Created by the legendary Akira Toriyama, Dragon Ball is a foundational pillar of modern anime and manga. What began as a lighthearted adventure inspired by the Chinese novel Journey to the West evolved into a high-stakes martial arts epic that defined the "battle shonen" genre. The Core Essence
The franchise is typically divided into several distinct eras: Dragon Ball
: Known for a "seat-of-the-pants" writing style, Toriyama prioritized fun, quirky characters and dynamic action over rigid long-term planning. Major Eras Created by the legendary Akira Toriyama, Dragon Ball