Dragon Ball may very well be the most influential shonen anime of all time, and there are many reasons for this. Aside from the action and story, one of the most important aspects of the series is its well-crafted music that accompanies the Japanese score. Whether it be lyrical songs or instrumentals, Dragon Ball's OST has a plethora of tracks that stand the test of time and remain memorable to this day.
Despite there being so many amazing pieces of music for the series, the best ones often leave a legacy that transcends the series itself. The tracks listed here contributed to what makes Dragon Ball the household name it is today. It should also be noted that this list will include instrumental tracks from the franchise as well.
10 Prologue & Subtitle 1
Many long-form, non-episodic shows rely on the "previously on" segments at the start of episodes to catch up audiences on the previous episode's events. Dragon Ball has been doing this since the very beginning almost out of necessity, since Dragon Ball Z alone is 291 episodes in length.
Composed by Shunsuke Kikuchi for Dragon Ball Z's "previously on" segments, this track mixes the old-school atmosphere of Dragon Ball with the unique high intensity of Dragon Ball Z. It's both calm and exciting, giving the audience a sense of anticipation for what is to happen in the upcoming episode.
9 Limit Break x Survivor
With the fate of the universe literally hanging in the balance, the stakes arguably couldn't be any higher. Sung by Kiyoshi Hikawa, "Limit Break x Survivor" looks to bring back the intensity and high-octane action the Dragon Ball franchise is known for.
Initially, the song sounds upbeat, but quickly ramps up with the accompanying animation to show the high-intensity action that the saga is sure to deliver. With lyrics about breaking limits and beats emphasizing stronger and heavier instruments, Kiyoshi Hikawa's song sets the right tone for the saga.
8 Dragon Soul
With the return of the Dragon Ball Z anime in the form of Dragon Ball Kai, Takayoshi Tanimoto was tasked with composing a track that embodied the heart and soul of the series. While this may seem like a monumental task, "Dragon Soul" does just that as one of the catchiest opening songs in the franchise.
Cheerful and upbeat, the song retains a lot of intensity to reflect what Dragon Ball Z is all about. It also feels a lot like a Dragon Ball theme with verses outside the chorus capturing the wondrous and adventurous atmosphere Dragon Ball and early Z had.
7 I'll Give You Romance
At its core, the original Dragon Ball series was an adventure story with colorful characters, a wondrous world, lots of comedy, and well-crafted songs to reflect that. While it had its serious moments, especially towards the end, it would be hard to find a song that puts listeners into the series' world more than Ushio Hashimoto's song "I'll Give You Romance." Special mention also goes to Daphne Gere's fantastic English cover of the track for the English dub.
The song does a great job of conveying a vibe of innocence, adventure, and even some romance despite the absence of that latter theme. Listening to this song is sure to remind people of a simpler time when everything was full of mysticism and wonder.
6 Ultimate Battle
Dragon Ball has numerous insert themes that play during key moments throughout the series. Many fans might have felt this was something missing with Dragon Ball Super, but Akira Kushida looked to rectify this with "Ultimate Battle."
Introduced upon Goku unlocking the Ultra Instinct transformation during the battle against Jiren, the track is the embodiment of the fast-paced action that Dragon Ball is now legendary for. The song perfectly reflects the ups and downs a battle can have with a strong start, before slowing down in the middle, then picking back up in pace as the song concludes.
5 BP∞ Battle Point Unlimited
Trunks was already on course to be a fan favorite, but "Battle Point Unlimited" made the character's introduction even more memorable. Unfortunately, the track is remembered for being one of the many by Kenji Yamamoto to be plagiarized from other well-known tracks. If taken on its merit, though, it is one of the most memorable tracks for a character's introduction.
Mixing guitars, drums, and techno beats, it embodies the character of Trunks with a strong bass to reflect the confidence of the character. The techno vibe in particular is perfect to mirror the greater focus on sci-fi themes in the presiding saga.
4 Day of Destiny: Spirit vs. Spirit
Possibly the most iconic and important insert theme in the franchise, "Day of Destiny: Spirit vs. Spirit" plays during what many remember as the pinnacle for the character Gohan. It is unfortunate that Western fans did not get to experience this track, even when the English dub used the original Japanese score. This track, as well as many other insert themes, were left out due to licensing issues.
While it may be more subdued compared to the high energy of other insert themes, this track provides a nice contrast to show how important this is for the character, and the lyrics illustrate this wonderfully. With themes of destiny and responsibility, Hironobu Kageyama's song is a beautiful piece that compliments everything Gohan has experienced.
3 Bit by Bit, You're Charming My Heart
It's no secret that Dragon Ball GT wasn't great and fans would prefer to forget about it, but what isn't forgotten is the show's opening, sung by J-pop group Field of View. This track was almost universally praised as one of the most beautiful, emotional, and poignant ever used in the Dragon Ball franchise.
In many ways, the song is a love letter to the franchise, with lyrics that both reference and remind viewers of the past and present of the series. It also serves as a fitting send-off for what was thought at the time to be the end of the series. Goku and friends have experienced so much and captured the hearts of millions, and the song felt like it was saying both thank you and goodbye to fans.
2 We Gotta Power
As the final Arc of Dragon Ball Z gets underway, Hironobu Kageyama returns to give fans another fantastic track as the second opening to the series, "We Gotta Power." While the first opening had more in common with Dragon Ball, "We Gotta Power" feels like the definitive Dragon Ball Z track.
The track starts with a grandiose beat to illustrate that times have changed, and the action is going to reach heights viewers have not seen before. However, what truly solidifies this track are the lyrics. They perfectly encapsulate a lot of the energy of Dragon Ball Z, as the chorus proudly shouts "We Got Power, Dragon Ball Z."
1 Cha-La Head-Cha-La
It's hard to dispute what track could be more iconic to the Dragon Ball franchise than the song that plays as the opening to the franchise's most popular entry, Dragon Ball Z. "Cha-La Head-Cha-La" is not only the most well-known but easily the most memorable, recognizable, and most fitting for the franchise.
A song that bridges the gap between the two shows, it feels like a Dragon Ball theme with the energy of Z. The lyrics don't disappoint either, describing the wonderful world of Dragon Ball and preparing viewers for the exciting adventures to come before hitting one of the most memorable choruses in anime history. Even with four official versions of the song, the Hironobu Kageyama original has stood the test of time as the definitive theme for Dragon Ball.