The Dragon Ball series, created by Akira Toriyama, spans multiple media, including manga, anime, and films. The franchise is one of the most influential and popular in the world, and it is broken down into several main arcs and series, each contributing to the overarching narrative of the adventures of Son Goku and his companions. Below is a high-level summary of the Dragon Ball canon, encompassing the core storylines.

1. Dragon Ball (Original Series)

The Dragon Ball manga and anime (1984-1995) introduce us to Son Goku, a Saiyan raised on Earth, who begins his journey as a naive boy with a tail and a magical staff. He meets Bulma, a young girl on a quest to find the seven Dragon Balls, which, when gathered, summon the dragon Shenron to grant a wish.

The Emperor Pilaf Saga: Goku and his friends, including Yamcha, Krillin, Master Roshi, and Oolong, fight against the villain Emperor Pilaf, who seeks the Dragon Balls for world domination.

The Tournament Arcs: Goku participates in martial arts tournaments to test his skills, meeting rivals like Tien Shinhan and Chiaotzu, while learning martial arts under the tutelage of Master Roshi.

The Red Ribbon Army Saga: Goku battles the Red Ribbon Army, a paramilitary organization seeking the Dragon Balls.

The Piccolo Daimao Saga: The ancient demon king Piccolo is resurrected and seeks to conquer Earth. Goku faces off with Piccolo and his offspring, eventually defeating them.

The King Piccolo/World Martial Arts Tournament Arc: Goku confronts King Piccolo’s spawn, Piccolo Jr., setting up an epic rivalry that continues into Dragon Ball Z.

The series culminates with Goku defeating Piccolo Jr., who later becomes his ally and a key figure in the next series.

2. Dragon Ball Z

The Dragon Ball Z anime (1989-1996) picks up where Dragon Ball left off, with a more intense focus on action, powerful battles, and the introduction of Saiyan warriors. The main storyline follows Goku's journey to protect Earth from increasingly powerful foes.

The Saiyan Saga: Goku learns that he is not just a human but a member of the Saiyan race, sent to conquer Earth. Vegeta and Nappa, two powerful Saiyan warriors, arrive on Earth. Goku and his friends fight to defend the planet, leading to the first major battles against the Saiyan invaders. Goku’s power level skyrockets, and he sacrifices himself in battle.

The Frieza Saga: The Z Fighters travel to Planet Namek to gather the Dragon Balls and revive their fallen comrades. Here, they encounter the tyrant Frieza, who is the most powerful being in the universe. Goku transforms into a Super Saiyan, a legendary form that grants him immense power. After an epic battle, Goku defeats Frieza, but at great personal cost.

The Android and Cell Sagas: Dr. Gero, a mad scientist from the Red Ribbon Army, creates androids to destroy Goku. One of these androids, Cell, evolves into a terrifying, bio-engineered being capable of destroying entire worlds. After intense battles, Goku’s son, Gohan, becomes the hero who defeats Cell by harnessing the power of the Super Saiyan 2 transformation.

The Majin Buu Saga: The ancient evil, Majin Buu, is released, threatening to destroy Earth. Goku and his allies face Buu in various forms, and the battle ultimately leads to the fusion of Goku and Vegeta into Vegito and the release of Goku’s Super Saiyan 3 form. Buu is ultimately defeated by the power of the Spirit Bomb, with Goku leading the charge.

At the end of Dragon Ball Z, Earth is once again saved, and the surviving heroes live in peace.


3. Dragon Ball Super

The Dragon Ball Super anime and manga (2015–present) picks up after the events of Dragon Ball Z, exploring new challenges and threats across the multiverse.

The Battle of Gods Saga: Goku faces the God of Destruction, Beerus, after inadvertently awakening him from a long slumber. Beerus is a being of unimaginable power, and Goku learns about the existence of the Super Saiyan God transformation, which allows him to hold his own against Beerus.

The Resurrection 'F' Saga: Frieza is resurrected and returns to Earth to exact revenge on Goku and his friends. This time, Frieza achieves a new form, Golden Frieza, but is ultimately defeated by Goku in his new Super Saiyan Blue form, a combination of Super Saiyan and godly ki.

The Universe 6 Saga: Goku and his team face off against the warriors of Universe 6, a parallel universe, in a tournament overseen by the Zenos. They meet powerful foes like Hit, a time-manipulating assassin.

The Future Trunks Saga: Future Trunks returns from an alternate timeline to warn the heroes about a new threat: Goku Black, a mysterious, evil version of Goku from the future. The battle leads to the discovery of the Mortal Zamasu, an immortal Kai who wishes to destroy all mortals.

The Universe Survival Saga: The universes face an existential threat as the Zenos decide to hold the Tournament of Power, a battle royale where the losing universes will be erased. Goku and his allies fight for survival against the strongest warriors from various universes, culminating in Goku achieving the ultimate transformation: Ultra Instinct.

The Galactic Patrol Prisoner Saga: Goku and Vegeta face a new villain, Moro, a powerful sorcerer capable of consuming entire planets. This saga sees new powers and alliances formed as the Z Fighters attempt to stop Moro's galaxy-spanning tyranny.

The Granolah the Survivor Saga: Goku and Vegeta face off against Granolah, the last survivor of the Cerealian race, who seeks revenge on the Saiyans for the destruction of his planet. This saga delves deeper into the history of the Saiyans and introduces new power-ups for the heroes.


4. Dragon Ball GT (Non-canon)

Though Dragon Ball GT (1996-1997) is not considered part of the main canon, it exists as a spin-off series that takes place after Dragon Ball Z. It follows Goku, who is turned into a child again by the Black Star Dragon Balls, as he travels through space with Pan (his granddaughter) and Trunks. They face various threats, including Baby, an alien parasite, and the Shadow Dragons, beings born from the misuse of the Dragon Balls. Despite its non-canon status, GT introduces concepts like Super Saiyan 4 and showcases new transformations.


5. Dragon Ball Movies

While many Dragon Ball movies are considered non-canon or alternate universe stories, they occasionally feature powerful foes, alternate timelines, and unique events. Some notable films include:

Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods and Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F', which are adapted into the Dragon Ball Super saga.

Dragon Ball Z: Broly (2018), a retelling of the story of Broly, a legendary Super Saiyan. This film is considered part of the main continuity, with Broly being reintroduced into the canon.

Other films like The History of Trunks, Fusion Reborn, and The Return of Cooler are often seen as side stories that don't directly affect the main narrative.


Conclusion

The Dragon Ball series is a multi-layered, action-packed narrative about Son Goku’s journey from a naive boy to one of the most powerful beings in the universe. Throughout its various arcs, Goku faces increasingly powerful foes, learns new transformations, and forms enduring friendships. Alongside Goku are iconic characters like Vegeta, Piccolo, Gohan, Frieza, and many others, each contributing to the mythos of the series. The franchise explores themes of self-improvement, the fight between good and evil, and the importance of family and friends. From Dragon Ball to Dragon Ball Super, the saga remains a cornerstone of global pop culture, influencing anime, manga, and broader entertainment.