For dozens of episodes, Dragon Ball has told the story of Goku, Krillin and their friends. But many secondary, tertiary and even minor characters have appeared along with them. Some have been forgotten, perhaps unfairly.
This is a small tribute to the forgotten characters you may not remember, who somehow could have had more prominent roles.
Yawara bear
Episode 20: Elimination Round
One of the many participants in the 21st World Martial Arts Tournament. Beyond the winners, it's hard to remember all the fighters, but this one was one of the most forgotten. His distinguishing feature is that he is a bear man wearing a judo uniform, which is perhaps why he was nicknamed Yawara Bear for the release of some Dragon Ball toys.
At that time, the Yawara manga was already published, so that might be the answer to the mystery. He is defeated by Krillin, and the legendary Dragon Ball hero wins easily. With his bear body, it is possible that he could have been more powerful. One of his appearances as a toy is as an eraser in attack stance.
Thief boy
Episode 30: Pilaf and the Mystery Force
It was September 17, 1986 when Japanese television viewers were introduced to Thief Boy. Just like that, nameless. A petty thief who only wanted to steal Goku's possessions to sell them. Of course he didn't know what he was getting himself into. Thief Boy wasn't exactly Aladdin, though that didn't stop him from taking the Dragon Radar and selling it at a thrift store.
He gets almost nothing, but it is enough to buy something to eat. He is an orphan, poor and smells bad, which is why Goku manages to find him. When the hero finds him and learns the location of his dragon radar, Thief Boy never appears in the series again. We wonder what became of him. Did he make it? He is a character we sometimes remember, and it makes us feel a little sad. He wasn't a hero meant to have a big arc, but he could have appeared more.
Mom with sunglasses
Episode 43: A Trip to the City and Episode 118: Prelude to Vengeance
A proud and happy mother. She appears on several occasions throughout the series, and it is clear that she has a large family. She is a modern mother wearing sunglasses, which has always been an important accessory in Toriyama's drawings, not only in Dragon Ball, but also in other famous works. She started with red hair and went blonde.
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She also appears in the manga. Some believe she was a spy and had some kind of hidden history that justified her constant presence. But let's just say she's a mother walking with her children in the middle of a world of fighting, aliens and destruction.
Nose-picking soldier
Episode 46: Bulma's Big Mistake
The General Blue Saga begins and puts this villain at the center with a heartbreaking scene. One of his soldiers casually pokes his nose at his mail, and Blue is furious. Within seconds he orders his execution.
Blue is disgusted to have seen him playing with his nose, but he is also annoyed that his soldiers are wasting time instead of looking for the Dragon Balls. The soldier tells him that he has a wife and children and is begging for his life, but it is not enough to let him go. He is then executed with a gunshot. What will happen to his family? Executed for having the puck on his nose? Dragon Ball clearly knew how to create villains.
Mohawked Fighter
Episode 85: Preliminary Peril and Episode 118: Prelude to Vengeance
The best demonstration of how bad decisions in life can lead you down a path of failure. This character, known as the Mohawked Fighter, first appeared in the 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament. He likes to show off his skills, but he faces Yamcha and the hero wins.
Yamcha tried not to humiliate the Mohawked Fighter by controlling his strength, but this did not stop the character from continuing to make bad decisions. In episode 118, he is part of a gang of criminals trying to break into Kame House. There he meets Yamcha again. Bad news for the criminal.
Nameless Fighter
Episode 107: Tien's Atonement
When Tien Shinhan was evil to the core, he did terrible things. In one fight, he heartlessly injured a fighter, breaking 13 of his bones. He later runs into him while searching for the Dragon Balls to save the world.
This unnamed fighter is a character that reflects an ordinary man, a family man trying to provide for his loved ones. When he meets the man who kept him in recovery for two years, he reacts badly. Everyone would have reacted badly. This causes Tien to beg and apologize as sincerely as possible to gain his forgiveness. In the end, he succeeds. Humanity prevails.
Captain of the Guard
Episode 114: Conquest and Power
King Piccolo also did horrible things and killed many innocent people. The captain of the guard was one of those characters who tried to do his job right to the end. To protect King Furry, he tried to use his gun to kill King Piccolo, but it was obvious that he would not succeed.
In a tense moment, even though King Furry begged the evil Piccolo to stop, Piccolo threw him off the ship. Killing him without a second thought, he made it clear that King Piccolo had arrived to terrorize the planet.
Piccolo's adoptive parents
Episode 123: Lost and Found
With this episode of the anime introducing an elderly couple created for the series, it's easy to think of all sorts of famous stories. From the legend of Momotaro, where a couple finds a baby inside a giant peach, to the story of Superman. In the end, it's a pretty classic origin story that's been seen on multiple occasions.
These two older people find Piccolo's egg and decide to take him home. When he hatches, he quickly burns down the couple's house. He is later seen wearing clothes and already planning his revenge on Goku. This origin story gave a little more humanity to the young Piccolo.
Chu Lee
Episode 127: Faster Than Lightning
This girl only appears in one episode, but she is extremely important in Dragon Ball. The reason for this is that, even at such a young age, she has the ability to sense the Ki around her. This is something that Goku discovers and quickly masters, allowing him to overcome one of his most complex challenges at the time.
Chuu Lee rescues Goku and teaches him that it is possible to sense energy without having to see the living beings nearby. In her case, it is with her beloved bird. For Goku, this will be a lesson that will help him in the future. In the manga, this never happened, but it's part of the magic of the anime.
Corinth
Episode 128: Secret of the Woods
Another character that fulfills a great purpose: to show it, in the world of Dragon Ballthere are people with exceptional abilities who live peacefully. He is an elderly man, Éclair's father, and a proud fishing master.
Goku will discover that he is the master he was looking for to learn more in his training. Korinto's ability lies in his great ability to concentrate, which allows him to sense everything around him and even disappear and blend into his surroundings. A charming character that brings realism to the world of Dragon Ball.
Dragon Ball
- Release date
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1986 – 1989
- Network
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Fuji TV
- Directors
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Osamu Kasai, Daisuke Nishio, Kazuhisa Takenouchi, Minoru Okazaki, Mitsuo Hashimoto, Yoshihiro Ueda, Yutaka Satoh, Yûji Endô
- Author
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Akira Toriyama, Keiji Terui, Toshiki Inoue, Takao Koyama, Michiru Shimada, Yasushi Hirano, Katsuyuki Sumisawa, Yuichiro Oguro, Miho Maruo, Shunichi Yukimuro
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Masako Nozawa
Son Goku (voice)
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Mayumi Tanaka
Krillin (voice)
