Goku's Inability to Change Makes Him One of Anime's GOATs

Goku’s Biggest Flaw Is What Makes Him One of Anime's Greats

Son Goku using Instant Transmission in Dragon Ball Z

By Zach Zamora Published 21 minutes ago Zach joined the ScreenRant Anime team as a contributor in June 2024, before taking on a Senior Writer role in November. Since then, he has covered breaking news and produced features and lists about the most popular anime titles. Sign in to your ScreenRant account Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

No anime character is as recognizable around the world as Dragon Ball's iconic protagonist, Goku. Though many have tried to steal his throne in the four-plus decades since his debut, other heroes have fallen short time and time again, failing to capture the sort of appeal that has kept Goku so popular over the years.

However, just because he's anime's greatest hero doesn't mean that he's free of flaws. Goku puts his desire to fight stronger opponents before just about anything else, and despite several close calls with overly evil foes, that trait of his has never changed.

Some Dragon Ball fans might want to see growth or change in their favorite characters, especially after so many emotionally charged fights. In Goku's case, though, the fact that he never changes is what makes him one of anime's all-time great characters.

Dragon Ball Is Over Four Decades Old, and Goku Has Never Changed

Anime's Greatest Hero Has Always Unapologetically Been Himself

Son Goku as seen in Dragon Ball Super Broly

The quality of a character can be measured in a number of ways. The most popular names in anime are typically celebrated for their complex inner conflict and gradual character growth, even more so today thanks to the introduction of increasingly layered shōnen protagonists like Chainsaw Man's Denji, who exists in more of a grey moral area.

At the same time, the standard, naturally good hero incapable of wrongdoing is still incredibly popular, as seen with Demon Slayer's Tanjiro. However, Goku, anime's most popular hero ever, exists somewhere in-between both character archetypes. Dragon Ball's protagonist has saved the world more times than anyone could care to count, but he isn't exactly a superhero.

From his introduction, it's made clear that Goku is a strange boy from the mountains, obsessed with fighting. Several story arcs later, and Goku becomes a strange man with a growing number of friends and family, still hopelessly obsessed with fighting. Today, Goku remains an odd guy, obsessed with fighting.

Series creator Akira Toriyama made it a point to write Goku as a consistent, flawed hero, and he never changed his approach to the Saiyan's character. Goku never starts a fight for any reason other than his desire to fight a stronger opponent, and if that opponent is threatening his planet or loved ones, there's all the more reason for him to throw the first punch.

It doesn't come down to whether he's strictly virtuous or horribly incompetent. Rather, Goku is something more complex, and that's exactly what makes him great.

Goku Isn't a Good Hero, and He's Better Off that Way

Dragon Ball's iconic main character has been subject to quite a bit of criticism over the years. He's largely selfish and isn't exactly the most available parent and husband to his family. He's directly put the universe in danger on a number of occasions, but he always comes out victorious and saves the day.

More than that, he is often the catalyst for change in villains. Despite Goku's own questionable motives for fighting and relatively light-hearted nature, villains can't help but be won over by his pure, if not naive, existence. Toriyama also made sure to keep that trait consistent in the Saiyan.

Goku might not be the greatest hero, but it's difficult not to root for someone so innocently dedicated to their own desire to become stronger. The number of villains turned heroes and the massive popularity of Dragon Ball through four decades of activity only proves as much.

It can and likely will continue to be argued whether Goku is much of a hero at all, and there are points to be made on either side. But it cannot be denied that for a story as straightforward as Dragon Ball is most of the time, no character could be a better fit as protagonist than Goku.

Over Forty Years On From His Debut, Goku Remains King

New Anime Fans Are Won Over By Goku Every Day

Goku happy from Dragon Ball Z

Though other anime series might outperform Dragon Ball in viewership or ratings today, they will have a long way to go in order to match the sort of longevity the series has enjoyed. The classics will always have their crowd, but few franchises have been successful with different generations of viewers the way Dragon Ball has.

During the original manga's run in Japan, the anime's Western breakthrough in the '90s and early 2000s, or the series' renaissance period during the 2010s, Dragon Ball has introduced countless fans to the world of anime and manga, and will continue to do so for years to come.

At the center of it all is Son Goku, the light-hearted, fighting-obsessed, at times dense, and endlessly endearing protagonist who has helped Dragon Ball achieve the sort of legendary status it enjoys today. He might not be the best hero, but that's exactly what makes him such an enjoyable character.

Dragon Ball Created by Akira Toriyama First Film Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies Latest Film Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero First TV Show Dragon Ball First Episode Air Date April 26, 1989 Current Series Dragon Ball Super

From the creative mind of Akira Toriyama, Dragon Ball is a mega multimedia franchise that spans back to the 1980s. Dragon Ball expanded quickly, starting as a serialized manga for Weekly Shonen Jump in Japan. It made its way overseas via manga and an anime adaptation that is enjoyed worldwide. Dragon Ball was the initial starting animated series that followed the adventures of the young Son Goku as he sought after the Dragon Balls. These mystical orbs would grant the wish of any who gathered them together. Then, the series would branch off into the immensely popular Dragon Ball Z, which followed Goku as an adult and featured high-intensity battles and Goku's never-ending search to be the strongest. The series has also enjoyed several popular video game adaptations and continues to release several new animated series and theatrical films up to the recent popular Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero.

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