A common critique of the Dragon Ball Z movies has long been that no matter the quality of the films, due to their lack of canonical impact on the series, they often felt as though they had no lasting ramifications or stakes. However, the recent integration of longtime fan favorite movie original, Broly into Dragon Ball Super has shown to have been a huge success for the series. With the headway gained by reintroducing an older, non-canonical character into the modern series, one would think that there's potential for greatness regarding the remaining slew of villains from the Dragon Ball Z movies. So without further delay, here are 10 Characters From The Dragon Ball Z Movies That We Want to See in Dragon Ball Super.
11 Lord Slug
While they were a central element of earlier arcs of Dragon Ball Z, in modern franchise, the Namekians have faded into obscurity. Dragon Ball Super: Broly has proven that not only can characters from the Dragon Ball Z films be integrated into the current storyline, but they can be rewritten and adapted to better fit the current plot. The Super Namekian, Lord Slug is a character that if adapted, could bring more relevance to the Namekians, as well as putting Piccolo in a more prominent position.
10 Cooler
By reviving Frieza and providing him with a prominent role, it would only make sense for a return of the tyrant's older brother, Cooler to make an appearance in Dragon Ball Super. As a character popular in both the films as well as in Dragon Ball FighterZ, one would think that Cooler is the safest pick out of villains from the Dragon Ball Z movies to bring into Dragon Ball Super. Additionally, Dragon Ball Super's power scaling of Frieza likely means that Cooler would be handled in a similar fashion. Perhaps he may even receive a new form like his younger brother.
9 Salza and Cooler's Armored Squadron
8 One of the most memorable aspects of Dragon Ball Z's Frieza Arc was the over the top, Power Rangers inspired Ginyu Force. While the team was established and portrayed comedically, they were a legitimate threat that were capable of pushing our heroes to the limit, before being defeated at the hands of Goku and Vegeta. Originally appearing in Dragon Ball Z: Cooler's Revenge Salza and Cooler's Armored Squadron are essentially a stronger and more threatening version of the Ginyu Force that are employed by Frieza's elder brother, Cooler. If we ever see Cooler make his transition into Dragon Ball Super, we can only hope that he'll be joined by the Armored Squadron.
7 Tapion
While not a villain, anyone who's seen Dragon Ball Z: Wrath of The Dragon could never forget Tapion. Wielding a sword and ocarina, Tapion is effectively if the combination of The Legend of Zelda's Link and Chrono Trigger's Chrono grew up to be a Dragon Ball Z character. As the individual responsible for bestowing Trunks with a sword, Tapion is a character who could show up in a variety of capacities, whether it be as an intergalactic visitor or as the result of time travel.
6 Android 13
Many were elated at the return of Android 17 in Dragon Ball Super's "Tournament of Power" arc. What would be a more fitting extension of the storylines of Androids 17 and 18 than Doctor Gero's often overlooked creation: Android 13. Introduced in the film Dragon Ball Z: Super Android 13, this powerhouse of an android was introduced as the most powerful of Doctor Gero's creations. Though a great deal of backstory and plot would need to be altered in order for him to fit into the current narrative, we think that Android 13 is a perfect fit for Dragon Ball Super and could help to carry on the stories of Android 17 and Android 18.
5 Pikkon
While many of the characters to make their debuts in Dragon Ball Z films are antagonists, characters such as Pikkon serve to break this mold. While Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn is not Pikkon's only appearance, every time that the character has shown up hs been within some form of filler or other narrative that isn't classified as canonical. There are a plethora of means in which Pikkon can be woven into a mainline storyline in Dragon Ball Super and it seems like only a matter of time until we see this fighter from the "Other World."
4 Bojack
It isn't often that we storylines in the Dragon Ball franchise that don't center around the titular protagonist, Goku. However, Dragon Ball Z: Bojack Unbound presented a narrative that focused on characters like Gohan and Trunks, utilizing the villainous Bojack who highlights the strengths and weaknesses of these characters. While we don't expect a remake or direct adaptation of his original film, utilizing Bojack in Dragon Ball Super in a similar fashion to his initial appearance would have a lot of potential to focus on the tertiary characters of the cast.
3 Bardock
One of the most popular characters in the franchise to not make an appearance in the main series (outside of minor cameos), Bardock is a character who fit perfectly into Dragon Ball Super as the focus of an arc. The Dragon Ball franchise is one that is no stranger to time travel, having utilized it in multiple arcs and even within "The Episode of Bardock," in which Bardock is sent thousands of year back in time. With this in mind, it wouldn't be much of a stretch to see Goku's father make a major appearance in the main narrative of the series.
2 Garlic Junior
While this entry may come as a surprise to many, Garlic Junior hold the honor of being the antagonist of the first Dragon Ball Z film. While he may seem weak and lackluster comparatively to many of the current villains in Dragon Ball Super, the revived use of characters like Master Roshi has proven rather successful. Similarly to Roshi's use of the "Evil Containment Wave," Garlic Junior's utilization of the dead zone, a void-like black hole dimension could translate well in the current narrative if handled properly.
1 Janemba
Recently added to the video game Dragon Ball FighterZ, Janemba is one of the few Dragon Ball Z movie villains who would require minimal alterations when integrated into Dragon Ball Super. As a character tied to the afterlife, Janemba could be brought into the narrative as an antagonist for those who've fallen throughout the series to deal with, or he could serve as another catalyst for the necessity for Goku and Vegeta to fuse once more. Featuring a unique aesthetic, fighting style, and modern relevance thanks to Dragon Ball FighterZ, Janemba would provide a refreshing change of pace while cementing himself as a capable and potent foe.