Dragon Ball began as Akira Toriyama's manga in 1984 before the anime adaptation brought its world of martial arts, adventure and energy battles to television audiences worldwide. Its opening themes became closely linked with the franchise's sense of courage and friendship, and short clips of the music now circulate online as a shorthand for anime nostalgia. Fans share the theme in edits, reaction videos and tributes, using the familiar melody to connect with viewers who recognise the series instantly, even without any dialogue or on-screen title to explain the reference to younger audiences today.