Few stories are as culturally impactful as Akira Toriyama’s Dragon ball. Celebrating 40 years since the manga’s initial release, fans are remembering the influence that Goku and his friends had not only in the sphere of anime and manga, but in the lives of multiple generations of fans. From being credited with popularizing anime in the West to having its hero used as the official mascot of the Olympics Dragon ball became immortal.
The series is best known for its iconic fights, offering some of the cleanest, most concise, smoothest, and most importantly, thrilling action sequences shōnen battles have ever seen. But fighting is not the only reason Dragon ball maintained its relevance for almost four decades. As Goku and his friends continue to protect Earth from the fiercest enemies in all the universes, the series taught important life lessons to anime fans of all ages.
Although Akira Toriyama wrote the first chapter of Dragon Ball 40 years ago in a world very different from the one the series currently inhabits, his lessons are as lasting as those of the 300-year-old Hermit Turtle who first taught Goku the importance of hard work and of rest. Even without the series’ legendary creator at the helm Dragon ball march unwaveringly into the future with new and exciting entries in the franchise that will continue to teach important values to its growing fan base.
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Piccolo teaches that family can be found anywhere
The Once Evil Namekian is now an honorary member of the Son family
Piccolo is one of the most beloved characters by Dragon ball fans, and for good reason. The generation of the Great Demon King that terrorized Goku and Earth, Piccolo debuted in the original Dragon ball anime with the sole purpose of taking revenge on the main character of the series. After their lively confrontation at the World Tournament a few years later, however, Goku’s most dangerous rival would become an honorary member of the Son family.
The ‘uncle’ role that Piccolo played to Gohan during the early parts of the Saiyan Saga often provided some of the best moments of Dragon Ball ZIt’s anime. And when Piccolo completed his journey from villain to hero, sacrificing his life to save Gohan, a bond was forged between the two. that ran deeper than blood. Even several years after Piccolo’s sacrifice, he remained in Gohan’s life acting as Pan’s guardian and uncle.
4 Goku and Vegeta prove it’s important to embrace your heritage
Saiyan rivals reach even greater heights by embracing their roots
As soon as Vegeta arrived on the scene in Dragon ballhe made it clear that he was the proud Prince of Saiyans and that it would take a warrior of incomprehensible power to destroy that pride. Although the prince eventually abandoned the brutality that defined his past and his race, that pride never left him. And when the warrior powerful enough to challenge him arrived, Vegeta turned that into fuel to improve even further, and became the best fighter he could be.
For Goku, on the other hand, embracing his heritage took a little longer. When he finally did, however, the results were glorious, as the series’ first Super Saiyan joined the fight. After the disagreement with Raditz at the beginning Dragon Ball ZGoku had a silent internal struggle between his Earthling and Saiyan roots. On Namek, however, after being cornered by Frieza, his good-hearted fury took control and Goku unleashed the Saiyan strength that resided within him.
Through an unbreakable rivalry and bond, Goku and Vegeta continued to reach new and impressive heights. embracing their roots as Saiyan warriors. From Goten and Trunks eager in their childhood to emulate their parents’ Super Saiyan feats, to Gohan adopting his race’s name as his superhero identity, those who share Saiyan blood are consistently proud to do so. Dragon ball ensures that its strongest warriors are proud of their heritage and are always improving as they do so.
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Gohan is a reminder that sometimes you must fight for what is right
Despite not wanting to fight, Gohan knows when it’s necessary
Although Goku is undoubtedly Dragon ballprotagonist, it can be argued that the main character for most of the Dragon Ball Z part of the series was Gohan. The kind-natured and good-hearted Saiyan hybrid proved early on during his time in the spotlight that he was not like his father. Stating that he wanted to be a well-educated scholar from a young age, Gohan became interested in nature and even became friends with a dinosaur named Icarus. Though he was the son of the greatest warrior on Earth, Gohan didn’t like to fight.
Despite his gentle demeanor and aversion to combat, Gohan has always had the greatest fighting potential of all of Earth’s best defenders. Whenever a villain pushed him far enough, the child would far surpass even his father in strength. Gohan’s character arc reached its climax during the Cell Saga, when Android #16’s words inspired him to realize that there are certain threats that reason alone will not achieve.
Toriyama initially planned for Gohan to fill the protagonist role as Dragon ball entered the Majin Buu Saga, although he went back on that decision feeling he could never replace Goku. However, Gohan’s character arc teaches the important lesson that while someone may not enjoy fighting, there are certain situations or evils that demand action. As Android #16 said in the English version of his iconic speech to the struggling young half-Saiyan, “It is not a sin to fight for the right cause.”
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Dragon Ball teaches the importance of seeing the good in others
Most of Goku’s friends started out as enemies
Goku’s friends and family are often the source of his immense powerinspiring you to always reach new heights and overcome any challenge that presents itself. One of Dragon Ball SuperGoku’s finest moments reflect this, as Master Roshi recounts the many people and experiences that were shaped and molded by Goku during the final part of the Tournament of Power. What’s notable about the Saiyan’s friends, though, is that most of them were presented as enemies.
Vegeta and Piccolo are the two most well-known redemption stories in Dragon ballbut they weren’t the only characters who decided to destroy the main character. Both Yamcha and Tien first appeared in opposition to Goku, while even Krillin wasn’t entirely happy to meet the strange tailed boy during his training with Master Roshi. No one is safe from Goku’s influence, as each of his former enemies fought alongside him in countless battles throughout the many adventures of Dragon ball.
As Goku became an adult throughout the series, there was a noticeable change in how he handled competition. Once the boy who brutally devastated the Red Ribbon Army and blasted a hole through King Piccolo’s chest, Goku began offering second chances to his enemies as more of them became his friends. If the Saiyan hadn’t learned to see the good in others, his circle of friends and family would be significantly smaller.
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Goku teaches the importance of being kind, no matter how strong you become
He may not be perfect, but Goku is always kind
Goku was never a perfect hero, and Akira Toriyama made a point of writing him that way. He has his flaws: a selfish desire to fight stronger opponents, his absent-mindedness, and his lack of consideration for his family. But no matter the circumstances, Goku is always kind. It’s true that he can be rude, although often unintentionally, as seen in his early interactions with Bulma especially.
However, the pure-hearted Saiyan Never approach anyone with bad intentionsand will never ignore someone who needs help. Part of what drew so many others to Goku’s side is the kindness he showed them, no matter how determined they were to defeat him. This influence was strongest on Vegeta, who was once an evil space tyrant who wouldn’t hesitate to destroy a planet, and is now one of the best husbands and fathers in anime.
As Dragon ball continues the adventures of Goku and his friends in Dragon Ball DaimaIt’s clear that the core values of the series are still very much alive more than 40 years since the beginning of the original adventure. And although the world that Dragon ball resides changed, the series’ lessons are still as valuable as they’ve ever been for anime fans of all ages and backgrounds.