Dragon Ball Z is a Japanese anime television series produced by Toei Animation. It is the sequel to the 1986 Dragon Ball television series and adapts the latter 325 chapters of the original Dragon Ball manga series. The series aired in Japan on Fuji TV from April 1989 to January 1996 and was later dubbed for broadcast in at least 81 countries worldwide. The anime's popularity has spawned various media and merchandise that has come to represent the majority of the material within the Dragon Ball franchise.