How 'Dragon Ball' Changed Pop Culture: From Emojis to Superhero Movies
11 June, 2026What does the poop emoji, sold-out stadium screenings, and a French knighthood have in common?
Bet you didn’t expect that.
From sports to movies, cartoons, and of course the never-ending black hole of the internet, pop culture is constantly shaped by the world around us. Sitting atop that pile, in many ways, is something that a lot of people don’t even realise: anime.
Anime has influenced filmmakers, game developers, athletes, and your everyday working man for decades, from The Matrix and Inception to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the DC Extended Universe, anime has influenced the visual language of modern blockbuster storytelling. What began as a niche branch of entertainment in the 70s and 80s exploded into popular culture during the 1990s, and among those leading the charge were the likes of Pokémon, Sailor Moon, and of course Dragon Ball.
Dragon Ball isn't just one of the biggest anime series ever made- it's one of the most influential pieces of entertainment, full stop. Its fingerprints can be found everywhere, from video games and blockbuster movies to professional sports and even the emojis we use every day.
As an action and martial arts anime, Dragon Ball has had a huge impact in the way modern action sequences are staged; the fast-paced, highly kinetic battles with escalating “power-up” moments mirror the structure of Dragon Ball fights. Filmmakers like Michael B. Jordan (Creed III) and Joaquim Dos Santos (Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse) have both credited anime such as Dragon Ball, as well as later shows with its DNA like Avatar: The Last Airbender , Naruto and My Hero Academia as part of the visual and narrative language shaping modern action storytelling.
Western cartoons have gone on to borrow its tournament arcs, rival transformations, and high-stakes training montages, and superhero films have leaned into that evolution or “escalating transformation” logic that Dragon Ball helped popularise. Characters unlocking higher states of power in visually dramatic reveals is pure Dragon Ball power, and yes, it’s over 9,000!
Naturally, it has also influenced modern sports and martial arts and MMA culture, especially in the way fighters present themselves and talk about “levels” of performance. Numerous UFC and MMA athletes have referenced the series as part of their mindset, using ideas like pushing past limits or “going Super Saiyan” as shorthand for entering a higher gear in competition.
The global scale of Dragon Ball’s popularity is so high that across Latin America, Goku is often referred to as a “Latino icon.” In 2018, that popularity even led to tensions between Japan and Mexico when local governments planned large public screenings of the final episodes of Dragon Ball Super. The problem was that the events were not officially licensed, and after Toei Animation became aware of them, it requested they be cancelled in line with copyright protections. However, in Ciudad Juárez, Mayor Armando Cabada negotiated with the studio to allow a screening of the penultimate episode, which drew an estimated 15,000 people to the city’s Plaza de la Mexicanidad.
Outside of the entertainment sphere, one of the world’s most recognisable emojis may owe a surprising debt to Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama. Long before the poop emoji became a permanent fixture of internet culture, Toriyama introduced a smiling pile of poop known as Unchi-kun in his 1980s manga series Dr. Slump. The design language of early emoji sets was later developed in Japan in the late 1990s by designer Shigetaka Kurita as part of a 90-symbol set for early mobile phones, helping establish the foundations of what would become modern emoji culture.
Obviously, the series and its impact would be nothing without its creator: the late, great Akira Toriyama. Toriyama is not only regarded as one of the greatest and most influential authors and artists in history, but also served as a character designer for various video games such as Square Enix's Dragon Quest series.
In 2019, he received one of France's highest cultural honours when he was named a Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters). Awarded by the French Ministry of Culture, the title recognises individuals who have made significant contributions to the arts and literature, placing Toriyama alongside some of the world's most celebrated creative figures.
In October 2024, following his passing in March of the same year, Toriyama was posthumously inducted into the Harvey Awards Hall of Fame.
From emojis to esports, stadium crowds to superhero cinema, Dragon Ball’s influence is everywhere- you just have to know where to look.
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