The Best Characters Who Have Appeared In Every Dragon Ball Series

Summary

• Characters like Chi-Chi and Tien saw significant development in Dragon Ball, evolving from their debut appearances.
• Master Roshi remained important in combat despite being sidelined, showcasing his mentoring impact on Goku and Krillin.
• Shenron, the wish-granting dragon, maintained a comforting presence throughout the series, becoming an iconic figure in Dragon Ball.

The history of Dragon Ball is rich and engaging, with fans loving how Goku’s adventures have evolved to the point where this clueless boy became the universe’s strongest warrior after many trials and tribulations. From the very first episode, Dragon Ball slowly established a simple yet compelling world where the titular wish-granting orbs played a major role throughout the series.

Some of the most popular characters in Dragon Ball were introduced at the very beginning and have become a stalwart presence in the series ever since. Characters like Vegeta and Gohan are beloved for obvious reasons, but it wasn’t until Dragon Ball Z that they made their fateful debut. These characters, meanwhile, have stuck around for every Dragon Ball series to date.

8

Chi-Chi

Met Goku When They Were Kids And Eventually Married Him

• Debut: The Ox King on Fire Mountain (Episode 7 of Dragon Ball)

Goku’s wife may seem angry and melodramatic at times (even if her exasperation with her battle-hungry husband is quite justified), but she was completely different at the start of the series. Chi-Chi appeared as a kid in very questionable attire who quickly developed a fondness for Goku.

They met at the World Martial Arts Tournament, where Goku defeated his soon-to-be wife and captured her heart. They eventually got married, which has made for a rocky partnership, but one that somehow continues to work because of the strong bonds joining them.

7

Tien Shinhan

A Powerful Fighter Who Sees The Light And Stands By Goku’s Side

• Debut: The Rampage of InoShikaCho (Episode 82 of Dragon Ball)

Tien debuts as a member of the Crane School who is hell-bent on taking revenge on Goku for the defeat of Mercenary Tao, his sensei. However, it doesn’t take long for him to realize that his masters lack morals, and he joins the Z Warriors not long after.

One can argue that Tien is the strongest human in Dragon Ball, enjoying his epic moments despite the Saiyans outpacing him in power not long after Dragon Ball Z‘s debut. His Tri-Beam is an iconic attack that managed to stop Semi-Perfect Cell long enough for the Androids to escape, which is an achievement that fans can’t stop raving about to this day.

6

Master Roshi

A Seasoned Martial Artist Relegated To The Sidelines Before Becoming Somewhat Relevant Again

• Debut: The Nimbus Cloud of Roshi (Episode 3 of Dragon Ball)

Master Roshi is one of the most important characters in Dragon Ball. Without his mentoring, Goku would’ve never learned the iconic Kamehameha or gotten to wear the iconic gi that fans associate with both the protagonist and the franchise overall.

While his presence in Dragon Ball Z made him seem like a sleazy perv, Dragon Ball Super did a decent job of making him relevant in combat again. His stints in Resurrection F and the Tournament of Power were impressive, and made it clear why this mentor was skilled enough to turn both Goku and Krillin into gifted martial artists.

5

Krillin

Goku’s Rival Is Slowly Outpaced As He Struggles To Overcome His Human Limits

• Debut: Goku’s Rival (Episode 14 of Dragon Ball)

It’s easy to laugh at Krillin as the guy who is constantly getting beaten up by others. However, at the start of Dragon Ball, he was just as powerful as Goku and served as a worthy rival to the fledgling Saiyan.

As the series’ power scaling reached new heights in Dragon Ball Z, Krillin was eventually outpaced by Goku, but he remained relevant in the plot. His death sparked a rage in Goku that pushed him over the edge and let fans witness his epic Super Saiyan transformation for the very first time.

4

Shenron

The Iconic Dragon Grants A Wish Once The Dragon Balls Are Brought Together

• Debut: The Secret of the Dragon Balls (Episode 1 of Dragon Ball)

The legendary dragon who grants wishes, Shenron is one of the most imposing characters in Dragon Ball. His brief yet memorable appearances have turned him into an iconic presence in the series.

Watching him wait patiently for the Z Warriors to make wishes is entertaining, and seeing him be nervous for the first time in Beerus’ presence made it clear that the Destroyer God was not to be trifled with. Despite the introduction of more powerful Dragon Balls as the series has progressed, there’s something about Shenron’s comforting presence that makes him an essential part of Dragon Ball to this day.

3

Bulma

A Genius And An Enduring Presence From The Very First Episode

• Debut: The Secret of the Dragon Balls (Episode 1 of Dragon Ball)

A genius scientist who was hunting the Dragon Balls and eventually met Goku during her search, Bulma formed a partnership with this child that would last for the entirety of Dragon Ball. She can be rather brash and loud-mouthed at times, but Bulma’s inventive personality and zeal make her one of the best characters in the series.

It was truly shocking to find out that both she and Vegeta began a romantic relationship—completely in secret, no less—but it made sense once fans realized how well their fiery personalities matched. It’s no stretch to say that Bulma played a huge role in helping Vegeta fight for the side of good, even if the Saiyan Prince briefly rebelled against his newfound feelings at one point.

2

Piccolo

A Namekian Softened By Gohan’s Kindness To Become A Stalwart Member Of The Z Warriors

• Debut: Lost and Found (Episode 123 of Dragon Ball)

Demon King Piccolo was a fearsome antagonist who became even more powerful after regaining his youth. Goku managed to best him in an intense battle, but this villain spat out an egg before his death that helped him reincarnate as Piccolo Jr.

This younger version of Piccolo made for a tough opponent at the end of Dragon Ball, but he eventually teamed up with the Z Warriors after Gohan’s tenderness helped him experience love for the first time. He’s been a strong ally ever since, enjoying a brand-new transformation that will help him fend off tougher threats throughout Dragon Ball Super.

1

Son Goku

The Iconic Protagonist Who Needs No Introduction

• Debut: The Secret of the Dragon Balls (Episode 1 of Dragon Ball)

Goku is one of the most iconic shonen anime protagonists of all time, being a focal point of Dragon Ball from the very first episode. He has grown throughout the series, embracing his Saiyan powers and becoming one of the universe’s strongest warriors in the process.

Long-time fans of the series can’t help but smile as they see Goku break his limits time and time again to become stronger than ever before. It feels like yesterday when he was just a clueless kid who couldn’t differentiate between men and women.

• 

  Dragon Ball
  

  Release Date

  
  February 26, 1986
  

  Finale Year

  
  April 12, 1989
  

  Seasons

  1

  Number of Episodes

  153

• 

  Dragon Ball Z
  

  Release Date

  
  April 26, 1989
  

  Finale Year

  
  November 30, 1995
  

  Seasons

  9

  Number of Episodes

  291

• 

  Dragon Ball Super
  

  Release Date

  
  July 5, 2015
  

  Finale Year

  
  November 30, 2017
  

  Seasons

  1

  Number of Episodes

  131