Despite how many new hits come out every year, there are some classic franchises that are just at a level of fandom that cannot be surpassed. Dragon Ball has always been extremely popular, but it’s amazing to see how much this support has grown over the past decade.
Fans have been with this series for decades and there’s a lot of love for the extended adventures of Goku and friends. Dragon Ball is a series that’s filled with many powerful and memorable characters, but fans have grown attached to certain individuals more than others.
10 Android 17 (Member Favorites: 595)
It’s a major turning point in Dragon Ball Z when the Android invasion takes place and the characters are subjected to a new kind of menace. Despite how Cell leaves the picture at the end of the arc, the Androids manage to stick around, even if it’s in a limited capacity. Android 18 marries Krillin, but Android 17 turns into a stoic warrior who becomes one of the most important characters by the conclusion of Dragon Ball Super. It’s amazing to see the growth that he experiences.
9 Goten (Member Favorites: 1176)
Dragon Ball begins with Goku’s exploits as a young child, which makes it so impressive that the character ages throughout the franchise and goes on to have several children. Goten doesn’t get as much attention as his older brother, Gohan, but he’s still a very powerful character. Goten helps represent a more playful side of the series as Dragon Ball Z heads into its final chapters. The character never gets the focus that he deserves, but he’s still gained a large audience. Perhaps in time Goten will be able to reach the same heights as the rest of his family.
8 Krillin (Member Favorites: 1228)
Krillin is a very valuable member of the Dragon Ball family and he’s been allies with Goku since nearly the start of the series. Krillin hasn’t experienced the same exponential growth as Goku, but he’s remained important and is still one of the people that Goku cares most about.
Even Krillin’s death is an emotional event that’s crucial for Goku to turn into a Super Saiyan for the first time. Krillin’s presence has died down, but he still gets a lot of love and is easily one of the strongest humans in Dragon Ball.
7 Frieza (Member Favorites: 1334)
Dragon Ball has done a decent job with all of the powerful villains that it’s introduced over the course of the series. Frieza isn’t technically the strongest, but he’s the Dragon Ball antagonist that’s built up the biggest following over the years. Frieza continues to be given more chances and brought back into the picture, especially with his treatment in Dragon Ball Super. He’s one of the most evil individuals in Dragon Ball, but he’s also someone that fans love to hate. It’s fair to say that the anime still has more to say with the tyrannical character.
6 Future Trunks (Member Favorites: 2330)
Some characters in Dragon Ball take some time to find their footing and resonate with audiences, but Future Trunks is someone who’s incredibly cool from the instant that he appears. Future Trunks brings with him the concept of time travel and the threat of Cell. His sword makes for a fun and stylized weapon and one of the most exciting moments in Dragon Ball Super is when the character returns to lend a hand. Future Trunks is a powerful ally and he helps bring out the best in Vegeta, too. It’s no surprise why he’s such a popular character.
5 Trunks (Member Favorites: 2412)
Dragon Ball’s handling of Trunks is quite interesting because the character’s older counterpart from an alternate timeline is encountered first. Trunks proves to be different from his future version, but he’s still a dedicated fighter that makes his father proud.
Unfortunately, focus on Trunks has died off in recent years and the character is typically used in tandem with Goten, or through their fused form, Gotenks. Trunks is still beloved because audiences know the potential that’s inside of him, but he hasn’t yet advanced into the primary line of combat.
4 Piccolo (Member Favorites: 3,937)
Piccolo is one of the more important characters in Dragon Ball and the emotional arc that he experiences is one of the most satisfying in the whole series. Piccolo begins the series as a villain who’s after Goku with the hopes of avenging his father’s death. However, Piccolo becomes a trusted member of Goku’s team and he even turns into a father figure for his rival’s son, Gohan. Piccolo is strong, mysterious, and caring. Saiyans have become more popular than Namekians, but fans are always ready for Piccolo to make a comeback.
3 Gohan (Member Favorites: 5957)
Gohan is an interesting, yet somewhat frustrating, Dragon Ball character. Right from the start it’s clear that Gohan contains amazing potential and the series briefly toys with the idea of him becoming the main character after he surpasses Goku in strength. That being said, Gohan’s adult years are very regressive for his character. He falls back into a supporting role and it looks like his best days are past him. Despite this, Gohan’s story is still incredible and he’s a character that audiences want to see get a win because they’ve watched him grow up and mature, just like Goku.
2 Vegeta (Member Favorites: 19,929)
What’s so amazing about Vegeta is that he enters Dragon Ball Z as an evil force that’s set to kill Goku and his friends. Vegeta’s story of rehabilitation is the greatest in the franchise and it’s because of Vegeta’s growth that Goku still believes that villains are capable of change. Vegeta still repeatedly gets sidelined in favor of Goku, but he’s turned into the preferred underdog of the franchise. Fans can feel Vegeta’s frustration & desire for more power and it’s a very palpable energy.
1 Goku (Member Favorites: 30,175)
It should come as no surprise that Goku is the character from Dragon Ball that fans love the most. Audiences have watched the character progress from a precocious child to a seasoned fighter who possesses the power of a God. Goku still falls into predictable patterns and is guilty of being a little too naïve, but his positive energy is hard to deny. It’s become a predictable development for Goku to ultimately save the day, but it’s still so satisfying because of the magic of this character.