Anime shows like Dragon Ball inspire other anime many shows copy some things from Dragon Ball and they use similar characters and stories. This article talks about five anime shows inspired by Dragon Ball it tells a bit about each show, we will see how they’re similar to Dragon Ball.
These shows are One-Punch Man, My Hero Academia, Bleach, One Piece and Naruto. They have their own stories but they also have hints of Dragon Ball in them. Let’s explore how they’re connected to the famous Dragon Ball series.
5. One-Punch Man
Saitama from One Punch Man is so strong that he gets frustrated with the lack of challenges unlike Goku from Dragon Ball who is always looking for stronger opponents, this contrast between Saitama’s ennui and Goku’s desire of power provides an in-depth perspective on the nature vs nurture issue.
One-Punch Man purposefully pays respect to Dragon Ball while following somewhat different storylines. This can be seen in character designs and thematic similarities such as how Saitama’s encounter with Vaccine Man is similar to Piccolo’s early struggles.
4. My Hero Academia
My Hero Academia is an icon in modern shonen anime thanks to its large number of episodes and film adaptations. The protagonist Izuku “Deku” Midoriya, travels a similar path of self-discovery and overcoming obstacles as Goku does in his pursuit of greatness.
The anime pays respect to Toriyama’s work as shown by the Sports Festival Arc which is powerful of Dragon Ball’s legendary Tenkaichi Budokai tournaments. Along with this there are similarities between Deku and rival Bakugo and the legendary rivalry between Goku and Vegeta.
3. Bleach
Akira Toriyama himself gave confidence to Bleach’s creator Tite Kubo which affected the progress of the series. In Bleach Kubo presented enemies by focusing not just their strength but also their charisma and danger drawing inspiration from Toriyama’s focus on interesting villains.
Because of Toriyama’s lasting impact on the world of anime there is a strong appearance between the villains from Bleach and Dragon Ball. Dragon Ball’s power-up tradition is also compared to Ichigo the protagonist of Bleach with his transformational abilities.
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2. One Piece
In terms of popularity and impact on society One Piece by Eiichiro Oda has surpassed even Dragon Ball as a titan of the shonen category. The series long appeal and detailed creating a world is records to Oda’s story skill which is comparable to Toriyama’s.
Goku’s unbreakable determination and hungry desire are shared by protagonist Monkey D. Luffy who personifies the spirit of adventure seen in Dragon Ball. The similarities also include Luffy’s Gear Transformations which are similar to the well-known transformations from Dragon Ball Z.
1. Naruto
Naruto’s creator Masashi Kishimoto, openly acknowledges that he refers to Dragon Ball knowing Goku as his main source of inspiration. From their mutual interest of combat to their unique clothes Naruto and Goku’s journeys are very similar.
Naruto has an amazing range of forms and his transformations mirror Goku’s own power-ups, the story of Naruto is filled with Kishimoto’s respect to Toriyama’s history ensuring the series place as a true Dragon Ball successor.
The anime industry continues to be influenced by Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball which has captured audiences all over the world and inspired countless other producers.
As each pays tribute to the renowned series in a different way these five anime series become a memorial to Toriyama’s ongoing legacy.
