10 Dragon Ball Twists So Wild They Shocked Everyone (Yes, Even Akira Toriyama)
Dragon Ball has never lacked unexpected twists and turns. From the time Goku was a small boy exploring the Earth in search of the Dragon Balls, to the moment the Saiyan’s hair turned silver in a tournament deciding the fate of the universe, the series has always succeeded in taking its audience by surprise. However, while some twists were carefully built up and hinted towards throughout the series, like Goku’s original Super Saiyan transformation, other moments were so unexpected they left everyone in shock. One twist even surprised Dragon Ball creator, Akira Toriyama.
Trunks’ Reveals His Identity
Akira Toriyama Surprised Himself with the Reveal of Trunks’ Identity
Trunks transforming into Super Saiyan with a yellow glow surrounding him.
Following the Namek Saga, Dragon Ball entered new territory. Long gone were the days of strong fighters competing at tournaments. With the newly introduced Super Saiyan transformation, whatever threats faced Goku next would have to be outrageously strong. So when a new Super Saiyan appeared just episodes after Frieza’s defeat, fans were stunned. What surprised viewers most, however, was the reveal of Trunks’ origin story. No one could have suspected the teen Super Saiyan was the son of Vegeta and Bulma, as the now power couple were not together at the time. The twist even surprised Akira Toriyama, who had not originally planned that backstory for Trunks before beginning 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
Perfect Cell emitting power from DBZ
The Androids/Cell Saga is unique among Dragon Ball’s story arcs for a number of reasons, including being the only major section not capped off with Goku claiming victory over the villain. However, it’s the beginning portion of the arc that really sets it apart. Trunks warned of two androids wreaking havoc, but he would later turn out to be very wrong in his prediction. The main timeline’s two androids were not the same androids that ruined the future, and when Bulma, Gohan, and Trunks stumbled upon a second time machine hidden in the woods, they knew there was trouble ahead. Cell’s introduction resembled a mystery thriller more than it did a battle shōnen anime, and his eventual horrifying reveal shocked fans.
Krillin’s Death on Namek
Krillin’s Second Death Was Sudden and Cruel
Krillin Reacts in surprise to Frieza’s attack in Dragon Ball Z.
These days, the rules of the Dragon Balls and the number of times characters have died don’t exactly hold much weight, but 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 surprising enough, but the fact he was already revived made his second death all the more shocking. It takes a lot to enrage the kind-hearted Goku, but Frieza pushed the right buttons just before the series’ first Super Saiyan transformation. In an instant, Krillin was suddenly thrust into the air and blown to bits by Dragon Ball’s most popular, pure evil villain. However, before fans could process what happened, Goku became enveloped in the iconic golden glow.
Piccolo Kills Both Goku and Raditz
In a Desperate Attack, Piccolo Took Out the Series’ Protagonist
Raditz and Goku being hit by Special Beam Canon in Dragon Ball Z
The Dragon Ball Z portion of Akira Toriyama’s original story started with a bang, changing everything fans thought they knew about Goku with the introduction of Raditz and the Saiyans. The reveal that Goku actually came from a race of vicious space warriors was a game changer, which is why everyone was shocked when Goku died just moments later. Typically, such world-shattering developments aren’t immediately followed by a character’s death, but that didn’t stop Akira Toriyama. Raditz was far stronger than Earth’s greatest fighters, and in a moment of desperation, Piccolo launched a Special Beam Cannon that pierced both Raditz and Goku. Goku wouldn’t stay dead for long, but that doesn’t take away from how shocking it was to watch the series’ protagonist bite it in only Dragon Ball Z’s fifth episode.
Kid Buu Destroys the Earth
For the First Time, Goku Couldn’t Make the Timely Save
Kid Buu in a fight, preparing a ki blast to attack his opponent.
By the time the Buu Saga rolled around, fans had become accustomed to fights between characters who had the ability to destroy entire planets. Frieza had done just that only a couple story arcs earlier, while Vegeta threatened to do the same even earlier than that. However, none actually managed to destroy the Earth. That is, until Kid Buu, with his highly destructive and unpredictable fighting style, decided to turn the planet to rubble without much warning. As characters become stronger in a story, their actions must become wilder in order to continue raising the stakes, though no one saw Kid Buu’s sudden killing blow coming.
Piccolo Sacrifices Himself for Gohan
The One-Time Villain Gave His Life to Save His Rival’s Son
Though Vegeta may be Dragon Ball’s most popular villain-turned-hero, he isn’t the first. Before him, Piccolo went through a similar character arc, appearing as a villain who swore to defeat Goku, before a change of heart transformed him into a hero. Today, Piccolo is a beloved fan-favorite hero, but that was not always the case. When the son of his biggest rival was standing helpless before a killing blast from Nappa, Piccolo rushed in to shield the young Gohan, saving him and dying in the process. Piccolo’s sacrifice remains one of Dragon Ball’s most emotional moments, and one that cemented an unbreakable bond between master and student.
Recoome Viciously Attacks Gohan on Namek
Goku Barely Made It In Time to Save His Son
Dragon Ball has always featured its fair share of violence. It’s likely what helped the series appeal to younger audiences in the U.S. during the early 2000s, introducing some heavy action to the usual cartoon TV time slots. However, there are some moments that border on uncomfortable decades later. One, in particular, is the fight between Recoome and Gohan on Namek. More a one-sided beating than a battle, Recoome pummeled the five-year-old Gohan senseless, eventually breaking his neck before Goku stepped on the scene and put an end to the violence. Dragon Ball fans typically enjoy its graphic fights, but Gohan’s brutal beating on Namek is still disturbing decades later.
Goku’s Super Saiyan 3 Reveal
Super Saiyan 3 Was Shown Off With Little Build-Up
Dragon Ball’s iconic shot of Goku standing victoriously after the defeat of Hirudegarn in Wrath of the Dragon.
Super Saiyan transformations are some of Dragon Ball’s main draws, with fans unable to resist a new, flashy power-up when the battle calls for it. Both the original form and Super Saiyan 2 were born from overwhelming emotion and rage, which is exactly why Goku’s Super Saiyan 3 was such a surprise upon reveal.
Rather than being achieved out of necessity, Goku transformed in order to distract Majin Buu for a few minutes, later claiming he discovered Super Saiyan 3 while training in the Otherworld. Given the extreme circumstances that brought about the first two Super Saiyan forms, no one saw the iconic first Super Saiyan 3 transformation coming.
Trunks Defeats Frieza With Ease
The Mysterious Super Saiyan Defeated the Previous Arc’s Villain in Minutes
Trunks readying himself to slash down on Frieza with his sword in Dragon Ball Z.
No Dragon Ball moment was as unexpected as Trunks’ arrival. With Frieza quickly approaching and Goku nowhere to be found, Earth’s heroes thought they were done for, before a mysterious fighter arrived on the scene and transformed into a Super Saiyan. The anime spent 39 episodes on the Planet Namek Saga, with the battle between Goku and Frieza lasting nearly four hours in real time. Episodes later, however, an unknown teen arrived, became a Super Saiyan, and slashed Frieza to pieces in only a matter of minutes. Trunks’ introduction remains a 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
Raditz as seen in Dragon Ball Z
Following the 23rd World Tournament, Dragon Ball was at a crossroads. Goku had become incredibly powerful and defeated the reincarnation of the series’ previous villain, leaving no one on Earth stronger than him. In order to keep the story progressing, Akira Toriyama made one of the most important writing decisions in anime and manga history. From out of nowhere, an alien appeared on Earth and claimed to be Goku’s brother, revealing the series’ protagonist to actually be from a race of space warriors called Saiyans. All Dragon Ball has become since then is thanks to that one reveal which forever changed the trajectory of the series.
Created by
Akira Toriyama
First Episode Air Date
April 26, 1989
Latest Episode
2019-10-05
First Film
Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies
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.
Publicado: 2025-12-23 03:00:00
fonte: screenrant.com
