ONE OF THE FIRST manga and anime series to make it really big also in international markets, Dragon Ball (as well as Dragon Ball GT and Dragon Ball Z) still continues to enjoy high popularity, and the brand-new live action movie Dragon Ball Evolution is set for US release in April 2009. The film is likely to further boost the interest in the animated television series which became a huge hit in Japan already in the 80’s, and since then has captured large audiences all over the world - not least on Cartoon Network, but also on channels like MTV Oy/SubTV in Finland, DR in Denmark, TVN in Poland, POP TV in Slovenia and Channel 1 in Romania.

© 1989 Bird Studio/Shueisha/Toei Animation

Created by Akira Toriyama in 1984, the Dragon Ball manga had by 2007 sold more than 150 million copies by only in Japan. Fans as well as fellow manga and anime artists regard it as a classic in the genre and an inspirational evergreen. The anime has been ranked #12 in a list of the top 100 Japanese anime series. Dragon Ball is one of the few properties that has experienced success and peaked three times during a ten-year period in several European countries.

The original Dragon Ball anime series was produced in 1986-89 with 153 episodes. The sequel Dragon Ball Z was produced between 1989 and 1996 with 291 episodes. There is also a third series, Dragon Ball GT, of which 64 episodes were produced. In addition to the manga and the anime television series, there are seventeen animated feature films, three television specials, collectible trading card games, and a large number of video games. A live-action film from 20th Century Fox, Dragon Ball Evolution, is planned for US release in April 2009.

When launched in the Nordic countries, the Dragon Ball Z manga slowly ”sneaked” its way into success - selling moderately for two years, before, solely through word-to-mouth among young readers, Dragon Ball grew into a publishing megahit; topping the sales lists not only for comics but for all books, and for the first time really putting the manga phenomenon in the centre of attention of the general public.

Dragon Ball is initially based on an ancient Chinese legend known as ”Westward journey”. The plot here dwells around seven magical ”dragon balls” that will grant one wish to anyone who is able to gather all seven of them. The main character, Goku (appearing as a child in the original series and as an adult in Dragon Ball Z), is a ”saiya-jin” (or Saiyan) from outer space. Goku was originally sent to destroy Earth, but forgets his true purpose and instead becomes Earth’s defender.

The story begins as Goku's brother Raditz arrives to finish his job, setting in motion a chain of events that will involve every great warrior on two planets and almost destroy the universe. Other defenders of Earth include: Goku's one-time enemy Piccolo, a warrior from the planet Namek; Vegeta (another Super-Saiyan); and Goku's son Gohan, perhaps the most powerful warrior of all. The name of the series, "Dragon Ball Z", refers to the seven mystical balls that when brought together give the possessor the power to summon the Eternal Dragon. Once the Dragon arrives, whoever brought the balls together is granted one wish - any wish within the Dragon's power. Once this wish is granted, the balls are scattered to the corners of the planet to be gathered up once more. Goku spends much of his time keeping the balls from the wrong hands. As the world's strongest warrior, he is destined to protect our world, and frequently risks his life to do just that.