Dragon Ball Filler List
7.9/10
Young Son Goku embarks on a journey to collect the seven Dragon Balls, making friends and rivals while growing into a powerful martial artist.
Studio
Toei Animation
Premiered
Winter 1986
Status
Finished
Filler %
27%
Episode distribution (153 total)
102 Canon10 Mixed41 Filler
Filler Episodes — Quick Reference
Ep 7–8
Ep 21–23
Ep 29
Ep 32–33
Ep 41–43
Ep 46
Ep 49–50
Ep 56–57
Ep 59
Ep 62
Ep 72
Ep 74
Ep 77–78
Ep 83
Ep 85
Ep 87–88
Ep 96
Ep 98–100
Ep 123–124
Ep 126–128
Ep 137
Ep 140–141
Ep 145–147
Dragon Ball filler episodes: 7–8, 21–23, 29, 32–33, 41–43, 46, 49–50, 56–57, 59, 62, 72, 74, 77–78, 83, 85, 87–88, 96, 98–100, 123–124, 126–128, 137, 140–141, 145–147
These ranges represent episodes classified as anime-only filler. Mixed episodes may contain some canon content.
Voice Cast
Main Characters
View all 8 →Episode List (153 Episodes)
| # | Title | Type | Air Date | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Secret of the Dragon Balls | Canon | Feb 26, 1986 | 4.2 |
| 2 | The Emperor's Quest | Canon | Mar 5, 1986 | 4.2 |
| 3 | The Nimbus Cloud of Roshi | Canon | Mar 12, 1986 | 4.2 |
| 4 | Oolong the Terrible | Canon | Mar 19, 1986 | 4.1 |
| 5 | Yamcha the Desert Bandit | Canon | Mar 26, 1986 | 4.1 |
| 6 | Keep an Eye on the Dragon Balls | Canon | Apr 2, 1986 | 4.2 |
| 7 | The Ox King on Fire Mountain | Filler | Apr 9, 1986 | 4.2 |
| 8 | The Kamehameha Wave | Filler | Apr 16, 1986 | 4.4 |
| 9 | Boss Rabbit's Magic Touch | Canon | Apr 23, 1986 | 4.1 |
| 10 | The Dragon Balls are Stolen! | Canon | Apr 30, 1986 | 4.1 |
| 11 | The Penalty is Pinball | Canon | May 7, 1986 | 4.2 |
| 12 | A Wish to the Eternal Dragon | Canon | May 14, 1986 | 4.3 |
| 13 | The Legend of Goku | Mixed | May 21, 1986 | 4.5 |
| 14 | Goku's Rival | Canon | May 28, 1986 | 4.2 |
| 15 | Look Out for Launch | Canon | Jun 4, 1986 | 4.1 |
| 16 | Find That Stone! | Canon | Jun 11, 1986 | 4.2 |
| 17 | Milk Delivery | Canon | Jun 18, 1986 | 4.3 |
| 18 | The Turtle Hermit Way | Canon | Jun 25, 1986 | 4.3 |
| 19 | The Tournament Begins | Canon | Jul 2, 1986 | 4.4 |
| 20 | Elimination Round | Canon | Jul 9, 1986 | 4.4 |
| 21 | Smells Like Trouble | Filler | Jul 16, 1986 | 4.0 |
| 22 | Quarterfinals Begin | Filler | Jul 23, 1986 | 4.2 |
| 23 | Monster Beast Giran | Filler | Jul 30, 1986 | 4.3 |
| 24 | Krillin's Frantic Attack! | Canon | Aug 6, 1986 | 4.4 |
| 25 | Danger From Above | Canon | Aug 13, 1986 | 4.6 |
| 26 | The Grand Finals | Canon | Aug 20, 1986 | 4.4 |
| 27 | Number One Under the Moon? | Canon | Aug 27, 1986 | 4.5 |
| 28 | The Final Blow | Canon | Sep 3, 1986 | 4.6 |
| 29 | The Roaming Lake | Filler | Sep 10, 1986 | 4.2 |
| 30 | Pilaf and the Mystery Force | Canon | Sep 17, 1986 | 4.0 |
Showing 30 of 153 episodes
⚠️ Episode classifications are collated from multiple publicly available data sources and may contain inaccuracies.
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Frequently Asked Questions — Dragon Ball
What is the difference between Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z?
The original Dragon Ball (1986–1989) covers Goku's childhood — gathering the Dragon Balls, the Red Ribbon Army, and the first World Martial Arts Tournaments. Dragon Ball Z (1989–1996) picks up with adult Goku, focusing on the Saiyan, Frieza, Cell, and Buu sagas.
How many filler episodes does Dragon Ball have?
The original Dragon Ball series has approximately 13 filler episodes out of 153. The filler is light and less intrusive than DBZ — most viewers watch the full series straight through.
Should I watch Dragon Ball before Dragon Ball Z?
Yes — watching the original Dragon Ball first provides important backstory for Goku, Krillin, Master Roshi, Bulma, and the Dragon Balls themselves. Many character relationships in DBZ make more sense with Dragon Ball context.
What is the best arc in the original Dragon Ball?
The Piccolo Jr. arc (the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament) is widely considered the best arc. It features a grown-up Goku in his prime, culminating in an iconic final battle against Piccolo Daimō's son.
When does Goku first go Super Saiyan?
Goku first transforms into Super Saiyan in Dragon Ball Z — specifically in Episode 95 (Frieza Saga), after Krillin's death. The original Dragon Ball series predates the Super Saiyan transformation entirely.
What are the Dragon Ball chronological watch order?
Chronological order: Dragon Ball → Dragon Ball Z (or Kai) → Dragon Ball Super → Dragon Ball GT (non-canon) → Dragon Ball Super: Broly film. Skip early DBZ movies as they are non-canon retellings.
Is Dragon Ball GT canon?
No. Dragon Ball GT is not considered canon. It was not written by Akira Toriyama and is an original anime-only continuation. Dragon Ball Super (which Toriyama supervised) serves as the official continuation after DBZ.