Very few stories are as culturally impactful as Akira Toriyama’sDragon Ball. Celebrating 40 years since the manga’s initial release, fans are remembering the influence that Goku and his friends have had not just on the anime and manga sphere,but on the lives of multiple generations of fans. From being credited with popularizing anime in the west, to having its hero used as an official mascot of the Olympics,Dragon Ballhas become immortal.
The series is best known for its iconic fights, offering some of the cleanest, most concise, smooth, and most importantly, exciting action sequences that battle shōnen has ever seen. But fighting isn’t the only reasonDragon Ballhas held onto its relevancy for the better part of four decades. As Goku and his friends have continued to protect the Earth from the fiercest foes across all universes,the series has taught important life lessons to anime fans of all ages.
Though Akira Toriyama pennedDragon Ball’s earliest chapter 40 years agoin a much different world than the one the series currently inhabits, its lessons are as enduring as the 300-year-old Turtle Hermit who first taught Goku the importance of hard work and rest. Even without the series' legendary creator at the helm,Dragon Ballmarches unwaveringly into the futurewith new and exciting entries into the franchise, which will continue to teach important values to its ever-growing fanbase.
5Piccolo Teaches That Family Can Be Found Anywhere
The Once Evil Namekian Is Now an Honorary Member of the Son Family
Piccolo is one of the characters most beloved byDragon Ballfans, and for good reason. The spawn of the Great Demon King that terrorized Goku and the Earth, Piccolo debuted in the originalDragon Ballanime with the sole purpose of exacting his revenge on the series' main character. Following the spirited showdown at the World Tournament a few years down the line, however, Goku’s most dangerous rival yet would becomean honorary member of the Son Family.
The role of ‘uncle’ that Piccolo filled for Gohan during the early portions of the Saiyan Saga often made for some of the best moments ofDragon Ball Z’s anime. And when Piccolo completed his journey from villain to hero by sacrificing his life to save Gohan, a bond was forged between the twothat ran deeper than blood. Even after several years had passed following Piccolo’s sacrifice, he remained in Gohan’s life by acting as a tutor and an uncle for Pan.
And while Piccolo is likely the series' best example of found family, he isn’t the only one. Goku formed an unbreakable friendship with Krillin, who acted as the catalyst forDragon Ball’s first Super Saiyan transformation, while characters like Goten and Trunks have become inseparable as the series has progressed. Family is one of the series' most important features, andDragon Ballnever misses an opportunity to remind its viewers that it can be found anywhere.
4Goku and Vegeta Prove That It’s Important to Embrace Your Heritage
The Saiyan Rivals Reach Further Heights By Embracing Their Roots
As soon as Vegeta burst onto the scene inDragon Ball, he made it clear that he was the proud Prince of the Saiyans, and that it would take a warrior of incomprehensible power to destroy that pride. While the prince would eventually come to abandon the brutality that defined his past and his race,that pride never left him. And when the warrior arrived who was powerful enough to challenge it, Vegeta turned it into fuel to further improve himself, and became the absolute best fighter he could be.
For Goku, on the other hand, embracing his heritage took a little more time. When he finally did, however, the results were glorious, as the series' first ever Super Saiyan entered the fight. Following the run-in with Raditz early inDragon Ball Z, Goku had a bit of a quiet internal struggle between his Earthling and Saiyan roots. On Namek, though, after being pushed into a corner by Frieza, his kind-hearted fury took control and Goku unleashed the Saiyan strength dwelling within him.
Through an unbreakable rivalry and bond, Goku and Vegeta have continued reaching new and impressive heightsby embracing their roots as Saiyan warriors. From Goten and Trunks being eager in their early lives to emulate the Super Saiyan feats of their fathers, to Gohan adopting the name of his race as his superhero identity, those who share Saiyan blood are consistently proud to do so.Dragon Ballmakes sure its strongest warriors take pride in their heritage, and are always improving themselves by doing so.
3Gohan Is a Reminder That Sometimes You Must Fight For What’s Right
Despite Not Wanting to Fight, Gohan Knows When It’s Necessary
Though Goku is undoubtedlyDragon Ball’s protagonist, it can be argued that the main character throughout the majority of theDragon Ball Zportion of the series was Gohan. The gentle-natured, kind-hearted hybrid Saiyan proved early on during his time in the spotlight that he was not like his father. Stating that he wanted to be a well-educated scholar from his earliest age, Gohan took an interest in nature and even became good friends with a dinosaur named Icarus. Though he was the son of Earth’s greatest warrior,Gohan didn’t like to fight.
Despite his gentle demeanor and aversion to combat, however, Gohan always had the greatest fighting potential of all the Earth’s best defenders. Anytime a villain would push him far enough,the child would far surpass even his father in strength. Gohan’s character arc came to its climax during the Cell Saga, when the words of Android #16 inspired him to realize that there are certain threats which reason alone will not reach.
Toriyama initially planned for Gohan to fill the role of protagonist asDragon Ballentered the Majin Buu Saga, though he walked back on that decision feeling thathe could never replace Goku. Nevertheless, Gohan’s character arc teaches the important lesson that although someone may not like to fight, there are certain situations or evils that demand action. As Android #16 said in the English dub of his iconic speech to the struggling young half-Saiyan,“It is not a sin to fight for the right cause.”
2Dragon Ball Teaches the Importance of Seeing the Good In Others
Most of Goku’s Friends Began as Enemies
Goku’s friends and family are oftenthe source of his immense power, inspiring him to always reach new heights and overcome any challenge that presents itself. One ofDragon Ball Super’s finest moments reflects this, as Master Roshi recounts the many people and experiences that have shaped and been shaped by Goku during the final portion of the Tournament of Power. What’s notable about the Saiyan’s friends, though, is thatmost of them were introduced as enemies.
Vegeta and Piccolo are the two most well-known redemption stories inDragon Ball, but they were not the only characters once set on destroying the main character. Both Yamcha and Tien first appeared in opposition to Goku, while even Krillin wasn’t entirely happy to get to know the strange, tailed boy during their training under Master Roshi. No one is safe from Goku’s influence, though, as each of his one-time enemieshave fought beside him in countless battlesthroughout the many adventures ofDragon Ball.
As Goku grew into an adult throughout the series, there was a notable shift in how he handled his competition. Once the boy that brutally tore through the Red Ribbon Army and punched a hole right through King Piccolo’s chest, Goku began offering second chances to his enemies as more of them became his friends. If the Saiyan hadn’t learned to see the good in others, his circle of friends and family would be significantly smaller.
1Goku Teaches the Importance of Being Kind No Matter How Strong You Become
He May Not Be Perfect, But Goku Is Always Kind
Goku has never been a perfect hero, and Akira Toriyama made it a point to write him that way. He has his flaws: a selfish desire to fight stronger opponents, his absent-mindedness, and his lack of consideration for his family.But no matter the circumstances, Goku is always kind. It’s true that he may be rude, though often unintentionally, as seen in his earliest interactions with Bulma, especially.
However, the pure-hearted Saiyannever approaches anyone with bad intentions, and will never ignore someone in need of help. Part of what attracted so many others to Goku’s side is the kindness he showed them, no matter how intent they may have been on defeating him. That influence has been strongest on Vegeta, who once was an evil, space tyrant that wouldn’t hesitate to destroy a planet, and is now one of anime’s best husbands and fathers.
AsDragon Ballcontinues the adventures of Goku and his friends inDragon Ball Daima, it’s evident that the series' core values are still very well alive over 40 years since the original adventure began. And though the world thatDragon Ballresides in has changed, the series' lessons are still as valuable as they ever have been for anime fans of all ages and backgrounds.
Dragon Ball
From the creative mind of Akira Toriyama, Dragon Ball is a mega multimedia franchise that spans back to the 1980s. Dragon Ball expanded quickly, starting as a serialized manga for Weekly Shonen Jump in Japan. It made its way overseas via manga and an anime adaptation that is enjoyed worldwide. Dragon Ball was the initial starting animated series that followed the adventures of the young Son Goku as he sought after the Dragon Balls. These mystical orbs would grant the wish of any who gathered them together. Then, the series would branch off into the immensely popular Dragon Ball Z, which followed Goku as an adult and featured high-intensity battles and Goku’s never-ending search to be the strongest. The series has also enjoyed several popular video game adaptations and continues to release several new animated series and theatrical films up to the recent popular Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero.
