How often did you want to befriend Dragon Ball characters as a kid? Strong characters like Goku, Vegeta, and Piccolo have always seemed trustworthy. However, it turns out that Akira Toriyama’s views are the complete opposite of his fans.
In a past interview, Toriyama sensei talked about what he thought regarding the Dragon Ball characters, and who he would like to be friends with. Unfortunately, the strongest duo of Goku and Vegeta have been blacklisted.
Which Dragon Ball characters does Akira Toriyama want to be friends with?
In an interview, Akira Toriyama admitted that the characters he had created for Dragon Ball are pretty quirky to be friends with. But his preference was characters who would not expose him to danger and would rather be excellent companions. Thus, his list of top people to be friends with are Bulma, Son Gohan, Dende, Kame-Sen’nin, and Krillin.
According to Toriyama, Bulma might be bossy, but she is a resourceful person. He expects her to give him a flying car if they are friends! She could even make some incredible inventions for the author. Bulma is indeed a very quirky and boisterous character who has proven helpful in several tight spots. She might not be physically strong, but she is a refreshing lady in a sea of battle junkies.
The next one on the list is Son Gohan, a polite, hard worker who isn’t too loud. The eldest son of Goku is a scholar (as characterized by his glasses) and prefers to fight only when a loved one is threatened. Despite being Goku’s son, he is still a calm and strong person who never fights for fun.
Toriyama likes Dende for the same reasons that he likes Gohan. This little Namekian is so gentle and soft-spoken that he could be a nanny despite being a child himself. He became close to Gohan and Krillin after he was saved by them, and unsurprisingly, both his friends are on this list!
Of course, the next person the mangaka pointed out was Krillin, Goku’s adorable friend. He might not be big in size, but he has a huge and accepting heart. The mangaka often does him dirty because he faces defeat so often, but that never stops him from improving.
Why doesn’t Akira Toriyama want to be friends with Goku and Vegeta?
You would think that Toriyama’s favorite character must be his protagonist or at least the egotistical Vegeta. But turns out, the author only wants drama in his manga and never his life. He has already answered that he does not want to be friends with anyone who would attract trouble. Goku and Vegeta are basically trouble-magnets so the mangaka’s sentiment is understandable.
No matter where Goku and Vegeta go, their ki and powers attract competitors or evil overlords. In fact, their friends quite visibly suffer due to this drawback. Lest you need a reminder of how many times Krillin, Piccolo, and others have had their behinds handed to them.
So unless you are strong enough to fight villains from distant universes, don’t even think of befriending them. Plus, what discussions would you have with them? Would you like endless conversations about improving muscles and debating the next Saiyaan transformation color? Stay clear of them in real life unless you need to win brawls.
You can catch the antics of the Dragon Ball characters on Crunchyroll.
