Fan theories are a dime a dozen on the internet. Some are scary, some are flat-out wrong and some are so crazy that they actually make sense. This following Dragon Ball Z theory delves into everyone's favorite gluttonous, child-like pink monster Majin Buu -- specifically, that Majin Buu is a stand-in representation of the United States of America. Before any Americans feel that their star-spangled pride is being crushed or that this is anti-Americanism in any sense of the word, the goal here is not bigotry, but showcasing a fun fan theory about a famous character.
A post on Reddit made nine years ago shines a light on the theory that Majin Buu represents the Japanese perspective of America during World War II. The evidence for this is vital, as well as the evidence against the idea. First up, it's important to address the character of Majin Buu himself. Majin Buu is fat, loud, loves to eat and always acts in a way that makes him the center of attention. These are all stereotypes of American people that have led some non-Americans to think that all Americans are like this. It's an erroneous thought, but stereotypes are nothing new in media, and anime productions have showcased their fair share of American stereotypes throughout the years.
However, such an example is too surface-level and is the definition of low-hanging fruit. There are deeper explanations from a historical sense that shine a light on Majin Buu potentially being a stand-in for America. The first is that Majin Buu, being created from Dabura, defeated his creator because he didn't like how he was being treated and wanted independence. This act from Buu could be interpreted as Buu being America and Dabura being the British Empire. Buu rebelling could therefore be a symbol of the American revolution.
Buu then grows more powerful and goes on conquest after conquest, taking down his opponents and turning them into candy to be consumed. Is this a representation of American imperialism? The author of the Reddit fan theory thinks so, but it seems unlikely. However, as the author digs deeper, it makes sense how they came to this conclusion. When Buu suffers from a traumatic event, he is split into two, and the two sides fight, with the stronger and more villainous side winning -- this event can be interpreted as the American Civil War. It's no surprise that when Majin Buu rejoined after the battle, he was stronger than ever and became a powerhouse, just like the United States did after the civil war.
However, the absolute craziness of this fan theory becomes apparent when the Z Fighters are tasked with fighting Buu, since this whole event can be translated as WWII. The Z Fighters join forces to fight a more robust villain who is destroying cities and threatening to obliterate the entire world. Ultimately, they succeed, and Buu turns into a powerful ally. Such events can be viewed as America, stereotypes and all, being a loud and childish ally that needs to be reigned in, but who at least is now a good guy. Japan and the United States do have a friendly relationship, after all.
As interesting as this fan theory is, there's one glaring fault. If Buu represents America, the Z Fighters are the armies that go against him during WWII -- the Axis powers. This is not a banner the Z Fighters would fight under. Goku and friends aren't fascists, and throughout the series, they make it clear that anyone who oppresses others must be brought to justice.
The idea that the Z Fighters are involved with the Axis powers in any way is absurd and goes against the ethical character of Goku and his friends. Goku would find the jingoism, racism and imperialism of the Axis powers revolting -- Goku fights for anyone who needs a hero and doesn't concern himself with such flimsy and dangerous ideas. He even fought against his own kind several times, simply because it was the right thing to do.
Could the creator of Dragon Ball Z, Akira Toriyama, have crafted Majin Buu after how the Japanese viewed America during World War II? It's possible -- after all, nobody knows what goes through a creator's head when they're developing a story. Whether Majin Buu is a crass stand-in representation of America or just another villain-turned-hero, one thing is for certain: it's good that he's now a member of the Z Fighters.