Dragon Ball
Start here for Goku, Bulma, martial arts, and the original tone.
Watch order
Dragon Ball
A practical path through Goku's story from adventure comedy to multiverse battles.
Quick answer
Begin with Dragon Ball, continue to Dragon Ball Z or Dragon Ball Z Kai, then watch Dragon Ball Super and Super: Broly followed by Super Hero. Dragon Ball GT is an optional alternate sequel. Dragon Ball Daima is a separate official adventure set after the Majin Buu conflict and is easiest to watch after Z.
Reviewed 2026-06-28Dragon Ball Z Kai
Cleaner main-story version of Dragon Ball Z.
Dragon Ball Super
Modern continuation after Z.
Dragon Ball Super: Broly
Canon film after Super's TV run.
Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero
Later Super-era film focused on Gohan and Piccolo.
Dragon Ball Daima
Official post-Buu adventure; easiest to approach after Z or Kai.
First-time viewer guide
Why this order works
Start with Goku's original journey
The first Dragon Ball establishes Goku, Bulma, the martial-arts tournaments, and relationships that Z expects viewers to know. It has a lighter adventure tone but is not a disposable prequel. Moving from Dragon Ball into Z preserves character growth and makes later returns, rivalries, and family connections more rewarding.
Choose Z or Kai
Dragon Ball Z is the classic broadcast experience with slower pacing and substantial anime-original material. Kai retells the same central era with tighter editing, revised audio, and less filler. Watching both is unnecessary for a first run. Super then continues after the Buu-era story, while GT offers a separate anime-original branch.
Order explained
Release order or chronological order?
Release order
The broad release path is Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT, Dragon Ball Super, Super: Broly, Super Hero, and Dragon Ball Daima. That order shows how the franchise evolved, but it mixes alternate continuities. Most newcomers should move from Dragon Ball to Z or Kai, then Super and its films, treating GT as optional and placing Daima after they understand the Buu-era cast.
Chronological order
For the main modern route, watch Dragon Ball, Z or Kai through Majin Buu, then Daima as a self-contained post-Buu adventure, followed by Dragon Ball Super, Super: Broly, and Super Hero. Continuity discussions around exact later placement can become technical; the important viewing rule is to know the original and Z-era cast first. GT remains an alternate sequel branch after Z.
Movies, OVAs and filler
What is optional?
Dragon Ball Z filler
MixedKeep it for the classic pace or choose Kai for a shorter first viewing.
Dragon Ball GT
OptionalAn anime-original alternate sequel with its own ideas and ending.
Older Dragon Ball Z films
OptionalMostly side adventures that do not fit neatly into the television timeline.
Dragon Ball Daima
Main storyAn official Toriyama-involved series best approached after the Buu conflict.
Before you start
Common watch-order mistakes
Skipping original Dragon Ball
Z explains enough to function, but it loses the origin of the cast, tournaments, and Goku's long development.
Watching Z and Kai back to back
They cover the same major story. Pick the pacing and presentation you prefer.
Quick reference
Frequently asked questions
Should I watch Dragon Ball Z or Kai?
Choose Z for the original expansive anime experience or Kai for faster manga-focused pacing.
Is Dragon Ball GT required?
No. It is an optional alternate sequel and is not needed for Super.
Where does Daima fit?
Watch it after the Majin Buu conclusion; exact continuity debates do not affect that newcomer placement.
When do I watch Super: Broly and Super Hero?
Watch both after the Dragon Ball Super television series, with Broly before Super Hero.