<em>Dragon Ball</em> has consistently delivered unexpected twists and turns. From Goku’s childhood adventures on Earth in search of the Dragon Balls to the moment the Saiyan’s hair turned silver in a tournament that determined the fate of the universe, the series has always managed to surprise its audience.
While some twists were carefully foreshadowed throughout the series, such as Goku’s original Super Saiyan transformation, others were so shocking that they left everyone in disbelief. One twist even caught Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama off guard.
Trunks’ Reveals His Identity
Akira Toriyama Surprised Himself with the Reveal of Trunks’ Identity
After the Namek Saga, Dragon Ball ventured into new territory. The era of strong fighters competing in tournaments was over. With the introduction of the Super Saiyan transformation, any future threats Goku faced would need to be extraordinarily powerful. Thus, when a new Super Saiyan appeared just episodes after Frieza’s defeat, fans were left in awe.
The most shocking aspect for viewers was Trunks’ origin story reveal. No one could have guessed that the teenage Super Saiyan was the son of Vegeta and Bulma, especially since they were not together at that time. This twist even surprised Akira Toriyama, who had not initially planned that backstory for Trunks before starting the Androids/Cell Saga.
Bulma, Gohan, and Trunks Discover a Second Time Machine
The Build-Up to Cell’s Reveal Turned Dragon Ball Into a Mystery Thriller
The Androids and Cell Saga is distinctive among Dragon Ball‘s story arcs for several reasons, including being the only major section not culminating with Goku defeating the villain. However, it is the initial part of this arc that truly sets it apart. Trunks warned about two androids causing destruction, but he would later find out he was mistaken in his prediction.
The two androids from the main timeline were not the same ones that devastated the future. When Bulma, Gohan, and Trunks discovered a second time machine hidden in the woods, they realized trouble was on the horizon. Cell’s introduction felt more like a mystery thriller than a battle shōnen anime, and his eventual horrifying reveal shocked fans.
Krillin’s Death on Namek
Krillin’s Second Death Was Sudden and Cruel
In recent times, the rules governing the Dragon Balls and how many times characters can die have become less significant. However, there was a time in Dragon Ball when characters could only be revived once. Krillin’s first death during the Demon King Piccolo Saga was shocking enough, but his second death was even more surprising given he had already been revived.
It takes a lot to provoke kind-hearted Goku, but Frieza managed to push all the right buttons just before Goku’s first transformation into a Super Saiyan. In an instant, Krillin was propelled into the air and obliterated by Dragon Ball‘s most infamous villain. However, before fans could comprehend what had occurred, Goku became enveloped in his iconic golden glow.
Piccolo Kills Both Goku and Raditz
In a Desperate Attack, Piccolo Took Out the Series’ Protagonist
The Dragon Ball Z segment of Akira Toriyama’s original story kicked off dramatically, altering everything fans thought they knew about Goku with Raditz’s introduction and the revelation of his Saiyan heritage. The moment it became clear that Goku belonged to a race of fierce space warriors was monumental, making it all the more shocking when Goku died shortly thereafter.
Typically, such significant revelations aren’t immediately followed by a character’s death, but Akira Toriyama broke that mold. Raditz proved far stronger than Earth’s mightiest fighters, and in a moment of desperation, Piccolo unleashed a Special Beam Cannon that pierced both Raditz and Goku.
Although Goku wouldn’t remain dead for long, it was still shocking for viewers to witness their protagonist perish so early in just the fifth episode of Dragon Ball Z.
Kid Buu Destroys the Earth
For the First Time, Goku Couldn’t Make the Timely Save
By the time of the Buu Saga, fans had grown accustomed to battles between characters capable of obliterating entire planets. Frieza had done so only a few arcs earlier while Vegeta threatened to do likewise even earlier than that. Yet none had actually succeeded in destroying Earth until Kid Buu appeared with his chaotic fighting style and decided to reduce it to rubble without warning.
As characters become increasingly powerful within a narrative framework, their actions must escalate accordingly to maintain tension. However, no one anticipated Kid Buu’s abrupt lethal strike.
Piccolo Sacrifices Himself for Gohan
The One-Time Villain Gave His Life to Save His Rival’s Son
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While Vegeta may be regarded as Dragon Ball‘s most famous villain turned hero, he wasn’t alone in this journey. Before him came Piccolo who also underwent a similar transformation from villainy to heroism after initially swearing to defeat Goku.
Todays’ beloved hero Piccolo made an emotional sacrifice when he jumped in front of Nappa’s deadly blast aimed at young Gohan—saving him at the cost of his own life. This poignant moment remains one of Dragon Ball‘s most touching scenes and solidified an unbreakable bond between master and student.
Recoome Viciously Attacks Gohan on Namek
Goku Barely Made It In Time to Save His Son
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The series has always showcased its share of violence which likely contributed to its appeal among younger audiences during its early years in America—introducing intense action into typical cartoon slots on television. However, some moments remain unsettling even decades later.
A notable instance is Recoome’s brutal fight against five-year-old Gohan on Namek where Recoome mercilessly pummeled him before breaking his neck—only for Goku to arrive just in time to halt further violence. While fans generally enjoy graphic battles within Dragon Ball, this particular scene involving Gohan remains disturbing even after many years.
Goku’s Super Saiyan 3 Reveal
Super Saiyan 3 Was Shown Off With Little Build-Up
The transformations into Super Saiyan are among Dragon Ball‘s most captivating aspects as fans eagerly anticipate new flashy power-ups during battles. Both original forms along with Super Saiyan 2 emerged from intense emotions—making Goku’s transition into Super Saiyan 3 all the more surprising upon its reveal.
This transformation wasn’t achieved out of necessity but rather as a distraction tactic against Majin Buu for just a few moments—later claiming he discovered this form while training in Otherworld. Given how extreme circumstances prompted earlier transformations into Super Saiyans one would never expect such an iconic reveal without buildup.
Trunks Defeats Frieza With Ease
The Mysterious Super Saiyan Defeated the Previous Arc’s Villain in Minutes
No moment within Dragon Ball has been as unexpected as Trunks’ arrival during Frieza’s assault on Earth when heroes thought they were doomed until this mysterious fighter appeared transforming into a Super Saiyan.
The anime dedicated thirty-nine episodes towards Planet Namek’s saga where battles between Goku and Frieza lasted nearly four hours real-time before Trunks—a previously unknown teenager—arrived slashing Frieza apart within mere minutes following his transformation into Super Saiyan mode—making this introduction an unforgettable fan-favorite moment decades later.
The Saiyan Reveal Changes Everything for Dragon Ball
No Moment in Anime Was More Important than the Introduction of the Saiyans
After completing twenty-third World Tournament events,Dragon Ball witnessed pivotal changes ahead as protagonist Goku grew immensely powerful defeating previous villains leaving no one stronger than him on Earth anymore—forcing Akira Toriyama towards one crucial narrative decision within anime/manga history!
An alien suddenly appeared claiming himself as Goku’s brother revealing that our hero belonged to an entire race known as Saiyans forever altering everything within<em>Dragon Ball </em>.
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