How Would You Introduce Someone to Dragon Ball ?

[Vegeta th3 4th]

As the title says, how would you help someone who's never seen Dragon Ball get into the franchise ? Would you start with DB or Z ? What about Kai ? or how about the manga ? Also, what parts of the franchise would you recommend they watch ? Between the various series and 20+ movies, there's no shortage of content to pick from (or avoid).

[Kaboom]

Start with something that's as short and self-contained as possible and requires little-to-no prior knowledge of the series, like one of the earlier DB/Z movies. Just to see if they dig the general tone and feel of the show.

Then if they're interested, point them to the original manga. It's the core narrative that everything else spins off from, so it's the obvious starting point before branching out into the rest of the franchise.

[Dragon Ball Ireland]

You can't go wrong with the manga, it's the original source after all, and without it we wouldn't have had any of the anime series, movies, specials or seen Dragon Ball become a franchise in the first place. Once they finish Dragon Ball volumes 1-42, there's the Super manga, which is optional but there if someone wants more Dragon Ball.

For the anime, early Dragon Ball movies and Path to Ultimate Power are a great way to get a feel for the series, and if the person your introducing to Dragon Ball enjoys them then they can watch to their hearts content. I'd say watch original Dragon Ball, then decide whether you want to watch Z or Kai, both are valid ways to enjoy that portion of the story.

After the Z/Kai animes or the manga there's three different continuities a fan can choose from with two midquels (Daima and Super) and one sequel (GT), none of which are essential, but like the movies they are there if someone wants more Dragon Ball. I'd say the Bardock and Trunks specials are essential though, if only just for the fact they are timeless classics and tell crucial parts of the story.

[GTx10]

With the first episode of og DB. If they don't like the first episode or at the very least episode two or three then DB at its core isn't for them.

[JulieYBM]

"Hey, so, this shit's fucked up, but if you're willing to roll with the punches a bit, there's some cool action art and paneling. What? Yeah, those first few chapters are hard to get through. If you can roll with the pun—no, no, I agree, it's fucked up. If you can stomach it, there's...a bit less of that bullshit as the story goes on. Okay, okay, when it shows up again, it's like a weird, random gut-punch, but also look at how sexy Piccolo Daimaou is—yeah, that's a gay Nazi, I know, I know, but listen, have you seen this panel where—What? Oh, yeah, Chi-Chi never fights again, she's just there to have kids, it's pretty fucked—yeah, the women in general get written like this, even when there isn't anything sex predatory going on. By the way, have you see how sexy this really tall bug man is? No, sorry, he's got a pretty bland personality, but the villain before him is kinda fruity with it!"

This is basically how I would introduce Dragon Ball to whatever adult hasn't glanced at it yet and is asking me if it's any good.

[Vegeta th3 4th]

Start with something that's as short and self-contained as possible and requires little-to-no prior knowledge of the series, like one of the earlier DB/Z movies.

The movie that best fits this description is 1996's Path to Power. Now that I think about it, that's probably the best way to give someone an overall feel of the series without worrying about explaining prior events they didn't see. If they liked it and wanted to see more, then I'd go with the following:

Essential viewing:

Dragon Ball, minus the three training filler arcs.
Dragon Ball Z, minus the Garlic Jr. and Other World filler arcs.
Bardock, The Father of Goku TV Special.
The History of Trunks TV Special.

Recommended viewing:
Goku and His Friends Return OVA
Battle of Gods movie
Dragon Ball Daima

Optional viewing:
Dragon Ball movies 2&3
Dragon Ball Z movies 1-10, 12-13
Dragon Ball GT, minus episodes 6-15
A Hero's Legacy TV Special

[TechExpert2021]

Start with something simpler, short, and doesn't require prior knowledge to see if you can familiarize yourself with and dig the general idea and feel of the series. If you're then interested in the franchise, watch the original 1986 DB anime and continue through Z (or read the original 1984 DB manga if you like to take the manga route), but NEVER skip to or start from Z. And you may want to take the optional route of watching GT, Super, Daima, or any of the DB movies, or playing any of the Dragon Ball games.

Also, I strongly recommend watching the series in Japanese if going through the anime route. With a few exceptions like FUNimation's dub of DB Kai, the majority of the English DB dubs, mostly the pre-Kai ones, range from mediocre to downright terrible, so avoid them like the plague.

[Zephyr]

There's a certain temptation to go through the thought experiment of "well, how do I wish I was introduced to Dragon Ball?", and then suggest that path to the newcomer. Give them the chance to really experience DB as it was made, and to appreciate how it's playing around with and remixing its antecedents as they experience the story for the first time. I'd be real annoying about it, y'know?

Watch all of Bruce Lee's films. Watch King Boxer. Watch Snake in the Eagle's Shadow and Drunken Master. Then read Dr. Slump, and at least the first three volumes of Fist of the North Star. Then read Dragon Boy and The Adventure of Tongpoo. Finally, start reading Dragon Ball, and be sure to weave in the TV show episodes, films, and TV Specials as they came out, relative to each chapter. Consume the sequels in precisely the same way. Don't worry, younger me, I've got a spreadsheet ready for just this occasion! (that isn't a joke)

But if I was going to be a reasonable person instead, and not project my own interests onto others, I'd keep it (relatively) simple. I'd ask if they'd prefer to read a comic or watch something, and recommend the manga or the DB/Z anime accordingly. If they're down for both, I'd recommend the manga first. If they're watching the show(s), I'd also suggest they slot in the movies and TV specials in production order relative to the episodes, but if they don't care about those then it's no big deal.

If they read the manga and are interested in more after finishing, I'd recommend they read Neko Majin and Jaco. If they watched the two TV shows and are interested in more after finishing DBZ, I'd caution them that every sequel is an incredibly mixed bag. If they're still down, then I'd have them watch GT first, as it's a direct sequel to Z. Then Battle of Gods and Resurrection F. Then TV Super (which adapts and fleshes out the previous stuff), Broly, and Super Hero. Then the Super manga (which adapts and fleshes out the previous stuff). Finally, Daima.

If they somehow still want more after all of that, I'd recommend all the stuff in the second paragraph far sooner than I'd recommend Kai or the Heroes anime.

[Hellspawn28]

Start with episode 1 or chapter 1. That's where the story begins.

[Vegeta th3 4th]

There's a certain temptation to go through the thought experiment of "well, how do I wish I was introduced to Dragon Ball?", and then suggest that path to the newcomer.

I started with Z, but I wish I started with DB, so this is good advice.

[MasenkoHA]

Probably just have them read the manga or watch one of the better movies like Z movie 1 or 5. The two anime series that I think matter are a combined total of 444 episodes and that can be quite the commitment. 519 chapters is a lot too but I think easier to digest and go at your own speed. If they like the manga they can tackle the anime whenever.

[NeverRamza]

Episode 1 or chapter 1. That's what I've always done in the past.

There's a temptation to get self-conscious regarding some of the material in the beginning but that's never been an issue to anyone I've known offline, male or female.

[BootyCheeksJohnson]

Show them Dragon Ball Recut or Kai if they wanna check out the anime. The manga if they're a big reader, or one of the movies that's easier to follow. I'd recommend movie 2 for something from the original 17 Toei festival films. It also depends on their taste in stories. So use your judgement to decide which show that you think they'll like more.

[GokuHater]

I wouldn't show early DB or Z movies as a starter.

I don't think this would convince them, it sure wouldn't convince me.
I see them as generally more rushed and abridged versions of the story beats we see in the "full" story

So for me there's no better way to start than the OG manga, or the anime (if you just prefer anime that much :p ).

I also dislike starting the series from Z or Kai but if you have someone who absolutely loves action more than humor/adventure, I would say go for it.

[Fizzer]

Either the manga or the Dragon Ball anime (SoM CC), with the caveat that it's a product of its time and place and there's some pretty cringe sex jokes early on but don't worry it mostly chills out before long.

Also the caveat that if old school pacing of the anime gets a bit slow, Dragon Ball Recut exists to fix that and they can switch over at any point.

Then it's all about how they're enjoying it - loving the original pacing in Japanese? Progress to Z. Switched to Recut? Jartcut is next. Watched in English? Kai with the (in progress) Z Kikuchi rescore.

What I think is important as treating the original manga story as one story without recognising the anime split as anything more than a rebrand. It's meant to be experienced from the beginning.

And I'd be up front that it's a silly, cool, entertaining thing that never tried to be deep or complex but does have a lot of heart and soul, with loveable characters and a rich, zany world. If someone wants to try it after knowing that, then it's probably for them. If they prefer something more to chew on intellectually and emotionally, then it probably isn't.

Yeah, getting into Dragon Ball is kinda tricky. I love love love it but get embarrassed by both the perviness and the slowness when sharing that with other people. Like, I start apologising. I think that's because I love it so much that everyone knows it's a part of who I am, flaws and all.

[TRIZACK]

I introduced my ex to DB Super Broly and she loved it despite her previous opinion of hating anything Dragonball. Introduced her to the OG Dragonball and she loved it more than DBZ Kai dub or Super dub.

[MCDaveG]

I did my small brother when he was six through Kai. He's now adult.
There was this prologue recaping the first show and quite a smooth ride with some facelifts. Altho Kai is somewhere on the bottom for me.
We then switched to Z, as Kai wasn't so far and we saw just the first 3 episodes and bro wanted to know what happens after Goku dies.
Only downfall was that he loved the show and wanted to go back to the beginning, but as with that 10 year gap at the end of Z, he told me that it's awesome but it kinda lost the stakes as he saw DBZ first. So Goku can't die and the perils were lessened.
He went through GT, but wasn't a big fan. He liked Super a lot. Not sure if he went to watch Daima, probably not.
Will be interesting what his opinion on it was.

[90sDBZ]

As someone who overall prefers Z I still have to say Kai.

Despite its issues, the pacing alone makes it a way easier watch for newcomers. Some of the filler (particularly stuff like Fake Namek) could be a major turnoff, and could prevent many newcomers from going the distance. Kai hits all the major plot points and gets to the action quick.

And while it isn't the actual start of the story, it does provide a recap at least.

This is an unpopular opinion on here, but there are several issues with recommending OG DB to newcomers. The problematic stuff with Roshi is way more prominent at that point, and could turn people off from watching further.

And the Pilaf arc isn't exactly the best representation of what the series would become. The 21st Tournament is when the fighting came to the forefront more, and even that remained very gag oriented.

If I could get someone to watch Kai first, and they watched all the way through and became a fan, then I'd absolutely encourage them to go back and watch DB. If they're already invested in the characters, they'll be more likely to look past the issues of the earlier arcs.

[Dragon Ball Ireland]

This is an unpopular opinion on here, but there are several issues with recommending OG DB to newcomers. The problematic stuff with Roshi is way more prominent at that point, and could turn people off from watching further.

And the Pilaf arc isn't exactly the best representation of what the series would become. The 21st Tournament is when the fighting came to the forefront more, and even that remained very gag oriented.

I agree the Roshi stuff is very off-putting, but it's essential for understanding Toriyama as a writer for newcomers to know Dragon Ball started as a gag manga, and regardless of what it became that's what it is at its heart. I love the transformations and flashy action as much as the next person, but that's all superficial stuff, it's not Dragon Ball's charm.

The beauty of the Pilaf arc is you are introduced to the world of Dragon Ball, it starts in the mountains, then you see the coastline, deserts, villages and finally Pilaf's castle. Its good to explore different environments because you grow attached to the world before its fate hangs in the balance. The action is great, but its more meaningful when you've seen what's at stake.

And yes the series got progressively more serious, particularly from the King Piccolo arc onward but it eventually returns to its humorous roots in the Buu arc, I'd argue something was missing during the Android and Cell arcs when Toriyama was under a lot of editorial pressure and not writing stories that felt natural to him.

I'm a huge proponent of Kai myself, but it would have been much better if TOEI made some effort to adapt the pre-Raditz stuff.

[JulieYBM]

It's not the end of the world if people just don't read or what the early stuff first.