Nothing got hyperactive 90’s and 2000’s kids to settle on the couch better than the intergalactic battles, valiant heroics, and epic animations packed into every episode of Dragon Ball Z.

Following the adventures of a good-natured alien named Goku, Dragon Ball Z is the sequel to the original Dragon Ball story written and illustrated by Akira Toriyama.

Between the inspirational tales of Goku defending the Earth from extraterrestrial villains and an immersive world of additional physical and digital media inspired by the franchise, Dragon Ball Z has become regarded as of the most influential anime of all time.

These days, you don’t even have to be a fan to at least know that spiky blondes mean business or have at least met one little kid who would clench their fists and try power up into “Super Saiyan” form.

In 2019, we see Dragon Ball Z referenced in more places than anyone could have ever imagined. The thirty-year-old series is as influential as Star Wars and Marvel Comics. Its blazing battles, mind-blowing transformations, and distinct visual tone can be found beyond the anime and now within contemporary lifestyle realms like fashion, music, video games, and even sports.

So *how exactly did this story about a monkey-tailed alien evolve into one of the most relevant and highest grossing media franchises of all time?

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