Since 1984, Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball series has been going strong. The series has been entertaining fans for 40 years and counting. Despite not being the first creator of Toriyama-Sensei, it stands tall as his most reputed work. The mangaka was always extremely careful when creating his new characters in the show.
Whether it was about names, characteristics, or abilities, there was always this understanding of balancing each and every one of their characteristics. Hence, it aided in providing more depth and humanizing them in numerous ways.
One of the most intriguing characters in the series is Vegeta. Over the long run of the series, his character is the most worked upon, where once he was showcased as a selfish and arrogant figure. However, gradually but slowly, he transitioned into a family man who’d go to any extent to protect his family and loved ones.
Dragon Ball Expert Sheds Light on Prince Vegeta’s Character Development
Akira Toriyama introduced The Prince of All Saiyans in 1989 in Dragon Ball Z in the 5th episode, titled Gohan’s Rage. The character was initially showcased as egotistical and a proud warrior. Moreover, he was a cold-blooded killer who even killed his partner, Nappa, after Kakarot broke his back.
However, after facing defeat at the hands of Goku and the Z Fighters, he decided to abandon Frieza and his troops for Earth and would repeatedly fight alongside the Earth’s Special Forces. The Saiyan Warrior underwent numerous significant changes, which have been widely praised by fans of the franchise.
Recently, the official site of Dragon Ball shared on their official website how they have contacted Daisuke Akamatsu, an educational psychologist, to shed more light on the anti-hero’s psyche.
While we have seen Vegeta going against Lord Beerus in DBS after he hit her, Akamatsu-San explains that he definitely feels love for his son, Trunks, despite being so tight-lipped.
The host was asked how, during the Cell Games Saga, Future Trunks appeared, but the Saiyan Warrior did not showcase much emotion and rather treated him like another warrior of the same race.
The psychologist explained that several factors led a man to “feel affection towards his family.” Since neither of them shared such moments back then, he did not have any “fatherly feelings towards him.” Akamatsu-San said,
True. He treats Future Trunks as another warrior, rather than as a son. A father who isn’t there for his partner’s pregnancy or birth and then doesn’t interact with his child after they’re born won’t feel like he’s a father and it will be difficult for him to feel affection towards his family.
However, he adds that during the climax of the saga, Vegeta rushed head-first because he was “blinded with fury” and could not forget the sight where the future version of his son was killed by Perfect Cell.
On the other hand, near the climax of the Cell arc, Vegeta becomes blinded with fury at the sight of Future Trunks being killed and rushes head-first at Cell. At that moment, he clearly felt love for the future version of his son.
The moment was iconic, where the character had a brief monologue where he was cussing at Cell, who had mocked his Saiyan ancestry; he had crossed the line for “what he has done to my son.”
Though he launched a barrage of attacks at the antagonist, it was futile as it did not even faze him, but it showcased how Vegeta would go to great lengths to protect his family despite having a massive difference in their power levels.
How Did Vegeta Develop Affection Despite Treating Future Trunks as Another Warrior?
In the same session, Akamatsu-San explained that one of the key reasons that he believes that the father-son connection developed between the two was when they decided to train in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, where one hour feels like a year.
Since the two spent time mostly training, their bond grew stronger and pushed the Proud Warrior over his son’s death. He said,
I recall that there was a scene in which Vegeta and Future Trunks train together in the Room of Spirit and Time. I believe the time they spent there provided the opportunity for them to develop a relationship. However, it’s not clear if their relationship was father/son or master/student.
Hence, following a dynamic between the two was crucial. Though many fans did not think much about the moment and thought this was another way of displaying his pride, he would finish off Perfect Cell after Gohan had tenderized him a bit. This minor yet massive scene showcased Akira Toriyama’s genius and his excellent storytelling skills.
Dragon Ball Z can be streamed on Crunchyroll.
