Shonen anime has dominated the global pop-culture landscape for decades, and it's impossible to argue against Dragon Ball and, later, Dragon Ball Z being two of the biggest forces behind that rise. Long before modern juggernauts reached international fame, Dragon Ball proved that high-energy action storytelling could thrive equally in Japan and the West, shaping an entire generation of fans.

Not only did Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z fuel the meteoric rise of modern Shonen , but they also laid the groundwork for many of the genre’s most defining tropes. Among these is one particular narrative device that quickly became a key part of Shonen’s identity, influencing countless series released through the 1990s and well into today’s anime landscape.

Transformations and power-ups

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