As the creator of Dragon Ball, Akira Toriyama is responsible for creating the vast majority of characters in its universe. However, between filler material, Dragon Ball GT, movies and specials, and the unusual means by which Dragon Ball Super was made, there are a number of characters whose existence owes either little or nothing to Toriyama. While many of these characters often fail to impress, the exceptions prove that other creators can develop memorable characters on their own.

Toriyama had a hand in creating nearly every Dragon Ball character of worth, but there are times Toei and Toyotarou have succeeded without him. They’ve made lovable heroes like Tapion and Merus, fan-favorite antagonists like Baby and Kale, and even characters who improve upon Toriyama’s pre-existing story. These characters aren’t just cool designs with high power levels, as is the case with most of the DBZ movie villains, but interesting people who genuinely feel like they belong in the world of Dragon Ball.

9

Moro Fights with More Unique Abilities Than Most Dragon Ball Villains

Moro Desperately Needed a More Original Personality

Created by Toyotarou, Moro is the main antagonist of Dragon Ball Super’s Galactic Patrol Prisoner Saga. In terms of personality, he’s serviceable at best. Evil, power-hungry, and lacking any depth or unique motivations, Moro is practically indistinguishable from the likes of King Piccolo, Perfect Cell, or Super Buu.

Where Moro’s writing shines is with the creativity put into his powers. Rather than just being a generic warrior with ki blasts, he’s a sorcerer, and he keeps Goku on his toes with his unpredictability. Moro also takes the commonplace idea of absorption to its natural extreme, at one merging with an entire planet.

8

Nuova Shenron is the Only Interesting Shadow Dragon

Nuova Shenron Fails to Live Up to His Potential

Created by Toei Animation, Nuova Shenron is one of the most popular new characters introduced in Dragon Ball GT. This is fully understandable, as he’s the only one of the seven conceptually fascinating Shadow Dragons to be written with even an iota of depth. Unfortunately, like with most of its good ideas, GT fails when it comes to executing the ideas behind Nuova.

In theory, Nuova Shenron is meant to be a more noble and honorable Shadow Dragon, leading to him allying with Goku in the series’ final battle. The issue is that, due to how sloppily the nature of the Shadow Dragons is explained, it’s unclear why he’s any different from the others, and it doesn’t even really wind up mattering that he is. Likewise, there’s set-up for a potentially interesting narrative involving Nuova and his brother Eis Shenron, but it doesn’t go anywhere.

7

The Para Para Brothers Are One of the Most Memorable Parts of Dragon Ball GT

The Para Para Brothers Have More Charm Than Most of GT’s Other New Characters

Created by Toei Animation, the Para Para Brothers are often viewed as a summation of everything wrong with Dragon Ball GT. This is entirely fair, and every fan is entitled to their opinion. At the same time, the fact that every viewer remembers them, while most likely not being able to remember the names of characters like Luud, Mutchy, and Don Kee is a testament to the memorability of their writing.

The Para Para Brothers are an over-the-top, flamboyant trio of villains who combat their enemies with the power of dance. Their evil dance, which compels Goku, Pan, and Trunks to dance with them, is as ridiculous as they are. And, while it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, this type of silliness hits the exact tone that the Black Star Dragon Ball Saga needed to more consistently in order to be a success.

6

Darkness Single-Handedly Makes the Anime Version of the King Piccolo Saga Better

Darkness is the Best Filler Character in the Original Dragon Ball

Created by Toei Animation, Darkness is a minor character in the Dragon Ball anime who isn’t present in Toriyama’s manga. And, while his presence is a significant change to the manga’s depiction of the King Piccolo Saga, it’s undoubtedly a change for the better. Whereas Goku’s big power-up in the arc from the Ultra Divine Water is wholly unsatisfying, in the anime, he has to face the entity who guards it.

Darkness is strange, mysterious, and his very existence invites intrigue. More importantly, he challenges Goku in far more unique ways than just making him endure pain, instead forcing him to face illusions, and testing his will. Because of how satisfying it is to see Goku pass Darkness’s tests, seeing him use the power he gains from it to defeat King Piccolo is likewise more cathartic.

5

Merus Was a Great New Spin on a Mentor For Goku

Merus Acts as the Emotional Core of the Galactic Patrol Prisoner Saga

Merus is the best-written character created by Toyotarou, bar none. A heroic angel who was sent to live among mortals, and made a place for himself among the Galactic Patrol, Merus has a fantastic backstory that ties in well to Dragon Ball Super’s lore. He’s also able to form a sweet and unique relationship with Goku, acting as both a friend to him, and a master to help him perfect Ultra Instinct.

The Galactic Patrol Prisoner Saga has a lot of elements that work, but the arc as a whole only comes together because of Merus. He is the emotional rock that grounds the story, and Moro’s absorption of him is what really makes fans want to see Goku defeat him. Merus isn’t the most complex or interesting character, but he’s likable and, by the standards of modern Dragon Ball, his story is a strong one.

4

Baby is Conceptually the Greatest Dragon Ball Villain of All Time

Baby Drives the Strongest Arc in Dragon Ball GT

Created by Toei Animation, Baby is the main villain of his eponymous saga, and the best new character introduced in Dragon Ball GT‘s main series. The artificial creation of the Tuffles is designed to get revenge on the Saiyans for enacting genocide upon them, and Baby is conceptually brilliant. Baby doesn’t fully live up to his potential, but he’s still an incredibly strong villain.

Baby is exceptionally creepy, being a parasite that possesses other characters. Like Cell before him, there’s a satisfying development in seeing him use his intelligence to outwit his enemies long enough for him to become an unstoppable force. Baby’s greatest weakness, though, is that he acts far too much like a generic Dragon Ball villain, as opposed to someone who truly views himself as the hero working to purge the universe of the evil Saiyans.

3

Goku Jr is a Surprisingly Compelling Protagonist

Goku Jr is as Likable as He is Derivative

Created by Toei Animation, Goku Jr is the protagonist of Dragon Ball GT: A Hero’s Legacy. While the mere idea of a character named “Goku Jr” who looks just like Goku may be eyeroll-inducing, he’s actually a great character. The main reason for this, besides A Hero’s Legacy being by far the best part of GT, is that, while he may look like Goku, his demeanor is completely different, and his story has a much different meaning.

The distant descendant of Goku, and Pan’s Great-Great-Grandson, Goku Jr is a soft, timid, and kind boy who’s only ever known peace, and who initially isn’t interested in being a fighter. Over the course of his refreshingly low-key adventure, though, he learns to be brave, and does so without abandoning any other parts of himself. By the final episode of GT, it’s even seen that he’s developed an interest in fighting, while again still being the same sweet, playful kid he started out as.

2

Kale is One of the Best New Characters Introduced in Dragon Ball Super

Kale’s Creation Inspired Toriyama to Create Caulifla

Inspired by the popularity of Broly, Toei Animation created the strongest mortal woman in the multiverse, Kale. The first ever female Super Saiyan, Kale is much more than just a clone of Broly, even if she is Universe 6’s Legendary Super Saiyan. Throughout Dragon Ball Super’s Universe Survival Saga, fans are given the chance to really get to know Kale, and to see her relationship with Caulifla develop.

Prior to the Tournament of Power, Kale is shy and awkward, and filled with rage and jealousy towards anyone else who gets close to Caulifla. As the arc progresses, Kale learns to control her rage, as she and Caulifla cement their bond, and Caulifla assures her she’ll never leave her. This arc is perfectly concluded by their symbolic fusion into one of Dragon Ball Super’s coolest characters, Kefla.

1

Bardock Remains One of the Best-Written Dragon Ball Characters Ever

Toriyama’s Bardock is a Pale Shadow of the Original

As an individual story, Dragon Ball Z: Bardock – The Father of Goku is better-written than any single arc of Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball manga. As a result, Bardock himself is one of the best-written characters in all of Dragon Ball. This is exclusively with regard to the version of the character originally created by Toei Animation, and the same is absolutely not true of the version created by Akira Toriyama decades later.

As a protagonist, Bardock is a fascinating departure from any other lead character in Dragon Ball’s history. Rather than any type of hero, he’s a sadistic, bloodthirsty monster who loves conquering planets and doesn’t even care at all about his own kids. But, due to him actually caring for his people, and his squad in particular, Bardock is rendered a tragic figure, as he desperately tries to stop Frieza from eliminating the Saiyans, only to fail completely, and die the death he deserves.

• 

  Dragon Ball

  Dragon Ball tells the tale of a young warrior by the name of Son Goku, a young peculiar boy with a tail who embarks on a quest to become stronger and learns of the Dragon Balls, when, once all 7 are gathered, grant any wish of choice.

• 
  

  

  Dragon Ball Super

  Release Date

  2015 – 2018-00-00

  Showrunner

  Tatsuya Nagamine

  Directors

  Tatsuya Nagamine

  
  

  
  

  
  

• 
  

  

  Dragon Ball GT

  Release Date

  1997 – 1996

  Network

  Fuji TV

  Showrunner

  Akira Toriyama

  
  

  • Masako Nozawa

    Oob (voice)

  • 

    Yûko Minaguchi

    Uncredited