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Summary

  • The iconic "Big 3 anime" include legendary hits like One Piece, Naruto, and Bleach.
  • Despite its lasting popularity, Dragon Ball has never been considered one of the Big 3 anime.
  • There are several factors that prevent Dragon Ball's inclusion in the Big 3, but none of them have to do with its quality.

Anime fans have spent countless hours arguing about everything in their favorite shonen series, from power levels to lore details. However, one of the most common debates focuses on why Dragon Ball and its various spinoffs aren't considered part of the Big Three anime powerhouses.

Originating in Western anime fandom in the mid-2000s, the term "Big Three" refers to One Piece, Naruto, and Bleach. Their popularity and extensive length meant they frequently featured on the cover of Shonen Jump, and shared covers often featured characters from all three franchises. The Big Three were the anime that fans simply couldn't escape from, since they dominated conventions, merchandise, and forums. Despite this being a term used for the most popular and ubiquitous properties, Dragon Ball Z isn't among their legendary number.

Updated by Timothy Blake Donohoo on February 19, 2024: Dragon Ball remains one of the most popular anime and manga franchises. This was also the case before Dragon Ball Super revived the property. Despite how it maintained its popularity, it was never seen as one of the "Big 3" anime. Nowadays, there's a new type of Big Three anime that includes Jujutsu Kaisen among its ranks. Nevertheless, with how huge Dragon Ball has always been, its exclusion from a group that includes One Piece still seems strange to those unaware of what qualified a series as part of the Big 3 of anime.

Timing Explains Dragon Ball's Exclusion from the Big 3 Anime

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It should be noted that the term "Big 3 anime" was created by fans during the zeitgeist. It has no official backing, which means it isn't a reflection of One Piece, Naruto, and Bleach's sales or quality. The "Big 3 anime" was merely a statement about their perceived popularity within the shonen fandom at a certain moment in time. With that in mind, it can't be denied that Dragon Ball was long-running, part of the shonen genre, and remains extremely popular with fans worldwide.

The explanation why the series isn't part of the Big 3 anime is largely because of Dragon Ball's publication date. In Japan, the Big Three anime have scattered manga release dates for their manga and anime. One Piece launched in 1997 and Naruto in 1999, but Bleach didn't start until 2001. There was also an even further delay between the series' launch and their arrival in the American version of Shonen Jump. In North America, One Piece launched in 2002, Naruto began in 2003 and Bleach in 2007, meaning all of those titles were in the public consciousness at the same time.

Dragon Ball, however, debuted and grew popular much earlier. The original manga launched in Japan in 1984 and finished in 1995, years before the other titles came along. It also launched in North America in 1998 through an iconic dub by Funimation, meaning many anime fans would have read it before its counterparts even released. This made Dragon Ball feel like it was from the era before the Big Three anime, and that its moment had already somewhat passed.

Goku in dragon ball, dragon ball z and GT with Gohan
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This release trend carries through to the animated releases for these titles. Dragon Ball Z launched on North American TV in 1996, quickly growing a dedicated fan base. However, its run of new episodes ended in 2003, before any of the Big Three hit screens. The first Big Three anime to launch in North America was One Piece in 2004, with Naruto following in 2005 and Bleach in 2006. By the time the Big 3 anime had begun their Western runs, viewers had already seen the entirety of Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z and the non-canon sequel, Dragon Ball GT.

Therefore, Dragon Ball stemmed from the era before the Big Three anime in both the East and West. It should also be noted that while the internet was around at this point, streaming anime online wasn't a thing. So, while anime fans could discuss shows online, they could only watch what was picked up for local broadcast. This made it seem as if the Big 3 anime dominated the space, while Dragon Ball Z's initial hype had already died down.

On top of this, when Viz Media brought the Dragon Ball manga to America, it didn't do so through the American version of Shonen Jump. Rather, it released the series as a monthly comic book. This clearly separated the series by era, and it also wasn't as closely associated with its contemporaries. The Big Three anime are linked in fans' minds because they were so often seen together on various Shonen Jump covers. Those who read the magazine would likely read all three series at once and then watch the anime adaptations on TV. This made them feel like a unified moment or movement, unlike Dragon Ball, which felt like its own separate franchise.

The New Big Three Anime Still Don't Include Dragon Ball

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The Dark Trio of Shonen

Title

Release Date (Manga)

Release Date (Anime)

Creator(s)

Jujutsu Kaisen

March 5, 2018

October 3, 2020

Gege Akutami

Chainsaw Man

December 3, 2018

October 12, 2022

Tatsuki Fujimoto

Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku

January 22, 2018

April 1, 2023

Yuji Kaku

These days, the idea of the Big Three anime is a fascinating relic of another time, one where the North American anime market was much more centralized and anime fans had far fewer choices. However, while Dragon Ball is undoubtedly great, it simply arrived too early to be viewed alongside Naruto, One Piece and Bleach. It was already a massive franchise in its own right before the Big Three anime became a concept in the public consciousness. At the same time, a modern equivalent to this concept has arisen, and it still excludes the Dragon Ball franchise.

Modern anime fans are likely familiar with the "dark trio of anime." These works launched in the last half decade or so, and they're noted for their fittingly darker tones and subject matter. Among the trio are Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku, Chainsaw Man and especially the popular series Jujutsu Kaisen. Their content and tone is arguably closer to a seinen series such as Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, explaining why the grouping doesn't include hits like My Hero Academia or Dragon Ball Super. Those manga and anime also launched before any of the dark shonen trio, the latter group being the closest thing to a modern Big 3 anime.

Due to Dragon Ball Super coming out before them and not having similar content, the franchise is once again kept out from being part of a Big 3 of anime and manga. At the same time, Dragon Ball remains a lucrative and beloved franchise among various generations, and it's synonymous with anime as a whole. As a result, it stands in a league of its own, surpassing the popularity of any trend. After all, the Chainsaw Man's longevity is questionable, but Dragon Ball's legacy will seemingly last forever.

Cast of Dragon Ball Z leaping towards the camera in Anime Poster
Dragon Ball

Dragon Ball tells the tale of a young warrior by the name of Son Goku, a young peculiar boy with a tail who embarks on a quest to become stronger and learns of the Dragon Balls, when, once all 7 are gathered, grant any wish of choice.

Created by
Akira Toriyama
First Film
Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies
Latest Film
Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero
First TV Show
Dragon Ball
Latest TV Show
Dragon Ball Super
First Episode Air Date
April 26, 1989
Cast
Sean Schemmel , Laura Bailey , Brian Drummond , Christopher Sabat , Scott McNeil
Current Series
Dragon Ball Super