Even decades after its original run, Dragon Ball Z remains one of the most popular anime series ever released. Who doesn't love watching colorful, muscular heroes battling it out with the fate of the entire world at stake?
Even as the franchise continues to grow thanks to Dragon Ball Super and the upcoming sequel movie Dragon Ball Super Hero, we feel now is a great time to celebrate DBZ and its most iconic heroes and villains. Let's count down the 10 best characters from the show's long run, from Frieza to Vegeta to Goku.
Note: This list only covers Dragon Ball Z, not the original Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball GT or Dragon Ball Super!
Bulma isn't quite as central to the Dragon Ball Z saga as she is the original Dragon Ball, but she's still a character worth highlighting. The rare science dork amid a sea of musclebound fighters, Bulma is always happy to save the day with a handy gadget or three. Where would our heroes be without her trusty array of Capsule Corp. accessories? Bulma's unlikely romance with Vegeta also proves to be one of the series' more compelling subplots. She's come a long way since her very first team-up with Goku.
While the line between good and evil is usually pretty well defined in the DBZ-verse, there are exceptions. Android 18 is certainly one such case. One of the world-conquering androids Future Trunks is sent to warn our heroes about, 18 quickly proves herself to be more than just a killing machine. Her independent streak and sarcastic sense of humor reveal a deep-seated humanity Dr. Gero couldn't quite snuff out. By the end of the series, 18 has given up her original programming in favor of starting a family with Krillin. It's a shame the series never shows us more of how that relationship developed, but 18 nonetheless ranks among the series' more intriguing and nuanced characters.
The ultimate creation of Dr. Gero, Cell is a creature who has near limitless growth potential. What is most interesting about him, though, is that he is willing to wait for characters to reach their full potential. He could simply kill everyone with his immense power, but often he is seen stalling and waiting, as he wants to battle the heroes of Earth when they are at their true potential.
If not quite the greatest villain in DBZ history, Cell is certainly responsible for some of the series' best moments. Who can forget the tragic death of Android 16, spurring Gohan to unleash his true power? And don't forget the dramatic final showdown, when the late Goku returns to help his son finally destroy this all-powerful threat to humanity.
You really can’t make a list about Dragon Ball Z without including Krillin, Goku’s longtime friend and training partner. Although his power is quickly outpaced by Goku during the events of Dragon Ball Z, Krillin is always around and ready to fight, even if it often does mean he gets beat up. In fact, Krillin's poor fighting record has become a bit of a running joke at this point. The most memorable of his many deaths occurs at the hands of Frieza, something Krillin himself has never forgotten. However, it was not entirely in vain, as his death served to spark the initial Super Saiyan transformation in Goku. He may never be the strongest, or the most... alive, but Krillin is always there for his friends, and that’s what makes him number seven on our list.
Trunks is unique among the DBZ fighters in that he appears in two completely different forms over the course of the series. We first meet Trunks early in the Cell Saga, as a battle-hardened teen warrior from the future with a dire message. Trunks makes quite the first impression, handily dispatching both Mecha-Frieza and King Cold with a few lightning-quick sword slashes, and he continues to gain new layers over the course of that storyline and the tie-in movie, The History of Trunks.
Later, fans meet the younger version of Trunks, a boy no longer burdened by growing up in a hellish world of evil androids. Along with his BFF Goten, Trunks is the source of endless comedic relief during the Buu Saga. Whichever version you prefer, he's a worthy addition to the series' cast.
Piccolo did quite the 180 over the course of DBZ. It's easy to forget he was the main villain in the final story arc in the original Dragon Ball. Piccolo slowly morphs from Goku's mortal enemy to reluctant ally to outright friend over the course of the series. Whatever differences the two warriors might once have had, Piccolo is redeemed after taking a strong interest in young Gohan, helping nurture his pupil's immense hidden power. Piccolo is also notable for being the one non-Saiyan character who can keep up with the likes of Goku and Vegeta, thanks mainly to his habit of fusing with fellow Namekians like Nail and his doppelganger Kami.
Goku's older son Gohan could potentially be the strongest fighter in the series. Sadly, that potential is never fully realized, as he would rather live his life as a pacifist, only fighting in times of true need. Even with that mentality, though, Gohan has been involved in some of the largest and most memorable moments of the entire franchise. We are teased throughout the series that his inner potential is greater than anyone's, and we see an example of this when he becomes the first Super Saiyan 2 in order to defeat Cell. His potential is further unlocked during the Buu Saga, when he gains the ability to go into an Ultimate form, totally separate from his Saiyan forms. Perhaps he never truly eclipses his father in terms of power, but in many ways Gohan is the true heart and soul of DBZ.
He may not be anywhere near the most powerful villain by the series' end, but Frieza's capacity for evil is unrivaled. Frieza and the rest of his family rule over a massive space empire, and they clearly prefer to do so with an iron fist. Even before meeting Goku, we learn that Frieza has destroyed countless worlds, killed millions of people and was responsible for the destruction of Planet Vegeta, the homeworld of the Saiyans. Once we do meet him in the series, his evil ways are further displayed as he kills and tortures the people of Namek to obtain their Dragon Balls. He kills Krillin, and in his last act, destroys the planet Namek in an attempt to kill Goku. Years after his original debut, there has still been no villain who can match Frieza’s ruthless, evil ways, and for this reason he makes it to number three on our list.
Goku is the main character of the Dragon Ball saga, and it only makes sense he'd rank very high on this list. Time and again, Goku proves himself to be the hero his adoptive home planet needs. He always digs deep and finds a new reservoir of strength or a new level of Super Saiyan-hood to overcome the mightiest opponents the universe has to offer. No one, not Frieza, Broly or Buu, can truly defeat the ultimate Saiyan warrior.
Goku is also a fundamentally good guy. He wants nothing more than to train hard, prove his mettle and come home to a good meal. Maybe that makes him simpler and less complex than his archrival Vegeta, but you have to admire Goku's consistency over the years.
No character experiences a greater or better-defined arc over the course of Dragon Ball Z than Vegeta. When we first meet him, this prince of the lost Saiyan Empire is a planet-destroying bully come to conquer Earth. But over the course of the series, Vegeta evolves from foe to reluctant friend of the Z Fighters. He even settles down with Bulma and starts a family. But even when he turns over a new leaf, Vegeta has a habit of putting his rivalry with Goku ahead of the planet's best interests.
Vegeta is the series' greatest character because he's also the most fascinating. He's cursed to always be second best. No amount of high-gravity training or death-defying schemes will allow Vegeta to stay ahead of Goku for long. But that doesn't stop him from trying, and that's why we love him.
Do you agree with our picks? Does the #1 choice make you want to go Super Saiyan? Sound off in the comments below!
Continue reading...
Even as the franchise continues to grow thanks to Dragon Ball Super and the upcoming sequel movie Dragon Ball Super Hero, we feel now is a great time to celebrate DBZ and its most iconic heroes and villains. Let's count down the 10 best characters from the show's long run, from Frieza to Vegeta to Goku.
Note: This list only covers Dragon Ball Z, not the original Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball GT or Dragon Ball Super!
10. Bulma
Bulma isn't quite as central to the Dragon Ball Z saga as she is the original Dragon Ball, but she's still a character worth highlighting. The rare science dork amid a sea of musclebound fighters, Bulma is always happy to save the day with a handy gadget or three. Where would our heroes be without her trusty array of Capsule Corp. accessories? Bulma's unlikely romance with Vegeta also proves to be one of the series' more compelling subplots. She's come a long way since her very first team-up with Goku.
9. Android 18
While the line between good and evil is usually pretty well defined in the DBZ-verse, there are exceptions. Android 18 is certainly one such case. One of the world-conquering androids Future Trunks is sent to warn our heroes about, 18 quickly proves herself to be more than just a killing machine. Her independent streak and sarcastic sense of humor reveal a deep-seated humanity Dr. Gero couldn't quite snuff out. By the end of the series, 18 has given up her original programming in favor of starting a family with Krillin. It's a shame the series never shows us more of how that relationship developed, but 18 nonetheless ranks among the series' more intriguing and nuanced characters.
8. Cell
The ultimate creation of Dr. Gero, Cell is a creature who has near limitless growth potential. What is most interesting about him, though, is that he is willing to wait for characters to reach their full potential. He could simply kill everyone with his immense power, but often he is seen stalling and waiting, as he wants to battle the heroes of Earth when they are at their true potential.
If not quite the greatest villain in DBZ history, Cell is certainly responsible for some of the series' best moments. Who can forget the tragic death of Android 16, spurring Gohan to unleash his true power? And don't forget the dramatic final showdown, when the late Goku returns to help his son finally destroy this all-powerful threat to humanity.
7. Krillin
You really can’t make a list about Dragon Ball Z without including Krillin, Goku’s longtime friend and training partner. Although his power is quickly outpaced by Goku during the events of Dragon Ball Z, Krillin is always around and ready to fight, even if it often does mean he gets beat up. In fact, Krillin's poor fighting record has become a bit of a running joke at this point. The most memorable of his many deaths occurs at the hands of Frieza, something Krillin himself has never forgotten. However, it was not entirely in vain, as his death served to spark the initial Super Saiyan transformation in Goku. He may never be the strongest, or the most... alive, but Krillin is always there for his friends, and that’s what makes him number seven on our list.
6. Trunks
Trunks is unique among the DBZ fighters in that he appears in two completely different forms over the course of the series. We first meet Trunks early in the Cell Saga, as a battle-hardened teen warrior from the future with a dire message. Trunks makes quite the first impression, handily dispatching both Mecha-Frieza and King Cold with a few lightning-quick sword slashes, and he continues to gain new layers over the course of that storyline and the tie-in movie, The History of Trunks.
Later, fans meet the younger version of Trunks, a boy no longer burdened by growing up in a hellish world of evil androids. Along with his BFF Goten, Trunks is the source of endless comedic relief during the Buu Saga. Whichever version you prefer, he's a worthy addition to the series' cast.
5. Piccolo
Piccolo did quite the 180 over the course of DBZ. It's easy to forget he was the main villain in the final story arc in the original Dragon Ball. Piccolo slowly morphs from Goku's mortal enemy to reluctant ally to outright friend over the course of the series. Whatever differences the two warriors might once have had, Piccolo is redeemed after taking a strong interest in young Gohan, helping nurture his pupil's immense hidden power. Piccolo is also notable for being the one non-Saiyan character who can keep up with the likes of Goku and Vegeta, thanks mainly to his habit of fusing with fellow Namekians like Nail and his doppelganger Kami.
4. Gohan
Goku's older son Gohan could potentially be the strongest fighter in the series. Sadly, that potential is never fully realized, as he would rather live his life as a pacifist, only fighting in times of true need. Even with that mentality, though, Gohan has been involved in some of the largest and most memorable moments of the entire franchise. We are teased throughout the series that his inner potential is greater than anyone's, and we see an example of this when he becomes the first Super Saiyan 2 in order to defeat Cell. His potential is further unlocked during the Buu Saga, when he gains the ability to go into an Ultimate form, totally separate from his Saiyan forms. Perhaps he never truly eclipses his father in terms of power, but in many ways Gohan is the true heart and soul of DBZ.
3. Frieza
He may not be anywhere near the most powerful villain by the series' end, but Frieza's capacity for evil is unrivaled. Frieza and the rest of his family rule over a massive space empire, and they clearly prefer to do so with an iron fist. Even before meeting Goku, we learn that Frieza has destroyed countless worlds, killed millions of people and was responsible for the destruction of Planet Vegeta, the homeworld of the Saiyans. Once we do meet him in the series, his evil ways are further displayed as he kills and tortures the people of Namek to obtain their Dragon Balls. He kills Krillin, and in his last act, destroys the planet Namek in an attempt to kill Goku. Years after his original debut, there has still been no villain who can match Frieza’s ruthless, evil ways, and for this reason he makes it to number three on our list.
2. Goku
Goku is the main character of the Dragon Ball saga, and it only makes sense he'd rank very high on this list. Time and again, Goku proves himself to be the hero his adoptive home planet needs. He always digs deep and finds a new reservoir of strength or a new level of Super Saiyan-hood to overcome the mightiest opponents the universe has to offer. No one, not Frieza, Broly or Buu, can truly defeat the ultimate Saiyan warrior.
Goku is also a fundamentally good guy. He wants nothing more than to train hard, prove his mettle and come home to a good meal. Maybe that makes him simpler and less complex than his archrival Vegeta, but you have to admire Goku's consistency over the years.
1. Vegeta
No character experiences a greater or better-defined arc over the course of Dragon Ball Z than Vegeta. When we first meet him, this prince of the lost Saiyan Empire is a planet-destroying bully come to conquer Earth. But over the course of the series, Vegeta evolves from foe to reluctant friend of the Z Fighters. He even settles down with Bulma and starts a family. But even when he turns over a new leaf, Vegeta has a habit of putting his rivalry with Goku ahead of the planet's best interests.
Vegeta is the series' greatest character because he's also the most fascinating. He's cursed to always be second best. No amount of high-gravity training or death-defying schemes will allow Vegeta to stay ahead of Goku for long. But that doesn't stop him from trying, and that's why we love him.
Do you agree with our picks? Does the #1 choice make you want to go Super Saiyan? Sound off in the comments below!
Continue reading...