The originalDragon Ballmanga began publication near the end of 1984. It rapidly grew in popularity as it progressed, untilDragon Ball Zultimately became one of the most popular anime of all time. It’s inspired many generations of new series and has left a very large impact on pop culture as a whole.
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With such a popular series comes many memorable moments. This list will highlight the most iconic moments from across the entire franchise from oldest to newest.
10King Piccolo’s Defeat
Very early Dragon Ball didn’t have many serious villains since the very first arc is mostly a light-hearted adventure. The Red Ribbon Army were the first threat that had to be taken very seriously, but even they had a goal that felt lackluster. The introduction of Demon King Piccolo changed the tone of the series entirely.
The death of Krillin and a few side characters at the start of this arc signified this change very well. Most of Piccolo’s minions were incredibly strong compared to Earthly warriors, but each was eventually overcome. The Demon King himself seemed unstoppable, but Goku never gave up. His final punch right through Piccolo’s chest is one of the most recognizable frames of the entire original series.
9It’s Over 9,000
After a year of training with King Kai, Goku returned to Earth, but it was too late. Most of his friends were already defeated by Nappa. Vegeta decided to scan Goku’s power level to see just how strong this new warrior could be.
Vegeta’s over-the-top scream in the anime, as he crushes the scouter in his hand, quickly became the kick-starter of anime memes. The number being 9,000 was actually a mistake, as it was originally 8,000 in the manga, but the line became so iconic that even in re-releases it stayed 9,000.
8Goku’s Super Saiyan Transformation
The nearly destroyed planet Namek scenery and outrageous tension after the death of Krillin made the tone of the original Super Saiyan transformation sequence unforgettable. Very few anime transformations have come even close to becoming as recognizable as Super Saiyan.
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Nearly every Dragon Ball transformation since Super Saiyan’s conception involves hair color changing. It’s a simple concept, but highly effective at demonstrating a shift in power.
7Father Son Kamehameha
Super Saiyan 2 was one of the few Saiyan transformations that was initially unlocked by someone other than Goku. Gohan’s half human heritage gave him a lot of potential, allowing him to achieve this form before anyone else.
Despite the incredible power boost, Cell’s regeneration still proved too strong. Gohan nearly gave up until Goku spoke to him telepathically. Goku’s spirit appears behind Gohan to create the most iconic co-op attack in the series.
6Vegeta’s Sacrifice
Vegeta’s character development has led him to become a fan favorite character. He was a ruthless villain at the start of Z, but he formed a temporary truce on Namek. He began to become a true ally during the events in the Android and Cell arcs.
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For a short time in the Majin Buu Saga, he fell back into evil’s clutches, becoming a servant of Babidi. After a rematch with Goku, he saw just how destructive Majin Buu truly was. Vegeta nobly sacrificed himself to protect his family and friends, thus marking one of the pinnacle moments in his redemption storyline.
5Potara Fusion
Fusion has become a staple in the series ever since the Majin Buu Saga. Kabito Kai was the first to demonstrate how the Potara Earrings work, but their fusion wasn’t nearly as impactful as the introduction of Vegito.
Once realizing fusion was the only way to finally defeat Buu, Vegeta accepted becoming one being with Goku. Together, they formed the strongest being in all of Dragon Ball Z. Vegito only returned once more in canon duringDragon Ball Super’s Goku Black arc.
4Kaioshin Planet Spirit Bomb
The Spirit Bomb is an attack Goku learned from King Kai at the start of Z. The first time he uses it is against Vegeta, but that one was very small. While on Namek, Goku charges a much larger one in an attempt to destroy Frieza. It failed, but was a very memorable moment of their fight.
The Spirit Bomb doesn’t have a high statistic of finishing off foes, but it finally did the trick against Kid Buu. Kid Buu was the final antagonist in Dragon Ball Z, and defeating him with an attack that represented the culmination of everyone’s power was an excellent way to send off the series.
3Super Saiyan 4 Transformation
Super Saiyan 4 is one of the most unique Saiyan transformations in terms of appearance, and the lore behind it brings the series back to its roots. If a Saiyan learned Super Saiyan and has a tail, they can become a Super Saiyan Oozaru. If that Saiyan snaps back into control afterward, then they can achieve Super Saiyan 4.
The form is one of the most widely loved aspects ofDragon Ball GTand has gone on to appear in a lot of other side material. Very few characters have achieved this form, making it feels all the more special.
2GT’s Ending
The end of the original Dragon Ball anime involved Goku growing up and getting married. It was a good ending, but it was far from the true end of the series. Dragon Ball Z’s ending was handled well too, but it didn’t capture the same sensation that GT’s ending did.
Seeing Goku leave forever and saying goodbyes to multiple important character was a much more emotional send off. Every other Dragon Ball ending left room for a potential follow-up, but GT’s finale felt like it truly wrapped up Goku’s story for good.
1Mastered Ultra Instinct
The Tournament of Power was by far the largest story arc in Dragon Ball Super’s anime. Nearly half the series was a build-up to the final fight. Many fans speculated there’d be a new form based on part of the intro, and that came true when Ultra Instinct appeared for the first time. Almost all of Goku’s transformations before Ultra Instinct focused on improving raw power, but its focus is the ability to dodge attacks subconsciously.
Goku would continue to use Ultra Instinct a few times before facing Jiren one last time, most notably against Kefla. When hope of defeating Jiren seemed unlikely, Goku achieved the true mastered version of Ultra Instinct. Fan hype was so strong that many sites that aired the episode crashed.
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