Okabe from Steins; Gate, the Major from Ghost in the Shell, and Lelouch Lamperouge from Code Geass
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Tom Russell
Published 19 minutes ago
Tom is a Senior Staff Writer at Screen Rant, with expertise covering all things Classic TV from hilarious sitcoms to jaw-dropping sci-fi.
Initially he was an Updates writer, though before long he found his way to the Classic TV team. He now spends his days keeping Screen Rant readers informed about the TV shows of yesteryear, whether it's recommending hidden gems that may have been missed by genre fans or deep diving into ways your favorite shows have (or haven't) stood the test of time.
Tom is based in the UK and when he's not writing about TV shows, he's watching them. He's also an avid horror fiction writer, gamer, and has a Dungeons and Dragons habit that he tries (and fails) to keep in check.
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Dragon Ball Z may not be the first name that comes to mind when discussing the rich world of sci-fi anime, but it fits snugly into the genre with surprising precision. Its cosmic scale, extraterrestrial lore, and high-tech concepts place it firmly alongside the greats. It’s not only a sci-fi anime, it’s one of the best ever made.
Since its earliest seasons, Dragon Ball Z has always been a science-fiction show at heart. Goku and the Z Warriors might fight in martial arts gi and unleash chi-based energy blasts, but their enemies include invaders from distant worlds, cybernetic killers, and androids equipped with future-tech far beyond mainstream science’s understanding.
The real genius of Dragon Ball Z as a sci-fi anime is how naturally it balances genre elements with unrestrained martial arts spectacle. It may be one of the best sci-fi anime ever produced, but that never stops it from being one of the greatest action offerings too.
Dragon Ball Z Is A Sci-Fi Show At Its Core
Goku’s Adventures Have Always Been Rooted In Sci-Fi Concepts
Despite being grounded in martial arts traditions and mystical energy, Dragon Ball Z has always been fundamentally a sci-fi series. The franchise began with a more fantasy-leaning tone, but as the story expanded, it evolved into something that thrives on alien worlds, advanced technology, and cosmic mythology. The shift didn’t just broaden the world, it redefined it.
One of the clearest examples is the Saiyans. It’s easy to forget that Goku, Vegeta, and the rest of their race are extraterrestrials. Their biology, their transformations, and even their combat instincts are tied to their off-world origins. The moment the show reveals Goku’s alien heritage, Dragon Ball Z firmly steps into the sci-fi arena.
DBZ also reshapes earlier Dragon Ball lore to fit this broader science-fiction framework. Piccolo and Kami were once portrayed as demonic and celestial beings, but Dragon Ball Z reframes them as Namekians from the planet Namek. This retcon isn’t just lore-deepening, it grounds the mythology in interplanetary logic rather than pure mysticism.
What makes this all work is that Dragon Ball Z never relies on a traditional sci-fi aesthetic. Instead of sleek spaceships and sterile hallways, it keeps its trademark martial arts visuals, only blending them with capsules, scouters, gravity chambers, and high-tech healing pods. The sci-fi elements support the narrative without overwhelming its identity.
Even its power systems lean into science fiction. Ki may feel spiritual, but the show often describes it in near-scientific terms - quantifiable energy levels, measurable outputs, and biologically influenced limits. Characters like Bulma represent the technological backbone of the story, constantly building devices that make interstellar travel or dimension-spanning communication possible.
Ultimately, Dragon Ball Z succeeds as a sci-fi story because it uses the genre as a foundation rather than a mask. Its world is expansive, technologically advanced, and extraterrestrial at every turn, even when it doesn’t look like classic science fiction on the surface.
The Frieza And Cell Sagas Are Sci-Fi Masterpieces
Dragon Ball Z’s Most Iconic Arcs Are Science Fiction Perfection
If Dragon Ball Z is a sci-fi series at heart, the Frieza and Cell sagas are its most complete expression of the genre. These arcs take everything the show does well, space opera tension, future-tech threats, and intergalactic conflict, and refine them into two of the most ambitious sci-fi stories in anime history.
The Frieza saga is perhaps the series’ clearest embrace of space opera storytelling. Goku and his allies travel across the galaxy to Namek, exploring alien cultures, advanced healing technology, and the authoritarian ambitions of Frieza. Its structure mirrors classic sci-fi adventures: a desperate mission, an oppressive empire, and a looming cosmic showdown.
Frieza himself embodies a perfect sci-fi villain. He rules planets, commands armies of genetically distinct soldiers, and wields technology capable of reshaping entire worlds. Even the Ginyu Force adds a layer of extraterrestrial flair, mixing strange biology with high-concept abilities that feel straight out of a multi-species galactic saga.
Then comes the Cell saga, which pivots into hard sci-fi territory. Instead of interstellar empires, the threat arrives through artificially engineered life. Dr. Gero and his Androids - including Android 17, Android 18, and the bioengineered Cell - pull the story into a future shaped by cybernetics, robotics, and biotechnology.
Time travel becomes a central narrative tool with Future Trunks, whose arrival shifts the entire arc into temporal-paradox storytelling. This blend of cybernetics, dystopian futures, and biological horror creates a saga that stands tall alongside some of sci-fi’s most iconic narratives.
Dragon Ball Z Also Happens To Be An Action Show
Dragon Ball Z Balances Sci-Fi With Some Of The Best Action In Anime
For all its sci-fi credentials, Dragon Ball Z remains beloved for one core reason: the action. The series never loses sight of what electrified fans from the start; unapologetically explosive battles, high-speed combat, and transformations that became cultural milestones. Even when exploring cosmic lore or technological threats, its heart beats for the fight.
Dragon Ball Z should be applauded for how effortlessly it blends its genres without sacrificing clarity. The sci-fi concepts inform the action rather than complicate it. Alien physiology becomes an explanation for escalating power levels. Advanced technology, like gravity training or scouters, enhances combat preparation. Even time travel becomes an emotionally charged setup for future battles.
The action itself in Dragon Ball Z is meticulously crafted. Battles flow with rhythm, escalation, and emotional stakes rather than simple spectacle. Iconic confrontations, from Goku’s Super Saiyan awakening to Gohan’s clash with Cell, are remembered not just for visual flair but for the narrative weight behind every strike.
The franchise’s commitment to keeping its action sharp ensures that it never gets lost in the complexity of its sci-fi world. Instead, it uses its genre-blending to push the action further. Stronger opponents emerge from alien empires. Deadlier threats arise from advanced robotics. Future timelines forge new heroes trained by unimaginable hardship.
In the end, Dragon Ball Z’s legacy comes from this perfect balance. It’s a sci-fi anime with intergalactic lore and futuristic threats, but it’s also one of the most thrilling action series ever made. That rare combination is what keeps the show timeless, and it still stands as one of the greatest sci-fi action anime of all time.
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9.1/10
Dragon Ball Z
10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed TV-14 Action Adventure Fantasy Animation Release Date 1989 - 1996 Network Fuji TV Directors Daisuke Nishio, Shigeyasu Yamauchi, Osamu Kasai Writers Akira Toriyama, Neil Bligh, Hiroshi Toda, Katsuyuki Sumisawa, Aya Matsui, Keiji Terui, Reiko Yoshida, Toshiki Inoue Franchise(s) Dragon BallCast
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Masako Nozawa
Son Goku / Son Gohan / Son Goten (voice)
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Ryo Horikawa
Vegeta (voice)
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