Calling Piccolo a fan favorite would be an understatement. Throughout Dragon ball, Piccolo transformed from a Demon King, to an alien from Planet Namek, to Gohan’s mentor, and eventually to one of Goku’s closest friends. His transformation not only defined him as a character, but also established him Piccolo’s place as creator Akira Toriyama’s favorite character in the series.
Piccolo has always been wise, cunning, and willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done, no matter if he’s fighting for the Z Fighters or against them. His backstory and loyalties have been a bit complex throughout Dragon Ball. As a character who is technically the son and reincarnation of another version of himself, understanding who Piccolo really is can be confusing. Fortunately, he has solidified himself as an ally of Earth’s strongest warriors, and also became a phenomenal babysitter in the process.
Dragon Ball’s First Piccolo Was Pure Evil (Until Goku Killed Him)
The first version of Piccolo is more commonly known as King Piccolo. Before Planet Namek was revealed and thus Piccolo’s status as an alien called a Namekian, King Piccolo was often referred to as a Demon. He even wore an insignia on his chest that says “Demon”, fully embracing his evil personality. He really was evil, since before King Piccolo was King Piccolo, he was a Namekian only called “The Nameless Namekian” or “Son of Katas”.
When the Nameless Namekian arrived on Earth, he split into two parts, separating the evil from his body. The good part became Kami, the purely good protector of the Earth. The evil part becomes Demon King Piccolo, one of Goku’s first enemies. Demon King Piccolo was furious with their children who were also named after instruments.
His sons Piano, Cymbal, Tambourine, Ukulele, and Drum were all minor antagonists in the Demon King Piccolo saga, with Tambourine even killing Krillin in one of the most brutal deaths in Dragon Ball.
Goku eventually kills the Demon King and his sons in a huge fight. Before Goku knew how to instantly transport himself across the universe or summon a Spirit Bomb with all the positive energy of the surrounding planets, he simply launched himself through King Piccolo’s chest. He used a Kamehameha to generate enough force to penetrate the enemy’s midsection, mortally wounding him once and for all. King Piccolo then uses his remaining energy to create his last son/reincarnation of himself creating Piccolo Jr. the version of Piccolo that would exist for the remainder of the series.
The Piccolo that most fans know and love started out as Goku’s enemy
It’s surprising to think what Piccolo fans know and love today was actually Goku’s greatest enemy at one point in the series. Piccolo Jr. came to Earth with his father/previous incarnation’s will to defeat Goku. He trained for three years until the two met at the World Martial Arts Tournament to finally settle the score in the final of the Piccolo Jr. Saga. Piccolo was evil, cruel, and willing to hurt innocent bystanders to get Goku’s attention. Fortunately, they all run away when they recognize him as the reincarnation of the Demon King, allowing Goku to give it his all.
Their fight is brutal. It takes place during a period in which Dragon ball when most of the combat was hand-to-hand, and shows both fighters crying at each other through heavy blows and incredibly lively combinations. Right when Piccolo Jr. thinks he’s won, Goku ends the fight by flying towards his opponent’s midsection in a move that is completely reminiscent of Goku’s defeat of Demon King Piccolo. Instead of mortally wounding his enemy, Goku simply knocks him out.
Kami then goes to kill Piccolo Jr., but Goku stops him. Goku is an expert at redeeming people, and even though Piccolo vows to return and take revenge on the Saiyan, he doesn’t. It is the last time that Piccolo Jr. is seen as an evil character and the first time that someone treats him well, leading to his eventual redemption arc.
Facing the Saiyans and training Gohan ended up making Piccolo good
Dragon Ball Z begins with Goku asking his old enemy for help. Piccolo Jr., now known only as Piccolo, can’t believe his Namekian ears. He reluctantly helps Goku when he realizes the threat they face is stronger than both.
While he doesn’t exactly have a positive attitude when helping Goku, his maturity in putting his own problems aside to face Raditz is one of Piccolo’s best character traits.
Of course, he’s still mad at Goku, but he is smart enough to realize that it won’t matter if Raditz kills him. The two team up and finally defeat Raditz, with Piccolo happily killing them both with a well-placed Special Beam Cannon. When he learns that two more Saiyans even stronger than Raditz will come to Earth in a few years, he makes another mature, character-defining decision. He sees the unparalleled potential of Goku’s son Gohan and decides to train him himself.
While most of the other former enemies would probably want nothing to do with their rival’s son, Piccolo is once again mature enough to realize that he will need Gohan’s help in upcoming battles. His relationship with Gohan is a highlight of the series. He is a tough but fair teacher, transforming Gohan into the powerful warrior he is today. Gohan was also the first person to see Piccolo as more than a monster, humanizing him during their training together.
Piccolo becomes a trusted mentor, but more importantly, a good person during his time with Goku’s son. Later in the series, he even gives his life for the young half-Saiyan, surprising even himself due to his own protective instincts.
Where Piccolo sits in the current Dragon Ball Canon
The former Demon King is now the best nanny in the galaxy. He went from Goku’s archenemy to his grandson’s babysitter, one of the best and most drastic changes in history. Dragon Ball. Not only does Piccolo train Gohan, but he also trains Gohan’s daughter, Pan. He’s adorable when he’s with Pan. The once-hardened fighter is a sweet, grandpa-like figure to the three-year-old, teaching her struggling while checking her to make sure she isn’t too hurt.
Piccolo was a complicated character in the original Dragon ball series, but in Dragon Ball Z and now in Dragon Ball Super, he’s smoothed out in the best way possible. He’s still as cunning as ever, but now he’s using his powers for good. He’s a great teacher for Goku’s descendants, still one of the strongest fighters thanks to his incredible Orange Form, and best of all, a character with one of the best arcs in all of history. Dragon ball franchise.