When it broke in the U.S. on Toonami, it birthed the seeds of what would make anime mainstream today.
There is no other anime on this list, save for Pokémon, that transcends all borders and has only become more culturally relevant as time passes. When it broke in the U.S. on Toonami, it birthed the seeds of what would make anime mainstream today. The series continues Dragon Ball and follows Goku and his friends as they defend Earth and the rest of the universe from powerful foes. It has gone on to spawn countless video games, two anime sequels, a manga sequel, and movies, several of which have premiered in North America, paving the way for other anime theatrical releases. Its influence on the Shonen genre can still be seen in countless contemporary classics to this day, including Naruto and One Piece.