Dragon Ball | RPN English-Dubbed 80s - 90s Anime Retrospective

Dragon Ball was a popular English dubbed Japanese animated series which first aired in Radio Philippine Network (RPN) around the late 80s to early 90s. Dragon Ball, originally ドラゴンボール Doragon Bōru was based on the similarly popular manga illustrated by Akira Toriyama and originally serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1984 to 1995. Toie picked up the series and ran the original anime series from February 26, 1986 – April 12, 1989 back in FujiTV. Dragon Ball aired in the Philippines around the late 80s in RPN-9. The series was continually re-aired until it was finished at around 2000 in GMA Network with Dragon Ball GT. Before the world crushing powers of the Saiyan came to be, there was once the story of a young boy along with a girl in search of the mythical Dragon Balls. Let's remember the story of a monkey boy named Goku and his friends in search of the magical Dragon Balls.

Dragon Ball English Dubbed Japanese Anime Series Aired in the Philippines RPN Retro Pilipinas Feature

Dragon Ball - The Story
Dragon Ball - Series Plot

Dragon Ball begins and follows the story of a young monkey-tailed boy named Goku who befriends a teenage girl named Bulma. Together they go on a quest to find the seven Dragon Balls which grants any wish of the person who gets to complete all the Dragon Balls and summon a magical Dragon called Shenlong.

Collecting Seven Dragon Ball Summons Shenlong

Goku later undergoes rigorous training regimes under the martial artist Master Roshi in order to fight in the World Martial Arts Tournament, a competition that attracts the most powerful fighters in the world. During his training with Roshi, he meets a Shaolin monk named Krillin, who starts out as Goku's rival classmate who later becomes Goku's best friend. Outside the tournaments, Goku faces diverse villains such as Emperor Pilaf, the Red Ribbon Army, and King Piccolo. Several of the enemies and rivals Goku encounters eventually become his allies, including the desert bandit Yamcha, the assassin Tien Shinhan, the samurai Yajirobe, and King Piccolo's offspring/reincarnation Piccolo Jr.

Original Dragon Ball Anime Series Characters Yamcha, Master Roshi, Bulma, Oolong, Goku, and Puar

Dragon Ball Original Japanese Opening Theme
Dragon Ball Series Intro






"Makafushigi Adventure!"
Artist: Hiroki Takahashi

Dragon Ball Opening Theme Makafushigi Adventure Dragon Ball

Dragon Ball Philippines Opening Theme
Dragon Ball Philippine English Series Intro



Dragon Ball Philippines Opening Theme Lyrics
"Dragon Ball"

Get that Dragon Balls
Get that Dragon Balls
To face the greatest challenge in the world

Get that Dragon Balls
Get that Dragon Balls
Seven Magic Balls

To make a wish you must possess them all
It's the greatest treasure you'll ever find
Go ahead enter the world of adventure

I see a vision through my colorful dreams
Pictures of places were I have never been
Something is out there waiting for you and me

Not far away is a beautiful sight
Magic ball shining with power so bright
Go ahead and take the chance
Follow your dreams

Let's try, try, try magical eyes
Show us the way as we go traveling high
Let's fly, fly, fly magical eyes
Feel the love within you burning like a flame

Get that Dragon Balls
Get that Dragon Balls
To face the greatest challenge in the world

Get that Dragon Balls
Get that Dragon Balls
Seven Magic Balls

To make a wish you must possess them all
It's the greatest treasure you'll ever find
Go ahead enter the world of adventure
Dragon Ball.


Dragon Ball Original Japanese Closing Theme
Dragon Ball Series Outro






Romantic Ageru Yo
Artist: Ushio Hashimoto

Dragon Ball Closing Theme Romantic Ageru Yo This World is Filled with Love

Dragon Ball Philippines Closing Theme
Dragon Ball Philippine English Dubbed Series Outro



Dragon Ball Philippines Opening Theme Lyrics
"This World is Filled with Love"

Life is so exciting and free
There are lots of good things to see
Fantasies, we can make them happen in this world

Let's not loose our precious time
They are really hard to find
Let's all go and find adventures in this life

Oh, we may see some mysteries that puzzle everyone
We must be strong to face them all
like battles to be won

Aim high reach for the sky now
Let love teach you the way how
This world can make dreams come true

This world is filled with love
This world is filled with love
So glad to know you do believe what love can do for you

Oh, this world is filled with love
Oh, this world is filled with love
Challenges make us strong
The power of love makes us win as it fills us with joy

Dragon Ball Anime in the Philippines Goku and his stretch stick

This is one of the first anime series that I followed back in the 90s. It was a lot simpler back then. This is where everything started, before Goku became the most powerful warrior in the face of the planet... even the universe and the life after. This is the original Dragon Ball series of the 80s where Goku was trained by a old perverted but still a master, Roshi (or Master Buten in its original run in Philippine television back in RPN-9). The retro anime series dubbed in English was pack with adventure and action. Whether it was in search of the dragon balls versus King Pillaf and the Red Ribbon army, or Goku joining the World's Martial Arts Tournament, we as kids raved and cheered for this monkey boy who at a strange weird way becomes an uncontrollable great giant uncontrollable powerful monkey at the mere sight of a full moon. Of course who could not remember those opening and closing music. I've heard USA's version of Dragon Ball's opening and closing theme, but I prefer Philippine's version of it. I still have my Dragon Ball teks collection as a physical reminder of how hooked I was with the Dragon Ball anime series.

original Dragon Ball 80's characters  Tien Shinhan, Puar, Yamcha, Bulma, Master Roshi, Launch, Tortoise Genie, Chiaotzu, Krillin, Goku, and Oolong

What about you guys, what's your fondest memory of the original Dragon ball series? Any memorable experience, toys, memorabilia or as Goku refer to it "memento" of the popular series? Share your thoughts in the comments section below:

Dragon Ball English Dubbed Anime Airied in the Philippines during the 80's and 90's RPN 9 and GMA Network

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