Dragon Ball Super Fixed Akira Toriyama’s Female Characters

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Akira Toriyama’s original Dragon Ball manga is incredibly well-written, but even its best story arcs aren’t flawless. A recurring weakness throughout the series was how female characters were portrayed and developed.

Akira Toriyama was a remarkably talented writer, but the writing team for Dragon Ball Super arguably improved upon his portrayal of female characters. While Toriyama created strong heroines like Bulma and Android 18, he didn’t focus on them for very long. In contrast, Dragon Ball Super, despite its flaws, generally gives the women of the Dragon Team better storylines and introduces several new, well-developed female characters.

Akira Toriyama Was Never Talented at Writing His Female Characters Long-Term

It’s widely accepted that Akira Toriyama didn’t portray the women in Dragon Ball very well. However, a key point often overlooked when evaluating his writing of female characters is that he’s actually very good at creating interesting and compelling female characters initially. It’s unfortunate that this potential isn’t fully realized in their overall treatment.

I absolutely love the female characters in Dragon Ball! Bulma was amazing as Goku’s original partner, and Chi-Chi is just pure, funny goodness. Then there’s Android 18 – the anime really did her dirty at first, but she became such a cool, complex character, switching from villain to something totally different. And Videl! She’s so charming and fun to watch, especially when she’s first learning to fight in the Buu Saga. Honestly, my only real problem is that after their introductions, they don’t get used as much as they deserve, and it’s a shame they’re basically the only four major female characters – alongside Launch, of course!

Bulma, though a well-developed character at the start of the Dragon Ball story, largely takes a backseat after the initial Pilaf Saga until the Cell Saga. Her increased role in the latter feels mainly driven by setting up a romantic relationship with Vegeta. Chi-Chi follows a similar pattern, appearing briefly at the beginning and then not returning until the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament Saga, primarily to establish her as Goku’s wife and Gohan’s mother.

Android 18 begins as a powerful and cynical villain, notably the first character to legitimately beat a Super Saiyan. However, like Bulma and Chi-Chi before her, she’s quickly moved to the sidelines and given a somewhat unconvincing romantic plotline. Thankfully, her scenes with Mr. Satan, Goten, and Trunks during the Buu Saga are genuinely humorous. She fares better than Videl, though, who starts strong but ends up suffering harsh violence and is eventually removed from the story altogether.

Dragon Ball Super’s Usage of its Female Characters is One of its Main Redeeming Qualities

It’s surprising that even though Dragon Ball Super has many flaws as a continuation of DBZ and as an anime on its own, its female characters are actually more well-developed than those created by Toriyama. The show manages to deliver on long-held fan hopes for certain characters and ideas, while also consistently introducing exciting new ones.

Bulma has always been a fan favorite in Dragon Ball, but Dragon Ball Super truly showcases her strengths. The series consistently highlights her intelligence and positions her as the emotional center of the team, uniting everyone. She’s wonderfully portrayed as a mature, loving mother while still maintaining her classic, confident personality, making her more relatable and charming than ever before.

Fans have long criticized the fact that Android 18 didn’t fight alongside the other Z Fighters during the Majin Buu saga. However, Dragon Ball Super resolves this by making her a fully active member of the team, giving her significant roles in the Universe Survival and Galactic Patrol Prisoner arcs. The series also strengthens her relationship with Krillin, making it more endearing, and provides entertaining interactions with characters like her brother, Android 17.

It’s disappointing that Dragon Ball Super portrays Chi-Chi similarly to her original manga version, rather than the less flattering way Toei Animation depicted her. Videl also feels like a poorly written character. Fortunately, the show is saved by its new characters and consistently strong portrayal of Pan.

Caulifla and Kale are among the most fun characters in Dragon Ball Super, especially during the Tournament of Power. They’re also historically significant as the first female Super Saiyans, and their battle with Goku is visually stunning. Vados provides excellent comedic contrast to both Champa and Whis, and is incredibly powerful. Ribrianne, while divisive, remains a memorable villain. More recently, Cheelai has become a fantastic addition to the series, offering hilarious and heartwarming interactions with Beerus and Broly, and proving valuable even with her limited abilities. Cheelai’s increased role coincides with a much-improved portrayal of Pan, who suffered from poor writing in Dragon Ball GT. Dragon Ball Super has finally given Pan the development she deserves, even making her a key character in the Super Hero movie.

While Dragon Ball Super isn’t perfect in its portrayal of female characters – falling behind series like Gachiakuta, Chainsaw Man, and Dandadan in that area – it does demonstrate how characters like Bulma and Android 18 could have been better utilized in the original DBZ. It also finally gave fans what they’d wanted for years: female Super Saiyans. Hopefully, when the Dragon Ball Super manga continues, the author Toyotarou will keep finding ways to showcase the women of the Dragon Team, and continue to feature Pan and Cheelai prominently.

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2025-11-29 19:32