Dragon Ball's Multiple Continuities

[taikufuru]

Even after 40 years since its launch, we don't officially know if the franchise has an officially established canon and which works belong to it.

Being a supporter of the idea that there are multiple continuities of the main story that move harmoniously in one direction, I created this somewhat complex table.

Remembering that this is just a fan having fun with the idea, not the absolute truth.

It's nice?

MANGA AND ITS SPIN-OFFS

0. Jaco the Galactic Patrolman & Dragon Ball;
1. Dr. Slump;
2. Neko Majin;
3. Cross Epoch;
4. Collaboration With Osamu Akimoto;
5. The Case of Being Reincarnated as Yamcha;
6. Dragon Ball SD;


ANIME AND ITS SPIN-OFFS

8. Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z: Movie #1, Dragon Ball Z, Original Illustrated Story #1: Piccolo, Dragon Ball Z: TV Special #1, Original Illustrated Story #2: Vegeta, Dragon Ball Z: TV Special #2, Original Illustrated Story #3: Trunks, Dragon Ball Kai, Dragon Ball GT & Dragon Ball GT: TV Special #1;

NOTE: The Dragon Haiya and Coola appear, respectively, in Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball GT. However, they are not explicitly the same as those in the films, as is the case with Garlic Jr, where references are made to the events of that film, as well as scenes.

9. Public Service Video #1 & #2

10. Dragon Ball: Movie #1;

11. Dragon Ball Movie #2 & #3;

12. Dragon Ball: 10th Anniversary Movie;

13. Dragon Ball Z: Movie #2;

14. Dragon Ball Z: Movie #3;

15. Dragon Ball Z: Movie #4;

16. Dragon Ball Z: Movie #5 & #6;

17. Dragon Ball Z: Movie #7;

18. Dragon Ball Z: Movie #8, #10 & #11;

19. Dragon Ball Z: Movie #9;

20. Dragon Ball Z: Movie #12;

21. Dragon Ball Z: Movie #13;

22. Dragon Ball Z: Gather Together! Goku World;

23. Dragon Ball Z Side-Story: Plan to Eradicate the Saiyans (Part #1 & #2);

24. Dragon Ball: Plan to Eradicate the Super Saiyans;

25. Heya! Son Goku and Friends Return!!;

26. Heya! Son Goku and Friends Return!! (Manga Adaptation);

27. Toriko × One Piece × Dragon Ball Z: Super Collaboration Special!!;

28. Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods & Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F';

29. Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F' (Manga Adaptation);

30. Dragon Ball Super;

31. Dragon Ball Super (Manga Adaptation);

32. Dragon Ball Super: Broly & Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero;

GAMES AND ITS SPIN-OFFS

33. Dragon Ball Online;


PROMOTIONAL GAMES AND ITS SPIN-OFFS

34. Dragon Ball: Episode of Bardock;

35. Dragon Ball: Episode of Bardock (Animated Adaptation);

36. Dragon Ball Heroes: Victory Mission;

37. Charisma Mission! Series;

38. Super Dragon Ball Heroes: Avatars!!;

39. Super Dragon Ball Heroes (Manga Adaptation);

40. Super Dragon Ball Heroes (Anime Adaptation);

41. Fusions the Manga!!;


LIVE-ACTIONS

42. Dragonball: Evolution;

[FoolsGil]

It's too small to be looked at, even when saving on my computer.

[Grimlock]

Even after 40 years since its launch, we don't officially know if the franchise has an officially established canon

There isn't. We would know it by now if it had.

It's nice?

• I don't think Doctor Slump creates its own continuity, I'm pretty sure that, just like Neko Majin, both of these works are set in the Dragon Ball universe.

• There's no sense in putting Neko Majin, Cross Epoch, that Yamcha manga and Dragon Ball SD in the same continuity. None of these works are intentionally created to be connected with each other or anything.

• Dragon Ball Online doesn't create its own continuity, it is set in the manga one, serving as its sequel.

• It's redudant to put Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Kai in any continuity, as they are the same thing. I'd also place the movies and the OVAs in wherever you place Dragon Ball GT.

• The Tarble OVA doesn't create a new continuity, it is set in the Toriyama movies one.

• The Toriyama movies and the Dragon Ball Super manga do not take place in the same continuity.

• The Bardock OVA is a sequel to the Bardock TV Special, so they should belong to the same continuity.

• No other project takes place in the Dragon Ball Heroes continuity, that may or may not include the "Dragon Ball Heroes: Victory Mission" manga. If anything, Dragon Ball Super and Dragon Ball GT might, as the game serves as a sequel to both of those works.


Fun fact: I was already thinking about giving names to the continuities. I don't know if I should create that thread, though.

[taikufuru]

1. I think you are confusing the concept of universe and continuity.

1.1. Dragon Ball has twelve universes, something already presented in Dragon Ball Super. The works I included take place in the same universe, but in different continuities.

1.2. Yes, Dr. Slump and Neko Majin are in the same Dragon Ball universe, but in different continuities considering the events of each of the works.

2. Yes, Dragon Ball Online continues the events of Akira Toriyama's original manga, but in another continuity.

3. Neko Majin, Cross Epoch, Yamcha and SD are not in the same continuity. See that they are separated into continuities 2,3, 5 and 6.

4. Gregory's inclusion in the 2008 OVA (anime and manga) prevents me from placing them in the same continuity as Battle of Gods and Resurrection 'F', as they deliberately excluded the character in those films.

5. Dragon Ball GT is the natural continuation of the Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z TV series. The choice to not put "THE END" in the epilogue and just do it at the end of GT is very deliberate. There are three classic series forming a single story.

6. I think you didn't pay attention to the table. The Dragon Ball Super manga and Toriyama's films do not share the same continuity. See, there are numbers separating them...

7. Episode of Bardock is a what-if written from the TV Special. I don't see why they would be in the same continuity...

8. Victory Mission is an separate continuity. Look at the table, please.