Key Takeaways
- Some fans criticize Dragon Ball for sidelining female characters like Chichi, while others appreciate the depth of characters like Bulma & Android 18.
- Bulma showcases qualities that make her crucial to the Z-Fighters, while Android 18 evolves from a killer to a key member of the team.
- Female characters like Kale and Caulifla are gaining prominence in Dragon Ball, indicating a positive direction for future representation.
The characters of Dragon Ball are some of the most iconic and beloved across the entire anime industry. From the start of the various iterations of the franchise, Goku and friends have endeared millions of fans across the globe for decades. Although there are many flaws that people associate with these characters, they have succeeded in earning the praise of fans and keeping them interested for all this time.
However, over the years, some have started to voice the sentiment that the female characters of the series are more of an afterthought and that they deserve more of a central role. Some even go so far as to say that there are no compelling female characters at all or that the ones there are just get squandered, so let’s go over how Dragon Ball treats them and look at whether or not the series fails at representing these women.
Related
All Of The Dragon Ball Movies, Ranked
Toei has recently plenty of Dragon Ball anime movies over the decades, and some films are better than others.
How It Fails The Female Characters
A Reason Why They Aren’t Represented Well
Many feel that most, if not all, of the female characters in the franchise are wasted. Though this may seem harsh, there is a bit of merit to this, since Dragon Ball’s main heroes and villains are predominantly males, such as the Saiyans and pretty much every single enemy they have fought since the series started. Because of this, some fans feel as if the females are just unimportant side characters that don’t really add much to the series.
An example that they tend to give is that of Launch, who was quite an interesting character back in the original Dragon Ball series whose personality would change every time she sneezed. She was a great character but was completely forgotten when Z started, often being relegated to mere cameo appearances every now and then. Another example of this which is far more present is Chichi.
While Chichi started as an incredibly likable and fiery character in the original Dragon Ball series who many fans took an immediate liking to, she has devolved into an almost nothing-character who has had no discernible contribution to the series other than being Goku’s wife. This is pretty bad character development, since the series took a likable character and made her entire identity into a person who has very little, if any, bearing on the overall story. In fact, Goku barely even sees her anymore due to how often he’s training.
In a series as dedicated to fighting as a central plot point as Dragon Ball, many feel it to be fairly strange how none of the main fighters that the story follows are women. Sure, the Saiyans have been and always will be the main characters, but with all the new people being introduced, even as side characters on an arc-to-arc basis, many fans feel as if they could just as easily be made to be women instead.
Related
Dragon Ball: Goku and Vegeta’s Evolutions of Super Saiyan Blue, Explained
Super Saiyan Blue is a state reached only by Goku and Vegeta, but the way they both evolved beyond that was different!
Why The Female Characters Work
How They Serve Their Roles In The Series
Conversely, there is a growing sentiment that the female characters of Dragon Ball are among the greatest in the entire industry. While some of the criticisms are certainly warranted, many detractors tend to overlook what the series gets right in this aspect, such as layered and badass characters like Bulma and Android 18, who serve as some of the best characters in the franchise.
Bulma shows that one doesn’t need to be a warrior to be relevant in a series where fighting is the central focus. She has no super strength or unnatural abilities which make her one of the strongest in the universe. Instead, her intellect is unmatched as it allows her to create machines that defy the laws of physics, where she has been an integral member of the Z-Fighters since the early days. It’s safe to say that had it not been for her, none of the Z-Fighters, not even Goku, would have been able to reach the heights they did.
Whatever! Suit yourself! Saiyans are so annoying!
On the other hand, Android 18 is an extremely layered character that has had a great arc and development over the years. Starting off as a ruthless and powerful killing machine, she eventually learned to use her powers for good, becoming a crucial member of the Z-Fighters, and eventually marrying Krillin, who proudly acknowledges her as the more powerful of the couple.
As for where the series is going in the future, it’s likely headed in a great direction in terms of female representation. The strengths of characters like Bulma and Android 18 are as prevalent as ever and more female characters are getting put in the limelight for all the right reasons, namely Kale and Caulifla. While some criticisms of this aspect of the series are warranted, there is an equal amount of good things that female characters have going for them in Dragon Ball.
Dragon Ball can be streamed on Crunchyroll.
MORE
One Piece: Could Louis Arnot Be Someone We’ve Seen Before?
Louis Arnot is an enigmatic explorer that fans never thought would be important, so let’s see if he may actually be someone we’ve seen before!
Dragon Ball Z
Dragon Ball Z is a Japanese anime series produced by Toei Animation and a sequel to the 1986 Dragon Ball series. It continues the adventures of Son Goku as an adult while also paralleling the life of his son Gohan. Son Goku typically defends the Earth from villains like Vegeta, Frieza, Cell, and Majin Buu. The series is followed by Dragon Ball GT and then Dragon Ball Super.
- Release Date
- April 26, 1989