Putting quality to the side for the moment, Akira Toriyama’sDragon Ballis arguably the most famous battle shonen manga and anime of all time. Debuting in 1984 and still ongoing in some form or another, Goku’s story helped expose Japanese animation to Western nations, serving as one of the earliest shows to crossover into English-speaking countries.Dragon Balland its sequel,Dragon Ball Z, cast a wide shadow over shonen in general, and their impact can be seen in many of the demographic’s most beloved modern releases such asMy Hero AcademiaandJujutsu Kaisen.
The thing is, not all that many shows offer everything that madeDragon Ballso wonderful. As tempting as it might be to just stick to the latest battle shonen, they are likely to fall short in one area or another, be it the scale of their battles or humor. Therefore, which are thebest anime likeDragon Ball Z?
Updated on Jul 13, 2025:On June 26, 2025, the Dragon Ball site announced thatAkira Toriyama passed away on March 1st due to acute subdural hematoma. Unsurprisingly, this news led to an outpouring of grief, along with appreciation and praise for the mangaka’s life. Akira Toriyama’s influence is beyond question. Dragon Ball played a starring role in establishing anime as an international medium, with the series leaving a huge impact on many corners of the world.
Be it Hispanic communities or Mediterranean countries, Goku, Vegeta, and company are firmly established as fixtures of the cultural zeitgeist, an eternal legacy that immortalizes their architect. Going beyond anime, Toriyama’s work on Dragon Quest helped establish the turn-based JRPG blueprint, and he also contributed critically to Chrono Trigger, which is commonly cited as one of the greatest games of all time.
Toriyama will be forever recognized for his timeless works, the creators he inspired, and the countless people who try to go Super Saiyan every day.
One of the most popular manga and anime of the 2010s,My Hero Academia’s flame has cooled somewhat over the last few years, althoughseason 6 was a return to form following two fairly disappointing entries. The definitive superhero anime envisions a world where a decent percentage of people are born with quirks, which are unique abilities that range in usefulness and power. A select few operate as heroes and supports, helping to keep society protected from villains. Admiring the number one hero, Deku yearned to follow in All Might’s footsteps and become a Pro Hero; unfortunately, he was born without a quirk. However, after demonstrating his bravery, Deku is chosen to be All Might’s successor.
My Hero Academiatends to prioritize action above almost everything else, with nearly every arc featuring at least a couple of memorable fight sequences. Although not devoid of lull moments, the story generally moves at a far quicker pace thanDragon Ball Z, althoughMHAis still capable of building up anticipation for its biggest encounters. The anime also has plenty of humor, and it is about as divisive as Roshi’s shenanigans inDragon Ball.
Thethree big shonen seriesare all solid recommendations forDragon Ballfans, although they excel in different areas. If someone is specifically searching for action and epic fights,NarutoandBleachare the better picks. However, if adventure is what a person seeks, thenOne Piecestands head and shoulders above its contemporaries.
One Pieceblends humor, world-building, and action in a way that issimilar to the originalDragon Ball. Both shows are predominantly adventure anime that stop for the occasional fight, and they emphasize their characters and their banter. AlthoughOne Piece’s action sequences can be underwhelming, the show matchesDBZin terms of scale.
Debuting during the same year that sawDragon Ball Zstart its run,Ranma 1/2is another anime classic that has stood the test of time, at least in terms of content. While not quite as well-known outside of Japan as Akira Toriyama’s property, Rumiko Takahashi’s manga was and still is a huge deal, and the 1989 show is the perfect companion piece to the originalDragon Ball. Both anime blend humor and martial arts, althoughRanma 1/2leans more into the former and also throws in a hint of romance.
The eponymousRanma is inflicted by a unique condition that causes him to change genderwhen he is soaked in water, which naturally causes some complications when he goes to meet three girls who could be his future wives. At the bare minimum,Ranma 1/2is among the funniest anime of the 1990s, and most of the jokes still land all these decades later. Even if not always a priority, the show’s fight sequences are consistently great too.
KenIchi: The Mightiest Discipleis a somewhat underrated shonen anime that aired during the mid-2000s. As the title suggests, the story follows Kenichi, a weak guy who is inspired by a schoolmate to embrace martial arts. The 50-episode series is basically one long training arc that is periodically disrupted by muscular villains.
While technically focusing on “realistic” martial arts,KenIchi’s characters border on over-the-top caricatures, although they are still likable. The anime is packed to the brim with humor that is fairly similar to earlyDragon Ball, although someone’s mileage with this series may parallel their tolerance for Master Roshi’s shtick.
Few shonen franchises come close to being as influential asDragon Ball, butFist of the North Staris a rare exception. On a post-apocalyptic version of Earth, Kenshiro roams the wasteland and uses his unique brand of martial arts to eradicateMad Max-style bandits. Although their context is different,Fist of the North Star’s setting is comparable toDragon Ball Z’s Namek and many deserts, which lend the shows a comparable aesthetic and feel.
While the story starts relatively simple, the anime’s later arcs ramp up the complexity, nuance, and intensity. Due to airing in the mid-1980s, the show’s animation takes some getting used to in this day and age; it is not bad, just dated. That said,Fist of the North Star’s fightsnot only hold up beautifully but can also rivalDBZat its best.
Yearning to watch beefy men punch each other halfway to death? Then,Bakiis a must-watch. UnlikeDragon Ball, Keisuke Itagaki’s manga does not feature any supernatural powers; however,Baki’s characters are so over the top that they might as well be galactic overlords who can destroy worlds with a flick of their wrists. The eponymous teenager wants to take out his father, the world’s most dangerous creature, but he will need to battle through a whole host of ridiculously powerful warriors, criminals, and prehistoric human beings to get there.
Although difficult to find in this day and age, 2001’sGrappler Bakiis vicious in the best possible way, and it leads directly into Netflix’s 2018 continuation. The latter has had its ups and downs, but it is reasonable for some of themost memorable anime fightsof the last few years.
Fighting Spirit, more commonly known asHajime no Ippo, is a classic boxing story that follows a shy and bullied kid as he gradually rises up the activity’s ranks. On the surface, asports animemight not seem all thatsimilar toDragon Ball, butHajime no Ipposhares a few traits with the beloved shonen property. Both series frame their arcs around lengthy fights, and these encounters tend to be vicious, hard-hitting, and immaculately animated.
The shows are also adaptations of manga that commenced in the ’80s, and this comes through in their humor. While the show takes its matches very seriously,Hajime no Ippofills the episodes in between fights with character-driven interactions and a lot of comedy. More importantly, the anime is consistently hilarious.
After introducing multiple generations to anime,Dragon Ball Zgradually handed off its gateway baton to more modern shonen properties. One such series isDemon Slayer, and the anime has proven to be more than up to the challenge of carrying that weight. When it comes to crafting smooth and jaw-dropping anime action sequences, ufotable has almost no rivals. While an argument could be made thatFaterepresents the studio at its best,Demon Slayeris closer in tone and structure toDragon Ball.
Set during the early 1900s, the anime revolves around a war between Demons and humans, with the latter represented by the Demon Slayer Corps. Fueled by his family’s death and his sister’s demon infestation, Tanjiro joins the Corps in the hopes of getting revenge and saving his sibling. Narratively,Demon Slayerfollows a similar structure toDragon Ball, in the sense that each new arc pits Tanjiro against an even deadlier Demon that challenges the protagonist to constantly grow stronger. That said, ufotable’s series moves at a fairly quick pace and emphasizes its secondary characters more than most ofDragon Ball’s arcs.
Another anime that was a staple of the ’90s,Slayersis a sword and sorcery type show that prioritizes comedy over action, at least most of the time. Lovably vain and hilariously arrogant, Lina Inverse is an all-time iconic female lead who can stand toe to toe with any shonen hero in terms of entertainment value. Driven largely by greed, Lina goes on wild adventures in search of treasure, and she is accompanied by a string of quirky companions who are not always all that useful.
Slayersis silly, charming, and endearingly stupid. The anime is at its best when parodying fantasy tropes, although some of the sequel seasons dabble in serious arcs to decent results. Even though reasonably well known,Slayersis certainly more forgotten than the likes ofDragon BallorRanma 1/2, and that should not be the case.
Dragon Ball Zis one of the genre-defining battle shonen releases, but it is undeniably of a different era. Compared to modern shows, the classic anime’s pacing can be a touch too slow, and the fight sequences might struggle to impress if a viewer is only familiar with the industry’s post-2015 output. In some ways,Jujutsu Kaisenis the current version ofDBZ, in the sense that it represents the pinnacle of battle shonen in terms of spectacle.
Story-wise, the two anime do not share all that much in common, although they are both loosely framed around finding items that, when combined, will result in incredible power. With multiple seasons and a movie,Jujutsu Kaisenis shaping up rather nicely, offering newcomers quite a lot of content to sit through. The action sequences are comfortably among shonen’s best, and the storytelling is not bad either.
