15 Best TV Shows Like Dragon Ball Z That You Should Watching Update 04/2024

TV Shows Like Dragon Ball Z

With Dragon Ball Z, many people get their first taste of video games and anime. You’ll want to check out these books after you’ve finished watching the series.

In terms of anime, Dragon Ball Z is arguably the most recognizable of the bunch.

With Son Goku as its eponymous protagonist, it’s no surprise that fans from all over the world have come together to support this beloved series. Anime fans of all ages have been inspired to try Kamehameha attacks thanks to the incredible fight scenes and the diverse cast of characters.

As a long-running franchise, there are plenty of episodes, but unless someone collects all seven Dragon Balls, there are only so many hours of Dragon Ball Z one can watch before running out of material. Fans of the show will be pleased to learn that there are a number of other fantastic anime that they will enjoy!

Theo Kogod updated this page on November 6, 2020. Many anime fans began their journey into the world of anime thanks to Dragon Ball Z. Rewatching an anime is great, but there is something special about the first time around. After a year, it’s time to add new anime to this list so that you can discover even more wonderful works of art that you can fall in love with. In the meantime, here are a few other shows to watch.

15. Fairy Tail

Fairy Tail

For Dragon Ball Z, the quest for the legendary Dragon Balls is what inspired the title. The magical dragon Shinra is summoned when all seven Dragon Balls are gathered together and grants one wish.

While searching for the dragon Igneel in the fantasy series Fairy Tail, the characters journey through Earthland. The characters in this series demonstrate a lot of the classic shonen fighting styles and humor found in Dragon Ball Z, as well as a spectacular way of handling power creep as the characters get stronger.

14. My Hero Academia

The heroes of Dragon Ball Z use their martial arts prowess and ki powers to protect the world from evil forces. There are separate costumes for each Z Fighter and each villain (the orange gi and the armor worn by Frieza’s soldiers are essentially the same). This is basically a superhero show with a cast of costumed characters who use their powers for good or evil.

My Hero Academia is by far the most popular superhero anime. When it comes to villains, everything is over the top, from their costumes to their fight scenes to their hair. MHA, despite its unconventional approach to superpowers, is a favorite among Dragon Ball Z fans.

13. Sword Art Online

Sword Art Online

Because Sword Art Online takes place in a virtual reality game world, the characters in the show have all the powers that they would normally have in a fantasy action series. Every player is trapped in the game world, so they live their lives as their powerful in-game avatars every day.

This series has a more desperate struggle for survival than Dragon Ball Z, but the focus on building teams of skilled fighters to deal with threats is an integral part of both anime.. Fans of Dragon Ball will recognize many of the plotlines in SOA.

12. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure

There is no doubt that it deserves the middle word in Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure. One reason it works so well is because of that. Everything about this film is fantastic: the characters, the action sequences (especially the fight scenes), and the art.

Jojo’s moves in a different direction from Dragon Ball Z’s martial arts ki attacks. Fans will enjoy the same type of action they’ve come to expect from superhero movies, but in a completely new way.

11. Hunter x Hunter

There is a lot to like about Hunter x Hunter, including the fact that Gon Freecss’ hair looks like it could be Saiyan hair. As it turns out, Gon’s father is a Hunter—someone who can track down wild beasts and hidden treasures, and who has incredible abilities through the manipulation of their Nen powers (which is basically just Ki). For the annual exam, Gon sets out to become a Hunter.

Individual episodes are enjoyable, but the real joy comes from watching Gon grow and meet new friends and overcome adversity as he journeys through the long story arcs of the series.

10. Naruto

Naruto

A ninja hero with the spirit of the legendary Nine-Tailed Fox sealed within him is the protagonist of the first entry on this list, Naruto. Even though Dragon Ball Z appears to be a completely different anime, there are many similarities between the two, such as epic action sequences, visually stunning energy attacks, and spiky-haired protagonists who don’t stop eating.

After all, Naruto is a fantastic series because its protagonist is earnest, a little naive and determined to overcome great obstacles—all qualities that Son Goku shares with Naruto.

9. Outlaw Star

Gene Starwind, an outlaw bounty hunter, and his crew face off against pirates, aliens, and cyborgs in this late 1990s space western. Dragon Ball fans will enjoy this series because of the perfect mix of slapstick humor and high-octane action.

The ultimate underdog, Gene Starwind relies on his wit and sheer grit to overcome his opponents. Despite his lack of power, he is the ultimate underdog. The cast spends the majority of the series searching for the Galactic Leyline, a hub of enormous power and wealth that can grant any wish.

8. Tenchi Muro!

Tenchi Muro

The original OVA Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohko! introduced the main characters, Tenchi Masaki and Ryoko Hakubi, a human boy and a drunken demon scientist space pirate.

You can enjoy classic anime goodness with aliens, ancient mystical powers and offbeat characters clashing with one another. The dynamic interplay between the characters is what makes this show stand out from the crowd. There is a great deal of depth to the characters’ relationships with one another, whether it’s Tenchi and his father or the various female characters. Shinyenergy effects, of course, are an essential part of any great anime.

7. Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic

In this animated adaptation of the 1001 Nights tales, Aladdin and Alibaba are the protagonists. Aladdin has the ability to use magic because he is a Magi who can call on the Rukhs’ powers. After a long journey, Alibaba finally arrives back in his kingdom, where he begins to wage a war for the betterment of his people against his brother’s corruption and an army of bandits.

The series reinterprets classic anime motifs with breathtaking visual effects and unique cultural perspectives by drawing inspiration from Middle Eastern folktales. Fans of Dragon Ball will enjoy the positive outlook of the protagonists and high stakes action scenes.

6. Bleach

Bleach

After meeting the Shinigami woman, Rukia Kuchiki, Ichigo Kurosaki gains the powers of a Soul Reaper, which he uses to battle the demonic forces of the Pure Ones. Hollows, evil spirits that haunt the show, are the primary target of the two protagonists. You will soon discover that this series shares a lot of similarities with that which follows it.

Bleach has a maturity to it that doesn’t feel the need to dwell in grimdark misery, allowing it to simultaneously be fun and serious in its narrative at the same time. A reverence for the dead is also uncommon in anime with plots centered on fighting spirits with magical weapons.

5. Inuyasha

That this shonenanimedoes it so well is truly a testament to its mastery of contemporary and historical storytelling. High school student Kagome Higurashi travels back in time and meets half-demon Inuyasha in this Japanese Warring States period show. They travel through demon-infested Japan in search of shards of a shattered mystic gemstone, which is the main plot point of the series.

There’s something for everyone in the mix of action, fantasy, horror, and romance. A search for mystic artifact pieces is what will be most familiar to anime fans who follow the search for the seven Dragon Balls in their shows.

4. Sailor Moon

Sailor Moon

Dragon Ball Z and Sailor Moon were the two most popular anime of the 1990s. There are some who have tried to simplify these by suggesting that one series is for boys and the other is for girls, and while this is true on a superficial level, it’s clear that both shows are excellent and have universal appeal.

In addition to being one of the first animated shows to feature a large LGBTQ+ cast, Sailor Moon is also one of the most popular magical girls animes of all time. Fans of Dragon Ball Z will be able to identify with the show’s story, action, and humor.

3. One Piece

Unlike Marvel’s Reed Richards, the protagonist of this fantasy series about a group of pirates searching for the legendary “One Piece” treasure is Monkey Luffy. Just plain fun, this high seas fantasy adventure has some of the most imaginative characters in anime, invoking the creativity of older shows that did not feel so compelled to limit the magic of their stories by imposingrealism on them.

He and the Straw Hat Pirates are on a mission to become Pirate King, and Luffy is adamant about it. With a classic quest plot, but in a fantasy setting, this series will keep fans coming back for more.

2. One-Punch Man

One-Punch Man

One-Punch Man is both Dragon Ball Z’s spiritual heir and its archenemy. To put it simply, Saitama is the strongest person on the planet. To make matters worse for him, he has no worthy foes to challenge him. Classic anime and American superhero stories are both heavily influenced by this series, which features characters who are both enthralled and bored.

In a few notable scenes, One-Punch Man parodies DBZ, a nod to its spiritual heir. Action abounds, but the greatest battles in this series are the complicated psychological battles of the characters.

1. Yu Yu Hakusho

The final entry on this list is Yu Yu Hakusho, a 90s classic that shares many similarities with Bleach. What happens when you save a child from an oncoming car? You die, only to be revived by the woman who claims to be the Grim Reaper. Yusuke Urameshi is the protagonist in this story.

As a demon hunter, Yusuke takes on the role of a sleuth. Dragon Ball Z fans will enjoy this anime’s martial arts competitions, mystical power attacks, and the transformation of former enemies into close allies. Yu Yu Hakusho, on the other hand, hits all of the story points necessary for a great series.

dragon ball z

Theo Kogod is a writer, educator, researcher, and activist who works as a freelance writer, educator, and activist. While working as an English teacher in Japan, they founded the magazine 3 Feet Left as its Resident Writer. Since then, they’ve written for CBR, Screen Rant, The Gamer, and The Comics Vault in a variety of online publications. Diabolical Plots released their prose superhero story “Typical Heroes,” while A Flash of Silver-Green published their sci-fi story “Antediluvian.” They currently reside in North Carolina with their husband, two adorable cats, and an ever-expanding book collection.. Their Twitter handle is @TKogod. Theo Kogod has a YouTube channel where he posts videos on a sporadic basis.