Dragon Ball Zhas become a staple of classicanimeculture, standing the test of time and breaking record after record. However, it’s not as long as some animes, and you can easily binge-watch the entire show in less than a week. Well, sort of.
Now, you might be wondering what other shows could give you the same exhilarating feeling as watching Goku power up? Or maybe you’re looking for a shonen series with an equal status in geek culture to DBZ? Whatever the reason, consider these great anime series you’re sure to love if you enjoyed Dragon Ball Z.
10Naruto / Naruto Shippuden
Release: 2002
Narutoisn’t just here for his orange clothes. Both shows are widely celebrated, and Naruto is often seen as having taken influence from the Dragon Ball universe. It follows Naruto Uzumaki, a loud-mouthed ninja striving to become his village’s leader.
Like Dragon Ball Z, Naruto features explosive martial arts battles, with characters constantly unlocking new powers (such as Naruto’s Nine Tails chakra or Sage Mode) and a hierarchy where each villain presents a greater challenge with higher stakes. The show also shares themes of friendship, growth, and perseverance, which align closely with Goku’s philosophy along with somereally dark moments like Future Gohan’s backstory.
9One Piece
Release: 1999
One Piece is a series that stands on par with the Dragon Ball universe due to its long-running and gripping storyline about pirates and sea voyages. It follows Monkey D. Luffy, the main protagonist, on his mission to become the Pirate King. The show features epic battles and a vast world. If you love DBZ for its infamous power-ups, you’ll enjoy One Piece too.
Luffy’s fierce transformations push his rubber-based abilities to new heights, and the series keeps viewers hooked despite being one of the longest-running shows ever. With Devil Fruits granting unique powers similar to the Dragon Balls and arcs like Marineford delivering destruction on a DBZ scale, it’s a must-watch for action fans.
8Bleach
Release: 2004
Ichigo Kurosaki’s journey begins as a Soul Reaper, pitting him against Hollows, rogue spirits, and immensely overpowered beings. Much like Super Saiyan transformations, Ichigo’sBankai amplifies his Zanpakuto’s powerto face apocalyptic threats from villains like Aizen and Yhwach.
Bleachis arguably one of the greatest shonen ever made, and you simply can’t go wrong with it. The Soul Society arc, a rescue mission filled with intense sword fights, stands parallel to DBZ’s Namek Saga, blending strategy with emotional stakes. In 2022, the revival modernized the animation, introducing a new generation to this legendary story.
7My Hero Academia
Release: 2016
In many ways,My Hero Academiais a successor to Dragon Ball Z. From the first episode, it feels like something straight out of Toriyama’s works. The story follows Izuku Midoriya, a quirkless boy in a world full of superheroes with unique abilities.
The greatest hero of their time passes his quirk to Izuku, allowing him to attend UA High, Japan’s top superhero school. However, it’s not all rainbows and flowers—the show quickly reveals its darker side, especially with the reemergence of All For One. If you love Dragon Ball Z, this is a must-watch.
6Hunter X Hunter
Release: 2011
Hunter x Hunteris a beloved franchise that follows Gon Freecss on his quest to find his father while exploring a world where Nen, a life energy system similar to Ki, dictates combat prowess. The series features intense plots with darker themes than DBZ and stunning action scenes.
It also boasts one of the greatest anime villains, Meruem, who is far more complex than a typical good-versus-evil antagonist. The narrative is rich, the visuals are striking, and the characters leave a lasting impact.
5Yu Yu Hakusho
Release: 1992
Yusuke Urameshi’s afterlife adventures as a Spirit Detective are perfect for reliving thenostalgia of arcs like the Cell Saga or the Android Saga. This is especially evident in the Dark Tournament, where teams battle to the death.
Yusuke’s attacks, like Spirit Gun, also evoke the beam attacks from Dragon Ball Z. To top it all off, the show features ruthless villains like Toguro, reminiscent of Frieza, creating a true masterpiece. With Togashi’s signature storytelling (as seen in Hunter X Hunter), you may expect no compromises in storyline or plot.
4Fairy Tail
Release: 2009
If you’re a fan of Dragon Ball Z, you’re probably obsessed with Gohan’s SSJ2 transformation mid-fight against Cell—it was a cinematic masterpiece.Fairy Taildelivers a similar experience, with friendship-driven themes cranked up to DBZ levels.
Natsu Dragneel’s guild fights using magic, dragons, and unshakable bonds, and transformations like Dragon Force or Fire Dragon King Mode parallel Super Saiyan moments. Arcs like Tartaros escalate to city-level destruction, raising the stakes significantly. Though much lighter in tone and almost the polar opposite of Bleach, Fairy Tail still captures the core essence of DBZ-style action.
3One Punch Man
Release: 2015
What if Goku was always prepared? That’s essentiallyOne Punch Man—a satirical twist on classic action shows, starring Saitama, a hero who defeats every opponent with a single punch. How original?
The show is a joy to watch. The stakes are never high, yet the action is so intense that, even knowing Saitama will win, you can’t help but wonder if he’s finally met his match. It’s also fairly short, so you could easily finish it in under three days if you’re committed.
2JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
Release: 2012
Ahh, JoJo. There are no words to truly capture how much we love this show. Action, story, plot, and hilarious scenes that have become staples of the meme world—it’s all here. You can’t go wrong withJoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. The series follows the Joestar family and their infamous villain, Dio.
It goes all out, delivering dramatic showdowns that keep you on the edge of your seat while still being hilariously over the top. A must-watch for any Dragon Ball fan craving action and adventure.
1Gurren Lagann
Release: 2007
Gurren Lagann follows Simon’s journey from a mere underground digger to a galaxy-sized mecha pilot in a story of pure escalation. The show isrenowned in the mecha anime worldand does justice to the entire genre.
Simply replace energy beams with Giga Drill Breaker attacks, and you’ve got a series perfect for a weekend binge. In terms of arcs, it has similarities to the Buu Saga—take the Anti-Spiral arc, for instance.
