It’s not easy to gain the level of acclaim that’s been achieved by Akira Toriyama’s foundational shonen series, Dragon Ball. Dragon Ball has persevered as a staple of the medium for multiple decades, not just because it features lovable characters and thrilling action sequences, but also because of some of the more radical concepts that it throws into the mix.
Dragon Ball eventually reaches a point where the enemies become so powerful that the fusion between two fighters is the only possible means for success. Fusion can be controversial territory, but it’s led to the creation of some incredible characters in the process. Fusion is something that many anime series, not just Dragon Ball, have embraced, and there are some wild figures who have been created as a result.
10 Vegito Combines Dragon Ball’s Iconic Odd Couple
Dragon Ball has gone all in on the concept of fusion, and the series has reached a point where there are multiple means to achieve fusion, which can result in contrasting combinations of the same individuals. Dragon Ball provides Potara Earrings, a fusion dance, and a myriad of other methods to become one. Fusion has been explored by dozens of characters, but the most exciting combo is the first time that sworn rivals, Goku and Vegeta, agree to combine into one. Vegito is an absolute powerhouse of a fighter, and he establishes a standard that’s been hard to top.
9 Omnimon Is The Ultimate Digimon Of Destruction
For many years, audiences were quick to reduce Digimon to a lazy Pokémon knock-off, when in fact it precedes the Nintendo property, and it’s been able to craft such a rich world. There are several different Digimon series and continuities that exist, but the original Digimon Adventure still receives the most acclaim. Omnimon is the exceptional fusion between WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon, Tai and Matt’s companions. Omnimon is hard to beat, but Digimon Adventure tri. pushes this principle to its apex when all six DigiDestined Digimon fuse together into Omnimon Merciful Mode.
8 Bobobo-Bo Bo-Bobo Creates Its Own Fusion Dance To Form BoboPatch And More
There are lots of surreal gag anime series out there, but Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo is one of the most ridiculous. It’s truly unhinged, and there's nothing that's off-limits when it comes to what anime staples it lampoons. Bobobo-bo explicitly mocks the fusion dance from Dragon Ball with its own equivalency that's frequently turned to in order to create fighters like BoboPatch, Tenbobo, Denbo-chan, and BoboPatchnosuke.
These fused individuals are technically stronger than before, but their creations are all about the absurdity of fusion and how convoluted character combinations can come. Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo perfectly abuses this trope to make its point.
7 Sailor Moon’s Super Beryl Unites The Best Of The Worst
Sailor Moon is one of the most prolific anime series that’s ever been made, and it operates as a strong counterpart to the male-centric action that’s offered in Dragon Ball. Sailor Moon conjures some truly foreboding antagonists over the course of its various series. The early victories in the series carry tremendous weight, so it’s a heavy blow when former foes, Queen Beryl and Queen Metalia, fuse together into the gigantic Super Beryl. It’s a terrifying culmination of everything that the Sailor Scouts have previously had to overcome. Super Beryl’s defeat is one of Princess Serenity’s strongest moments.
6 The Magician Of Black Chaos In Yu-Gi-Oh!: Capsule Monsters Combines Yami Yugi With Beast
Yu-Gi-Oh! has experimented with fusion in different capacities, most of which blur the lines between dueler and monster. These various fusion methods try to add to the standard dueling formula, but the North America-commissioned Capsule Monsters spin-off takes the boldest swings in this department. Yu-Gi-Oh!: Capsule Monsters sends Yami Yugi and company to a strange new world that owes more than a little to Pokémon. Yami fuses with his Dark Magician to gain an intense suit of armor and become the Magician of Black Chaos. He’s not the only one, and later Joey also fuses with his Red-Eyes Black Dragon.
5 Puella Magi Madoka Magica’s Big Bad, Walpurgisnacht, Is A Fusion Of Witches
The magical girl genre is one of the most oversaturated areas of anime, which is why reflexive deconstructions of the genre like Puella Magi Madoka Magica are such a breath of fresh air. Madoka Magica dresses itself up like standard magical girl fare, only for it to progressively reveal the sinister story that courses underneath.
This is consistent with the anime’s strongest witch, Walpurgisnight, who turns out to only be as strong as she is because she’s a fusion of multiple witches who have decided to join together to become the ultimate being.
4 Naruto’s Human Beast Combination Brings Together Kiba And Akamaru
Naruto is another prolific shonen series that engages in so many battles that it needs to develop many creative battle techniques beyond the standard ninjutusu. Kiba is a ferocious fighter who can often act like he’s a wild animal who isn’t in control of his impulses. To further this idea, Kiba can merge with a Human Beast Combination Transformation with his dog Akamaru. The result is a huge two-headed wolf that’s exceptional in battle. In this fused state, both Kiba and Akamaru are perfectly in sync, and they can also add a third head to the equation.
3 Pokémon’s Slowbro Is Technically A Permanent Fusion Of Sorts
It’s impossible to avoid the net that’s been cast over pop culture by Pokémon. Pokémon is full of fascinating ideas, but it also teases fusion in a limited capacity. Pokémon evolve through a number of unique processes, some of which are specific to individual Pokémon. Slowpoke evolves into Slowbro, but when this transformation is detailed in the anime series, it becomes clear that it’s more of a fusion of sorts. When a Shellder attaches itself to a Slowpoke’s tail, it triggers the transformation into a Slowbro, which further meshes these two Pokémon together into a hybrid.
2 Voltron Is Formed When All Five Lion Mechs Come Together
The mecha genre of anime is another bloated area of the medium. Hundreds of giant robot series exist, but Voltron: Legendary Defender is easily one of the most notable, largely because of the creative fusion concept that's at its core. Voltron is the end result after the five Lion mechas fuse together into a considerably larger robot. This is quite intimidating since each Lion is dangerous and gigantic on its own before this union takes place. This principle has been endlessly replicated in other mecha series, but it's largely still associated with Voltron.
1 Yu Yu Hakusho’s Gourmet Hides A Sworn Rival
Yu Yu Hakusho is an excellent shonen series that doesn’t suffer many of the same pitfalls that drag down similar programs. Yusuke Urameshi and company face constant demons and evil forces, but Elder Toguro remains a bitter rival throughout the series. Elder Toguro is a shapeshifter and he often acts as a sword and shield for his sibling, Younger Toguro. However, after Younger Toguro rejects his brother, Elder Toguro forges together with Gourmet’s body and hides inside of him. It’s not until Kurama splits Gourmet’s head in half that they realize that Elder Toguro is a part of the equation.