History was made on February 26, 1986, when Dragon Ball premiered with its first episode on Fuji TV in Japan. The anime debuted in what became known as the ‘Toriyama Time Slot’, Wednesdays at 7 PM, just a week after the conclusion of Dr. Slump, Akira Toriyama’s previous blockbuster series.
It was a huge hit, capturing a whopping 27.4% viewership rating. Fast forward to almost four decades, and now it is one of the most valuable and influential media franchises ever. Although few would have guessed its success at the time, this was the beginning of what would develop into a $23 billion global franchise.
The foundation of Dragon Ball: Breaking down $23 billion brand value
Akira Toriyama‘s Dragon Ball took inspiration from the 16th-century Chinese novel Journey to the West, specifically the figure of Sun Wukong, upon whom Son Goku was based. In contrast to the typical shonen of its era, it incorporated martial arts, comedy, adventure, and subsequently, serious power scaling, to lay the foundation for contemporary battle shonen.
The manga first appeared in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1984 and became popular soon after. Later, Toei Animation’s adaptation of it into an anime resonated deeply with the audience, starting a cultural phenomenon that would last generations.
39 years ago today, History was made as the 1st episode of DRAGON BALL premeired on Fuji TV. It earned a huge 27.4% ratings share, 1 week after the finale of Dr. Slump in the ‘Toriyama Time Slot’ of Wednesdays at 7PM.
Here is a Fuji TV Premiere TV spot from 1986: pic.twitter.com/0ssitQ9cqN
— Geekdom101 (@EmperorBigD) February 26, 2025
The sequel to the anime, Dragon Ball Z, continued to push the series globally, adding iconic transformations such as Super Saiyan and legendary villains such as Frieza, Cell, and Majin Buu. As per a Yahoo Japan news report, all these led to the aggregate brand value equaling a whopping $23 billion.
According to this article, Dragon Ball as a franchise is valued at $23 Billion Total.
Now understand, this does not mean Dragon Ball has MADE 23 Billion in a year or can be bought for that or something like that. It means the OVERALL combined value of the brand is that number.… https://t.co/EOwLvItmeC
— Geekdom101 (@EmperorBigD) March 12, 2024
Now, most fans on social media at first were shocked at the valuation of $23 billion, with many speculating as to what this amount signifies. It’s important to note that the figure doesn’t mean it has earned $23 billion in yearly revenue or that the franchise is worth this amount to be sold.
Rather, the amount signifies the cumulative brand valuation, an approximation of the sum total value of the franchise from all mediums. Dragon Ball is still one of the highest-selling manga series of all time, with more than 260 million copies sold globally. The sales of the manga alone have added an estimated $9 billion to its overall valuation, the report added.
With several series (Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT, Dragon Ball Super), and hit movies including Dragon Ball Super: Broly and Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, the franchise is constantly generating massive profits from broadcastings, streamings, and theaters. Moreover, several merchandising and licensing deals, video games, along with global popularity helped the franchise to earn this massive valuation.
Fans react to the legacy of Dragon Ball
The recent valuation announcement led to immense discussion among fans. Most thanked Toriyama for creating such a powerful show. Some pointed out that although the series had its share of pros and cons, its impact on the anime world was undeniable.
Dragon Ball is a franchise literally created for inspiration upon inspiration, it may have its pros and cons, but we got to understand that this started Goku’s journey as a warrior, It was peak, while its successor became a worldwide phenomenon, Thank you Toriyama-san! RIP
— CHARLIE (@ArchonKujo) February 26, 2025
39 years of pure joy
— platinumdeclan.bsky.social (@PlatinumDeclan) February 26, 2025
So cool, I can only imagine what it was like being a kid before Dragonball began airing and watching the ads and hype for the new upcoming show. Very interesting.
— God (@steaknrice69) February 27, 2025
Others also speculated that the $23 billion figure might even be an underestimation, considering the massive licensing deals it has secured over the years.
Ultimately, Akira Toriyama might no longer be among us, but his creation is here to stay. It is not only an anime or manga, it’s a phenomenon that inspires millions and will keep inspiring them for a long time.
Moreover. despite almost 40 years, Dragon Ball has no intention of slowing. With Dragon Ball Super ongoing in manga format and a new anime series reportedly in progress, the future for the franchise remains bright.
The Dragon Ball series is available to watch on Crunchyroll.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
