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Transformations have been a cornerstone of the Dragon Ball series ever since Goku’s iconic first Super Saiyan transformation on Namek. At their peak, these transformations are not just visually stunning with exceptional animation and innovative character designs, but they also deliver profound storytelling that significantly impacts the characters and the narrative trajectory.
Though every Dragon Ball transformation boasts visual flair, only a handful are truly enriched with strong storytelling. Throughout both Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Super, the transformations of Goku and his fellow Saiyan warriors are often marked by intense build-up, deep narrative significance, and rewarding outcomes. An interesting exception is Vegeta, who, surprisingly, has yet to experience a transformation that’s been as well-crafted in its writing.
While Goku’s initial attainment of Super Saiyan 3 is not depicted on-screen, the first time he reveals this form to the audience stands out as one of the most distinctive transformations in the series. This uniqueness is partly due to the contrasting portrayals in Akira Toriyama’s original manga and the Dragon Ball Z anime adaptation.
Goku Debuts Super Saiyan 3 in Both Epic and Hilarious Fashion
While Goku’s first time achieving Super Saiyan 3 is never shown, the first time he demonstrates the form to the audience makes for one of the most unique transformations in the franchise. This is partially due to how differently the sequence plays out between Akira Toriyama’s manga and the DBZ anime.
In Dragon Ball Z, Goku’s reveal of Super Saiyan 3 is nothing short of awesome, as Goku taunts Babidi and Majin Buu, going through each Super Saiyan form one by one before unveiling his true power. In the manga, however, Super Saiyan 3 serves as a parody of the series’ transformations as a whole, the sequence being defined by fourth-wall breaking meta humor that fits perfectly within the Buu Saga. Both versions work well, but the manga definitely works better, as the more serious take on the scene is undercut by the simultaneous revelation that Goku could have used Super Saiyan 3 to prevent Buu’s awakening in the first place.
Top’s Transformation Into a God of Destruction is the Most Interesting Thing About Him
Unlike his close friend and ally, Jiren, Top actually enjoys a satisfying arc throughout the Tournament of Power. Defined as a righteous hero of justice throughout most of the Universe Survival Saga, Top is pushed to the brink as his universe is threatened by the onslaught of Vegeta, Frieza, and Android 17, forcing him to sacrifice everything he believes in for the good of everyone.
Top allowing himself to be corrupted by the power of a God of Destruction works perfectly, especially as its three villains, past and present, who drive him to his breaking point. And when Top is brought down, it comes as a consequence of his own hypocrisy, making him desire to better live up to the ideals he espouses.
Caulifa and Kale’s Fusion Into Kefla is One of Dragon Ball Super’s Greatest Moments
Caulifla and Kale are two of Dragon Ball Super’s biggest highlights, both being extremely fun characters, both being the first female Super Saiyans, and the two sharing a great dynamic. Throughout the Universe Survival Saga, tension brews between them as Kale grows increasingly jealous over the idea of Caulifla leaving her for someone else, but Caulifla restoring Kale’s faith in her love for her leads to a shocking and spectacular transformation.
Through the use of Potara earrings, Caulifla and Kale fuse into Kefla, who embodies the best aspects of both halves of her. Kefla is a joy to watch in action, her very existence represents the culmination of an arc, and she winds up being narratively important, as she plays a major role in helping Goku master the power of Ultra Instinct.
Goku Ascends With the Power of Ultra Instinct in a Moment That Broke the Internet
For all the countless faults of the Universe Survival Saga, the arc’s slow, deliberate introduction of Ultra Instinct is perfect. Its existence is foreshadowed by Whis from the very beginning of Dragon Ball Super, Goku’s first two moments of tapping into its power are executed magnificently, and its true debut during the final battle against Jiren is perfect.
Ultra Instinct facilitates hype moments every single time it’s used in the anime, never losing its luster, and it breaks the long-standing trend of transformations simply bringing about new forms that stack boosts of power. Serving as the ultimate form of defense, Ultra Instinct is something completely new, and the fact that it isn’t even enough for Goku to defeat Jiren on his own makes for a wonderful subversion of expectations.
Goku Becoming a Super Saiyan God Revived Dragon Ball as a Franchise
Unlike the vast majority of Saiyan transformations in Dragon Ball Super, the form that ushered in the era of modern Dragon Ball was introduced perfectly. Super Saiyan God is introduced in a grand, ceremonial fashion that gives Goku power in a new, creative way, and the very nature of its existence ties directly into the plot and themes of Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods.
From the start of Battle of Gods, Beerus is hungry to fight the “Super Saiyan God,” and Goku on his own is powerless against the God of Destruction. While becoming the Super Saiyan God Beerus dreamed of gives Goku the power needed to challenge the former, it’s acknowledged that simply being gifted power isn’t satisfying for the latter. This leads to a fascinating philosophical conflict between Goku and Beerus, and a completely unpredictable conclusion to their brawl.
Goku’s First Transformation Into a Super Saiyan is Nothing Short of Legendary
As an overall moment, no transformation in DBZ or Dragon Ball Super comes close to beating Goku’s first transformation into a Super Saiyan. It’s iconic, it’s masterfully executed, and it single-handedly set the bar for every future transformation in both the Dragon Ball franchise, and Shonen battle anime as a whole.
The Super Saiyan form is built up throughout the entirety of the Frieza Saga, and Goku’s transformation into one pays off his own character arc throughout the saga, as well as Vegeta’s dying moments, and it thrives off the immediate emotions that come from Krillin’s sudden murder. Goku becoming a Super Saiyan also fundamentally changes everything, as it changes his encounter with Frieza from a struggle to survive to a one-sided beatdown, and sets a new bar for power for the series moving forward.
Gohan’s First Transformation Into Super Saiyan 2 is One of the Greatest Moments in Dragon Ball Z
The entirety of Gohan’s fight against Cell contains some of DBZ’s best writing, and this certainly applies to the young Saiyan’s first time achieving Super Saiyan 2. Following an entire arc of the Saiyan characters desperately trying to find a way to go beyond Super Saiyan, it’s Gohan who does so during an emotional climax, paying off three sagas of build-up surrounding him surpassing Goku.
Gohan’s ascension to Super Saiyan 2 does have one small issue, as the young Saiyan gets virtually no time to bond with Android 16 before the latter’s murder at the hands of Cell pushes him to transform. However, that’s a small problem when weighed against everything amazing about the transformation.
Gohan’s power throughout Dragon Ball Z is always drawn from his rage, and while Super Saiyan 2 makes him an effective fighter capable of slaughtering Cell and his Cell Jrs, here, his lack of self-control comes back to haunt him. Super Saiyan 2 may make Gohan the strongest in the universe, but it doesn’t stop him from being an inexperienced child who makes the same mistakes as his elders, a flaw that leads to Goku having to die for him.
Future Trunks’s First Transformation Into a Super Saiyan is the Saddest and Most Emotional Moment in Dragon Ball
Dragon Ball Z – The History of Trunks is the greatest piece of Dragon Ball media ever, making it only natural that it contains the best-written transformation in the franchise. Telling the origin story of DBZ’s most tragic hero, the special follows Future Trunks as he desperately trains to become a Super Saiyan so he can help his world’s would-be savior, Future Gohan, defeat the Androids. But, in an ironic twist, it’s only the death of Future Gohan that allows Future Trunks to gain the power he needs.
By virtue of how endearing Future Gohan and Future Trunks’ relationship is, and the permanence of Future Gohan’s death, the Androids’ murder of him is the saddest moment in all of Dragon Ball. Future Trunks being knocked out by Future Gohan before his final battle, and arriving on the scene too late to save him works perfectly, and the power of Super Saiyan still not being enough to defeat the Androids works even better, as it pushes him to fully learn and understand what his mentor always aimed to teach him.
- Created by
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Akira Toriyama
- Latest Film
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Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero
- First Episode Air Date
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April 26, 1989
