10 DRAGON BALL CHARACTERS WHO DESERVED MORE LOVE

Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball franchise has entertained and excited audiences for nearly four decades. With its unpredictable plot twists, prolific transformations, and suspenseful battles between good and evil, Dragon Ball keeps fans engaged. However, it’s the characters that give the franchise its life and personality. With hundreds of important Dragon Ball characters, some inevitably get overlooked or fade into obscurity. While characters like Piccolo, Vegeta, Frieza, and Android 18 are permanent fixtures, many others deserve more love and attention. For fans who want to celebrate their favorite characters, there's a wealth of anime merch available.

5. Shin

Shin enters Dragon Ball Z alongside Kibito, both determined to prevent Majin Buu’s awakening and the destruction it would cause. As the East Supreme Kai, Shin initially makes a grand impression but is soon sidelined, sharing the spotlight with Kibito and Old Kai. Dragon Ball Super introduces the idea that each Supreme Kai is linked to a universe’s God of Destruction, meaning the death of one leads to the death of the other. This connection could have been used to develop Shin further, especially with powerful enemies like Black Frieza targeting him to eliminate Beerus. However, Dragon Ball continues to overlook Shin, leaving his potential unexplored.

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4. Android 16

Androids are a recurring theme in Dragon Ball, with Dragon Ball Z introducing several, including Android 16. Unlike Androids 17 and 18, who are vital for Cell’s perfection, Android 16 is a wildcard who learns to love Earth and tries to save it by eliminating Cell. His destruction profoundly impacts Gohan, catalyzing his transformation into Super Saiyan 2. Despite his significance, Dragon Ball Z never repairs Android 16 like it does 17 and 18. Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero reveals that Android 16 was based on Dr. Gero’s son, a rich backstory that remains untapped.

3. Nail

Dragon Ball Z’s trip to Namek introduces several important Namekian characters, with Nail standing out as the planet’s greatest warrior. Despite his strength, he’s still too weak to hold back Frieza’s forces and ultimately sacrifices himself to fuse with Piccolo, boosting Piccolo’s power. Nail’s legacy is significant, but he’s reduced to a power source for Piccolo. A flashback OVA or TV special exploring Nail’s past would be a fitting tribute to his character. With Dende still in the picture, stories of Nail could easily be integrated into the current narrative.

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2. Raditz

Raditz marks a crucial turning point in Dragon Ball, introducing Saiyans to the series and forcing Goku and Piccolo to collaborate. Despite his importance, Raditz’s role is brief, overshadowed by Nappa and Vegeta. As Goku’s brother, Raditz’s character has much potential, yet he remains underexplored even in Bardock-centric flashbacks. The heroes have never considered resurrecting Raditz, missing an opportunity to add another powerful Saiyan to the mix.

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1. King Cold

Frieza’s father, King Cold, makes a brief yet impactful appearance in Dragon Ball Z when he arrives on Earth with the rebuilt Frieza. Future Trunks quickly defeats both, leaving audiences with little knowledge about King Cold. His brief appearances are confined to filler content and flashbacks. Given his implied influence and power, exploring King Cold’s backstory and potential return would be fascinating. With Black Frieza’s rise, bringing King Cold back as an ally or an adversary could add depth to the story.

Visit an anime store nearby for the latest items or buy online from anime merch websites like Anime Devta. These Dragon Ball characters have immense potential and deserve more love and attention. Show your support for these underappreciated characters with the best anime merchandise available.

[The images used in this blog post are not owned by Anime Devta, they are just for entertainment purposes]

~Mimansa Sharma