There are lots of older anime series that continue to be a major part of the modern conversation and Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball is still considered an iconic franchise. Part of what’s helped make anime such a versatile and timeless medium is how it’s able to pick and pull from many different genres to create a unique and unpredictable hybrid. The tone of Dragon Ball gradually changes from its more comedic origins as the series progressively adds characters who boast phenomenal strength.
The series finds its rhythm, and it’s resulted in a suspenseful action-based anime that still has time for moments of levity. This balance works for Dragon Ball, but there are still some characters who have entered the series who awkwardly stand out and feel like they’d be more appropriate in different anime series.
10 Ribrianne Leans Into Anime’s Magical Girl Genre
Dragon Ball Super's Tournament of Power multiversal battle royale brings dozens of new characters into the mix, and because so many of them are from completely unique universes, it makes sense that some characters would look radically different from the Dragon Ball norm. Ribrianne comes from Universe 2, a world that seems to embrace the tropes of magical girl anime series, right down to the elaborate transformation sequences. Ribrianne is a somewhat controversial figure since she feels so out of place and makes it feel like Dragon Ball is lampooning a competing genre.
9 Oolong And Puar’s Shapeshifting Routine Sticks Out
Admittedly, Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball series is much more of a comedic entity when it begins, and its action sensibilities don’t fully take over until its evolution into Dragon Ball Z. Oolong and Puar are some of the first individuals that Goku meets on his mystical adventure, and their very nature is designed to be more comedic. Oolong and Puar are anthropomorphic animals that can transform into other people and objects. This comes in handy during some of Goku’s early adventures, but they seem increasingly bizarre over time. Shapeshifting isn’t in wide supply, so these two stick out.
8 Fangs The Vampire And Baba’s Fighters Belong In A Horror Anime
Dragon Ball is full of creative competitions that Goku and company are forced into, either to progress in their journeys or merely as a way to prove how much they’ve improved. An especially strange tournament is brought into motion by Fortuneteller Baba. Baba’s tournament utilizes a number of fighters that turn to Universal Monsters for inspiration.
Several horror-centric monsters must be conquered, but Fangs the Vampire is the most prominent. Fangs, and other figures like See-Through the Invisible Man, reflect completely different sensibilities than what Dragon Ball typically explores. It’s a fascinating look into the supernatural.
7 Dragon Ball Super’s Galactic King Is Heightened Comic Relief
There’s a certain level of quaintness at the start of Dragon Ball when figures like Kami and Mr. Popo represent the peak of celestial beings and guardians. More and more hierarchies of power are introduced, and Dragon Ball Super gets especially indulgent in this regard. Super plays around with a regal octopus who holds the honor of Galactic King. This character becomes largely ancillary with more important beings like Zeno existing. The Galactic King is mostly turned to for some easy humor when Goku embarrasses himself around the figure. He remains odd and never completely meshes with the world.
6 Chiaotzu’s Odd Character Design Never Feels Natural
Some individuals in Dragon Ball are the subject of endless exposition and backstory whereas some of the stranger figures come and go without any extra context provided. Chiaotzu is a fighter who is often seen alongside Tien, and, while they’re both human, Chiaotzu’s look is considerably stranger. Tien’s third eye isn’t exactly normal, but Chiaotzu has a severely tiny stature and almost looks like an antique doll that’s been brought to life. It’s a creative character design choice that never feels natural, especially once Chiaotzu’s presence diminishes.
5 Beerus And The Rest Of The Gods Of Destruction Feel Like They’re Plucked Out Of Time
Dragon Ball Super expands upon the scope of the franchise in some major ways, but one of the biggest shifts is the introduction of Gods of Destruction and Angels. Beerus first appears as an opponent who challenges Goku, only for him to grow into a reluctant mentor and protector of the planet and its corresponding universe.
Beerus’ design is reminiscent of the hairless cats who were revered as Gods back in ancient Egyptian times. Dragon Ball has no shortage of anthropomorphic creatures, but Beerus is a mix of austere, intimidating, and feline that feels like a shift for the series.
4 Frieza’s Third Form Is An Ugly Giger-Esque Experiment
Numerous transformations have become a staple of the Dragon Ball series, and any time a new villain poses a challenge, it’s pretty much understood that they’ll first have to undergo various forms until they reach their true power. Frieza’s third form is by far the oddest and the one that gets the least amount of attention. It feels like an afterthought that’s meant to prolong the fight rather than actually provide a useful boost in strength. Frieza’s third form becomes more of an outsider due to its aggressive look, which isn’t dissimilar to H.R. Giger’s Xenomorph design from Alien.
3 Dabura’s Demonic Appearance Is More Fitting For Devilman
Dragon Ball covers a lot of ground, and there’s so much death that the Other World that exists beyond the afterlife becomes a frequent location that’s visited. Dragon Ball depicts hell and some of the demons that exist there, but they still feel sanitized, and they’re not exactly frightening figures. Dabura is an exception to this, and he feels like he'd better belong in one of the Devilman series or something that’s explicitly in the horror genre. Dabura is Dragon Ball’s most demonic-looking character, which is certainly striking, but it becomes an oddity once more demons are seen.
2 The Ginyu Force And Their Theatrics Are A Better Fit For A Sentai Series
The Ginyu Force that Frieza enlists to take care of the growing heroic forces on Planet Namek immediately feels unique because they’re such a change of pace from Dragon Ball’s standard enemies. The five members of the Ginyu Force all have unique powers, and have earned a notorious reputation. However, they also have a flair for branding and style, which becomes obvious from their repeated posing and the performative aspects of their fights. In some ways, the Ginyu Force perfectly represents Dragon Ball’s two extremes, but they still feel like they’d be more appropriate opponents for the Power Rangers.
1 Arale Norimaki’s Chaotic Energy Turns Dragon Ball Into A Gag Anime
To be fair, Arale Norimaki is actually an anime character who originates from another anime series, Akira Toriyama’s Doctor Slump, but she’s shown up several times throughout the different Dragon Ball series. Arale looks like a little girl, but she’s actually an incredibly powerful and resilient robot. Arale’s appearance in Dragon Ball Super completely overwhelms both Goku and Vegeta and turns them into bumbling fools. Vegeta addresses how out of place Arale is and how she’s disrespectfully turned Dragon Ball into a gag anime. She’s such an outside presence that the anime itself changes to fit her style.