Anyone even remotely familiar with anime knows aboutDragon Ball.To call itone of the most influential series of all time would nearly be an understatement, and it could be argued thatDragon Ballis the premier anime franchise, with the most famous characters, transformations, and attacks in the art form. As a long-time fan myself, I truly think Akira Toriyama’s creation is the single best series to define anime as a whole.
Dragon Balldidn’t become one of the greatest series in anime just because of Goku and his friends.The attacks inDragon Ballare what makes the series stand out so much.Even non-anime fans know about attacks like the Kamehameha or the Spirit Bomb. While they might mispronounce the Kamehameha, they still know what it is, showing how truly dominant the attack is and how influential the franchise has become.
Iconic Attacks Define Shōnen Anime
The Best Shōnen Series Have the Best Attacks
My favorite genre of anime is shōnen. While I’ve been getting into a ton ofgreat romance animelately, shōnen will probably always be my favorite. Battle anime is made great because of how over-the-top the action is, showcasing the most intense fights in equally fast-paced scenes.Iconic attacks are what define shōnen anime.An amazing story, great characters, and an interesting setting can only be brought to light through a signature attack that leaves an impression on fans and prompts them to recreate it on their own (albeit without the flashing lights and devastating finish).
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If you asked any anime-viewer what iconic attack came fromNaruto,they’d say the Rasengan.Yu Yu Hakushohas the Spirit Gun,Jujutsu Kaisen’swould be Yuji’s Black Flash, andHunter x Hunterhas Gon’s Jajanken Punch. Each attack not only makes the character stand out from the myriad of shōnen protagonists, but from other series as well.
Dragon Ball Has the Most Iconic Attacks in Anime
The Kamehameha, The Spirit Bomb, and More
Out of every anime series out there, no single series has as manyiconic attacks as theDragon Ballfranchise.While most shōnen series only give the main protagonist a signature attack, almost every character with even a relative amount of importance inDragon Ballhas their own iconic attack. Goku has both the Kamehameha and the Spirit Bomb, Vegeta has the Galick Gun, the Big Bang Attack, and Final Flash. Krillen has the Destructo Disc, Piccolo has the Special Beam Cannon, and even Frieza has the Death Beam.
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Characters in the shōnen series are given more depth through their signature attacks. These attacks can be a representation of who they are, andDragon Balldoes very well in this category. Goku gets his strength from other people, Vegeta’s attacks are incredibly explosive, and Piccolo’s attack is one of the most precise in the series, three attacks that are perfectly indicative of who they are as characters.
Perhaps no attack is a better symbol of this attention to detail than the series' most iconic attack, the Kamehameha. The most famous beam attack in anime history might not seem to say much about the characters on its surface, but what it represents instead is the concept of legacy. The attack initially represents Goku’s connection to his first two masters, Grandpa Gohan and Master Roshi. Later on, it further creates a through line between generations as Goku’s children also learn the attack.
The Kamehameha is a pun based on the name of a Hawaiin king, King Kamehameha I, and the fact that Kame means turtle and Ha means Wave in Japanese.
There’s something beautiful in that. Grandpa Gohan is probably the single most important person in shaping who Goku is, and though the Saiyan’s children will never meet their father’s first master, they’re still connected to him through their mastery of the Kamehameha. Even beyond the confines of anime and manga though,Dragon Ball’sattacks have made a big impact on the real world.
Even Non-Anime Fans Know Attacks From Dragon Ball
Everyone Knows What The Kamehameha Is
Even my non-anime-watching friends know what the Kamehameha is.While they often mispronounce it, they even know the hand movements. The simplicity of the Kamehameha is one of its strong points, as all you need to do is put your hands by your side like you’re holding a ball and propel them forward toward your opponent to recreate the iconic attack.
WhileNarutohas a few signature moves, like the Rasengan, Shadow Clone Jutsu, and the Chidori, the hand signs needed to recreate them can be complicated. All ofDragon Ball’sattacks are easy to do, making them even more popular to replicate. I’m not sure how many people I know can recreate the hand signs seen inNaruto,but almost everyone I know can throw their hands up toward the sky for a Spirit Bomb.
Dragon Ball Is Legendary Because of Its Attacks
Dragon Ball’s Attacks Made the Series Iconic
There are plenty of reasons to loveDragon Ball.The series has some of thebest fights in anime, incredibly well-written characters, and a Super Saiyan transformation so legendary that it can be found in a plethora of series.Out of all the reasons to loveDragon Ball,the biggest might be its iconic attacks.
The attacks inDragon Ballare explosive, character-defining, and almost always a reason to get on your feet to cheer Goku and the gang along while they fight galactic-level threats. Goku’s Kamehameha has been legendary from the moment he first used it when taught by Master Roshi, to the Tournament of Power when Goku used it against Kefla in one of the most satisfying moments in anime history.
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I still remember getting on my feet to give Goku my energy when I was a kid, as he was using the Spirit Bomb. More than just cool and powerful,Dragon Ball’sattacks are inspiring, making fans young and old across the world believe they have the power to take on problems and threats much bigger than themselves. The Kamehameha and Spirit Bomb aren’t just attacks, they’re symbols of overcoming adversity. Shōnen anime series are defined by their attacks, and no anime defines itself better through its signature attacks thanDragon Ball.
