Arc Information
| Original Run: | 26 February 1986 – 21 May 1986 (13 weeks) |
| Corresponding: | Dragon Ball Episodes 001 – 013 (13 episodes) Dragon Ball Chapters 001 – 023 (23 chapters; approx. 1.8 chapters per episode) |
| Filler Content: | 90% Canon / 10% Filler |
| Rating Shares: | Average: 25.0% Maximum: 27.9% (Episode 004) Minimum: 20.6% (Episode 009) |
Arc Synopsis
One day Son Goku, a boy who lives alone in the mountains, meets Bulma, a girl searching for the “Dragon Balls”. The Dragon Balls are seven mysterious spheres that, when gathered together, will cause Shenlong to appear and grant any single wish. They meet various people, such as Kame-Sen’nin, who gives Goku the Kinto-Un, the shape-shifting Oolong, and the bandits Yamcha and Pu’er, and they have many experiences, but somehow or other Goku and Bulma obtain five of the Dragon Balls. The next Dragon Ball is on the burning Mt. Frypan, where the ridiculously scary Gyūmaō lives.
With the help of Kame-Sen’nin, Goku and co. extinguish the fire on Mt. Frypan. Having obtained six Dragon Balls and with only one remaining, their Dragon Balls are stolen by Pilaf and his gang. Pilaf finally called forth Shenlong, but Oolong somehow got his wish of “Give me a girl’s panties!” granted instead. Imprisoned by Pilaf, Goku looks at the full moon and suddenly transforms into an Ōzaru. After having his tail cut off and returning to normal, Goku sets off on his own to Kame-Sen’nin’s place.
Episode List (001 — 013)
Buruma to Son Gokū
Bulma and Son Goku
Animation: Minoru Maeda · Director: Minoru Okazaki
Arararaa! Tama ga Nai!
Alalala–! No Balls!
Animation: Tomekichi Takeuchi · Director: Daisuke Nishio
Kame-Sen’nin no Kinto-Un
Kame-Sen’nin’s Kinto-Un
Animation: Masayuki Uchiyama · Director: Kazuhisa Takenōchi
Hitosarai Yōkai Ūron
The Kidnapping Demon, Oolong
Animation: Minoru Maeda · Director: Minoru Okazaki
Tsuyokute Warui Sabaku no Yamucha
The Strong Villain of the Desert, Yamcha
Animation: Yukio Ebisawa · Director: Daisuke Nishio
Mayonaka no Hōmonsha-tachi
The Midnight Visitors
Animation: Masayuki Uchiyama · Director: Kazuhisa Takenōchi
Furaipan Yama no Gyūmaō
Gyūmaō of Mount Frypan
Storyboard: Katsumi Endō · Director: Yoshihiro Ueda
Kame-Sen’nin no Kamehameha
Kame-Sen’nin’s Kamehameha
Storyboard: Toshihiko Arisako · Director: Yoshihiro Ueda
Usagi Oyabun no Tokui Waza
The Boss Rabbit’s Special Skill
Animation: Minoru Maeda · Director: Minoru Okazaki
Doragon Bōru Ubawareru!!
The Dragon Balls Are Stolen!!
Animation: Tomekichi Takeuchi · Director: Kazuhisa Takenōchi
Tsui ni Doragon Arawaru!
Finally, the Dragon Appears!
Animation: Masayuki Uchiyama · Director: Daisuke Nishio
Shenron e no Negai
The Wish to Shenlong
Storyboard: Toshihiko Arisako · Director: Yoshihiro Ueda
Gokū no Dai-Henshin
Goku’s Great Transformation
Storyboard: Akinori Nagaoka · Director: Yutaka Satō