10 Best Anime to Watch After ‘Dragon Ball Z’
Dragon Ball Z is one of the most popular anime series, and since it has a lot of episodes, it might take you a while before you wrap everything up. But, since it’s not like One Piece or Detective Conan, you’ll reach the end at one point. This means that after you’re done with Dragon Ball Z, you’ll need another anime to watch. You might already know which anime you intend to watch, but you might also be searching for something new, especially something similar to your beloved Dragon Ball Z.
Anime is quite a diversified genre, and you’ll be able to find something for everybody’s tastes. But, due to this diversity, it might not always be that easy to find exactly what you want, which is why we are here.
In this article, we will help you find some anime that are similar, in one way or another, to Dragon Ball Z, thereby helping you decide what to watch now that you’re done with DBZ. We hope you’ll find our list helpful, so keep reading to see the ten best anime like Dragon Ball Z.
1. Dragon Ball GT / Dragon Ball Super
Genre: adventure, martial arts, comedy, fantasy
Original run: February 7, 1996 – November 19, 1997 (GT), July 5, 2015 – March 25, 2018 (Super)
Episodes: 64 (GT), 131 (Super)
Additional material: 2 anime movies
It is only logical that fans of Dragon Ball Z should want to see what happens next in the series. This is why Dragon Ball GT, the anime-exclusive sequel to Dragon Ball Z, and Dragon Ball Super, the real sequel written by Akira Toriyama. Both series are set within the same narrative continuity and follow the same basic premise, but expanding it to other worlds and including new characters. So, if you’re a fan of Dragon Ball Z, these two are certainly the first ones you’ll want to check out.
2. Yū Yū Hakusho
Genre: adventure, martial arts, supernatural
Original run: October 10, 1992 – December 17, 1994
Episodes: 112
Additional material: 2 OVAs (6 + 2 episodes), two anime movies
This classic 90s anime certainly deserves a spot on our list because it has a lot of similarities with Dragon Ball Z. Conceptually similar to another entry on this list (Bleach), Yū Yū Hakusho is an anime that combines adventure with supernatural elements and martial arts. Sounds familiar? Both Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z have similar elements, with a big difference being that Yū Yū Hakusho is set in modern times. Still, this anime should be able to provide enough entertainment for Dragon Ball Z fans due to the similarities between the two shows.
3. One-Punch Man
Genre: action, comedy, superhero
Original run: October 5, 2015 – July 2, 2019
Episodes: 12 + 24 OVAs
Additional material: 1 original animation DVD
One-Punch Man is, in so many ways, a spiritual successor to Dragon Ball Z. It is a martial arts-based anime where fighting is equally as important as the characters’ psychological dilemmas.
But, in a way, it is also a refreshing polar opposite of DBZ since the show’s main character is the strongest person on Earth and is usually bored because he lacks a true challenge. Still, the show fluctuates between complex psychological issues and severe boredom very effectively, which is why we definitely recommend it.
4. One Piece
Genre: adventure, fantasy
Original run: October 20, 1999 – present
Episodes: 1075 (as of September 10, 2023)
Additional material: 14 anime films, 13 television specials, 7 OVAs + 4 shorts
One Piece might not involve many martial arts elements, but this pirate fantasy has a lot of fighting that fans of Dragon Ball Z are certain to enjoy. The anime is one of the longest and most popular anime series ever. People generally love its light tone, the creativity behind the stories and the characters (especially the protagonist, Monkey Luffy), the humor, and the great action sequences. While it might not rely on the same concept as Dragon Ball Z, One Piece is surely going to offer tons of fun for DBZ fans, which is why we strongly recommend it.
5. Bleach
Genre: adventure, supernatural
Original run: December 16, 2006 – ongoing
Episodes: 389 (as of September 9, 2023)
Additional material: 4 anime films, one live-action film
Regardless of the supernatural elements that are present in the core of Bleach, this story still offers enough action, fighting, and world-saving that we can somewhat compare it to Dragon Ball Z. Bleach also has a great amount of psychological depth, which makes it a great stand-alone show, but also something that you can easily get invested into after Dragon Ball Z, so we highly recommend it to you.
6. Naruto / Naruto: Shippuden / Boruto
Genre: adventure, fantasy, martial arts
Original run: October 3, 2002 – February 8, 2007 (Naruto), February 15, 2007 – March 23, 2017 (Naruto: Shippuden), 5 April 2017 – present (Boruto)
Episodes: 220 (Naruto), 500 (Naruto: Shippuden), 293 (Boruto, as of March 26, 2023)
Additional material: 11 anime films
The Naruto franchise is one of the most popular animanga brands in the world. The initial anime, Naruto, follows Naruto Uzumaki’s childhood, continuing into the story of a young adult in Naruto: Shippuden. Boruto, which is still airing, follows the adventures of Naruto’s titular son. Although the shinobi setting is a bit different than the world of Dragon Ball Z, there is still enough fantasy and more than enough martial arts to satisfy fans of DBZ, so it’s a recommendation from us.
If you want to see our complete episode guide on the Naruto series, click here. If you want to check out our guide to the Naruto movies, click here.
7. InuYasha
Genre: adventure, fantasy, romance
Original run: October 16, 2000 – September 13, 2004 (original run), October 3, 2009 – March 29, 2010 (The Final Act)
Episodes: 167 (original run), 26 (The Final Act)
Additional material: 4 anime films, sequel series (Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon)
InuYasha is an anime that comes very close to Dragon Ball Z due to its focus on martial arts, superhuman abilities, and its fantasy setting. InuYasha has been a very popular anime that managed to balance out a historical setting with modern issues, and although it has a much darker tone and less humor than Dragon Ball Z, it is certainly a show fans of DBZ should enjoy, which is why we strongly recommend it.
8. Hunter x Hunter
Genre: adventure, fantasy, martial arts
Original run: October 16, 1999 – March 31, 2001 (original); October 2, 2011 – September 24, 2014 (remake)
Episodes: 62 (original); 148 (remake)
Additional material: 1 anime film, OVA series (30 episodes)
As far as being similar to Dragon Ball Z goes, Hunter x Hunter comes very close. Not only is this a martial arts-based adventure anime, but the protagonist, Gon Freecss, has a hairdo that Saiyans evidently inspire. The show follows Gon’s endeavors to become a Hunter, someone who can track down wild beasts and hidden treasures and possesses unbelievable abilities through manipulating their Nen, like his father.
Each individual episode is very fun and entertaining, but the most important elements are the show’s arcs, which show Gon’s character development. There are two iterations of the anime – the original series, which ran from 1999 to 2001, and the remake, which started from the beginning of the story and ran from 2011 to 2014.
9. Sword Art Online
Genre: adventure, science fiction
Original run: July 8, 2012 – September 19, 2020
Episodes: 96
Additional material: 2 anime films
Sword Art Online will probably not be your first choice after finishing Dragon Ball Z since it’s a science-fiction series, but it still offers enough to entertain you. The show follows humans trapped in the world of a VR game, where they use their superpowered avatars to save themselves and the world.
The latter is a similarity with Dragon Ball Z, as well as the fact that the show indeed has a lot of fighting. The animation and characters are great, so even if it is far from the fantasy setting of Dragon Ball Z, the three seasons are worth the watch.
10. My Hero Academia
Genre: adventure, fantasy, superhero
Original run: April 3, 2016 – present
Episodes: 138 (as of April 23, 2023)
Additional material: 2 OVAs, 1 ONA, two anime films
Although My Hero Academia is not similar to Dragon Ball Z in style and setting, it is certainly similar in the genre. Namely, My Hero Academia is by far the most popular modern martial arts anime and, in that aspect, is somewhat of a successor to Dragon Ball Z, who – along with the other shows in the franchise – was the most popular one during its original run.
The characters are great, but what makes My Hero Academia so great are its villains and fighting scenes, among the best in the industry. You’ll love this show if you’ve loved Dragon Ball Z.
