There are many discussions surrounding the Dragon Ball series and the changes it has gone through. These range from changes that were brought about by Toriyama's editors during the original Dragon Ball manga run to changes brought about simply due to Toriyama forgetting and retconning certain things. No matter where they came from, it's always fun to take a peek at these conversations and the thoughts from Dragon Ball fans when it comes to such changes.

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One of these discussions is in regards to changes that Toei added to the Dragon Ball anime when adapting it from the manga. One of the most obvious changes as of late is Goku's characterization in Dragon Ball GT and Dragon Ball Super. Many fans see differences in Goku's characterization in the original manga when compared to the version seen in Dragon Ball Z and its animated sequels from Toei. Toriyama himself backed up this belief by stating the same.

8 Goku Is More Simple-Minded In the Manga

manga goku happy

It's easy to see that in the original Dragon Ball manga that Goku tends to be a lot more simple-minded. While he may grow and mature in many ways, he is actually close to his depiction in the Dragon Ball Super anime, where he prioritizes getting a good battle above his own safety and that of his friends and family.

This is seen from the Saiyan Saga up until the absolute end of the manga, making its big return in the ending to the battle against Frieza and an infamous Cell Saga moment. Of course, it also takes place in the original Dragon Ball arcs as well as with Goku not killing Oolong and even the mountain lion he's faced as a child. He tends to not think of the consequences of his actions.

7 Toei Goku Is A Lot More Heroic

goku revive bird

Toei, of course, made Goku come off as a lot more heroic than he was in the original manga. This was shown through highlighted scenes that featured speeches and moments that even Toriyama felt pulled away from the original manga. There are many times that fans felt made him come off more like a "Superman" hero than he originally was.

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While Goku has his heroic moments in the manga, he tends to be more about getting stronger and finding the next big challenge. However, this doesn't mean he doesn't have his fair share of heroic moments, such as his sacrifice during the Cell Saga. The belief that he is a lot more heroic in the Toei anime is actually one of the more overblown beliefs of all the Toei changes, being taken to the next level with the influence of the Funimation English dub, namely that of Dragon Ball GT. However, it's still the case in the original Japanese version as well, as seen in Dragon Ball film scenes like when Goku revives a dead bird in the Cooler film.

6 Goku is More Affectionate In The Anime

goku filler

One double-edged sword of Toei's anime adaptation of the Dragon Ball series is the filler that is added to the series. Filler can many times add unnecessary longevity and boring moments to an anime, but other times it can be a great addition to an already great series.

These filler moments sometimes showcase great character moments where fans get to see them in their downtime without all of the fighting. This is shown with Goku and the filler of the anime giving him more time to relax and be a family man.

5 Goku Is More Obsessive In The Manga

manga goku 2021

Goku is oftentimes called very selfish, especially when it comes to trying to get what he wants, but that's not quite the correct word to describe it. A better fitting word to describe Goku when referring to his worst trait is obsessive.

One thing that can be missed due to the Toei writing is that Goku's obsession with getting stronger outweighs his superhero nature. This was largely missed in the GT series.

4 Goku Is More Immature In The Manga

goku manga fight

This obsessive nature translates into a bit of immaturity seen with manga Goku. Many things, from facial expressions to small actions, make him come off as much more of a character that simply goes with the flow, waiting for the next challenge.

Filler scenes like when he is spending time with Gohan before the fight with Cell and his heroic moments in the anime make him appear as the opposite.

3 He's Hungrier In Toei

Anime goku eats cloud

One small thing that is changed in the anime adaptation is Goku's control over his hunger, which is highlighted a lot more.

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While Goku is in love with eating in the manga as well, he's never gone as far as to stop and eat clouds in the Other World, as seen during an anime gag.

2 Manga Goku Accepted His Saiyan Heritage

Anime goku vs frieza

Another smaller change is Goku's reaction to finding out he's actually a Saiyan, which was largely noticed in the fight against Vegeta and his fight against Frieza.

While in the manga, Goku quickly accepts his heritage, the anime features him many times denying it by stating that he's an Earthling named Goku.

1 Toei Goku Is A Bit More Consistent With Original Dragon Ball

Goku and his family have a day out during the end of Dragon Ball Z

While both continuations of Goku in each piece version of Dragon Ball — be it the anime or manga — feel on-brand for the character to many, the anime feels more consistent.

Goku growing to truly care for the planet and wanting to go out of his way to protect innocents really feels like a good growth from what fans witnessed in Dragon Ball.

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