Dragon Ball Z has become popular for many reasons, but one of anime’s signature elements involves prolific transformations that elevate characters to unprecedented places. Dragon Ball ZHeroic transformations – especially the litany of Super Saiyan forms that exist – are usually the ones that spark the most celebration. However, Dragon Ball ZVillains are often capable of retaliating in the same way.
In fact, it’s often a good idea not to judge a villain based on their initial appearance, as that is likely a restricted base form instead of their true self. Full of Dragon Ball Z villains don’t really connect with the audience until they trigger their transformations. However, the reverse is also true and there are some Dragon Ball Z villains whose transformations miss the mark and lack the impact of their previous forms.
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10 The semi-perfect cell pales in comparison to the villain’s other transformations
Anime debut: Dragon Ball Z, episode 152, “Say Goodbye, 17”; Manga debut: Dragon Ball Z, Chapter 179 (Dragon Ball Chapter 373), “The New Cell”
Cell stands out Dragon Ball Z villain who doesn’t always receive the same appreciation as Frieza or Majin Buu. Cell, like other personalities Dragon Ball Z villains, goes through multiple transformations before being in his strongest state. Cell’s introductory state, Imperfect Cell, is truly nightmarish and one of Akira Toriyama’s most striking creations. It’s a horrible creature that looks like it came straight out of a Juni Ito manga. Cell’s final form, Perfect Cell – or Super Perfect Cell, for those who want to be pedantic – seems like a fitting evolution for a villain.
Perfect Cell has a regal, refined appearance that matches a villain’s final form. Stuck in the middle is Semi-Perfect Cell, which is the result of Android 17’s absorption by Imperfect Cell. Semi-Perfect Cell definitely seems like it’s caught between the two extremes of Imperfect Cell and Perfect Cell. The design isn’t necessarily ineffective, but it’s held back by an ugly color palette. Semi-Perfect Cell seems to have lost its direction slightly, which makes it all the more interesting that this is Toriyama’s favorite form of Cell and he wanted to last longer before his editor urged him to move on at Perfect Cell.
9 Kid Buu is a discouraging step back from Buu’s previous transformations
Anime Debut: Dragon Ball Z, Episode 276, “Evil Kid Buu!” » ; Manga debut: Dragon Ball Z, Chapter 314 (Dragon Ball Chapter 508), “The Boo Of Pure Evil”
Demand blood, Dragon Ball ZThe latest villain of , adopts the same transformation trend as Frieza and Cell. However, Buu is slightly different in that some of his transformations manifest as distinct individuals. Buu’s initial Innocent Buu form is a unique change of pace designed to encourage individuals to let their guard down. His later forms, Evil Buu and Super Buu, are both successful and frightening in different ways. Innocent Buu’s removal of Super Buu causes the villain to transform into Kid Buu.
Despite being Buu’s “final” form, Kid Buu doesn’t have the same impact as Super Buu. There is something to be said for an ultimate evil, tiny and different from past threats. It’s just hard to prefer this transformation when higher versions of the character have already been introduced. Simply swapping the order of Super Buu and Kid Buu would likely solve many of the problems fans had with the ending of Dragon Ball ZIt’s Buu Saga. This would even give Gotenks the opportunity to fight someone his size.
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8 Full Power Bojack is a superficial palette swap that lacks inspiration
Anime debut: Dragon Ball Z: Bojack Unbound; Manga debut: Super Dragon Ball Heroes: Universe Mission!!, Chapter 1, “Prison Planet”
Dragon Ball Z: Bojack Unbound is the ninth film in the anime and one of the most favorable films in the franchise. Goku and Vegeta spend most of this adventure, allowing Gohan to step into the spotlight and lead the charge against Bojack and his Galaxy Soldiers. Bojack and his Hera clan infiltrate the Intergalactic World Tournament and become worthy adversaries of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. The interesting thing about Bojack and his transformation into Full Power Bojack is that the whole transformation seems incidental.
Bojack is shown with blue skin and orange hair, but Full Power Bojack has green skin and red hair. He also loses his shirt, so his muscles are more visible, but he doesn’t necessarily look stronger than before. Full Power Bojack gives the character a decent strength boost that brings him closer to Super Saiyan 2 strength. However, nothing makes the green and red skin and hair combination better than the original blue and orange look. It just depends on your personal preferences. Bojack’s transformation ultimately could have been more sumptuous.
7 Zarbon’s monstrous form exudes brutal barbarity through grueling transformation
Anime debut: Dragon Ball Z, episode 53, “Zabon’s Surprise”; Manga debut: Dragon Ball Z, Chapter 69 (Dragon Ball Chapter 263), “The True Power of Zarbon”
The heroes have their work cut out for them on Planet Namek between Frieza and the Ginyu Force. However, Vegeta also wages war against Frieza’s two right-hand men, Dodoria and Zarbon, in his efforts to acquire the planet’s Dragon Balls. Vegeta is able to weigh down Zarbon until the loyal Frieza Force soldier triggers his Monster Form metamorphosis. Monster Form Zarbon loses his beauty and becomes more of a crude creature, albeit with significantly greater strength.
Zarbon uses this transformation when absolutely necessary, but he does not enjoy this process and has no need to become this brutal tool of destruction. A hideous villain is in some ways more appropriate than a stylish antagonist, but Monster Form Zarbon still has a lot to take in and this transformation only delays the inevitable. It is also worth mentioning that Dragon Ball Super features Yuzun as a member of Moro’s Galactic Bandit Brigade, who is the same species as Zarbon and also undergoes an unsightly transformation into monster form.
6 Super Garlic Jr. is a disastrous attempt to make a little bully intimidating
Anime debut: Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone; Start of manga: N/A
Garlic Jr., although not Dragon Ball Zanime’s most popular villain, deserves credit for leading the way in the anime’s first feature film, Dead zonewhile also getting a significant filler arc in the anime proper. Garlic Jr. is a small individual who even somewhat resembles Emperor Pilaf. He’s not particularly intimidating, which is why he often urges his Spice Boy bandmates to take care of things for him. Additionally, Garlic Jr. uses the Dragon Balls to successfully gain immortality, which helps him compensate for his small size and minimal strength. However, the culmination of both Dead zone and the Garlic Jr. Saga features this villain attempting to turn the tables with a powerful transformation.
Garlic Jr. transforms into Super Garlic Jr., who transforms into a giant, burly brawler that’s practically pure muscle. This form is undeniably scarier, but it’s an unnatural and awkward evolution of Garlic Jr.’s previous state. The dichotomy between these two forms is appreciated, but this transformation design would work better if it weren’t than Garlic Jr.’s main form.
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5 Frieza 100% Full Power is a useless hat on a hat
Anime debut: Dragon Ball Z, episode 98, “A Final Attack”; Manga debut: Dragon Ball Z, Chapter 127 (Dragon Ball Chapter 321), “Maximum Despair”
Dragon Ball ZFrieza’s really sets the framework for villainous transformations as the anime progresses. Frieza has four distinct forms, each drastically different from his predecessors. Reception has been mixed as to the popularity and impact of each of these transformations – Frieza’s third form is particularly polarizing – but the most useless and worst of the lot is Frieza’s 100% full-power transformation. This final transformation is essentially Frieza’s fourth form, but with increased muscle mass and a generally bulkier physique.
This form seems manipulative when introduced and it’s just another way to Dragon Ball Z to prolong this battle and illustrate that Frieza has even more tricks up his sleeve. It’s an ugly and largely forgotten transformation that still proves ineffective in combat. A smarter approach would be to make Frieza’s fourth form his 100% full power state or introduce a completely new transformation for this upgrade. Frieza continues to push free transformations to new places in Dragon Ball Superwhere it features Golden Frieza, True Golden Frieza and Black Frieza.
4 Majin Vegeta Acquires Bland Malevolent Brand
Anime debut: Dragon Ball Z, episode 228, “The Return of the Dark Prince”; Manga Debut: Dragon Ball Z, Chapter 262 (Dragon Ball Chapter 456), “Goku vs. Vegeta”
Dragon Ball Z had continued the climax of Goku and Vegeta’s initial clash since it occurred and the anime ultimately recreates this scenario during its Buu Saga. Vegeta’s insecurities and ego get the best of him and he succumbs to Babidi’s manipulative magic in exchange for a major power boost. The end result is Majin Vegeta, which represents a pretty daunting prospect – Vegeta’s return to the dark side – but the transformation itself is rather lazy. Majin Vegeta, like all of Babidi’s malevolent minions, acquires a stylized “M” on his forehead. Majin Vegeta is effective because he is pure rage and channels years of pent-up hostility and resentment towards Goku.
It’s not Majin Vegeta’s design aesthetic that makes him a memorable or frightening opponent. In addition to the sticky Majin mark, Majin Vegeta’s veins are also more prominent and stressed. He also has darker circles around his eyes. It’s hard to say what would make Majin Vegeta’s transformation more memorable – perhaps a completely different aura that indicates his affiliation with Babidi – but the established look isn’t very remarkable. Majin Vegeta succeeds purely because of his character, despite his underwhelming appearance.
3 Princess Snake Goddess of Snake Form trades beauty for brutality
Anime debut: Dragon Ball Z, episode 14, “Snake Princess”; Start of manga: N/A
Dragon Ball Z playfully indulges in numerous anime-exclusive filler episodes, some of which are more successful than others. An early episode, which some fans don’t even realize is filler, involves Goku making a pit stop while he traverses the path of the otherworldly snake and briefly takes over some of the creature comforts of Princess Serpent. Princess Serpent is a reptilian princess said to be married to King Yemma. She makes romantic advances towards Goku, whom the Saiyan reprimands and attempts to continue his journey.
It is at this point that the Serpent Princess unleashes a vast illusion while also transforming into her true state: the Goddess of the Serpent Way. Princess Snake initially gains a more sinister appearance before becoming a huge snake that is essentially a living version of Snake Way. In this state, she uses her powerful illusion to put Goku in her stomach. Princess Snake almost digests Goku of her destructive stomach acids before Goku realizes reality, escapes from Princess Snake’s stomach, and causes her to knot his enormous body.
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2 Super Android 13 is an ugly and inexplicable anomaly
Anime debut: Dragon Ball Z: Super Android 13!; Start of manga: N/A
Dragon Ball Zthe seventh feature film of, Great Android 13!reveals that Dr. Gero had actually created several other evil androids that simply weren’t put into action. Dr. Gero’s supercomputer posthumously activates Androids 13, 14, and 15, who face the powerful wrath of the Super Saiyans. Goku, Vegeta and Future Trunks have no difficulty with these androids. However, Android 14 absorbs the microchips from its fallen Android peers and transforms into the more powerful Super Android 13. Super Android 13 becomes a worthy rival to Goku and he needs the unique power boost from his Spirit Bomb Super Saiyan form to destroy this threat.
Super Android 13 is beefy, but its transformation leaves a lot to be desired. Inexplicably, Super Android 13 gains blue skin, spiky orange hair, and whitened pupils. It’s certainly a striking design, but one that seems to ignore all the defining traits of Androids 13, 14, and 15. It’s a confusing approach that stands out in a garish way. With curiosity, Dragon Ball GT later returns to the concept of merging “Super Android” with Super 17, but this transformation actually resembles the natural evolution of its two participants.
1 Bio-Broly is the Goopy & Gross successor to a Super Saiyan legend
Anime debut: Dragon Ball Z: Bio-Broly; Start of manga: N/A
The legendary Super Saiyan Broly is a Dragon Ball character that the franchise just can’t get enough of. Dragon Ball Super: Broly properly canonized the character and made him a hero, but he first made his mark through a trilogy of Dragon Ball Z movies. Broly – The Legendary Super Saiyan And Broly – Second Coming are both impressive displays of the strength of the legendary Super Saiyan Broly. He’s not only incredibly intimidating, but his specialized transformation looks downright dangerous. In Dragon Ball Z: Bio-BrolyBroly returns in a disappointing new form that turns him into a surreal science experiment. Dr. Collie, in affiliation with Lord Jaguar, uses Broly’s DNA to create a superior clone version of the Saiyan, Bio-Broly.
Bio-Broly may technically be a new character, but he still uses Broly’s DNA, which is synthesized in an original transformation. Bio-Broly is as powerful as the original Broly and can still trigger Super Saiyan transformations. However, it has a disturbing gooey composition that makes it resemble a creature from horror or science fiction, rather than an action anime. Bio-Broly’s transformation isn’t aesthetically pleasing, which contributes to the diminishing returns of this character returning for a third appearance.
With the help of the powerful Dragonballs, a team of fighters led by Saiyan warrior Goku defends planet Earth from alien enemies.
- Release date
- September 30, 1996
- Cast
- Sean Schemmel, Brian Drummond, Christopher Sabat, Scott McNeil
- Seasons
- 9
- Studio
- Toei Animation
- Creator
- Akira Toriyama
- Number of episodes
- 291