Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball series remains in incredibly high esteem, yet Dragon Ball GT is still viewed as a controversial chapter in the anime’s history. Dragon Ball GT deserves credit for taking some risks and trying to break away from Dragon Ball Z’s habits. Some say that Dragon Ball GT takes some time to find its footing, but there’s undeniably a unique voice that’s present from the first episode.
One of the perks of Dragon Ball GT is that it mixes up the anime’s core cast and one of the new main characters becomes Pan, Goku’s granddaughter. Pan effectively shares the spotlight with Goku and Trunks, but there are some strong occasions in the sequel anime where Pan comes forward as the true main character.
10 The Hunt For The Black Star Dragon Balls
Dragon Ball GT kicks off with an unconventional approach that's more reminiscent of the original series than its action-centric successor. Dragon Ball GT begins with a galaxy-wide hunt for the Black Star Dragon Balls, an inventive twist on a classic premise that's headlined by Goku, Pan, and Trunks. Pan truly gets to stand out and take the lead during these adventures, largely because of Goku's compromised child body that he’s stuck in at the time. Strength isn’t always the key to success when it comes to the Black Star Dragon Balls, so Pan is just as useful as anyone else.
9 She Tames Golden Great Ape Goku And Helps Him Become Super Saiyan 4
Baby Vegeta is Dragon Ball GT’s first major threat and the apex of this battle between Goku and Vegeta forces Goku into an unrestrained and barbaric state. Goku becomes a Golden Great Ape, but he begins to rampage and is unstable. It's not until Pan steps in and reminds Goku of his humanity through the Turtle School uniform and pictures of his family that he gets this animal instinct under control. It's this gesture that allows Goku to successfully transform into Super Saiyan 4. Later, Pan also donates her energy to help make Goku strong enough to overcome Vegeta.
8 Her Fight Against Oceanus Shenron
The final chapters of Dragon Ball GT lean into the idea of the seven evil Shadow Dragons that cause the heroes to confront the selfish sins of humanity's past. Pan helps Goku out against several of these Shadow Dragons like Omega Shenron, Nuova Shenron, and Haze Shenron, but she makes the biggest impact against Oceanus Shenron.
Pan still requires Goku's strength to overcome this threat, but he equally needs her help, too. It's a joint effort, but Pan particularly stands out here, and it's a strong moment for her as Dragon Ball GT begins to reach its end.
7 When She Becomes Dolltaki’s Obsession
Dragon Ball GT eventually reaches a point where it embraces constant action, but there's a healthy period during its start that's much lighter and indulgent in episodic storytelling. Pan, Goku, and Trunks encounter no lack of strange individuals on their galactic travels, but one of the weirdest is easily Dolltaki, a deranged tyrant who finds pleasure in turning his victims into dolls. Pan becomes his latest obsession and it's an early opportunity for her to shine and show that she's not just some damsel in distress. It's not a perfect storyline, but it allows Pan's inherent strength to shine.
6 She Sends Dr. Gero Back To The Afterlife
Dragon Ball GT does an impressive job with all of the familiar faces that it brings back in new contexts. Super 17 returns to Android 17, but incorporates some formidable new mad scientists that add to the equation. Dr. Gero and Dr. Myuu pool their efforts together for Super 17, which is ultimately defeated by Goku. However, Pan nearly averts the whole disaster before it gets started. Pan takes care of Dr. Gero and nearly gets him to disable Super 17. It's only because of Dr. Myuu's improvements that their plan persists.
5 Breaking Out Of Machine God, Luud
There are a wide range of destructive robots that enter Dragon Ball GT, but Luud is an extra special type of mechanical menace. Luud is revered as a God to lesser robots and he's able to gain strength and transform in alarming ways by absorbing the energy of people he consumes.
Pan happens to end up inside of Luud and the power he gains from her is indispensable. Pan and Goku work together to dismantle Luud, but it feels more like her victory and that she's the centerpiece during this early Dragon Ball GT disaster.
4 Her Honey Bee Escapades On Planet Monmassu
Part of the reason that Dragon Ball GT begins in such a polarizing fashion is its emphasis on sillier storytelling. Goku and company wind up in many exaggerated scenarios, one of which results in some of the intrepid Dragon Ball hunters masquerading as honey bees. Goku and Trunks have difficulty acclimating to this bizarre planet, but Pan is a natural and she helps lead the way during this endeavor. It may not feel that significant when it happens, but this version of Pan has become strangely popular. Honeybee Pan is even a unique playable character in Dragon Ball Dokkan Battle.
3 When She Handles The Villainous Jailbreak From Hell
Death is never the end in the Dragon Ball universe, and there are plenty of heroes and villains alike that have returned to life after meeting grisly finishes. Dragon Ball GT features a disastrous jailbreak in the afterlife where many former foes return to cause chaos. Most of the heroes are occupied with Super 17, but Pan makes swift work of many of these exposed enemies. Pan sends many of the Red Ribbon Army's top personnel back to hell. It helps demonstrate that Pan is even further along than Goku was at this age.
2 Any Adventures With Robot Gill
Another one of the cuter affectations that Dragon Ball GT utilizes during its earlier chapters is the comic relief sidekick, Gill. Gill is mostly harmless, but there are a surprising amount of robot-based storylines early on in Dragon Ball GT where Gill's mechanical status is extra helpful. Gill immediately connects with Pan and the two form a special bond. Any time that Gill gets to save the day is also an opportunity for Pan to rise to the occasion. They bring out the best in each other.
1 She’s The Reflective Adult In Dragon Ball GT: A Hero’s Journey
Dragon Ball GT is the shortest of the anime in the franchise with only 64 episodes, but it still manages to feature a Special installment, following in the trend of Dragon Ball Z's many movies. Dragon Ball GT: A Hero's Journey turns the clock forward and features Pan in her elder years as she looks after her grandchild, Goku Jr. This is a sweet, emotional Special and Goku Jr.'s assets are entirely because of Pan. She's a great guardian and her role in A Hero's Journey brings everything full circle.