While anime and manga have become a lot more popular, there was a time when this content was not nearly as widespread. At the end of the 1980s, France discovered Dragon Ball thanks to Club Dorothée on TF1. This anime, based on the work of Akira Toriyama, made a big impression on viewers.
Today, Dragon Ball is a cult anime, just like Naruto, One Piece et Bleach. Its impact on pop culture is no longer to be proven for a long time. Even without having watched a single episode of the anime, or read a volume of the manga, everyone has already heard of Goku.
If you want to go back to your childhood with nostalgia or if you want to discover (finally!) a pillar of pop culture, good news: Prime Video allows you to (re) see Dragon Ball through his Warner Pass. Indeed, not content with offering access to HBO programs, the Warner Pass also provides access to the Adult Swim and Toonami channels.
A long censored anime
Animation series, maybe… But Dragon Ball does not hesitate to reveal violent or generally explicit scenes. Inevitably, during its broadcast as part of Club Dorothée, TF1 does not hesitate to censor several passages to protect young viewers. Overall, the anime has been in the news for a long time and has been at the center of a lot of controversy.
Dragon Ball takes us to meet young Son Goku, a boy gifted in martial arts and endowed with a monkey tail. When he meets Bulma, they go in search of the seven crystal balls. When combined, these Dragon Balls allow the Sacred Dragon Shenron to appear, which grants the wish of the person who invoked it. In his quest, Goku will encounter many allies and adversaries. The manga adaptation is split into two: Dragon Ballwhich focuses on the youth of the protagonist, then Dragon Ball Z while Son Goku is an adult and even a dad.
Today, Toonami proposes to discover Dragon Ball in an original uncensored version. Even if you have already seen the anime, note that some passages are unpublished and have never been the subject of a French translation.
View on Toonami via Prime Video
Dragon Ball and the advent of manga and anime in France
At the end of the 80s, Dragon Ball is far from what French spectators know. Between a gripping story, endearing characters, honorable values and its humor, the anime brings an unprecedented breath of fresh air to the living room of the blonde heads of France.
If it is not the first anime to be broadcast in France, it is nevertheless Dragon Ball which paved the way for manga and anime in our country. It is indisputable: there was a before and an after Dragon Ball. In addition to having had a strong impact on spectators and readers, the work influenced the authors of the time. We find a little Dragon Ball in the majority of shōnen nekketsu which followed, as Naruto, One Piece or even My Hero Academia
Although the anime marked the children of the 90s, Dragon Ball also stands out for its timelessness and has passed through the generations. Even today, it’s easy to immerse yourself in the adventures of Son Goku and recognize yourself in his story.
Dragon Ball is the 2ᵉ best-selling manga in the world
And One Piece is the undisputed master, Dragon Ball does not have to be ashamed of its sales. Indeed, the work of Akira Toriyama has enjoyed phenomenal success for more than three decades. With only 42 volumes and a conclusion published in 1995, Dragon Ball continues to seduce. Today, the manga has sold 330 million copies worldwide.
Manga, anime… But that’s not all. Dragon Ball has been entitled to many video games, movies and other merchandise for years. Even today, the franchise Dragon Ball is very active. Much to the delight of fans!
