The original theatrical releases in Japan coincided with where the story was in its original airing on television, usually during breaks in the TV show during spring and summer. They each have a loose connection to the series. The majority of Dragon Ball movies are just fun side stories that give us a chance to see more of our favorite characters. The movies deliver more of a villain-of-the-week type approach in stories that are considered non-canon to the television series, so you rarely see events in the films impact the main storylines on TV. As much as we love the stories, it can be a chore to get through the whole Frieza saga. Let’s face it, some seasons of Dragon Ball seem to go on forever. When there’s a villain whose threat is not quite big enough to fill a season of television, a compact movie adventure can deliver a front-to-back story in a much more timely fashion. The television series is where most of the adventure takes place, but Dragon Ball has also brought its over-the-top power extravaganza to the big screen many times.
