The true "CANON" of Dragon Ball

[GokuBlacksolosyourverse]

Dragon Ball canon (正史, seishi; Literally meaning "official history")[1] was first officially defined during the Tokyo Skytree + Viz North America Tour in an exhibit called the History of Dragon Ball. It was later reaffirmed in December 2018 in Weekly Shōnen Jump.

As of the start of this tour on November 1, 2018, the official canon of Dragon Ball includes Akira Toriyama's original Dragon Ball manga (which composes both Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z in the West) and the Dragon Ball Super manga, which has its story written by Toriyama and artwork drawn by Toyotarō.[2]

Additionally, despite not being adapted by the Dragon Ball Super manga as Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods was, Toriyama has confirmed that the events of Dragon Ball Z: Revival of "F" are a canonical continuation of his manga, as well.[3] He also considers the Jaco the Galactic Patrolman manga and its extra chapter, Dragon Ball Minus, to be connected to his series.[4] Most recently, Toriyama added Broly and Gogeta into the Dragon Ball canon with Dragon Ball Super: Broly.

Canon Story Arcs​

During the History of Dragon Ball exhibit at the Tokyo Skytree + Viz North America Tour, official names were given for each of the canon story arcs in both the Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Super manga.

Dragon Ball​

1. Dragon Balls Saga
2. Master Roshi Training Saga
3. 21st Tenkaichi Budokai Saga
4. Red Ribbon Army Saga
5. Baba Saga
6. 22nd Tenkaichi Budokai Saga
7. King Piccolo Saga
8. 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai Saga
9. Saiyan Saga
10. Freeza Saga
11. Androids Saga
12. Cell Saga
13. High School Saga
14. 25th Tenkaichi Budokai Saga
15. Majin Buu Saga

Dragon Ball Super​

1. Beerus Saga
2. Golden Frieza Saga
3. Champa Saga
4. Future Trunks Saga
5. Universe Survival Saga
6. Moro Saga
7. Granolah the Survivor Saga

Akira Toriyama and Dragon Ball Canon​

Akira Toriyama is the original creator and author of the Dragon Ball manga. Over the years, Toriyama has made numerous claims about the canon status of various medias set within his franchise. It is clear from these comments—and from others, in which he derides both the Japanese and English anime adaptations for their portrayal of Son Goku—that he defines the canon of Dragon Ball as being in relation to his original manga.

On the Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z movies, Toriyama stated:

​

	I take the movies as “stories in a different dimension from the main story of the comic”. I’m entirely just an audience member for them.	”
	—Akira Toriyama, Daizenshū 7 Interview—Akira Toriyama, Daizenshū 7 Interview

On Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods and Dragon Ball Z: Revival of "F", Toriyama stated that:

​

	[As with the last movie], I thought up the new story for the next Dragon Ball theatrical film as though it were a continuation of the manga when it was in serialization.	”
	—Akira Toriyama, V-Jump (2014)—Akira Toriyama, V-Jump (2014)

However, in November 2018, Toei Animation and Shueisha Publishing Co., Ltd. confirmed during the Tokyo Skytree + Viz North America Tour that the Dragon Ball Super manga, for which Toriyama was responsible for only the story and character designs, was canon to Toriyama's manga.[2]

Canon and the Extended Universe​

The Dragon Ball franchise consists of a vast variety of media including various anime, films, video games, and even other manga series. This can make it difficult to discern the canonicity of certain content. However, as of the Tokyo Skytree + Viz North America Tour's History of Dragon Ball exhibit, it is confirmed that only the Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Super manga, with the addition of Revival of "F", Jaco the Galactic Patrolman, and Dragon Ball Minus, are considered canon to Toriyama's franchise.

Anime and Canon​

The Dragon Ball anime, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball Z Kai, and Dragon Ball Super anime all adapt content from their respective manga series. As a result, the adapt and depict canon content. However, they also depict original content that falls outside the preview of canon (i.e., the Garlic Jr. Saga)

Anime series like Dragon Ball GT have been treated as sequels to the Dragon Ball franchise, but are not, in fact, official sequels to Akira Toriyama's manga.[5][6] Other anime series, like the Dragon Ball Heroes anime are purely promotional material for its corresponding video game franchise and are not meant to be interpreted as official continuations of Toriyama's manga.

Films and Canon​

With the exceptions of Battle of Gods and Revival of "F," which Akira Toriyama declared to be official continuations of his manga,[3] movies are considered to be different stories set in other dimensions.[7] As a result, Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z animated films are not considered canonical.

Games and Canon​

While games frequently adapt canon content, they are not in anyway meant to be considered canonical. This includes Dragon Ball Online, which, unlike most video games, was heavily worked upon by Akira Toriyama, but was never officially released outside of Korea.

Canon and Dragon Ball GT​

The canon status of Dragon Ball GT has been an issue of contentious debate among the Dragon Ball fan community. As both Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Super proceed the story of Dragon Ball GT by many years, there are no direct contradictions with the story of GT.

Akira Toriyama had the following to say about the anime-only adaptation:

​

	Being a lazy bum by nature, I was absurdly happy when I managed to safely finish up Dragon Ball’s serialization, and finally be released from Deadline Hell. The TV anime people wanted to continue for just a little bit more, but I [just couldn’t do] any more than that… And so, I left the Dragon Ball anime completely up to the anime staff, story and all. That was Dragon Ball GT.... Dragon Ball GT is a grand side-story of the original Dragon Ball, and it’ll make me happy for us to watch and enjoy it together.	”
	—Akira Toriyama, Dragon Ball GT DVD Box: Dragon Box GT “Dragon Book” (15 June 2005)—Akira Toriyama, Dragon Ball GT DVD Box: Dragon Box GT “Dragon Book” (15 June 2005)

Furthermore, GT is the Dragon Ball media with the least amount of involvement from Toriyama. Toriyama himself only came up with the title for the series, designed the main cast and their vehicles, and he drew a few pictures for the series.[8]

As a result of these facts in conjunction with its exclusion from the Tokyo Skytree + Viz North America Tour's History of Dragon Ball exhibit, Dragon Ball GT is not considered canon to the Dragon Ball manga.[2]

Reference Books and Canon​

Reference books, like the Daizenshū series, often expand upon content that is not touched upon or fully explained in the anime, films, or the manga. However, like the aforementioned Daizenshū series of databooks, most Dragon Ball reference books are anime reference books and have little to no involvement from Akira Toriyama himself. Therefore, they are supplemental to the anime, but are not considered to be canonical.[9]

However, there are exceptions. An example of this is the Dragon Ball Volume "F" which was written by Toriyama himself and is supplemental material to Dragon Ball Z: Revival of "F", itself one of the few canonical films in the franchise.

 

[Emirp sumitpo]

Did you... Just copy and paste this from somewhere else?

What even is the point of this?

 

[GokuBlacksolosyourverse]

@Emirp sumitpo Yes
The point? :>

 

[Emirp sumitpo]

Why did you make this? What exactly are you trying to make here?

 

[GokuBlacksolosyourverse]

@Emirp sumitpo Copy and use it in the future

 

[Emirp sumitpo]

You do know that sandboxes and wiki blogs exist?

And why did you link it in a CRT