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For more than forty years, Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball has captivated audiences worldwide with its thrilling action and epic battles between heroes and villains. However, these high-stakes confrontations would be meaningless without the rich array of characters that infuse the story with emotion and depth.
The Dragon Ball universe boasts a vast roster of beloved characters. While figures like Goku and Vegeta have become synonymous with anime itself, not all characters enjoy such universal appeal. In fact, the series features its fair share of characters that highlight some of its most frustrating elements.
Among the most exasperating antagonists in Dragon Ball are those who manipulate events from behind the scenes without possessing much physical power themselves. A prime example is Babidi from the Buu Saga. As a key figure responsible for unleashing the formidable Buu, Babidi surrounds himself with numerous Majin followers, including the mighty Vegeta. He relies heavily on his magical prowess and the formidable protection Buu provides to maintain his influence.
Babidi’s Wicked Wizard Schtick Even Irritates His Allies
Some of Dragon Ball’s most annoying villains are those who pull the strings from afar and actually lack physical strength of their own. The Buu Saga’s Babidi becomes a pivotal player who is responsible for the monster’s awakening and surrounding himself with many Majin minions, Vegeta included. Babidi comfortably hides behind his powerful magic and the protection that Buu provides.
Babidi’s snide, relentless comments become too much for Buu to bear and he viciously executes his master. This villain’s entitled attitude and shrill voice also makes him a cloying presence, even when he’s on task. Babidi is a rare case of someone who gets eliminated purely because they’re too intolerable.
Giru’s A Silly Sidekick Who Becomes Dead Weight
Dragon Ball GT still has a contentious reputation among fans, largely because of the tonal whiplash that’s experienced when the Dragon Ball Z successor shifts to more lighthearted adventures for younger audiences. Goku’s transformation into a child and Pan’s prominence contribute to the anime’s younger demographic.
Dragon Ball GT ostensibly introduces what’s meant to be an adorable robot sidekick mascot, Giru. Giru is a Machine Mutant outcast who inadvertently becomes the team’s Dragon Radar. Giru saves Goku and Pan against Haze Shenron, but he’s otherwise an irritating nuisance that misses the mark. Not enough is going on with Giru and his panicked persona grows tired.
Old Kai’s Inappropriate Impulses Aren’t Worth His Powerful Abilities
Dragon Ball has gradually expanded its scope when it comes to the different Kais and deities who watch over the universe. Dragon Ball Z’s Buu Saga doesn’t just introduce Shin and Kibito, but also Old Kai, a former Supreme Kai who was imprisoned in a sword. Old Kai’s release is important in the sense that he performs the ritual to unlock Gohan’s Ultimate potential.
Unfortunately, Old Kai represents Master Roshi’s worst lecherous behavior and without any of the redeeming qualities. Master Roshi is certainly annoying in small doses, but he still trains martial artists and helps defend the Earth. Old Kai just makes inappropriate requests and functions as comic relief through his extended dance ritual. In a perfect world, Shin and Kibito would have just been the ones to help Gohan unlock his power.
The Pilaf Gang’s Wild Schemes Start To Wear Thin
The Pilaf Gang – Pilaf, Shu, and Mai – are significant in the sense that they’re technically Dragon Ball’s first proper villains. Pilaf’s desire to assemble the Dragon Balls is so that he can wish to rule the world. Pilaf isn’t much when it comes to strength, but he’s well-insulated with mech-suits, endless traps, and impressive resources.
Pilaf and his lackeys continue to pop up throughout the original Dragon Ball as supporting stooges who repeat the same frantic attacks. The Pilaf Gang has inexplicably become allies in Dragon Ball Super, and their juvenile transformations have made them even more of an acquired taste. Mai’s potential romance with Trunks is a step in the right direction so that the Pilaf Gang has more to do, even if it is extremely weird.
Dragon Ball Z’s Broly Is Nothing More Than Pure Power & Empty Aggression
Broly, Universe 7’s Legendary Super Saiyan, received a rewarding redemption when he was canonized into Dragon Ball Super. Dragon Ball Super’s take on Broly gives him nuanced pathos and presents him more as a tragic victim of circumstance than a true villain. Alternatively, Broly’s role in Dragon Ball Z is much less interesting.
He’s a character who just grunts and screams out “Kakarot!,” rather than conveying rich feelings. Broly is a movie villain who exists purely to be overpowered and push the Super Saiyans out of their comfort zone with a new concept. This produces some exciting action sequences, but it’s not the right way to create an interesting character.
Mr. Satan’s Showboating Persona Was Already Too Much Upon Its Debut
Dragon Ball exists in such a heightened universe that it’s sometimes easy to forget that regular people still exist in the world. Mr. Satan is a creative deconstruction of this idea and a character who becomes the face of heroism to the public. Mr. Satan has a lofty reputation as a martial arts savant and repeated World Tournament winner, but his strength isn’t much more than the average professional wrestler.
Dragon Ball consistently creates comedy from the idea that Mr. Satan receives credit for the Z-Fighters’ impressive victories, yet he’s abysmal in battle. Mr. Satan wouldn’t be such a tough pill to swallow if he ever exhibited some restraint and tact. He can’t help but steal the spotlight and brag about his ill-gotten gains. He’s a character who is best in small doses, which Dragon Ball Super seems to have figured out.
Ribrianne Embraces Magical Girl Tropes To Disgrace Her Adversaries
Dragon Ball Super’s Tournament of Power features eclectic fighters from eight different universes, all of which have different energies and customs. Universe 2 has a bit of a magical girl aesthetic that’s championed by its powerful heroes, the Kamikaze Fireballs. This group is led by Ribrianne, who effectively subverts the magical girl transformation trope upon shifting into a rotund, garish fighter who leaves much to the imagination.
Ribrianne’s unconventional transformation is meant to be a gag. It’s still annoying to watch an out-of-place fighter take out legitimate warriors through genre archetypes that are meant to be humiliating. Ribrianne’s transformations become increasingly ridiculous, as does her admission that she’s made stronger by the power of love.
Jaco Is A Galactic Patrolman Whose Cowardice Has Gone Too Far
Dragon Ball loves to play with established anime archetypes, which gives Jaco the Galactic Patrolman some playful opportunities to simultaneously assert control and bumble away from danger. Dragon Ball Super’s Galactic Patrol are trusted to keep the peace within the Milky Way Galaxy.
Jaco isn’t the greatest Galactic Patrolman. He’s actively terrified of threats like Frieza, and it’s not uncommon for the alien to lose composure and forget that he’s supposed to be the voice of authority. Jaco is a fun idea that came from his own original series that was folded into Dragon Ball. Now that fans have seen competent Galactic Patrolmen, like Merus, Jaco is even less necessary.
Universe 6’s Frost Wastes His Potential As A Redundant Frieza Copycat
A fascinating development that comes out of Dragon Ball Super’s multiverse is that Universes 7 and 6 are sister universes, which means that they share certain commonalities. This means that Universe 6 doesn’t just have Saiyans and Namekians, but there is also an original version of Frieza, in the form of Frost.
Frost is introduced as an altruistic version of Frieza, someone who actually helped stop wars and save afflicted parties, rather than instigate these atrocities. This compelling angle is abandoned quickly when it’s revealed to be an elaborate ruse to trick Universe 7’s fighters. Frost becomes a less interesting and less powerful version of Frieza once the truth is spilled. His bitter and desperate theatrics just bring past exploits to mind, and he’s especially disposable once Frieza returns to the fray.
Omni-King Zeno’s Child-Like Chaos Lacks Depth
Dragon Ball Super’s introduction of a sprawling multiverse comes along with new and powerful celestial beings, such as Gods of Destruction and Angels. Zeno, the Omni-King, sits above all creation and has the power to casually erase an entire universe if he’s so inclined to do so. Zeno’s power is beyond comprehension, yet he’s a curious dichotomy of looking and acting like a kid.
Zeno and Future Zeno are in charge of the Tournament of Power and the universes that get wiped out of existence. However, they only hold this event to keep themselves entertained. The Zeno twins don’t do much besides exclaim in excitement over the tournament’s battles. There’s so much potential in a character like Zeno, but Dragon Ball Super has instead turned him into an impatient toddler with infinite power.
- Created by
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Akira Toriyama
- First Episode Air Date
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April 26, 1989