Goku faces the Red Ribbon Army, a terrorist organization led by Commander Red who desires the Dragon Balls to become taller. Goku single-handedly defeats the entire army. Later, Goku confronts King Piccolo, a demon who threatens to destroy the world, and his son Piccolo Jr. After defeating Piccolo Jr. in a final tournament match, Goku marries Chi-Chi and sets the stage for Dragon Ball Z.

Watch Order

100% canon guide

Use this page as the source of truth for the TV spine first. The episode guide keeps official numbering clean, arcs give you story chunks, and movies stay in their own section so theatrical releases do not get mixed into the series order.

  1. 1

    Read spoiler-safe first. Use the short summary before opening full plot details.

  2. 2

    Browse arcs. Pick a story arc and jump into its matching episode range.

  3. 3

    Filter canon/filler. Keep everything visible, or narrow the episode list when you only want canon or filler.

  4. 4

    Check movies separately. Movie releases stay separate so the TV guide remains clean.

Story Arcs

9 entries
Episodes 1-33

Emperor Pilaf Saga

Emperor Pilaf Saga covers episodes 1-33, following The Secret of the Dragon Balls through The Legend of a Dragon. The summary is tied to the corrected active TV episode spine so the arc can be reviewed without relying on legacy manga or placeholder numbering.

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33episodes 33canon 0filler
Episodes 34-66

Tournament Saga

Tournament Saga covers episodes 34-66, following Cruel General Red through A Real Bind. The summary is tied to the corrected active TV episode spine so the arc can be reviewed without relying on legacy manga or placeholder numbering.

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33episodes 33canon 0filler
Episodes 67-95

Red Ribbon Army Saga

Red Ribbon Army Saga covers episodes 67-95, following The End of Commander Red through Goku vs. Krillin. The summary is tied to the corrected active TV episode spine so the arc can be reviewed without relying on legacy manga or placeholder numbering.

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29episodes 29canon 0filler
Episodes 96-117

General Blue Saga

General Blue Saga covers episodes 96-117, following Tail's Tale through The Ultimate Sacrifice. The summary is tied to the corrected active TV episode spine so the arc can be reviewed without relying on legacy manga or placeholder numbering.

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22episodes 22canon 0filler
Episodes 118-131

Commander Red Saga

Commander Red Saga covers episodes 118-131, following Prelude to Vengeance through Walking Their Own Ways. The summary is tied to the corrected active TV episode spine so the arc can be reviewed without relying on legacy manga or placeholder numbering.

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14episodes 14canon 0filler
Episodes 132-140

Fortuneteller Baba Saga

Fortuneteller Baba Saga covers episodes 132-140, following Hotter than Lava through Goku Gains Speed. The summary is tied to the corrected active TV episode spine so the arc can be reviewed without relying on legacy manga or placeholder numbering.

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9episodes 9canon 0filler
Episodes 141-153

Tien Shinhan Saga

Tien Shinhan Saga covers episodes 141-153, following The Four Faces of Tien through The End, the Beginning. The summary is tied to the corrected active TV episode spine so the arc can be reviewed without relying on legacy manga or placeholder numbering.

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Episodes 102-122

King Piccolo Saga

King Piccolo Saga covers episodes 102-122, following Enter King Piccolo through Final Showdown. The summary is tied to the corrected active TV episode spine so the arc can be reviewed without relying on legacy manga or placeholder numbering.

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21episodes 21canon 0filler
Episodes 123-153

Piccolo Jr. Saga

Piccolo Jr. Saga covers episodes 123-153, following Lost and Found through The End, the Beginning. The summary is tied to the corrected active TV episode spine so the arc can be reviewed without relying on legacy manga or placeholder numbering.

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31episodes 31canon 0filler

Episode Guide

153 / 153 entries
1 The Secret of the Dragon Balls Canon 2 The Emperor's Quest Canon 3 The Nimbus Cloud of Roshi Canon 4 Oolong the Terrible Canon 5 Yamcha the Desert Bandit Canon 6 Keep an Eye on the Dragon Balls Canon 7 The Ox King on Fire Mountain Canon 8 The Kamehameha Wave Canon 9 Boss Rabbit's Magic Touch Canon 10 The Dragon Balls are Stolen! Canon 11 The Penalty is Pinball Canon 12 A Wish to the Eternal Dragon Canon 13 The Legend of Goku Canon 14 Goku's Rival Canon 15 Look Out for Launch Canon 16 Find That Stone! Canon 17 Milk Delivery Canon 18 The Turtle Hermit Way Canon 19 The Tournament Begins Canon 20 Elimination Round Canon 21 Smells Like Trouble Canon 22 Quarterfinals Begin Canon 23 Monster Beast Giran Canon 24 Krillin's Frantic Attack! Canon 25 Danger From Above Canon 26 The Grand Finals Canon 27 Number One Under the Moon? Canon 28 The Final Blow Canon 29 The Roaming Lake Canon 30 Pilaf and the Mystery Force Canon 31 Wedding Plans? Canon 32 The Flying Fortress — Vanished! Canon 33 The Legend of a Dragon Canon 34 Cruel General Red Canon 35 Cold Reception Canon 36 Major Metallitron Canon 37 Ninja Murasaki is Coming! Canon 38 Five Murasakis Canon 39 Mysterious Android No. 8 Canon 40 Horrifying Buyon Canon 41 The Fall of Muscle Tower Canon 42 The Secret of Dr. Flappe Canon 43 A Trip to the City Canon 44 Master Thief, Hasky Canon 45 Danger in the Air Canon 46 Bulma's Bad Day Canon 47 Kame House — Found! Canon 48 Deep Blue Sea Canon 49 Roshi Surprise Canon 50 The Trap is Sprung Canon 51 Beware of Robot Canon 52 The Pirate Treasure Canon 53 Blue, Black and Blue Canon 54 Escape From Pirate Cave Canon 55 Penguin Village Canon 56 Strange Visitor Canon 57 Arale vs. Blue Canon 58 The Land of Korin Canon 59 The Notorious Mercenary Canon 60 Tao Attacks! Canon 61 Korin Tower Canon 62 Sacred Water Canon 63 The Return of Goku Canon 64 The Last of Mercenary Tao Canon 65 Confront the Red Ribbon Army Canon 66 A Real Bind Canon 67 The End of Commander Red Canon 68 The Last Dragon Ball Canon 69 Who is Fortuneteller Baba? Canon 70 We are the Five Warriors Canon 71 Deadly Battle Canon 72 Goku's Turn Canon 73 The Devilmite Beam Canon 74 The Mysterious Fifth Man Canon 75 The Strong Ones Canon 76 True Colors of the Masked Man Canon 77 Pilaf's Tactics Canon 78 The Eternal Dragon Rises Canon 79 Terror and Plague Canon 80 Goku vs. Sky Dragon Canon 81 Goku Goes to Demon Land Canon 82 The Rampage of InoShikaCho Canon 83 Which Way to Papaya Island? Canon 84 Rivals and Arrivals Canon 85 Preliminary Peril Canon 86 Then There Were Eight Canon 87 Yamcha vs. Tien Canon 88 Yamcha's Big Break Canon 89 Full-Moon Vengeance Canon 90 The Dodon Wave Canon 91 Counting Controversy!! Canon 92 Goku Enters the Ring Canon 93 Tien Shinhan vs. Jackie Chun Canon 94 Stepping Down Canon 95 Goku vs. Krillin Canon 96 Tail's Tale Canon 97 Final Match: Goku vs. Tien Canon 98 Victory's Edge Canon 99 Tien's Insurrection Canon 100 The Spirit Cannon Canon 101 The Fallen Canon 102 Enter King Piccolo Canon 103 Tambourine Attacks! Canon 104 Mark of the Demon Canon 105 Here Comes Yajirobe Canon 106 Terrible Tambourine Canon 107 Tien's Atonement Canon 108 Goku's Revenge Canon 109 Goku vs. King Piccolo Canon 110 Piccolo Closes In Canon 111 Roshi's Gambit Canon 112 King Piccolo's Wish Canon 113 Siege on Chow Castle Canon 114 Conquest and Power Canon 115 Awaken Darkness Canon 116 A Taste of Destiny Canon 117 The Ultimate Sacrifice Canon 118 Prelude to Vengeance Canon 119 Battle Cry Canon 120 Goku Strikes Back Canon 121 The Biggest Crisis Canon 122 Final Showdown Canon 123 Lost and Found Canon 124 Temple Above the Clouds Canon 125 Earth's Guardian Emerges Canon 126 Eternal Dragon Resurrected Canon 127 Quicker than Lightning Canon 128 Secret of the Woods Canon 129 The Time Room Canon 130 Goku's Doll Canon 131 Walking Their Own Ways Canon 132 Hotter than Lava Canon 133 Changes Canon 134 Preliminary Peril Canon 135 Battle of the Eight Canon 136 Tien Shinhan vs. Mercenary Tao Canon 137 Anonymous Proposal Canon 138 The Mysterious Hero Canon 139 Rematch Canon 140 Goku Gains Speed Canon 141 The Four Faces of Tien Canon 142 Kami vs. Piccolo Canon 143 Battle for the Future Canon 144 Super Kamehameha Canon 145 Junior No More Canon 146 Goku's Trap Canon 147 Goku Hangs On Canon 148 The Victor Canon 149 Dress in Flames Canon 150 The Fire-Eater Canon 151 Outrageous Octagon Canon 152 Mystery of the Dark World Canon 153 The End, the Beginning Canon

Movies

14 entries

Characters

16 entries

Official Hub

source links

Dragon Ball official video

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Series FAQ

4 answers
How many episodes does Dragon Ball have?

Dragon Ball has 153 episodes in the current AnimeAnchor baseline, with 153 canon episodes and 0 filler episodes.

Does Dragon Ball have movies?

Dragon Ball has 14 movie entries in this guide. Movies are kept separate from TV episodes so recuts, specials, and theatrical releases do not distort episode numbering.

Can I avoid spoilers on this Dragon Ball page?

Yes. The spoiler-safe summary is visible first, while the full-plot summary is hidden behind a reveal control on the series page.

How are arcs handled for Dragon Ball?

Dragon Ball is organized into 9 story arcs with episode ranges and canon/filler counts.