The Dragon Ball anime and manga franchise feature an ensemble cast of characters created by Akira Toriyama. The franchise takes place in a fictional universe, the same world as Toriyama's previous series Dr. Slump, and follows the adventures of Son Goku. Its narrative commenced with Goku's boyhood years as he trains in martial arts and explores a fantastical version of Earth in search of the seven orbs known as the Dragon Balls that are used to summon a wish-granting dragon. The tone of the series becomes more action oriented and less comedic when Goku reaches adulthood, as he and his allies would find themselves defending Earth against various threats, overcoming seemingly insurmountable opponents and eventually emerging victorious against progressively more powerful foes.
