35 Years Ago, Dragon Ball Changed Anime Forever With One Moment The Series Never Topped

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Super Saiyan Goku as seen in Dragon Ball Daima

Published Jun 21, 2026, 11:33 PM EDT

Zach joined the ScreenRant Anime team as a contributor in June 2024, before taking on a Senior Writer role in November. Since then, he has covered breaking news and produced features and lists about the most popular anime titles.

Dragon Ball has helped to shape anime and manga in a number of ways. For over four decades, the franchise has inspired and remained a major influence on the works of countless artists and creatives around the world, while anime fandom and culture has always, in one way or another, been directly affected by the actions of Goku and company. There's little the iconic leading Saiyan hasn't done, from his humble beginnings as a shōnen action manga hero, to becoming a mascot of an entire art form.

Dragon Ball's popularity isn't likely to go anywhere, either. Though the franchise celebrated its 40th anniversary just last year, it continues breaking revenue records and remains a powerhouse in the anime industry, despite airing only one new TV anime in the last decade. Dragon Ball fans are incredibly loyal, and many were won over by the series when watching a scene that aired 35 years ago this week in Japan.

Episode #95, titled "Transformed at Last", aired on June 19th, 1991 in Japan, and featured Goku ascending into a Super Saiyan for the very first time while fighting Frieza on Planet Namek. Since then, countless Super Saiyan transformations by different characters have come and gone, but none have surpassed the original moment.

35 Years Ago, Goku Became a Legend

The First Super Saiyan Transformation Has Yet to Be Surpassed

Super Saiyan Goku as seen in Dragon Ball Z

These days, transformations have become Dragon Ball's selling point. Numbered versions of Super Saiyan, and even a couple of colorful forms have brought audiences to their feet. In Dragon Ball Super, Super Saiyan has all but been left behind in favor of transformations unique to the character undergoing them. However, 35 years ago, fans saw something they hadn't seen before.

Goku, the simple, silly, but serious when needed protagonist, threw his kind-hearted nature aside, and embraced the ruthless Saiyan heritage in his DNA when Frieza crossed the line. In Akira Toriyama's original manga, the scene is rather brief, portraying the transformation as a sudden snap that leaves Goku with blonde hair and a serious demeanor. In the anime, the scene is extended somewhat, with swirling music accompanying Goku's rapidly building rage. His eventual scream is distorted, and his pupils disappear as the now-iconic golden aura sweeps over him.

8 Ways Dragon Ball Z Has Aged Like Fine Wine

Moments like Goku's first large-scale beam struggle against the furious Vegeta cut to the emotional core of what Dragon Ball is all about.

The shock from Frieza's return and his killing of Krillin is quickly replaced by the shock of Goku's transformation. King Kai, watching on from his planet, is unsure whether any trace of the Goku he knew remains. 35 years later, the first Super Saiyan transformation is as effective as it's ever been, and the work done by Toei Animation staff to build upon the manga remains masterful.

Though Dragon Ball Z featured epic transformations later on, Gohan's first time becoming a Super Saiyan 2 being a notable one, the franchise has never been able to surpass the moment of its first. At the time, just about every battle shōnen series began featuring their own sleek transformations, though none have been as memorable as, or packed the punch of Super Saiyan.

35 Years Later, Dragon Ball Is Thriving

Super Saiyan Goku with his arms outstretched from Dragon Ball's 40th Anniversary special movie.

35 years on from Goku's first Super Saiyan transformation, Dragon Ball fans expect new, flashy, powerful forms from the series each time a new entry hits screens. And, somehow, 35 years later, the formula is just as effective as it ever was. In 2017, Goku's Ultra Instinct broke the internet. In 2022, Beast Gohan and Orange Piccolo sent hordes of fans to their local theaters. Since Dragon Ball Super's anime concluded, fans have begged to see Ultra Ego Vegeta animated.

Dragon Ball · Character Profile Which Dragon Ball Character Are You? “Power comes in response to a need, not a desire.”

👊 Goku The Fighter

👑 Vegeta The Prince

🧘 Piccolo The Mentor

POWER UP →

A powerful new enemy appears. What’s your first reaction?

AThis is amazing! I can’t wait to fight them and see how strong they are! BI’ll defeat them myself. No one else is worthy of the challenge. CWe need a plan. Rushing in blindly is how people get killed.

How do you train for an upcoming battle?

AFind the strongest sparring partner I can and push myself past my limits every day BTrain alone in isolation — I don’t need anyone holding me back CMeditate, study the enemy’s weaknesses, and train the younger fighters so they’re ready too

Your team is losing a fight. What do you do?

AJump in front of everyone — I’ll take the hits so my friends can regroup BGet angry. I refuse to lose — my pride won’t allow it. I’ll surpass my limits right here. CFall back and coordinate — someone needs to think clearly while everyone else is panicking

A rival challenges you to a one-on-one fight. How do you respond?

AAbsolutely! Let’s go right now — no holding back! BFinally, a chance to prove I am the strongest. I accept — and I will crush you. CIf it serves a purpose, fine. But pointless fighting is a waste of energy.

An old enemy offers to join your side. What do you do?

AI don’t trust them — once an enemy, always an enemy. They’ll betray us. BSure! Everyone deserves a second chance. The more friends the better! CI’ll allow it, but I’m watching them closely. Trust is earned, not given.

What’s your biggest weakness?

AI’m too trusting and sometimes let enemies power up just for the thrill of the fight BMy pride — I’d rather die than accept help from someone else CI keep everyone at arm’s length — caring about people is a liability I struggle with

You sense a massive power level approaching Earth. What’s your move?

AFly straight toward it — I want to meet them first and see what they’re made of BPrepare myself — if this threat is real, I’ll be the one to destroy it CGather the fighters, assess the threat, and make sure the people I protect are safe first

What drives you more than anything?

AProtecting those who can’t protect themselves — someone has to be the responsible one BThe thrill of getting stronger — there’s always a new level to reach, a new challenge to find CProving my worth — I am the Prince of all Saiyans, and I will surpass everyone

REVEAL MY CHARACTER →

Power Level Scanned Your Dragon Ball Identity

👊

Goku

“I am the hope of the universe. I am the answer to all living things that cry out for peace.” You’re a pure-hearted warrior who lives for the thrill of the fight. Every challenge is an opportunity, every enemy a potential friend, and every defeat just fuel to come back stronger. People are drawn to your infectious optimism and unbreakable spirit, even when your naivety drives them crazy. You’d give your last Senzu Bean to a stranger and charge headfirst into a battle you can’t win — not because you’re reckless, but because you genuinely believe that pushing past your limits is the only way to grow. Like Goku, your greatest power isn’t your ki — it’s your ability to inspire everyone around you to be better.

Pure-Hearted Fearless Limitless Inspiring

👑

Vegeta

“I do not fear this new challenge. Rather like a true warrior, I will rise to meet it.” You carry yourself with the pride of royalty and the ferocity of a born warrior. Second place is not in your vocabulary, and you’d rather break your body than your spirit. People might call you arrogant, but beneath that iron exterior lies someone who has learned to fight not just for themselves, but for the people they’ve quietly grown to love. Your journey is one of evolution — from cold-blooded conqueror to Earth’s fiercest protector — and every scar you carry is proof that pride and love can coexist. Like Vegeta, you don’t just want to be the strongest — you need to earn it on your own terms.

Proud Relentless Fierce Evolving

🧘

Piccolo

“Sometimes, we have to look beyond what we want and do what’s best.” You’re the one everyone depends on when things fall apart — the calm center in the middle of chaos. While others charge in recklessly or let their ego do the talking, you see the bigger picture and make the hard calls that need making. You didn’t choose to care about people, but somewhere along the way it happened, and now you’d sacrifice everything for those you’ve taken under your wing. Stoic on the surface, deeply loyal underneath, you’re the mentor, the strategist, and the last line of defense all in one. Like Piccolo, your true strength is wisdom — and the courage to do what’s right even when no one is watching.

Wise Tactical Protective Stoic

↻ PLAY AGAIN

Dragon Ball's main fighters breaking through their limits and finding new levels of power just hasn't gotten old, and the franchise has had no issue fulfilling fans' wishes of seeing their favorite characters steal the spotlight. What has become of Dragon Ball all began with one brief scene that aired 35 years ago, and it's a moment the franchise has yet to top.