5 Dragon Ball Characters That Are Better In The Anime

Akira Toriyama’s manga masterpiece has come a long way from its 1984 inception. Exploding into a major franchise, Dragon Ball has enjoyed success in a variety of mediums, none more so than anime.

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The dynamic action and character development on display in the anime rendition of Dragon Ball quickly established it as a seminal, instant classic series. From multi-episode battles to a surprisingly nuanced level of character development, the anime series has more than lived up to its beloved manga source material. Impressively, many of the characters are enhanced with an overall greater emotional depth in the anime, with everything from courage and fury to humor and compassion being given room to breathe with much of the series’ main cast. The affecting music, energetic animation, and rich color palette also help to deliver richer, more vibrant entertainment experiences, giving both the characters and the wild storylines a big boost.

5 Frieza’s Villainous Nature Is Fleshed Out In The Anime

Debut Episode: Brood of Evil

The diabolical architect of the destruction of the Saiyans has frequently served as the Dragon Ball franchise’s number one villain. The emperor of Universe 7 and the prime nemesis of Goku, Frieza’s fearsome brand of evil has been a dark aspect of both the manga and the anime.

What sets the anime rendition of Frieza apart is the sinister energy with which voice actors such as Ryūsei Nakao and the late Christopher Ayres have infused him. Succeeding admirably in lending life to the tyrannical villain’s malicious demeanor, the high-quality voice-acting is not the only area in which the anime manages to further expand upon Frieza’s villainous aura. His transformation sequences are supremely over-the-top and better-suited to the high-energy, moving medium of anime than they were for the static nature of manga.

4 Master Roshi’s Eccentricity Is Much Funnier In Motion

Debut Episode: The Nimbus Cloud of Roshi

The revered God of Martial Arts has an unfortunate habit of shamelessly displaying his more lecherous traits. Despite this embarrassing running gag, Master Roshi is an elite-level warrior who is the mastermind behind the training of many key characters, including Goku and Krillin.

The anime rendition of the lovable old sage succeeded in fully realizing the breadth and depth of his complex, often contradictory personality. From his bizarre habits to his on-point comedic timing, and powerful martial arts wisdom, every aspect of Master Roshi is colorfully and impactfully fleshed out in the anime. With sharply done voice acting, the potentially ridiculous characterization comes out perfectly, giving viewers a hilarious, sometimes poignant figure who stands out in a series already chock-full of colorful characters.

3 Krillin Is A Brave And Loyal Martial Arts Master

Debut Episode: Goku’s Arrival

Despite being presented as a master martial artist, Krillin has frequently served as a comic relief figure, particularly in the manga. A lovable supporting hero, the Z Fighter is arguably Goku’s closest friend.

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While still a humorous figure in the anime, Krillin is given noticeably more room to showcase his heartfelt persona and an important role as a supportive and loyal friend. Better still, the anime often highlights his unexpectedly sharp tactical thinking in combat. This fighting aspect of the character is more impactful in motion, with his bravery and emotional responses coming across more energetically. Overall, while Krillin is an important and likable figure in both mediums, the anime allowed him more breathing room as a serious, essential figure in the Dragon Ball mythos.

2 Vegeta Is A Well-Acted, Complex Figure In The Anime

Debut episode: Reunions

Dragon Ball‘s seminal villain-come-good is a thought-provoking treat in both mediums. His powerful, slow-burning redemption arc is one of the finest pieces of storytelling in the whole series.

A key aspect of Vegeta’s anime adaptation that allows him to shine so brightly is his stellar voice acting. Vocal performers such as Ryō Horikawa and Christopher Sabat have done stellar jobs in bringing the surly Saiyan prince to life over the years. Lines such as his iconic “It’s over 9000” comment reached meme level thanks to the anime, becoming pop-cultural staple quotes widely known by the public. While popular in the manga as well, it’s hard to argue that the effective work in bringing him to life in the anime made him far more of a household name than the original source material ever could.

1 Son Goku’s Powers And Expressions Translate Perfectly To Anime

Debut Episode: The Secret of the Dragon Balls

The scarily powerful lead hero of the epic Dragon Ball saga is unsurprisingly a phenomenal character in both the manga and the anime. A noble, brave Saiyan, Goku has firmly established himself as a seminal, pop-cultural protagonist.

Goku’s in-depth anime presentation manages to edge the manga for several, largely esthetic reasons. The fast-moving, more action-packed nature of anime provides more space to capture Goku’s emotional depth and charm. Viewers get a closer, more rewarding look at the mighty hero in action, whilst also enjoying more space to pick up on his lighter, goofier moments as well. This clearer cut emotional range enhances some of the Saiyan’s most gripping moments, including his showdowns with deadly villains such as Frieza and Cell. Overall, his emotional reactions, and the litany of special effects and masterful animation used to bring his powers to life, make for must-see moments that work better in motion.

Dragon Ball

Release Date

February 26, 1986

Genres

Action, Comedy, Adventure

Seasons

9

Studio

Toei Animation

Creator

Akira Toriyama

Number of Episodes

153

Streaming Service(s)

Crunchyroll, Funimation, Hulu

Based On

Manga

MyAnimeList Score

7.96

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