Question: which came out first dragon ball or dragon ball z
Answer: Dragon Ball Created by Akira Toriyama Original work Dragon Ball ( 1984 -- 1995 ) Owner Bird Studio / Shueisha Print publications Book ( s ) See Companion books Comics See Manga Films and television Film ( s ) See List of Dragon Ball films Animated series Dragon Ball ( anime ) ( 1986 -- 1989 ) Dragon Ball Z ( 1989 -- 1996 ) Dragon Ball GT ( 1996 -- 1997 ) Dragon Ball Super ( 2015 -- 2018 ) Television special ( s ) Bardock -- The Father of Goku ( 1990 ) The History of Trunks ( 1993 ) A Hero 's Legacy ( 1997 ) Direct - to