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Dragon Ball may be one of the most popular and influential anime series ever created, however, it’s hard to deny that the series is rather formulaic. Since the original series, no matter how great the threat or how dire the situation became, the story always positioned Goku as the hero who ultimately saves the day in one way or another. While this is partly what makes Goku as iconic as he is, it has also made every outcome feel predictable and sidelined its growing cast.
However, in the past decade, that expectation is gradually beginning to disappear. It’s possible that Goku will no longer be the franchise’s central hero when Dragon Ball Super returns, given the series’ increasing willingness to focus on other major characters in the latest arcs. Yet, rather than weakening the franchise’s identity, this shift could prove to be exactly what Dragon Ball needs as it enters a new era.
Goku Isn’t Dragon Ball’s Sole Champion Anymore
Goku extends his arms in a Kamehameha position flying above clouds in Dragon Ball Daima
Since 1984, when Akira Toriyama first introduced Dragon Ball and Goku to audiences, the journey centered around lighthearted adventure and martial arts as Goku constantly worked to improve himself and overcome ever-growing stakes. This structure carried over to Dragon Ball Z, where nearly every major conflict eventually led back to Goku delivering the final blow and saving the day.
Even though the series had expanded the Z-Fighters to include Gohan, Piccolo, and Vegeta, three thrilling characters who have since become fan favorites, they were often relegated to the sidelines where they constantly lived in Goku’s shadow. While they often helped to weaken the villains or build tension and stakes, the formula of Goku claiming the final victory, often in the final moment, was seemingly set in stone.
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However, after decades of following that formula, even Dragon Ball has reached a point where its repetition is no longer working in the franchise’s favor and could hurt its long-term appeal. That’s not to say that Goku will cease to stand as the series’ central or most legendary hero, but rather that the story will benefit greatly from allowing other major characters to stand in the spotlight and earn decisive victories of their own.
This is demonstrated in the Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero film, where Goku and Vegeta are given minimal screen time as Gohan and Piccolo take center stage. In the manga, the prelude to this arc even focuses on teenage Trunks and Goten as they deal with Dr. Hedo’s early androids while balancing high school as Saiyaman X-1 and X-2, respectively. By zeroing in on characters that don’t often lead the story, these arcs were thrilling, refreshing, and most of all, proof that the franchise has a wealth of untapped potential to explore.
Dragon Ball Is Better When It Has More Heroes
Dragon Ball Super: Group shot of the Z Fighters.
Given that the franchise has existed for over 40 years now, becoming a major influence in the anime industry and standing as a global powerhouse, Dragon Ball is at a stage where a change in the story’s structure could boost fan viewership and engagement by allowing other fan-favorites to earn real victories of their own and be pushed to new limits themselves rather than always being overshadowed by Goku or having to catch up to him.
Most notable is the fact that the series has an extensive cast filled with characters brimming with under-explored potential. Vegeta’s arc as he unlocks Ultra Ego is evidence that the characters, no matter how much screen time they may or may not have had, still have plenty to offer. Aside from Goku, characters including Vegeta, Gohan, Piccolo, Trunks, and Goten are all perfect candidates to become the primary heroes of upcoming arcs.
If this is the direction Dragon Ball takes, it would also be honoring one of Akira Toriyama’s initial intentions to replace Goku with the next generation of Z-Fighters. While Toriyama’s vision centered Gohan as the protagonist, allowing future storylines of Dragon Ball Super to put more attention on supporting characters would allow for a similar experience without completely removing Goku from the story.
All in all, Dragon Ball’s increasing willingness to move beyond Goku could prove to be one of the franchise’s greatest decisions and could strengthen its legacy. Goku will always be the face of the franchise, and the series wouldn’t be the same without his presence, but as Super begins to shift its focus on the supporting cast, the future of Dragon Ball could become more exciting than ever before.