History DragonBall / TropesOToZ

* {{Wuxia}}: The anime adaptation lovingly pays homage to the conventions of the Classic Shaw Brothers Kung-Fu films of the '60s, in lighting, movement, costume design and especially the sublime musical score by Kikuichi Shunsuke.

* OrphansPlotTrinket: Goku becomes wrapped up in the plot because of the Four-Star Dragon Ball, a memento left to him by his grandpa. He follows Bulma on her first adventure because she needs his Dragon Ball, but he refuses to give it to her.

** Through most of Goku's early adventures, he's an inexplicably powerful child who defies any possible explanation.
** When Goku is introduced, he's a OneManArmy who's close to [[NighInvulnerability indestructible]]. Right off the bat, Bulma shoots him in the face to no effect. Yamcha and Pilaf are the only ones who come close to killing him and that's because they caught him while he's hungry, which leaves him extremely weak. Then he transforms into a Great Ape at the sight of the full moon, which ''no one'' sees coming.
** During the 21st World Tournament, a 12-year-old Goku gives Master Roshi, the greatest martial artist on the planet, a run for his money. After racing through the preliminaries and preceding matches, Goku fights Roshi in his disguise as Jackie Chun in the final. Jackie pulls out all the stops, throwing one advanced technique after another at Goku only for Goku to instantly master or even surpass it. Goku baits him into a Kamehameha, his ultimate technique that he spent fifty years mastering, only to counter it with an equally powerful one. And once again, nobody is prepared for Goku to transform into a Great Ape when the fight runs on into the night. Roshi does scrape together a win by outsmarting Goku but it may be the hardest fight of his life.
** Then there's Goku's encounter with the Red Ribbon Army. The army is used to dealing with defenseless civilians, other armies, and maybe the occasional martial artist. While searching for the Dragon Balls they unfortunately run into Goku. It's clear from the start that they have no clue how to deal with him and, near the end, are forced to hire a renowned assassin just to have a remote chance against him. By the time Goku comes to their base, they have nothing that can stop him and are basically defenseless.
** King Piccolo and his sons. Before them, all of Goku's opponents have been mostly humans with some robots, cyborgs, and funny animals thrown in. King Piccolo's arrival marks a major shift in the story tone and set the bar for the new enemies Goku will be facing.

* PantyShot: Bulma's panties are made visible to the audience several times in the first arc.

** In filler episodes, Master Roshi tries twice to use Bulma's inventions to peep on women. First, he uses a watch that can shrink the person who is wearing it as a way to spy on Bulma while she is on the toilet, but fails. He tries again later, using Bulma's little fly robot to spy on some girls on the beach.

* PlotCoupon: The titular Dragon Balls, in order for the main characters to have their wishes granted. Although, it mostly started with Bulma wanting to wish for the perfect boyfriend and making Goku her bodyguard; in a way, it was mostly ''her'' quest.
* PluckyComicRelief: Because of the light-hearted and humorous nature of the show, especially since it started as a gag series, every character, including many of the villains, has funny moments. However, Krillin is constantly portrayed as the series' clown and ButtMonkey.

** King Piccolo finds it incomprehensible that he can ever lose to a human, despite a martial artist trapping him in a rice cooker for hundreds of years. Then again, it was Goku, an alien, that eventually kills him so maybe he had a point.
** Piccolo is almost as bad as his father. He believes only Goku poses any threat to him and even then he demeans Goku.

* PyrrhicVictory: Because of the way Funi divided the sagas the King Piccolo Saga becomes this. King Piccolo is defeated, but three major characters are dead along with countless minor characters, and the Eternal Dragon has been destroyed, making it impossible to bring anyone back.

** After Goku's first Oozaru transformation, Pilaf attacks him in an airplane in a clear reference to ''Film/KingKong''.
* SignatureMove: Many characters are well-known for a specific move or skill.
** Goku uses the Janken Fist frequently in the early arcs. As he gets older, the move eventually [[SoLastSeason falls by the wayside]] and he starts using the Kamehameha more frequently.
** Master Roshi invented the Kamehameha. Most of his students learn the technique either directly from him or by imitating him.
** Yamcha is introduced with a powerful attack combo, the Wolf Fang Hurricane Fist. He later invents the Sokidan in preparation for the 23rd World Tournament.
** Tenshinhan is the first to use the Taiyoken during the 22nd World Tournament. He also unveils the Kikouhou during the same match, which remains his trump card even in the sequels.

** Before King Piccolo the villains' effectiveness range from low to moderate, with Tao scoring the highest since he does beat Goku (only failing to kill him thanks to the Dragon Ball in his shirt) and steals his Dragon Balls. Blue is also up there since he does the same as Tao, but gets beaten up quite a bit.
** The earliest example of high villain effectiveness is King Piccolo. He gets his wish for eternal youth, kills the dragon so no one can be brought back to life, murders many beloved characters, and takes over the world, plunging everything into anarchy. His rule is short thanks to Goku, but no other villain comes so close to complete and utter victory.

** Tao, more specifically after he comes back as a cyborg. He is so confident in his new strength that he sees dealing with Tien as just something to do on his way towards getting revenge against Goku.
** Tien when he's first introduced. He's extremely confident in his power and never misses a chance to belittle the Turtle School. He uses the Kamehameha against Master Roshi just to show that he can and breaks Yamcha's leg for no particular reason. Thankfully, Tien mellows out after his story arc.

** For the first few arcs, the Afterimage is a very effective way of baiting a foe into attacking the wrong place, leaving them open for a counter. At the 22nd World Tournament, however, the move is effortlessly countered by Tien, whose third eye allows him to pierce the illusion.

* SolidClouds: Goku's primary method of transportation is the Flying Nimbus, a magic cloud that allows those pure of heart to ride on top of it.

* SpinoffBabies: Although it's anything but this, the original ''Dragon Ball'' was both advertised and came off as this to American viewers due to Z being localized first.

* StalkerWithACrush: Launch on Tien. So bad that Launch left home to chase him.
* StormingTheCastle: Following the defeat of Mercenary Tao, Goku assaults the Red Ribbon Army at their base. His friends come to help, but they arrive after the battle's already won.

* SupernaturalMartialArts: Those who study under the Turtle or Crane schools of martial arts can learn such physics-breaking techniques as:

** The Solar Flare, a brilliant flash of light emanating from the user's face.

** The Flight Technique, Bukujutsu, which [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin allows the user to fly under their own power.]]

** PlayedForDrama in the King Piccolo Saga. Goku returns to Korin Tower to train after he lost to King Piccolo. Korin tells him that he can't help since Goku had long surpass him.

** Goku can transform into giant rampaging monkey when he sees the light of a full moon. Cutting off his tail prevents this, but until he reaches a certain age, it will grow back.

** Another filler has a young Muten peeping Fanfan while she is bathing.

* PepperSneeze: A filler scene has Krillin accidentally do this to Launch..causing her violent alternate personality come out.

* PluckyComicRelief: Because of the light-hearted and humorous nature of the show, especially since it started as a gag series, every character, including many of the villains, have funny moments. However, Krillin is constantly portrayed as the series' clown and ButtMonkey.

* PyrrhicVictory: Because of the way Funi divided the sagas the King Piccolo Saga becomes this. King Piccolo is defeated, but three major characters are dead along with countless minor characters, and the Eternal Dragon have been destroyed making it impossible to bring anyone back.

* TheQuest: This is how this series started out as. The quest started when Goku originally leaves his home with Bulma to find the titular PlotCoupons.

** Master Roshi. When he offers to train Goku, Yamcha (watching nearby) comments on how Master Roshi never takes on students easily and that he must see something special within Goku. When Krillin comes asking for training, Roshi simply tells him to go home. [[DirtyOldMan He changes his mind when Krillin shows him several dirty mags]]. Later when Yamcha ask to become one of his students he turns him down, saying that two was his limit. He quickly changes him mind when Bulma says that she would come and visit if he took Yamcha in.
** Being the Guardian of the Earth, aka god, Kami rarely takes students and when he does it's under abnormal circumstances. He trains Goku because he is the only person able to beat Piccolo outside of himself and Mr. Popo. He can't kill Piccolo without killing himself and Mr. Popo won't do anything that will bring harm to Kami.

** Not-filler example. Muten-Roshi's appearance is based on the God of Earth in ''[[Manga/DoctorSlump Dr. Slump]]'' (not to be confused with ''Dragon Ball'''s Kami-sama).

** Part of the reason why Goku wants to beat Mercenary Tao along with retrieving the Dragon Balls. He killed Upa's father because he tried to protect him from the assassin.
** At the 22nd World Tournament, the Crane Hermit wants to kill Goku because he killed his young brother, Tao. After the three year time-skip, Tao and him are still seeking revenge against Goku, as well as Tien for betraying them.

** Goku during the last part of the Red Red Army Saga. He'd been fighting the Red Ribbon Army for a while, but was never really antagonistic towards him. He just wanted to find his Grandpa's Dragon Ball, and the army tried to stop him, so he kicked their asses. But when the Army hires Tao-Pai-Pai, the mercenary, to take out Goku, Tao kills the father of Goku's new friend. Goku eventually kills Tao, or so he thinks, and decides to find the rest of them so he could wish his ally back. So he storms the Red Ribbon Army base, kills pretty much everyone there, takes out the newly-made leader, and gets the Dragon Balls and fells the terrorist army in one fell swoop.

* {{Shonen}}: Considered a landmark series for this demographic; it's influence can be seen in a lot of manga running today.

* SpellMyNameWithAnS: The romanizations of many characters' name tend to vary between Japanese media. Even the English adaptation of the manga and anime can't seen to agree on which spelling to use.
* SpinoffBabies: Although its anything but this, the original ''Dragon Ball'' was both advertised and came off as this to American viewers due to Z being localized first.

* TakesOneToKillOne: King Piccolo is utterly invincible to any human who didn't know the Evil Containment Wave, which kills the person who uses it. Only Goku manages to outmatch Piccolo and later his son Piccolo Jr. They are both aliens sent to Earth to save their lives.

** Goku, naturally, have several:

** Double Subverted after King Piccolo nearly kills him, Goku returns to Korin's Tower for further training only to learn that he's already surpassed his teacher and there's nothing left he can do for him. Then Korin remembers the Ultra Divine Water, which can draw out all of Goku's potential if the poison doesn't kill him first.

** Much like Goku, Krillin is never taking seriously because he's a kid. Although he isn't as successful as Goku, he still manages to shut a lot of people up. One of the most notable examples is when Krillin fights Piccolo Jr at the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament. He puts up such a good fight that Piccolo is left in shock and contemplating his plans to take over the world.
** ''Everyone'', except for the Ox-King, underestimates Master Roshi because he's a perverted, old hermit. He quickly proves why he is consider the strongest man in the world by blowing up a flaming mountain.

* VillainExitStageLeft: Subverted by Officer Black, who attempt to flee from his fight with Goku after his missile fails to kill him. Goku doesn't let him escape, killing him as he's fleeing by catching up and smashing through his mech suit.
* VillainForgotToLevelGrind: Tao is put through this after he comes back as a cyborg. He is actually stronger than ever, but all the characters had leveled up to the point where he was no threat to them. It is hinted that Chiaotzu only lost against him because he was shocked to see Tao alive after being told that was dead three years ago.
* VillainPedigree: At the start of the series, almost all the villains were either wild animals, robots, cyborgs, or humans. After Tien, no human martial artist could challenged Goku anymore. So, the series introduced King Piccolo and his children, a demon clan who slaughtered high-skilled martial artists by the hundreds and changed the very nature of the series.

** Yamcha is the first person in the series who is able to physically challenge Goku and caused him to run out of energy(the latter was due to Goku's hunger).

** Much more serious, Tambourine nearly beats Goku to death because he's exhausted from his battle with Tien.

* {{Wuxia}}: The anime adaptaton lovingly pays homage to the conventions of the Classic Shaw Brothers Kung-Fu films of the 60's, in lighting, movement, costume design and especially the sublime musical score by Kikuichi Shunsuke.

[[folder:Z]]
[[/folder]]

** In filler episodes, Muten tries twice to use Bulma's inventions to peep on women. First, he uses a watch that can shrink the person who is wearing it as a way to spy on Bulma while she is on the toilet, but fails. He tries again later, using Bulma's little fly robot to spy on some girls on the beach.

** Master Roshi, the Turtle Hermit, is Goku's first teacher. He's a centuries-old hermit living in retirement on an island that he owns, who teaches Goku some of the basic fundamentals of martial arts that he carries with him for the rest of his life. He may look decrepit, but he's very capable and actually defeats Goku in the 21st World Tournament.
** Korin is an ancient, magical cat who lives at the top of Korin's Tower. He's very old, very knowledgeable, and very capable. He overpowers Goku easily when the kid meets him and, over the course of fighting him, Goku is forced to learn to predict an opponent's movements.

** In a filler episode, a bunch of pigs from Oolong's village attempt to peep on ChiChi while bathing in a spring.

-->'''King Piccolo''': This can't be happening! This isn't supposed to happen! There's no way a mere human can stand on equal ground with King Piccolo!
-->'''Goku''': [[{{Foreshadowing}} I have a tail, you know. Maybe I'm not human, after all.]]

* TheRenaissanceAgeOfAnimation: Made and dubbed during this period (and quite possibly the trope codifier for starting the North American Anime craze of the mid-late 90s). One of the hundreds of Anime spawned during this period and one of the several dozen that caught on in America. You can confidently say that this series is one of the main reasons Anime became popular during the 90s outside of Japan.

** An interesting concept in this context; despite being basically a superhero story, there are virtually no true Science Heroes or Tech Heroes in ''DB'' who can compete at a real level with the protagonists for long. It works like this: a living being like a Saiyan can train and overcome their previous limits, or even be inspired to do so by events, and the potential of living things is nearly limitless due to their access to ki. Machines, in ''DB'', can only do what they are designed to do and nothing more - there is very little TimTaylorTechnology in ''DB'', and once a ki-wielder is powerful enough to overcome the effect of a machine, that's it; the machine, and the user of the machine (like a gun-user), can't gain any more power or make it work better on the fly. The tool itself would need to be remodeled or built anew, and that takes longer, so by and large tech-based would-be heroes are unable to keep up with Goku and friends, or the many powerful foes they face, for very long. Android 16 is the textbook example of this: when first met, he's more powerful than Imperfect Cell and can even fight SSJ1 Goku fairly evenly, but once Cell upgrades, Cell is stronger than 16 and 16 is unable to do anything about this - he cannot improve himself swiftly or go beyond his design, as he is wholly mechanical. The only regular members of Goku's circle of friends who try to be Tech Heroes long-term are Bulma (who always takes more of a supportive role) and [[Anime/DragonBallSuper Future Mai]], who is in such desperate straits that she has no choice but to try and fight an overpowered freak like Goku Black with nothing more than guns and rocket launchers as a normal human.

* PepperSneeze: A filler scene has Crillin accidentally do this to Lunch..causing her violent alternate personality come out.

** As Goku becomes more powerful he realizes that he can kill people if he fights at full power. So, when he fights in tournaments he purposely restrains himself. He even tells Tien since he's so strong he can fight normally since he won't die. As a teenager, he also restrains himself by wearing heavy clothing to enhance his training.

** General Blue is the first villain both willing and capable of killing Goku in a straight fight. He can hold his own physically well enough and displays this by beating Krillin in an example of this trope, but against Goku he uses special telekinetic powers to give him an edge. Later on Blue gets hit with this trope himself when Mercenary Tao effortlessly dances around his physical attacks, [[NoSell no sells]] his telekinetic power, and kills him [[ItMakesSenseInContext with his tongue alone]].

* TheWorfBarrage: The Kamehameha is often used to show how badass a person is when they are completely unaffected by it.

** To show just how much of a BadAss King Piccolo is, he easily beats the daylights out of Goku [[MoodWhiplash right after he and Yajirobe have finished taking out Tambourine and Cymbal]].

* TheWorfBarrage: The Kamehameha is often used to show how BadAss a person is when they are completely unaffected by it.

* ThreePointLanding: Almost everybody does this when falling, except when they fall flat to the floor.

%%* PillarOfLight

* PocketProtector: In his first meeting with Mercenary Tao, Goku survives a beam shot that should've killed him thanks to an indestructable Dragon Ball inside of his shirt.

* PutOnABus: In the anime, Emperor Pilaf and his gang make one last appearance in the last few episodes. They don't appear at all in ''Anime/DragonBallZ'', [[TheBusCameBack only for them to reappear in]] Anime/DragonBallGT, [[TheBusCameBack but for only one scene before disappearing again.]] They return again, this time as side-characters, in Anime/DragonBallSuper.

* {{Shonen}}: Considered a landmark series for this demographic; it's influence can be seen in a lot of manga running today.