Before I dive into Dragon Ball, let me take a step back and introduce what is anime. By definition, anime is a Japanese animation created by computer or hand. I described it as the japanese version of cartoon. However, the viewers of anime tend to be teenanager and adults while the cartoon tend to be related as children entertainment, and these differences imply that anime has a variety of genres and contents produced for a wide range of viewers.
The first anime was produced after WWII, in 1948, with the emerge of the first modern Japanese animation production company: Toei. However, the first anime that has been released theatrically in the United States (by MGM, in 1961) did not brought japanese anime to the rest of the world’s attention.
The history of anime dates as far back as the early 60’s in the U.S. Although anime is becoming more and more popular globally, its root is still based on Japan. It’s a great platform to share traditional and modern japanese cultures with the worlds. What really pushed animation to the attention in Japan was the shift to TV in the Sixties.
However, the first export animes like Astro Boy was played on all NBC stations all over the U.S. It was something so unique and surprising in America, and people all over the world knew it immediately. Later on, in the late eighties, animes such as, Sailor Moon, Dragon ball Z, Speed Racer, Digimon, and the ever so popular Pokemon; All characterized with bizarre character designs: female characters with beautiful round eyes and gorgeous figure and physique. Male characters would usually have enormously huge muscles.
Nowaday, with the technology and internet, the anime distribution began to explode, fans found it even easier to watch original Japanese versions of their favorite anime shows once it has been relieved.