Highlights
- The
Dragon Ball
series have shorter arcs like Commander Red Saga that still manage to deliver impactful moments in just 10 episodes. - Trunks Saga, despite being short with only 8 episodes, sets up one of the longest sagas with plot twists and impactful fights.
- Even in shorter sagas like Super 17 Saga,
Dragon Ball GT
manages to introduce cool ideas despite poor execution in just 7 episodes.
There is no denying that Dragon Ball is one of the biggest anime ever, especially when considering its actual breadth, which includes so many manga, anime series, movies, video games, and more. Starting in 1984 with Akira Toriyama’s manga, the franchise grew so much that it became known for its longevity, still releasing new anime almost 40 years after its initial beginnings.
The anime is also known for having long fights and sagas that can drag on, with Dragon Ball Kai being created as a way to shorten Dragon Ball Z’s many episodes. Overall, the overarching sagas in the various anime are divided into smaller arcs, with some of them permeating longer story arcs. These smaller arcs may be a part of a whole, but they each manage to tell their own story while progressing the overarching narrative, making the longer sagas a bit easier to digest. Despite being shorter, these sagas can be even just as, if not more impactful than the longer arcs, bringing all the essence of Dragon Ball in fewer episodes.
7 Commander Red Saga – Dragon Ball
10 Episodes
- Episodes 58 – 67
In comparison to Dragon Ball Z, the arcs in Dragon Ball typically aren’t too long or too short, ranging from 10 to 31 episodes, with the Commander Red Saga as the shortest. As Goku faces the terrible Mercenary Tao and loses, he has to climb the Korin Tower to gain the strength needed to defeat him.
Despite only being 10 episodes long, the arc includes crucial characters and some great moments that definitely represent the core themes of the anime. With its length, this saga also shares its place on this list with some other sagas, like the Garlic Junior, Great Saiyaman, and World Tournament Sagas, that all share the same number of episodes.
6 Trunks Saga – Dragon Ball Z
8 Episodes
- Episodes: 118-125
Introducing a fan-favorite character, this arc may be short, but it has plot twists that set up one of the longest sagas in the franchise. Not only does Trunks come from the future with horrifying yet surprising revelations, he himself is a novelty to fans as the son of Vegeta and Bulma.
In one of Trunk’s best fights, he deals with Frieza quickly and efficiently, leaving everyone in awe of his skill, but also making the new Android threat seem daunting. Previewing death, introducing characters, showcasing new dynamics, and setting up the new big-bad, this 8-episode arc may be short, but manages to have one of the biggest impacts on the franchise.
5 Super 17 Saga – Dragon Ball GT
7 Episodes
- Episodes: 41 – 47
Although many do not consider Dragon Ball GT canon or even enjoyable, the series did accomplish certain things worthy of admiration. Not only that, it also has one of the shortest sagas, with only 7 episodes, and like much of GT, it comes with a cool idea attached to poor execution.
As Mr. Myuu and Dr. Gero team up to create an android more powerful than any other, they create a dimensional rift that releases some dead antagonists, resulting in entertaining cameos. However, the battle itself is not one of the most engaging ones in the series, despite some fun highlights wrapped up in a short storyline.
4 Captain Ginyu Saga – Dragon Ball Z
7 Episodes
- Episodes: 68-74
As part of one of the best overarching sagas, the Captain Ginyu arc adds an entertaining twist filled with epic battles for the Z fighters. Captain Ginyu is an elite member of Frieza’s forces, commanding some strong members that put up quite a fight, especially as Goku makes his way to Namek.
The fight between Ginyu and Goku might not be as intense as the hero’s battle with Frieza, but it is also not as long, making this whole arc an enjoyable part of Dragon Ball Z, all wrapped up in 7 riveting episodes.
3 Raditz Saga – Dragon Ball Z
6 Episodes
- Episodes 001 – 006
Although sometimes grouped together with the Vegeta arc as part of the Saiyan Saga, the Raditz arc is very short on its own. As the first story in the whole of Dragon Ball Z, this arc had quite a task on its hands, yet it accomplished it wonderfully and quickly.
Not only does it give a great introduction to the brutality and strength of Saiyan warriors, it sets the stakes quite high for the rest of the anime, showcasing how Dragon Ball Z differed from its predecessor. In only 6 episodes, it developed Goku’s background, set up a new threat, started a new era, and gave a glimpse of Gohan’s hidden power.
2 Other World Saga – Dragon Ball Z
5 Episodes
- Episodes 195 – 199
After dying again, Goku decides to participate in a grand tournament in the afterlife, filled with powerful dead warriors and enjoyable filler episodes. As one of the best tournaments in the franchise, it was able to establish a connection between fans and Pikkon, Goku’s main opponent.
Overall, during these 5 episodes, the Other World arc showed how filler episodes could make for an entertaining watch, especially in terms of creating some great characters and iconic tournament moments.
1 Peaceful World Saga – Dragon Ball Z
4 Episodes
- Episodes 288 – 291
Wrapping up the end of an era, the last Dragon Ball Z arc was short and bitter-sweet, ending in another World Martial Art Tournament. With Goku having an ulterior motive, the Peaceful World arc shows the Z fighters in, as the name indicates, a peaceful world as the protagonist seeks out a 10-year-old boy, Uub.
Even though the boy is yet to shine in the Dragon Ball world, Uub is supposed to be the human reincarnation of Buu, making him naturally strong, and the upcoming candidate to be Earth’s next guardian. Demonstrating that size does not matter, the shortest arc in all the Dragon Ball anime series was able to close out Dragon Ball Z and the Majin Buu Saga, while also giving some hope for the future of Dragon Ball as a franchise.
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