Goku

Son Goku
Dragon Ball character
File:DragonballZ-Episode287 188.jpg Son Goku, as depicted in the anime series.
First appearance	Manga chapter 1 Dragon Ball episode 1
Created by	Akira Toriyama
In-universe information
Relatives	Burdock (father) Raditz (brother) "Grandpa" Son Gohan (Adoptive grandfather) Chichi (wife) Gyumao (father-in-law) Son Gohan (son) Son Goten (son) Videl (daughter-in-law) Mr. Satan(daughter-in-law's father) Pan (granddaughter) Son Goku Jr. (great-great grandson)

Son Goku (孫 悟空, Son Gokū, known only as Goku in most English adaptations) is the protagonist of the Dragon Ball manga and anime series created by Akira Toriyama. At first, Goku's representation in the Dragon Ball story was parodied on Sun Wukong (the Chinese pronunciation of the name), the leading character in the Chinese novel Journey to the West. As Dragon Ball developed from an adventure to a martial arts sensation, Goku's direct reference to this classic character in literature is quickly departed. When the manga was adapted into anime, the series was split into two sub-series. The first sub-series told the history of Goku's childhood and went by the original name of the manga; while its more familiar sequel sub-series called Dragon Ball Z covered his adulthood. A third anime only sub-series was produced called Dragon Ball GT that continued Goku's story, ten years after the end of Dragon Ball Z, and the written Dragon Ball series.

Heritage and appearance

Goku was born as Kakarrot (カカロット, Kakarotto) a member of an extraterrestrial warrior race called the Saiyan. Due to the Saiyan's methods of systematically conquoring habitable planets, Goku was sent to Earth as an infant to conquer it and make it suitable for sale on the galactic market.

Since Toriyama does not consider what is to come in proceeding chapters of his stories, Goku's story developes into one that is not typical of other superheroes in media. Much of these reasons come from the simple fact that Dragon Ball was originally intended to be an adventure, and not a series that primarily focused on martial arts. Since Goku's character was originally inspired from a monkey king, he originally appeared in the series as a boy with dark hair, a lean build, and a monkey tail. As the series developed, these physical traits are later explained to be typical of the Saiyans. As Dragon Ball departed its parody of Journey to the West, Goku's tail is removed permanently by Kami-sama.

File:Gokukidadult.jpg

Goku as a child and as an adult.

Goku does not possess the typical behavioral traits of the race, such as extreme aggression and ruthless behavior. This is due to an accident that he suffered as a child, where his programmed aggression and memory were erased due to head trauma. Because of his devotion toward Earth, he dresses in an Asian martial arts uniform instead of the traditional Saiyan battle armor. Goku's uniform consists of an orange full-body outfit (yellow-orange in the manga, red-orange in the anime, and plain orange in some of the movies) with a dark blue short-sleeved under shirt, belt, wristbands, and boots. He is also known to use the symbols of his training masters. The first symbol that Goku uses was the symbol of his first master Muten Roshi's, which stood for Kame, meaning "turtle." Later he wears the symbol of his next master, Kaio for "Kai" (meaning "world") while battling the Saiyans. After Goku recovers from his battle with the saiyans, Kaio sends him another gi with the symbol meaning "Go" (meaning either "enlightenment" or "wisdom") which also appears in his name's Japanese symbols. As the series progresses, he discards these symbols, becoming a master instead of a student by training his child Son Gohan, and later a pupil named Uub.

Even though Kakarrot is Goku's original name, he prefers to be called "Goku" that he was given upon his arrival on Earth. When Goku learns of his origins as an extraterrestrial, he rejects his heritage, but later accepts it during his battle with the galactic overlord named Freeza. Only Saiyans refer to Goku by his Saiyan name. Due to a unique genetic trait in Saiyan genetics, Goku's physique almost perfectly mimics his father Burdock. Another unique trait in Saiyan genetics is that the Saiyans evolved to retain their youthfulness for combat, so as a result, Goku ages very slowly when he reaches about age thirty, appearing very young even when he is middle-aged.

Goku's original name fits in with the rest of his family; all the known members in his family are a pun on vegetables that are related to each other. "Kakarrot" is a pun on "carrot", while Goku's older brother named Raditz is a pun on "radish" and Goku's father Burdock, is named after an herb of the same name.

Character personality

As with the insparation for Goku named Sun Wukong in Journey to the West, Goku exhibits a purity of heart, meaning that he is completely void of evil and temptation. Being pure of heart, Goku is known for his naïvity and selflessness, and is often observed to be concerned with other people, regardless of how evil they seem to be. This unusual trait in Goku's personality is contrasted by his fierce love of competition, specifically fighting. Goku is often criticized by the other characters for giving his rivals a chance to change their intentions instead of killing them off. But as a result, this trait of his personality has earned him respect from former rivals, developed alliances, and even friendships with them.

Even though most of Goku's traits are very different from other Saiyans, he shares the Saiyan love for food and combat, and often neglects his duties as a husband and friend in order to train. Goku's desires mostly reflect his ambition to not only compete against others, but also to surpass his own limits, becoming an inspiration for his friends who also fight. Goku's personality is one of the few in the series that has almost no changes as the series continues, remaining naive and child-like throughout the course of the series, even at the end of the series when he is middle-aged.

History

The following account of the character's biography is based primarily on the original manga series, with mentions from the anime series where it is appropriate.

Dragon Ball

Goku is introduced in the series as a young boy, living alone in the wilderness after the death of his adoptive grandfather. At the start of the series, Goku claims his age to be fourteen, however it is later discovered that he was actually twelve, the mishap occurring from his own mathematical error. Goku is discovered by a young city girl named Bulma, who is searching for the Dragon Balls, seven magical balls that when brought together summon the Dragon God named Shenlong. Goku possesses one of the balls, and Bulma offers him the opportunity to travel the world with her, looking for the rest of them. Goku accepts the offer, wanting to fulfill his dream of becoming the world's strongest martial artist.

As the series continues, Goku gains a noted possession called the Kintoun, a cloud on which only a pure heart can ride. Goku also meets many strong fighters and makes new friends. Amongst the people he meets, he meets his martial arts master Muten-Rôshi, who teaches him the powerful Kamehameha energy attack, his fellow student and best friend Kuririn, the desert bandit, Yamcha, the three-eyed Tenshinhan, the cowardly samurai Yajirobe and the god of Earth Kami-sama, whom Goku also trains under. Later in the series, he encounters the Red Ribbon Army on their quest for world domination, and destroys it single-handedly. Goku then saves the world from the demon king Piccolo Daimao. After saving the Earth Goku faces Piccolo Daimao's reincarnation at the World Martial Arts Tournament. Goku defeats the demon king, finally claims the title of "strongest under the heavens" and departs to start a life with his new wife, the Ox Princess Chichi. With this, the anime sub series of Dragon Ball ends.

Dragon Ball Z

Saiyan Saga

As the second half of the manga series adapted to anime begins: Dragon Ball Z, Goku is introduced in this series as an adult. Following a five year period of peace the defeat of Piccolo Jr, Goku is seen to now have a four year old son named after his adoptive grandfather, Son Gohan. This five years of peace is interuppted when a warrior of the alien Saiyans arrives on Earth and reveals to Goku his Saiyan heritage. Raditz also kidnaps Gohan and threatens to destroy the Earth. Realizing that they now have a common enemy, Goku and Piccolo form a temporary alliance to defeat Raditz (Their alliance was birth of the "Z fighters"). Just when Goku and Piccolo are losing the battle, Gohan breaks free of Raditz's ship and attacks Raditz with an unexpected and massive dormant power, considerably injuring Raditz. However, in the end of the battle Goku is killed and sent to the afterlife to train with the "Lord of Worlds" (Kaio-sama), in order to prepare for the upcoming battle against two more Saiyans.

Goku learns both the Kaiō-ken and Genki-dama techniques and his strength increases substantially due to the increased gravity in Kaio-sama's planet. One year after his death, the Dragon God Shenlong revives Goku so he can fight the Saiyans. When Goku arrives on Earth, he easily defeats one of the Saiyans named Nappa, then challenges the more powerful Saiyan named Vegeta. Afterwards, Goku is the victor after receiving assistance from his son Gohan, his best friend Kuririn, and long time friend Yajirobe.

Freeza Saga

After witnessing the casualties of the battle against the Saiyans, Goku travels to Piccolo's planet called Planet Namek to search for the Namekian Dragon Balls in order to revive the warriors who had died against the Saiyans. Goku discovers that the powerful galactic overlord named Freeza is also on Planet Namek, searching for the Dragon Balls in order to gain immortality. Goku also discovers that Vegeta is on the planet, however had offered to team up with him to battle Freeza, with assistance from Gohan and Kuririn. Seeing how Goku's power had dramatically increased since battling him on Earth, Vegeta begins to suspect that Goku was a legendary Saiyan warrior called a "Super Saiyan". After a hard battle against Freeza, which resulted in both Vegeta's and Kuririn's deaths, Goku's rage toward Freeza enables his full transformation to Super Saiyan. Goku battles Freeza with his new power and defeats him after everyone is sent back to Earth. Goku defeats Freeza, and returns to Earth a year later, everyone who had died against Freeza and Vegeta were revived.

Android Saga

After Goku returns home, he is met by another Super Saiyan from the future named Trunks. Trunks informs Goku of a bleak future for Earth, where two very powerful androids (Jinzō'ningen) are terrorizing his world. Trunks also reveals that everyone who could fight for the Earth were killed by the androids, aside from Goku, who had died naturally due to a heart virus before the arrival of the androids. Trunks provides Goku with an antidote for the heart virus. Goku spends the next 3 years training with Piccolo and Gohan, not showing any signs of illness.

When the androids appear, Goku battles one of them named Android #19. It is only then that Goku shows signs of illness, and he is rushed from the battlefield. After recovering from the illness, Goku discovers that even more powerful androids named #17, #18 and #16 have been activated and defeated the Z warriors. After witnessing a greater threat arrive in the form of the artificial being named Cell, Goku knew that they had to find a way to ascend the Super Saiyan. Instead of ascending the Super Saiyan, Goku primarily focuses on mastering the Super Saiyan with Gohan for an elapsed year in the Room of Spirit and Time. Having remembered Gohan's dormant power that revealed itself when he fought Raditz years earlier, Goku trains Gohan in the room, knowing that if Gohan could become a Super Saiyan, they would be able to defeat Cell.

Cell attains his ultimate power during Goku and Gohan's training, and decides to host a Tenkaichi Budokai called "The Cell Games" in order to test his power. Goku faces Cell at the tournament, only to pass the match on to Gohan who had become a Super Saiyan during their training in the room. Relying on Gohan's power that he'd possessed since he was a child, Goku witnesses Gohan transform into a the more superior form of Super Saiyan 2. After seeing that he could not defeat Gohan, Cell begins to self-destruct in an attempt to destroy the Earth, forcing Goku to teleport Cell to Kaio-sama's planet, where Goku dies in the explosion. Cell regenerates and returns to Earth, more powerful than before. Gohan defeats Cell with help from Goku's spirit in the afterlife. After the battle, the Z warriors attempt to revive Goku, but Goku chooses to remain in the afterlife, believing himself to be the cause of many of the threats to Earth and his loved ones, explaining why he trained Gohan to succeed him.

Buu Saga

File:Gokussj3deadhovering.jpg

Goku as a Super Saiyan 3.

Seven years after the events of Cell, Goku is given permission to return to Earth for one day to participate in the 25th Tenkaichi Budokai. During this time, he discovers that he has a second child named Son Goten. Goku's peaceful day on Earth is interrupted by the appearance of the Lord of Lords (Kaioshin), who informs Goku of a Universal threat that has been dormant on Earth for millions of years. The monster named Majin Buu lies dormant on Earth, attempting to be revived by the evil wizard named Babidi. Goku and the Z fighters attempt to stop Babidi from reviving Buu. However, Buu is revived during this time.

Knowing that he would need the Dragon Balls, Goku stalls Buu with his newest Super Saiyan transformation called Super Saiyan 3, so that they could retrieve the Dragon Radar before Buu unknowingly destroyed it. Goku later revealed that he could have defeated Buu in this form, however, he wanted to see the new generation learn to deal with threats for themselves. Goku returns to Other World, and finds Gohan training with Kaioshin. During this time, an ancient Kaioshin releases all of Gohan's dormant power, and he returns to Earth to fight Buu, only to be defeated by him, as Buu absorbs Gotenks (a fusion between Goten and Trunks) and Piccolo. Goku arrives to help him but Gohan is absorbed into Buu before a fusion can be made. Goku then fuses with Vegeta, who was returned to Earth by Lord Enma power to assist in fighting Buu. The pair create the super warrior Vegetto.

Vegetto easily overpowers Buu before getting intentionally absorbed in order to rescue all those who had been absorbed by Buu. Inside Buu's body, Vegetto is forced to separate back into Vegeta and Goku. The duo find all the absorbed warriors and rescue them (except Fat Buu), after which Buu transforms into an insane child-like form of himself. Goku, Vegeta, the new Guardian of Earth Dende, and the "world champion" Mr. Satan are teleported to Kaioshin's Planet by Kaioshin, seconds before Buu destroys Earth.

Majin Buu finds Goku and battles him. After an unsuccessful attempt to overpower Buu, Porunga is used to revive the Earth and its inhabitants. Goku forms a Genki Dama using Earth's energy and Buu is destroyed. Ten years later, Goku meets Buu's human reincarnation named Uub and trains him to be his successor as the Universe's greatest defender.

Dragon Ball GT

Baby Saga

Ten years after Goku met Uub, an unfortunate wish by Pilaf upon the Black Star Dragon Balls turn Goku into a child again. Goku is then set with the task of returning all 7 Black Star Dragon Balls back to Earth after they separate across the galaxy to prevent the destruction of Earth. During his journey, Goku encounters Baby, a creation of the Tsufurujin, a race that lived on the Saiyan home planet called Planet Vegeta before they were destroyed by the Saiyans. Upon their return to Earth, Goku and his friends again encounter Baby, who has possessed Vegeta as an act of revenge against the Saiyans. Against Baby-Vegeta, Goku is defeated, however, is saved when he is brought to Kaioshin's Planet.

On Kaioshin's Planet, Rou Dai Kaioshin plans to re-grow Goku's Saiyan tail to increase Goku's power. After his tail is regrown, Goku confronts Baby Vegeta a second time only to fall again. During this time, Goku transforms into a Golden Oozaru. When Goku gains control of the form, he transforms into the Super Saiyan 4 form. Goku defeats Baby Vegeta, forcing Baby to flee Vegeta's body before Goku kills him.

Super 17 Saga

After defeating Baby, a new threat arrives in the form of a new Android 17. After opening the gates of Hell, Goku enters only to be trapped inside. Android 17s creator Dr Gero and Baby's creator Dr Myu escape from Hell only to reveal a second Android 17. The two android 17s fuse to create "Super 17". Meanwhile, Goku is released from Hell by help from Piccolo and Dende.

Goku battles the new Super 17 and, with the help of Android #18, Goku was able to kill Super 17. Peace is restored to the Earth.

Shadow Dragon Saga

After defeating Super 17, Goku attempts to restore the Earth with the Dragon Balls, however, due to the negative energy built up from over-usage of the balls, seven evil Dragons emerge from the Dragon Balls negative energy. Goku defeats six dragons with the help from his grandaughter Pan, but one of the Dragons named Yi Xing Long absorbs the other six Dragon Balls into himself, forming Super Yi Xing Long. Goku fights Super Yi Xing Long, however, is defeated. Bulma uses a device that enables Vegeta to turn into a Super Saiyan 4, allowing him to assist Goku. Vegeta purposes a fusion with Goku, making Super Saiyan 4 Gogeta. Gogeta nearly defeats Super Yi Xing Long, but his fusion time ends before the battle can be finished. Yi Xing Long defeats all the warriors and Goku is severely wounded. Goku then gathers all the energy of the universe into a Genki Dama, and defeats Yi Xing Long with it. Shenlong summons himself, telling them that no more wishes would be granted for a 100 years. Goku as a result accompanies Shenlong back to the realm from which he came.

Goku returns to Earth 100 years later to observe his great-great grandson, Goku Jr., fight a descendant of Vegeta's named Vegeta Jr. Seeing peace restored, Goku flies off on his special cloud called the Kintoun, finally ending the Dragon Ball series. The real fate of Goku remains unknown.

Forms and transformations

As a member of the Saiyan race, Goku has acquired through training, the ability to transform. By transforming his body, Goku greatly enhances his abilities from the previous state. Goku is the only Saiyan in the entire series who achieves all known Saiyan transformations. These forms are listed in the order they were attained:

Oozaru

Main article: Oozaru

This form was a powerful but uncontrollable state common to all Saiyans where the user transforms into a large, ape-like creature increasing strength speed durability and spirit energy(ki) 10 fold, commonly referred to as a Great Ape. As a child, Goku was able to use this form, growing to a size that rivaled small buildings. In this form, Goku became an incredible force to be reckoned with but has no control over his actions at all, his mind overcome with a primal rage. This form was never used again by Goku after Dragon Ball due to his tail being removed permanently by Kami but does make a brief appearance in Dragon Ball GT.

Super Saiyan

Main article: Super Saiyan

Goku was the first Saiyan in the series to achieve this transformation in over 1000 years making him the legendary Super Saiyan. After Freeza murdered Kuririn, seriously injured Piccolo, and threatened the life of his son, Gohan, Goku was overcome with rage and the motivation to stop Freeza once and for all, transforming into a Super Saiyan. This transformation enabled him to increase strength speed durability and spirit energy to a power that was fifty times his base power.

Super Saiyan 2
Goku acheived this form through his training in the afterlife and first revealed it during his battle against Majin Vegeta. This form allowed Goku to increase his speed as well as his strength.

Super Saiyan 3
Goku achieved this form during his trainning in the afterlife. He was the only character to achieve use of this form without having fused with another character first. He displayed this form first during the Buu Saga against Majin Buu. Again, the form augmented Goku's Super Saiyan strength, speed, durability, and spirit energy.

Super Saiyan 4
Goku achieved this form during his battle with Baby-Vegeta in Dragon Ball GT. After being calmed down in the Golden Oozaru state, his mind was allowed to focus, and he was able to control his power and transform into a Super Saiyan 4, shrinking from the Oozaru form down to his regular adult size.

Fusions

Vegetto
The Potara Fusion between Goku and Vegeta, Vegetto, is considered to be the most powerful being in the original Dragon Ball universe. Rou Dai Kaiōshin told Goku that potara fusion was much more effective then the fusion dance because it was more stable and it was permanent. Vegetto as a result was a perfect mixture of Goku and Vegeta's abilities, enabling him to fight Buu without the effects of a fusion made from the Fusion Dance. Even though the fusion was intended to be permanent, any inter-dimensional travel causes the Fusion to separate; as happened with Vegetto as he entered Buu's body.

Gogeta
The result of a Fusion Dance performed by Goku and Vegeta, who was not in the original manga. Gogeta first appeared in Dragon Ball Z movie 12 as a last resort to defeat the demon Janemba. Gogeta appears again in Dragon Ball GT as a Super Saiyan 4 to defeat Omega Shenron.

Techniques and special abilities

Kamehameha (Turtle Destruction Wave, Kamehameha Wave in the FUNimation dub)

The Kamehameha is one of the most widely parodied attacks in media, it is also Goku's signature attack that was taught to him by Muten Roshi. The Kamehameha is a powerful, constant stream of ki hurled at an opponent. The attack is performed by cupping the hands at the side of the body, drawing them back and saying "KA-ME-HA-ME-HA" in five stages, before thrusting the hands forward and shooting a blue energy beam towards the target. Goku learned to use this technique by mimicking Muten Roshi, who used it to put the flames out on Fry-Pan Mountain during the original Dragon Ball series but Goku's was at first not as powerful as Muten Roshi's. Goku later mastered it and developed several more powerful variations of this attack during the course of the series. The name is derived from an ancient Hawaiian king.

Kaiō-Ken (Fist of the Worlds, Kaioken Attack in the FUNimation dub)

The Kaioken was taught to Goku by Kaio-Sama and is one of Goku's most commonly used attacks in the Dragon Ball series prior to his Super Saiyan ascension. The Kaioken is a sudden eruption of ki, doubling Goku's physical abilities and strength. Through training, Goku was able to increase the multiplier that the Kaiōken had on his power. Even though this attack gives Goku a sudden explosion of energy, the effect of it is extremely dangerous. If Goku multiplies the attack too much for his body to handle, he could kill himself by vaporizing his body.

Genki-Dama (Spirit Ball, Spirit Bomb in the FUNimation dub)

Goku's most powerful attack that was taught to him by Kaio Sama, the Genki Dama draws ki energy from a specified group into a giant mass. Goku has only used this attack only three times in the Manga, but more times in the anime and movies. The downside is that he is quite vulnerable during its lengthy creation time. It is suggested in Dragon Ball Z movie 7 that he is only able to perform this technique in his regular state, however this is later contradicted in the original series when he transforms into a Super Saiyan and uses it to defeat Majin Buu.

Shunkan Idô (Instantaneous Transmission, Instant Transmission in the FUNimation dub)

An ability Goku learned on his way back to Earth from Namek on a remote planet called Yardrat. It allows him to teleport nearly anywhere instantly so long as he focuses on a specific ki signal at the desired location. He places two fingers on his forehead to focus on a concentration of ki energy.

Ryū-Ken (Dragon Fist, Super Dragon Fist in the FUNimation dub)

Ryū-Ken is Goku's first and only technique that he created. It's performed by charging your ki in your fist and then releasing it in form of a Shenlong-like dragon, which drives through an opponent. An exception is Goku's attack used to defeat Piccolo Daimao. In that case the ki took form of an Oozaru rather than a dragon.

Other media

Goku has made several appearances in other media, even in the United States. He is a recurring character in other works by Akira Toriyama, such as making a few cameos in Toriyama's metaseries Dr. Slump, as well as featuring in the self-parody manga Neko Majin Z. In Neko Majin Z, Goku is the main character's martial arts teacher.

Goku's latest appearance was as an animated commentator for the Japanese Nippon Ijin Taisho made in 2007 (Japan Great Men Awards). The video is available on YouTube.

Goku has also been depicted in Wizard magazine, where he was matched up in a hypothetical battle against Superman. Goku defeated Superman by transforming into a Super Saiyan and overpowering him with the Kamehameha.

Goku was a featured character in a single episode crossover of Dragon Ball Z and two other anime, One Piece and Astroboy. The video is also available on YouTube.

Goku has frequently appeared in the videogame series of Jump Super Stars and Jump Ultimate Stars, which was a mix of characters from the series of Naruto, One Piece, and Dragon Ball Z.

Voice actors

In the American dubs of Dragon Ball, the voice actors for Goku and many other characters of the series have changed as a result of the series changing dubbing studios and requiring recasting.

Toei Animation

• Masako Nozawa

FUNimation (Ocean Group):

• Saffron Henderson (Kid Goku (1995 dub))
• Ian James Corlett (Adult Goku in Dragon Ball Z, Season 1)
• Peter Kelamis (Adult Goku in Season 2)
• Kirby Morrow (Adult Goku from the end of the Cell Saga (ep 144) to the end of DBZ)

FUNimation (in-house actors):

• Sean Schemmel (Adult Goku in Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT, and Super Saiyan 4 Goku in DBGT)
• Stephanie Nadolny (Kid Goku in Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball GT)

External links

• [1]Dragon Ball manga.
• [2]Dragon Ball Z manga.
• [3]FUNimation web site.
• [4]Atari web site.
• [5]Official Dragon Ball web site Australia.