Is Dragon Ball failing its female characters?

Key recommendations

• Some fans criticize Dragon Ball for marginalizing female characters like Chichi, while others appreciate the depth of characters like Bulma and Android 18.
• Bulma exhibits qualities that make her crucial to the Z-Fighters, while Android 18 evolves from a criminal to a key member of the team.
• Female characters like Kale and Caulifla gain prominence in Dragon Ball, indicating a positive direction for future representation.

His characters Dragon Ball are some of the most iconic and beloved in the entire anime industry. Since the beginning of the various iterations of the franchise, Goku and friends have endeared themselves to millions of fans around the globe for decades. Although there are many flaws that people associate with these characters, they have managed to win the praises of fans and keep them interested throughout.

However, over the years, some have begun to express the feeling that the show's female characters are more of an afterthought and more deserving of a central role. Some even go so far as to say that there are no compelling female characters or that the ones there are are just wasted, so let's go over how Dragon Ball treat them and see if the show fails to represent these women.

How Female Characters Fail

One reason why they are not well represented

Many feel that most, if not all, of the female characters in the franchise are wasted. Although this may seem harsh, there is some merit in this because Dragon Ball's the main heroes and villains are predominantly male, like the Saiyans and almost every enemy they've fought since the beginning of the series. Because of this, some fans feel that the women are just unimportant supporting characters who don't add much to the series.

One example I tend to give is Launch, who was a pretty interesting character in the original Dragon Ball series whose personality changed every time he sneezed. She was a great character, but she was completely forgotten when Z began, often being relegated to mere cameo appearances from time to time. Another example of this, which is much more present is Chichi.

While Chichi started off as an incredibly likable and fiery character in the original Dragon Ball A series that many fans immediately liked, she turned into an almost nothing character who had no visible contribution to the series other than being Goku's wife. This is pretty bad character development, as the show took a likable character and turned her entire identity into someone who has very little, if anything, to do with the overall story. In fact, Goku barely sees her anymore because of how often he trains.

In a series as dedicated to combat as a central plot point as Dragon Ballmany feel it's quite odd that none of the main fighters the story follows are women. Sure, Saiyans have been and always will be the main characters, but with all the new people being introduced, even as secondary characters on an arc-to-arc basis, many fans feel like it could just as easily be women instead.

Why female characters work

How they serve their roles in the series

Instead, there is a growing sense that the female characters have Dragon Ball are among the largest in the entire industry. While some of the criticism is certainly justified, many detractors tend to overlook what the series gets right in this regard, such as the layered and badass characters like Bulma and Android 18, who serve as some of the best characters in the franchise. .

Bulma shows that you don't have to be a warrior to be relevant in a show where fighting is the focus. She has no superpowers or unnatural abilities that make her one of the most powerful in the universe. Instead, her intellect is unmatched as it allows her to create machines that defy the laws of physics, where she has been an integral member of the Z-Fighters since the early days. It's safe to say that if it wasn't for her, none of the Z-Fighters, not even Goku, would have been able to reach the heights they did.

What ever! Match up! Saiyans are so annoying!

On the other hand, Android 18 is an extremely layered character who has had a great arc and development over the years. Starting out as a ruthless and powerful killing machine, she eventually learned to use her powers for good, becoming a crucial member of the Z-Fighters and eventually marrying Krillin, who recognizes her as pride as the strongest of the couple.

As for where the show is going in the future, it's probably headed in a great direction in terms of female representation. The strengths of characters like Bulma and Android 18 are as prevalent as ever, and several female characters are thrust into the spotlight for all the right reasons, namely Kale and Caulifla. While some criticism of this aspect of the series is warranted, there is an equal amount of good things that the female characters have going for them. Dragon Ball.

Dragon Ball can be streamed on Crunchyroll.