There are many anime and manga series that permanently change the shape of their industries and it’s no exaggeration to consider Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball to be a foundational series that’s influenced decades of shonen content. The Dragon Ball franchise has been an anime mainstay for over three decades and there are multiple generations of anime fans who have been entertained by Goku’s heroic adventures. Dragon Ball’s various series continue to tell the same grander story, even if the specifics change and expand along the way. It’s not incorrect to group the entire franchise together as one series, but a more granular breakdown between Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, and beyond, helps celebrate each series’ unique elements.
Source：https://www.cbr.com/dragon-ball-dbz-differences/
