Character introduction is an important aspect of any anime or manga series as it sets the tone for the character and their future in the story. However, in the case of Dragon Ball, Akira Toriyama had a different approach when introducing characters. Although there is a chance that fans might not have noticed that, Toriyama had a habit of introducing characters in pairs.
Be it Beerus and Whis, Vegeta and Nappa, Tien and Chiaotzu, or Yamcha and Puar, Toriyama always made sure that most of the characters got a supporting character along with them that would help them establish their role in the Dragon Ball narrative. Even the protagonist of the series, Goku, had a character who was specifically created by Toriyama just to couple with him.
This character was none other than Bulma. Although Bulma and Goku’s relationship might have seen some distance, when the series started, the two were very close to each other and had a unique bond that highlighted both characters.
Akira Toriyama Paired Bulma With Goku
In 2013, when Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods was released, V-Jump sat down with Akira Toriyama to discuss his involvement in the movie and the newly introduced characters Whis and Beerus which was shared by Kazenshuu. Toriyama not only talked about the upcoming two characters, he also explained why he prefers introducing new characters in pairs, and Goku and Bulma were the perfect examples of this.
Toriyama stated:
That way, I’m able to explain the characters and their relationship to each other through their interactions. In my case, I feel that it isn’t good to insert too much narration. I suppose Goku and Bulma are representative of that.
Talking about Bulma and Goku’s relationship when the Dragon Ball series started, Toriyama revealed:
As a child, Goku doesn’t know anything [of the world], so without Bulma, he’d be a character who didn’t say anything. (laughs)
Akira Toriyama did not like the idea of inserting too much narration as it crowded manga panels and fans could not enjoy the art. Thus he decided to introduce characters in pairs, as their interactions would help fans understand their relationship and also set a background for the individual characters.
Bulma and Goku in Dragon Ball | Toei Animation
In the case of Goku, as he did not know much about the world, Toriyama decided to pair him up with Bulma and develop his narrative along with their relationship, which would be easy for fans to understand.
Goku’s Relationship With His First Friend in Dragon Ball, Bulma
Bulma might be the very first girl that Goku ever met in Dragon Ball. They shared a kind of sibling relationship that had moments of annoyance, fun, excitement, conflicts, etc. When the Dragon Ball series started, Bulma took care of Goku like a little brother and taught him almost everything. She was also Goku’s first friend.
While their relationship was never much focused on, they shared a strong bond and cared for each other in a different way. Goku saved Bulma’s life multiple times, and even Bulma saved Goku a couple of times. As they grew older, their bond became less focused, as both of them dived into different things.
Bulma started taking care of her family and her father’s company, and Goku concentrated on becoming stronger by training and fighting powerful opponents. But this did not reduce the importance Goku and Bulma held for each other in their lives.
You can watch Dragon Ball on Crunchyroll.
