The following is a collection of every eyecatch used throughout the various Dragon Ball TV series. An eyecatch is used as a bumper in typical episodes of Japanese animated TV series, which are divided up into two parts, with a commercial break inserted in between the two halves. At the end of Part A and the beginning of Part B, there is usually an eyecatch to inform viewers of the beginning and the end of the commercial break.
The eyecatch is traditionally a very short scene, often humorous or silly, and in most cases visually summarizes the show’s nature. More often than not the eyecatch will feature the main characters, which are sometimes drawn in a super deformed style as seen in the first Dragon Ball GT eyecatch. The term “eyecatch” (アイキャッチ; aikyatchi) is the actual Japanese term used to describe these little bits of animation, as the animation catches your eye or grabs your attention. These are sometimes also referred to as “eyecatchers”, which is primarily an Americanized term.
While the eyecatches used during the original broadcast era rarely changed and were much more general to the overall series’ storyline, the more modern series’ eyecatches frequently changed and closely pertained to the respective series’ current episodic events.
Dragon Ball
First Animation (Episodes 1–42)
| Part A: |
Oolong tosses all seven Dragon Balls into the air and Goku catches them on a traditional Japanese umbrella he’s spinning. Oolong is in disbelief that the balls didn’t fall off of the umbrella.
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| Part B: |
Goku tosses all seven Dragon Balls into the air and Oolong tries to catch them on the umbrella, but can’t catch them like Goku did, failing shamefully. |
| Note: |
At the beginning of the series, the eyecatch music hadn’t entirely been worked out yet. Because of this, the first two episodes had varying versions of the eyecatch.
| (1) |
The eyecatch music in the first episode is reversed compared to the typical Dragon Ball episode. |
| (2) |
In the second episode, the music that is typically played in Part B of the eyecatch is actually played in both parts of this episode’s eyecatch. |
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Second Animation (Episodes 43–153)
| Part A: |
Goku tries to hit Kame-Sen’nin with Nyoi-Bō, but he blocks Goku’s attack with his staff.
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| Part B: |
Kame-Sen’nin shows off by spinning his staff over his head, but Goku simply extends Nyoi-Bō, which hits him in the head. Kame-Sen’nin’s head then rings like a gong… |
Dragon Ball Z
First Animation (Episodes 1–199)
| Part A: |
Goku sits with his back to the audience, and turns around to look backwards, when Gohan pops out of his lap. The two smile back at the audience.
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| Part B: |
Gohan is standing really close to the screen and then runs back to Goku, who picks him up. The two wave at the audience. |
TV Special 1 – First Animation
| Part A: |
Bardock stands determined in front of a blue background, as the “Z” in “Dragon Ball Z Special” slowly flashes.
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| Part B: |
Bardock remains as-is from Part A, but is joined by the rest of this team; Toma, Selipa, Panbukin, and Toteppo. |
TV Special 1 – Second Animation
| Part A: |
Bardock stands determined in front of Freeza’s henchmen on Planet Meat, as the “Z” in “Dragon Ball Z Special” slowly flashes.
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| Part B: |
Bardock remains as-is from Part A, but Dodoria takes the place of Freeza’s henchmen in the background. |
TV Special 1 – Third Animation
| Part A: |
Bardock stands determined in front of Planet Vegeta, before Freeza blows it up, as the “Z” in “Dragon Ball Z Special” slowly flashes.
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| Part B: |
Bardock remains as-is from Part A, but the menacing Freeza in his hover chair takes the place of Planet Vegeta in the background. |
TV Special 2
| Part A: |
Trunks is shown crying as Gohan looks on in displeasure while the word “Special” (written in katakana) slowly fades onto the screen.
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| Part B: |
Gohan is quite happy that Trunks has finally stopped crying, while the word “Special” (written in katakana) slowly fades onto the screen. |
Second Animation (Episodes 200–291)
| Part A: |
Gohan and Videl ride across the screen in a “Mr. Satan” car, but when they stop to wave, Goten picks up the car.
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| Part B: |
Kaiō-sama and Bubbles are driving around in a nice red car, when Goku suddenly appears and they crash into him. Oops! |
| Note: |
At the beginning of the time skip, the eyecatch music hadn’t entirely been worked out yet. Because of this, two episodes had varying versions of the eyecatch. The eyecatch also features an interesting possible reference.
| (1) |
In Part B of episodes 201 and 202, we hear some alternate music as opposed to the typical eyecatch music used through the remainder of the series. |
| (2) |
If you look closely in Part A, you may notice that the number 666 is shown on the side of the “Mr. Satan” car Gohan and Videl are riding in (view image). This is likely a reference to Mr. Satan’s name pun on Satan, as the number 666 is believed to encode the letters of someone’s name or title in the bible, identifying the Antichrist. |
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Dragon Ball GT
First Animation (Episodes 1–26)
| Part A: |
Goku, Pan, and Trunks fly onto the screen riding on their spaceship. Goku tries to grab the star but it turns into Giru, which disappoints Goku.
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| Part B: |
Goku, Pan, and Trunks once again fly onto the screen and Goku tries to grab another star. The star explodes and tons of stars rain down on our heroes. |
| Note: |
There are some glitches with this eyecatch in the first three episodes of GT. These glitches were fixed in episode 4, and never appeared again following this point.
| (1) |
In Part B of episode 1, the music runs past the end of the eyecatch and into the next scene with Kaiō-sama. Since the main music, like that used in the eyecatch, is typically recorded before animation begins, this would imply that someone on the animation side of production dropped the ball and didn’t animate enough frames to fill the exact time of the eyecatch music. |
| (2) |
To correct for this error/glitch, the music was clipped in Part B for both episodes 2 and 3 to match the animation. |
| (3) |
This was finally corrected for episode 4 onward; extra frames were added to the end of Part B to match the original music used in episode 1. |
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Second Animation (Episodes 27–64)
| Part A: |
The major GT characters slowly pile into a jeep for a trip, but then everyone is crushed by a dinosaur that Goku is riding.
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| Part B: |
Trunks fixes the jeep and everyone piles back in, with Goku sitting on the hood. They drive off, leaving the dinosaur behind, all alone. |
Dragon Ball Kai
First Animation (Episodes 1–4)
| Part A: |
Goku fires a Kamehameha that splits the screen diagonally to show Gohan bowing on one side and Goku’s “Ossu” greeting on the other.
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| Part B: |
Goku throws a Genki-Dama that splits the screen diagonally to show Piccolo and Goku on one side and Raditz on the other, all ready for battle. |
Second Animation (Episodes 5–8)
| Part A: |
Goku fires a Kamehameha that splits the screen diagonally to show Bulma waving and Kuriring peaking over the diagonal on one side, while Kame-Sen’nin holds a beer and Umigame looks on happily on the other side.
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| Part B: |
Goku throws a Genki-Dama that splits the screen diagonally to show Goku (dead) on one side and Kaiō, Bubbles, and Gregory on the other, ready to begin the training. |
Third Animation (Episodes 9–12)
| Part A: |
Goku fires a Kamehameha that splits the screen diagonally to show the Z Warriors ready for battle, with Tenshinhan, Yamcha, and Chiaotzu on one side and Kuririn, Gohan, and Piccolo on the other side.
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| Part B: |
Goku throws a Genki-Dama that splits the screen diagonally to show Nappa and the Saibaiman on one side and Vegeta on the other, ready for battle with the Earthlings. |
Fourth Animation (Episodes 13–17)
| Part A: |
Goku fires a Kamehameha that splits the screen diagonally to show Goku using the Kaiō-Ken on one side and Vegeta grinning confidently on the other side.
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| Part B: |
Goku throws a Genki-Dama that splits the screen diagonally to show Goku laying in pain, supported by Gohan, Kuririn, and Yajirobe on one side and a severely damaged Vegeta on the other. |
Fifth Animation (Episodes 18–20)
| Part A: |
Goku fires a Kamehameha that splits the screen diagonally to show Bulma and God’s space ship on one side and Gohan and Kuririn on the other side, all ready to head to Planet Namek.
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| Part B: |
Goku throws a Genki-Dama that splits the screen diagonally to show Vegeta all angry on one side and his rival Kewi grinning on the other. |
Sixth Animation (Episodes 21–23 & 25-26)
| Part A: |
Goku fires a Kamehameha that splits the screen diagonally to show Freeza in his hover chair on one side and Dodoria and Zarbon on the other side.
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| Part B: |
Goku throws a Genki-Dama that splits the screen diagonally to show himself on one side and his spaceship headed toward Namek on the other. |
Seventh Animation (Episodes 24 & 27–28)
| Part A: |
Goku fires a Kamehameha that splits the screen diagonally to show Kuririn, Gohan, and Bulma on one side and Dende and Namekians from his village on the other side.
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| Part B: |
Goku throws a Genki-Dama that splits the screen diagonally to show Tenshinhan, Piccolo, Yamcha, and Piccolo on one side, all of which have arrived to recieve special training from Kaiō, who is shown on the other side. |
Eighth Animation (Episodes 29–32)
| Part A: |
Goku fires a Kamehameha that splits the screen diagonally to show the Ginyu Special-Squad, with Ginyu and Jheese on one side and Recoom, Gurd, and Butta on the other side.
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| Part B: |
Goku throws a Genki-Dama that splits the screen diagonally to show Kuririn and Gohan on one side and Vegeta on the other side, all severely damaged from their battle with the Ginyu Special-Squad on Planet Namek. |
Ninth Animation (Episodes 33–37)
| Part A: |
Goku fires a Kamehameha that splits the screen diagonally to show Goku on one Captain Ginyu on the other side, as the two prepare for their battle.
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| Part B: |
Goku throws a Genki-Dama that splits the screen diagonally to show Freeza on one side and Nail with the Eldest on the other side. |
Tenth Animation (Episodes 38–40)
| Part A: |
Goku fires a Kamehameha that splits the screen diagonally to show 2nd form Freeza on one side and Gohan, Vegeta, and Kuririn all wearing Saiyan battle gear on the other side.
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| Part B: |
Goku throws a Genki-Dama that splits the screen diagonally to show Porunga on one side and Piccolo on the other side, who Porunga brought back to life on Namek. |
Eleventh Animation (Episodes 41–47)
| Part A: |
Goku fires a Kamehameha that splits the screen diagonally to show final form Freeza on one side and Goku on the other side, as the two super powers face off.
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| Part B: |
Goku throws a Genki-Dama that splits the screen diagonally to show battle damaged Piccolo on one side and Gohan and Kuririn on the other side, all watching the epic battle unfold. |
Twelfth Animation (Episodes 48–54)
| Part A: |
Goku fires a Kamehameha that splits the screen diagonally to show a fullscreen shot of an angered Super Saiyan Son Goku.
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| Part B: |
Goku throws a Genki-Dama that splits the screen diagonally to show a fullscreen shot of battle damaged full power Freeza. |
Thirteenth Animation (Episodes 55–56)
| Part A: |
Goku fires a Kamehameha that splits the screen diagonally to show King Cold on one side and Mecha Freeza on the other side, after the two have landed on Earth.
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| Part B: |
Goku throws a Genki-Dama that splits the screen diagonally to show Vegeta, Piccolo, Gohan, and Kuririn on one side and Pu’er, Chiaotzu, Bulma, Tenshinhan, and Yamcha on the other side, all preparing for the battle with Freeza to unfold on Earth. |
Fourteenth Animation (Episodes 57–58)
| Part A: |
Goku fires a Kamehameha that splits the screen diagonally to show Goku on one side and Trunks on the other side, who has been waiting for Goku’s arrival back to Earth.
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| Part B: |
Goku throws a Genki-Dama that splits the screen diagonally to show Super Saiyan Son Goku on one side and Super Saiyan Trunks on the other side, as Trunks prepares to test Goku’s power. |
Fifteenth Animation (Episodes 59–63)
| Part A: |
Goku fires a Kamehameha that splits the screen diagonally to show the Z Warriors, as they await the arrival of the artificial humans.
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| Part B: |
Goku throws a Genki-Dama that splits the screen diagonally to show Artificial Human No. 19 on one side and Artificial Human No. 20 on the other side, as they walk around the island. |
Sixteenth Animation (Episode 64)
| Part A: |
Goku fires a Kamehameha that splits the screen diagonally to show Artificial Human No. 16 on one side and Goku laying sick in bed on the other side.
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| Part B: |
Goku throws a Genki-Dama that splits the screen diagonally to show Artificial Humans No. 17 and 18, as they prepare to start their game to find and kill the sick Goku. |
Seventeenth Animation (Episode 65)
| Part A: |
Goku fires a Kamehameha that splits the screen diagonally to show Super Saiyan Vegeta on one side and the remaining Z Warriors on the other side, as they watch the proud Vegeta take on the artificial humans.
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| Part B: |
Goku throws a Genki-Dama that splits the screen diagonally to show Artificial Humans No. 17 and 18, as they continue on their way toward Goku, but are delayed by Vegeta and the others. |
Eighteenth Animation (Episodes 66–68)
| Part A: |
Goku fires a Kamehameha that splits the screen diagonally to show Piccolo, who is on his way to once again merge with God, on one side and Goku still laying sick in bed on the other side.
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| Part B: |
Goku throws a Genki-Dama that splits the screen diagonally to show Artificial Humans No. 16, 17, and 18, as they continue on their way toward Goku. |
Nineteenth Animation (Episode 69)
| Part A: |
Goku fires a Kamehameha that splits the screen diagonally to show Piccolo, who is on his way to once again merge with God, on one side and Goku still laying sick in bed on the other side.
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| Part B: |
Goku throws a Genki-Dama that splits the screen diagonally to show Imperfect Cell. |
Twentieth Animation (Episodes 70–71)
| Part A: |
Goku fires a Kamehameha that splits the screen diagonally to show Artificial Human No. 16 on one side and Goku laying sick in bed on the other side.
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| Part B: |
Goku throws a Genki-Dama that splits the screen diagonally to show Imperfect Cell. |
Twenty-first Animation (Episode 72)
| Part A: |
Goku fires a Kamehameha that splits the screen diagonally to show the Z Warriors, as they await the arrival of the artificial humans at Kame House.
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| Part B: |
Goku throws a Genki-Dama that splits the screen diagonally to show Artificial Humans No. 17 and 18, as they continue on their way to find Goku. |
Twenty-second Animation (Episode 73)
| Part A: |
Goku fires a Kamehameha that splits the screen diagonally to show Artificial Human No. 17 on one side and Piccolo on the other side, as they battle it out.
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| Part B: |
Goku throws a Genki-Dama that splits the screen diagonally to show Imperfect Cell on one side and Artificial Humans No. 17 and 18 on the other side, as they watch on as the battle between No. 17 and Piccolo rages. |
Twenty-third Animation (Episode 74)
| Part A: |
Goku fires a Kamehameha that splits the screen diagonally to show Artificial Humans No. 17 and 18, as they are caught off guard by the appearance of Cell.
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| Part B: |
Goku throws a Genki-Dama that splits the screen diagonally to show Imperfect Cell on one side and Artificial Human No. 16 on the other side, as the silent warrior steps up to stop Cell. |
Twenty-fourth Animation (Episode 75)
| Part A: |
Goku fires a Kamehameha that splits the screen diagonally to show Artificial Humans No. 17 and 18, as they watch No. 16 battle Cell.
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| Part B: |
Goku throws a Genki-Dama that splits the screen diagonally to show Artificial Human No. 16 on one side and Cell in his second-form on the other side, as the two continue their battle. |
Twenty-fifth Animation (Episodes 76–79)
| Part A: |
Goku fires a Kamehameha that splits the screen diagonally to show Trunks, who has just emerged from the Room of Spirit and Time, and Super Vegeta, as he prepares to take on Cell.
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| Part B: |
Goku throws a Genki-Dama that splits the screen diagonally to show Artificial Humans No. 16 and 18 on one side as they continue to hide and Cell in his second-form on the other side, as Cell continues to search for No. 18. |
Twenty-sixth Animation (Episodes 80–82)
| Part A: |
Goku fires a Kamehameha that splits the screen diagonally to show Trunks, who has just emerged from the Room of Spirit and Time, and Super Vegeta, as he prepares to take on Cell.
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| Part B: |
Goku throws a Genki-Dama that splits the screen diagonally to show Cell in both his second and perfect forms. |
Twenty-seventh Animation (Episode 83)
| Part A: |
Goku fires a Kamehameha that splits the screen diagonally to show the Z Warriors as they wait for the Cell Games to begin.
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| Part B: |
Goku throws a Genki-Dama that splits the screen diagonally to show Cell and the his arena as he awaits the start of his Cell Games. |
Twenty-eighth Animation (Episodes 84–91)
| Part A: |
Goku fires a Kamehameha that splits the screen diagonally to show Goku and Gohan on God’s palace after their Room of Spirit and Time training.
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| Part B: |
Goku throws a Genki-Dama that splits the screen diagonally to show Cell and the his arena as the Cell Games begin. |
Twenty-ninth Animation (Episodes 92–93)
| Part A: |
Goku fires a Kamehameha that splits the screen diagonally to show Gohan, Goku, Kuririn, Piccolo, and Trunks as they watch on in pure shock as Cell creates the Cell Juniors.
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| Part B: |
Goku throws a Genki-Dama that splits the screen diagonally to show Cell and the seven Cell Juniors he has just created. |
Thirtieth Animation (Episodes 94–97)
| Part A: |
Goku fires a Kamehameha that splits the screen diagonally to show a newly powered up Super Saiyan 2 Son Gohan.
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| Part B: |
Goku throws a Genki-Dama that splits the screen diagonally to show perfect form Cell after returning from the brink of death to challenge Gohan. |
Thirty-first Animation (Episode 98)
| Part A: |
Goku fires a Kamehameha that splits the screen diagonally to show the Z Warriors.
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| Part B: |
Goku throws a Genki-Dama that splits the screen diagonally to show Artificial Humans No. 17 and 18, who are running amuk in the future. |
Thirty-second Animation (Episode 99–101)
| Part A: |
Goten and Trunks perform the Fusion Dance to reveal Videl.
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| Part B: |
Goku and Vegeta fuse with the Potara earrings, splitting the screen diagonally to show the Z Warriors. |
Thirty-third Animation (Episode 102–116)
| Part A: |
Goten and Trunks perform the Fusion Dance to reveal Mister Satan and Videl.
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| Part B: |
Goku and Vegeta fuse with the Potara earrings, splitting the screen diagonally to show the Z Warriors. |
Thirty-fourth Animation (Episode 117–126)
| Part A: |
Goten and Trunks perform the Fusion Dance to reveal Majin Boo and Bobbidi.
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| Part B: |
Goku and Vegeta fuse with the Potara earrings, splitting the screen diagonally to show the Z Warriors. |
Thirty-fifth Animation (Episode 127–131)
| Part A: |
Goten and Trunks perform the Fusion Dance to reveal Super Saiyan 3 Son Goku.
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| Part B: |
Goku and Vegeta fuse with the Potara earrings, splitting the screen diagonally to show the Z Warriors. |
Thirty-sixth Animation (Episode 132–134)
| Part A: |
Goten and Trunks perform the Fusion Dance to reveal Gotenks.
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| Part B: |
Goku and Vegeta fuse with the Potara earrings, splitting the screen diagonally to show the Z Warriors. |
Thirty-seventh Animation (Episode 135–145)
| Part A: |
Goten and Trunks perform the Fusion Dance to reveal Gotenks.
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| Part B: |
Goku and Vegeta fuse with the Potara earrings, splitting the screen diagonally to show Majin Boo. |
Thirty-eighth Animation (Episode 146–149)
| Part A: |
Goten and Trunks perform the Fusion Dance to reveal Gotenks.
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| Part B: |
Goku and Vegeta fuse with the Potara earrings, splitting the screen diagonally to show Vegetto. |
Thirty-ninth Animation (Episode 150–152, 155-157)
| Part A: |
Goten and Trunks perform the Fusion Dance to reveal Gotenks.
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| Part B: |
Goku and Vegeta fuse with the Potara earrings, splitting the screen to show Super Saiyan Son Goku, Super Saiyan Vegeta, and pure evil Majin Boo. |
Fortieth Animation (Episode 153–154)
| Part A: |
Goten and Trunks perform the Fusion Dance to reveal Super Saiyan 3 Son Goku.
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| Part B: |
Goku and Vegeta fuse with the Potara earrings, splitting the screen to show Super Saiyan Son Goku, Super Saiyan Vegeta, and pure evil Majin Boo. |
Forty-first Animation (Episode 158–159)
| Part A: |
Goten and Trunks perform the Fusion Dance to reveal the main Z cast 10 years after the battle with Majin Boo.
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| Part B: |
Goku and Vegeta fuse with the Potara earrings, splitting the screen to show the Z Warriors. |
Dragon Ball Super
First Animation (Episode 1)
| Part A: |
The Four-Star Dragon Ball bounces in from the right, hitting the other six and sending them flying across the screen in a flash. When the flash disappears, an image is shown of Goku smiling and Goten jumping for joy as Chi-Chi and Gyūmaō run up behind them.
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| Part B: |
The Four-Star Dragon Ball bounces in from the left, hitting the other six and sending them flying across the screen in a flash. When the flash disappears, an image is shown of Mister Satan strong arming his new son-in-law Gohan while Videl and Boo feed Bee in the background as Piccolo stands with his back to everyone. |
Second Animation (Episode 2, 4)
| Part A: |
The Four-Star Dragon Ball bounces in from the right, hitting the other six and sending them flying across the screen in a flash. When the flash disappears, an image is shown of Vegeta standing cross armed and Trunks pulling Bulma through the air as Dr. Brief and Bulma’s Mom fly over in a Capsule Corporation plane.
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| Part B: |
The Four-Star Dragon Ball bounces in from the left, hitting the other six and sending them flying across the screen in a flash. When the flash disappears, an image is shown of Goku smiling and Goten jumping for joy as Chi-Chi and Gyūmaō run up behind them.
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Third Animation (Episode 3)
| Part A: |
The Four-Star Dragon Ball bounces in from the right, hitting the other six and sending them flying across the screen in a flash. When the flash disappears, an image is shown of Goku smiling and Goten jumping for joy as Chi-Chi and Gyūmaō run up behind them.
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| Part B: |
The Four-Star Dragon Ball bounces in from the left, hitting the other six and sending them flying across the screen in a flash. When the flash disappears, an image is shown of Vegeta standing cross armed and Trunks pulling Bulma through the air as Dr. Brief and Bulma’s Mom fly over in a Capsule Corporation plane.
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