"Grandfather of anime clears" - Dragon Ball fandom shamelessly reminds Big 3 anime communities who the medium's top dog is

Dragon Ball's legacy as the biggest anime property continues to be timeless, and that was shown in a recent competition on X among the Big 3, which are Naruto, One Piece, and Bleach. The three series have been successful and shaped the medium in the 2000s, influencing the following generations, but their legacy can't compare to what Akira Toriyama's story has achieved since the 1980s.

It is also worth pointing out that Dragon Ball has been relevant for forty years, which makes a lot of sense when considering this series' legacy and endurance. This is not a slight to those three titans of the medium but rather a clear example of how this series continues to get the attention and interest of the younger generations, to the point of becoming a cultural phenomenon.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for the series. Any opinion expressed here belongs to the author and the people quoted and not Sportskeeda as a whole.

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Dragon Ball continues to be the medium's biggest property over the Big 3 in anime

There was a recent debate on X of how Dragon Ball continues to be the medium's biggest series, even surpassing the likes of Naruto, Bleach, and One Piece, most commonly known as the Big 3. That is something that has been discussed a lot throughout the years and has led to a lot of people claiming otherwise but there is no denying the reach of this iconic series.

Legendary author Akira Toriyama has crafted a manga that became a cultural phenomenon and gave anime a lot more reach, building huge fanbases in the likes of the United States, Latin America, and Europe. Furthermore, it was also highly influential, with even the mangaka of the Big 3 citing Toriyama as a major inspiration in their work.

It is also worth pointing out this isn't a slight against the likes of Naruto, One Piece, and Bleach, which are also huge franchises that have had a lot of success and inspired a lot of people. But their achievements and reach cannot be compared to what Dragon Ball has accomplished throughout the years.

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Reactions online

There is no denying that the Big 3 in anime have monumental fanbases that are extremely vocal and are three of the most popular series of all time but that, once again, cannot be compared to the success of Dragon Ball. Goku's story has transcended the world of anime and there are a lot of people who don't watch the medium but have seen this series.

The recent passing of author Akira Toriyama has also shown how wide the reach of the franchise is, with even presidents paying their respects to the legendary mangaka. That was also shown in 2018 when the Tournament of Power arc was happening in the Super anime and people in Latin America were gathering in plazas to witness Goku using Ultra Instinct against Jiren.

Fans took to X to laud Dragon Ball amidst the competition.

"Yes, forever the King of anime," someone said.

"I mean yes even the mangakas of the big three would not even dare to say they are better," another person said.

"The authors of these stories agree as well," someone else said.

Regardless of personal preferences, there is no denying that Dragon Ball's legacy and reach is second to none.

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