10 Hated Dragon Ball Characters We Actually Kind Of Love

10 Hated Dragon Ball Characters We Actually Kind Of Love

Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Here is a simplified version of the story contents: Here is a lighthearted take on the story contents: Explore a different perspective:

Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball has entertained audiences for over four decades, but this hasn’t always been an easy journey. Dragon Ball has progressively evolved over time and it’s come a long way from its broader and siller gag comedy roots. Dragon Ball’s evolution has felt natural, especially as Goku matures from a precocious child into a selfless adult. Goku’s heroic exploits have led to him meeting some unusual individuals, friend and foe alike, who sometimes have polarizing receptions from fans.

There’s no science to what makes a successful character in a heightened universe like Dragon Ball and what works for one character may be disastrous for another. Nevertheless, there are certain Dragon Ball characters who are meant to be abrasive or even grate on the audience’s nerves, only for these figures to be championed by fans. These aren’t Dragon Ball’s most popular characters, but they’re proof that one man’s trash can be another’s treasure and that lovable characters come in all shapes and sizes.

10 Hercule Works Best In Small Doses – But He Works

Goku and the rest of Dragon Ball’s heroes have become such heightened characters that it’s sometimes difficult to remember that they still exist in a world that’s full of ordinary people. Hercule, Videl’s father, gets introduced as the intimidating threat of the Cell Games looms large over the world. Mr. Satan is driven forward by an aggressive stage presence and carefully-cultivated personality that presents him as the world’s strongest fighter. In reality, Mr. Satan is hopelessly outclassed by even the most rudimentary of ki users. Goku has no interest in becoming a public figure who is celebrated for his strength, but Mr. Satan is very comfortable taking credit for all the heroes’ biggest victories on Earth.

It’s certainly annoying to watch Mr. Satan run his mouth and develop an increasingly conceited persona when there are zero skills to back up these claims. He’s actively a coward whenever real danger strikes. Mr. Satan can be a difficult presence to tolerate, yet Dragon Ball understands that less is often more with him. There’s also zero malice in his actions and he just seems to struggle with insecurity issues. Mr. Satan is a genuinely sweet person who loves his extended family and is often the person who inspires the public to give their trust to the Z-Fighters.

9 Ribrianne Is Old School Dragon Ball

10 Hated Dragon Ball Characters We Actually Kind Of Love

Dragon Ball Super creatively explores the limitless possibilities of a multiverse, especially when eight of these universes come into conflict during the Tournament of Power. It’s a smart idea for each universe to have a completely different aesthetic and truly feel alien, rather than just powerful variations on a theme. Dragon Ball Super could have done more in this regard, but one of the better examples of this is the idea that Universe 2 is full of magical girl-esque fighters. The idea that Universe 2 might even be a shojo universe within a shonen series is a unique way to mix things up.

Nevertheless, Brianne de Chateau is often cited as one of Dragon Ball Super‘s worst characters due to the mockery that she makes of combat and transformations. Brianne experiences a magical girl transformation to become Ribrianne, who plays against certain magical girl beauty standards. Ribrianne is a jarring presence, but that’s the point and she’s a character who deserves credit for standing out as much as she does. It’s worth pointing out that Ribrianne has no subdued Brianne form in the manga and she begins in this heightened state, which was a little more palatable for some fans.

8 Gotenks Went From One Of The Strongest Characters In DBZ To One Of Dragon Ball Super's Favorite Jokes

10 Hated Dragon Ball Characters We Actually Kind Of Love

Goten and Trunks hit the ground running and master Super Saiyan strength far faster than anyone else in their families. Dragon Ball Z really sets these two up to be the next generation of heroes, right down to how much time Goku and Piccolo spend with them to master the art of fusion. Goten and Trunks, as Gotenks, reach even greater heights than they do as individuals, including Super Saiyan 3 power. As the only other Super Saiyan 3 in the Buu Saga, one would think that Gotenks would get a little more respect.

His juvenile tendencies are turned up to the max, which leads to a polarizing fight against Super Buu and diminishing returns throughout Dragon Ball Super. It’s genuinely astonishing that Gotenks has failed to successfully fuse in any of the manga’s post-Tournament of Power material. Fans are understandably frustrated to see Gotenks’ potential go to waste and for him to be reduced to broad gags. This is definitely a frustrating place for the character, but Gotenks is still a standout fused fighter with one of the franchise’s most creative movesets.

7 Puar Is A Fruitless Relic of Dragon Ball’s Past

10 Hated Dragon Ball Characters We Actually Kind Of Love

Dragon Ball has evolved into a very action-centric series, but its introductory story arc is much more in the style of adventure fantasies. This is complemented by characters like Puar, a shapeshifting anthropomorphic tanooki, who feels completely at odds with modern Dragon Ball’s tone. Shapeshifting manages to solve many problems during Dragon Ball’s simpler times, but Puar’s presence wanes and he feels unnecessary when another shapeshifter – Oolong – is already in the mix.

Oolong may be more lascivious than Puar, but Puar receives more hatred for the character’s annoying voice and repetitive actions. The character made sense during Dragon Ball’s infancy, but Puar comes across as an outdated individual. While this assessment isn’t necessarily wrong, Puar’s abilities still prompt some satisfying visual gags. Puar is also an underrated aspect of Yamcha’s character and their friendship gives them both greater depth.

6 Monaka Is Beerus' Biggest Practical Joke On Goku & Fans

Dragon Ball Super’s Monaka is a particularly fascinating figure because he’s someone who is treated as a catalytic plot device more than a fully-functioning character of his own. Beerus, in a sly effort to motivate Goku and Vegeta to train harder for the Tournament of Destroyers, tells them that Monaka is Universe 7’s strongest fighter. Monaka is actually just a mundane delivery worker who plays into Beerus’ scheme for an easy payout. Goku and Vegeta never learn the truth about Monaka, which makes this one of Dragon Ball’s longest-running jokes.

There’s even a satisfying bonus page in the Dragon Ball Super manga where Zamasu uses the Super Dragon Balls to steal Monaka’s body, rather than Goku, because he’s also bought into the lie. Some Dragon Ball fans believe that the Monaka joke has gone on too long, but it never actually impedes anyone’s progress. It’s a detail that’s always used for comedic effect and it typically succeeds on this front. Additionally, Dragon Ball Super has gradually given Monaka depth – albeit in small doses – like his appearance in the Copy-Vegeta Saga.

5 Chiaotzu's Been Wasted Since Day 1, But He Doesn't Have To Be

10 Hated Dragon Ball Characters We Actually Kind Of Love

Chiaotzu is one of Dragon Ball’s more forgotten supporting players and it’s easy to overlook the fact that he’s introduced as the Crane School’s powerful psychic analogue to Krillin. Chiaotzu is arguably at his most interesting when he’s in this antagonistic role and using his psychic skills to overwhelm the heroes. Chiaotzu, along with Tien, see the error of their ways and defect from Master Shen.

Unfortunately, Chiaotzu suffers a crushing defeat against Nappa early on in Dragon Ball Z that he never fully recovers from. Chiaotzu is left in a difficult position where he either doesn’t receive significant attention or it feels pointless when he does. A proper storyline that once again does Chiaotzu justice would be great. However, he still functions as an entertaining counterpart to Tien.

4 Gomah’s Gendarmerie Force Are Hilarious & Frustrating Foes

10 Hated Dragon Ball Characters We Actually Kind Of Love

Dragon Ball DAIMA, in many ways, is a playful throwback to the broader gag comedy shenanigans of the original Dragon Ball. Granted, there’s still plenty of intense action in Dragon Ball DAIMA and some fairly mature moments. Nevertheless, there are an abundance of individuals who seem to only exist in order to subvert certain norms and embarrass the villains. The heroes’ infiltration of the First Demon World prompts Demon King Gomah to dispatch his accomplished Gendarmerie Force — Kadem, Danima, Hillia, Mashim, and Gaimoi. The Gendarmerie Force turns out to be a red herring and is more like DAIMA‘s version of an even sillier Ginyu Force.

The five soldiers spend more time posing and leaning into theatrics than they do fighting. Furthermore, when push finally does come to shove, they’re easily eliminated by Vegeta. There was a lot of derision aimed at the Gendarmerie Force as a pointless waste of time during the anime’s endgame. However, their comedy actually connects and the degree to which they irritate Gomah is wonderful. Gomah actually believed that these warriors would be helpful to him, yet they just trash his castle and raise his blood pressure. It’s an effective way to further highlight Gomah’s ineptitude in this role.

3 Yajirobe Stepping Away From The Spotlight Doesn’t Make Him Any Less Of A Hero

10 Hated Dragon Ball Characters We Actually Kind Of Love

Yajirobe, a skilled ronin, has already submitted to complacency by the time that Dragon Ball Z begins. To Yajirobe’s credit, there’s something to be said for someone who understands their limitations. He embraces his role at Korin Tower and helps delegate Senzu Beans, which is a decent fit for the swordsman. Yajirobe’s “retirement” may seem like a slap in the face to his accomplishments from the original Dragon Ball, including his victory over Dark Vassal Cymbal.

Dragon Ball Z develops a progressively cluttered cast that has less room for someone like Yajirobe, so this pivot makes sense and is a better fate than some grisly, manipulative death. Yajirobe may have cut his potential short in some regards, but he still continues to help out when it’s applicable. His Saiyan Saga intervention against Great Ape Vegeta and Future Yajirobe’s contributions in Future Trunks’ dystopian timeline stand out.

2 Jaco’s Cowardice is A Constant Complication To His Galactic Duties

10 Hated Dragon Ball Characters We Actually Kind Of Love

Jaco gets introduced in his own manga series, Jaco the Galactic Patrolman, which is eventually revealed to be set in Dragon Ball’s universe and functions as a prequel to the series. Jaco works his way into Dragon Ball Super as galactic threats become an increasing concern. Jaco is very much a traditional Toriyama character in the sense that he holds a privileged position, yet is often victim to his own feeble fears. Jaco is the type to warn people about a danger, but then runs away when it begins to attack.

This cowardice makes him a tough pill for some to swallow, yet his antics are rather innocuous and they work more than they don’t. Jaco becomes a helpful gateway into the Galactic Patrol, who plays a crucial role in Dragon Ball Super’s assault on Moro. Some fans may view Jaco as an unnecessary character, especially when more heroic patrolmen like Merus exist. However, Jaco is hard not to love, especially when the audience understands that he’s never going to be the one who saves the day.

1 Dragon Ball’s Anime Turns Chi-Chi Into A Shrill Buzzkill

Chi-Chi receives a lot of unnecessary hatred and she’s often reduced to a wet blanket who is often an active obstacle to Goku’s happiness. This is a gross misunderstanding of Chi-Chi, which is only made worse because of the abundance of anime-only material that amplifies these abrasive tendencies. Goku and Chi-Chi have adorable chemistry when they first meet in the original Dragon Ball, which continues to blossom during their 23rd World Tournament match and their Bansho Fan adventure that follows. It’s satisfying to see Goku end up with someone who matches his energy and operates at his level. Accordingly, there’s some surprising whiplash when Dragon Ball Z picks up five years later and Chi-Chi has almost completely turned her back on martial arts in favor of domestic duties.

Fans attack Chi-Chi not just because she’s less interested in martial arts, but because she often tries to push this agenda on both Goku and Gohan. Goku shouldn’t have to sneak around his wife in order to train and be happy, yet there’s also nothing wrong with Chi-Chi wanting to focus on her family and make sure that there’s stability in her children’s future. Chi-Chi isn’t Dragon Ball’s most “fun” character, but there’s no question that she’d do anything to protect her family.

10 Hated Dragon Ball Characters We Actually Kind Of Love

Dragon Ball

Expand Collapse

Понравилась статья? Поделиться с друзьями: