Dragon Ball is an insanely popular Shonen anime and manga series that, since its humble beginnings back in 1984, has gone on to influence mainstream music, sports, and even other anime series that often parody or borrow concepts from Akira Toriyama's most popular creation. Great art is usually inspired by other forms of great art, and Dragon Ball is definitely no exception.

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While it feels completely original, it should be no surprise that Toriyama drew inspiration from several other parts of his life in order to come up with such an iconic series. Given that the series is still succeeding with as strong of a fanbase as ever, it only makes sense to take a look back and examine just what exactly inspired Dragon Ball in the same way it continues to inspire every Shonen anime that comes after it.

10 Journey To The West

Every Dragon Ball fan knows that the biggest influence on it is the 16th-century Chinese novel Journey to the West. Goku, being known as Son Goku, is inspired by one of the main characters of this novel, Sun Wukong, also known as the "Monkey King."

Like Goku, he too possesses a tail and fights with a staff similar to Goku's Power Pole that can also extend in length. Other characters, like Bulma, Yamcha, and Oolong, were inspired by the novel's other protagonists.

9 Nanso Satomi Hakkenden

While many fans might think that an animator like Toriyama is a lover of literature, Nanso Satomi Hakkenden provides further evidence to this point, given that the Japanese epic novel also inspired Dragon Ball.

In Dragon Ball, fans are well-aware of Shenron, the mystical dragon that appears to grant a wish whenever seven magical orbs are gathered. In Nanso Satomi Hakkenden, there are eight crystal beads that can be collected for a similar effect.

8 Enter The Dragon

Given that Dragon Ball is so focused on martial arts, it's almost a given that it would be inspired by popular martial arts movies. Toriyama admired Bruce Lee, and his film Enter The Dragon has had a profound impact on the series.

Not only did he derive the title of the series from the title of the film, but those eyes that could send a chill up anyone's spine that Goku possesses whenever he gets angry or whenever he has to adopt that legendary Super Saiyan form were inspired by Bruce Lee's intimidating battle stare in the film. There's even a Bruce Lee impersonator who makes a few appearances throughout Dragon Ball!

7 Drunken Master

Jackie Chan's influence in Dragon Ball was clear the minute Master Roshi stepped out to fight in the World Tournament under the alias of "Jackie Chun." Toriyama was just as impressed with Chan as he was with Lee, but the 1978 action comedy martial arts film Drunken Master stands out above some of the other martial arts films that inspired Dragon Ball.

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Most notably, when Goku and Roshi fought during the 21st World Martial Arts Tournament, Roshi utilized a Drunken Fist style that was inspired by this film.

6 Superman

Superman Goku feature

Being that Toriyama is a fan of comics and other Western films and franchises, it's no surprise that Superman would've influenced Goku's story as the series progressed. The two share a ton of similarities: they're last of their kind after being sent from their homeworlds by their fathers, who also tried to save their respective homeworlds from destruction by warning others.

After landing on Earth, both were known for their incredible strength relative to the inhabitants of Earth, and continue to fight for justice even after learning of their extraterrestrial origins. It's no surprise why people are constantly asking who would win in a fight, given how much they share in common.

5 The Terminator

The Terminator is one of the most universally known franchises out there, and its influence on Dragon Ball isn't easy to miss at all. Major Metallitron, who provided Goku with his second challenge as he ascended Muscle Tower, bears an uncanny resemblance to the Terminator that Arnold Schwarzenegger portrayed in the original hit from 1984.

Fans have also been quick to point out that Trunks resembles John Connor, the time-traveling protagonist of The Terminator movies. Some have even argued that the Cell Saga feels just like a retelling of the classic film.

4 Disney Movies

In the Buu Saga, Toriyama introduced three characters: Majin Buu, Babidi the wizard, and Babidi's father, Bibidi. "Bibbidi bobbidi boo" happens to be the chant that Cinderella's Fairy Godmother uses to perform miraculous acts of magic, which isn't an accident given the fact that Buu, Babidi, and Bibidi are all powerful, talented magicians.

Toriyama has also gone on record saying that he was impressed by One Hundred and One Dalmatians for its art.

3 Animals

Toriyama is an avid animal lover, having owned a variety of pets since childhood. His love for animals has made its way into Dragon Ball since from the beginning, fans were forced to accept a world in which humans coexisted with anthropomorphic animals like Oolong and Puar.

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Two cat-like characters in the series, Korin and Beerus, were even inspired by two of Toriyama's cats, with the reason behind Korin's closed eyes being that Toriyama drew Korin up while his own cat was sleeping!

2 Puns

Without Akira Toriyama having such a great sense of humor, many aspects of Dragon Ball would be missing. The names of certain characters, for example, just wouldn't be the same. The puns that are incorporated into characters' names, while they might sound comical, do a great deal in making the world of Dragon Ball feel more real while also creating a sense of culture amidst many different groups that share naming conventions.

All Saiyan names, for example, incorporate a vegetable. Likewise, Frieza's race is all named after cold things, which only exemplifies their cold-hearted, merciless personas. Even the Gods of Destruction and Angels, named after alcoholic beverages, gives them a heightened splendor and makes them seem larger than life. Toriyama's silly infatuation with puns goes a long way in establishing a world that just feels real and complex, which is why fans keep coming back while barely flinching at the names of new characters from other worlds.

1 Real Estate Speculators

Frieza is the most iconic villain in all of Dragon Ball; not only did he and Goku have one of the most epic fights in the franchise to this day, but he's been resurrected twice already, and for the time being, still remains one of Goku's most prevalent threats. During the time of the Japanese economic bubble that occurred as he was writing the Saiyan Saga, Toriyama chose to base Frieza on real estate speculators, given that he considered them to be the worst kind of people.

This is why Frieza speaks in such a condescending tone that sounds more formal than vulgar despite the fact that he loves nothing more than destroying entire planets. Thankfully, real estate speculators aren't actually able to do this, because based on what Toriyama seems to be saying about them, they definitely would've by now.

NEXT: 10 Non-Dragon Ball Works Everyone Forgets Akira Toriyama Created