Important takeaways
- Future Trunks has a tragic backstory that resonates with fans because of relatability and loss.
- With a unique design and fighting style, Future Trunks stands out as one of the best designed Saiyans.
- As the only Saiyan to wield a sword, Trunks' fighting style adds depth and coolness to his character.
The Dragon Ball franchise features some of the most iconic characters in the entire anime/manga industry that have influenced waves of others that have become extremely popular themselves. As such, Goku is often seen as the blueprint for the typical shonen protagonist and Vegeta is viewed through a similar lens as fulfilling the typical shonen anti-hero trope.
Such a character as Dragon Ball introduced that hasn't seen the same level of popularity as the previous two but still has a legion of fans is Future Trunks. Debuting in the series' Android Saga, this character quickly rose to fan favorite due to her incredible design, tragic backstory, and overall character motivation. So let's go through Future Trunks and see why he is one of them Dragon Ball's best characters.
A tragic origin
Future Trunks has one of the best backstories
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First appearance |
Dragon Ball ZEpisode 119, “The Mysterious Youth” |
|---|---|
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Debut date |
December 4, 1991 |
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Story Arc |
Android Saga |
What often makes a character so beloved is the relatability they have with their audience. Although a tragic connection to make, Future Trunks sits very well in the hearts of fans because of how they could associate and relate to the loss he felt by losing someone he loved dearly. As such, Future Trunks' timeline is full of tragedies.
In the future where Goku dies of a heart virus shortly after returning to Earth, the Androids wake up and see that there is no one powerful enough to stop them, leading to the entire world being destroyed in their wake. But among the surviving traces of humanity, Trunks, Bulma, and Future Gohan are the last of the Z-Fighters left alive, which does a good job of showing how strong the bond is between these 3.
How do you think my lord Gohan felt when you ganged up on him in the rain and he had no way out? Well, now it's your turn. I hope you enjoy it!
However, at some point Gohan faces the Androids alone so that Trunks wouldn't die as well, leading to his untimely demise. Seeing his best friend and mentor's lifeless body sparks a rage within the young Saiyan, allowing him to attain his own Super Saiyan form, helping him on his journey back in time to rid the Android threat of his own timeline by either discover their weakness or have Goku travel to his timeline to help defeat them.
Trunks has one of the best and most emotional backstories in the entire series, where fans not only saw a younger and more unconscious side of the Saiyan, but also got a look at an alternate version of Gohan. When he appeared in the current timeline, Trunks was shown to be very careful, well-mannered, and cautious, and with a glimpse into his past, fans immediately understood exactly why he was this way!
One of the best designed Saiyans
Future Trunks had the best design and fighting style
IN Dragon Ball ZTrunks had perhaps the coolest design of all the Saiyans! This depends on how unique it was, especially i Z movies, where his short jacket had the sleeves ripped off, complete with a black tank top tucked in underneath. Also, especially in the movies, Trunks was seen to have more muscle mass than most other Saiyans, so it gave a much cooler and scarier look to an already well-designed character!
This hardcore design doubled his cool factor when in his Super Saiyan form. Trunks had unique hair, even for a Saiyan, with its white/purple shade already quite long, giving it a center difference. Due to this hairstyle, Trunks' Super Saiyan form gained very spiky hair that stood up from both sides, which, when taken with his already bulky frame, made him look very similar to Broly!
What many tend to dismiss about Dragon Ball is that even though it's a series centered around fighting with different characters having similar move sets, there are actually quite a few styles of fighting! For example, Goku is a methodical fighter who uses finesse in his battles, while Vegeta is an all-out brute who wants to inflict as much damage as possible on his opponents. Trunks is the most unique because he is the only Saiyan who uses a sword!
In his first appearance, this was perhaps what caught most people off guard, but it significantly contributed to how Trunks was as a fighter. With his sword, he made short work of Mecha Frieza and King Cold, showing that he was incredibly powerful, and he had a weapon that made him much cooler and detailed than he could have ever been without it!
Dragon Ball can be streamed on Crunchyroll.
