10 Dragon Ball Characters Everyone Hates But Secretly Loves

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Akira Toriyama’s work has been delighting audiences for more than four decades, yet this hasn’t always been a straightforward path. The Dragon Ball series has transformed significantly throughout the years, moving away from its initial broader and sillier gag comedy style. The development of Dragon Ball feels organic, particularly as Goku transitions from a mischievous child to a selfless adult. Goku’s heroic actions have led him to encounter some extraordinary characters, both friend and foe, who often elicit mixed responses among fans.

In a series like Dragon Ball, there’s no definitive formula for creating successful characters. What resonates with one character might not work for another. Interestingly, some Dragon Ball characters are intentionally designed to be irritating or off-putting, yet they’re adored by fans. These aren’t the most beloved characters in the series, but they serve as a reminder that what one person finds annoying, another might find appealing, and likable characters can take on various forms.

In the Dragon Ball universe, it’s easy to forget that super-powered characters like Goku coexist with ordinary folks. As the ominous Cell Games approach, Mr. Satan steps into the limelight, projecting an intimidating persona and boasting about being the world’s mightiest warrior. However, his claims are vastly exaggerated, as he’s easily outmatched by even novice ki users. Despite this, Goku prefers to stay out of the spotlight, whereas Mr. Satan is more than happy to claim credit for the heroes’ Earth-shaking victories.

It’s quite frustrating to see Mr. Satan boast about his abilities and grow more arrogant, despite lacking the skills to support his claims. He tends to cower when actual danger arises. Despite being challenging to put up with at times, Dragon Ball knows that less can be more when it comes to him. There’s no ill intent behind his actions, and he seems to wrestle with self-doubt issues. In reality, Mr. Satan is a kind-hearted individual who deeply cares for his extended family and frequently encourages the public to trust the Z-Fighters.

Dragon Ball Super imaginatively delves into the boundless potential of multiple universes, particularly when eight of these universes clash during a major conflict. Instead of merely presenting powerful variations on a theme, it’s intelligent to make each universe distinct visually and alien-like, creating an entirely different aesthetic. While Dragon Ball Super could have done more in this area, one of the standout examples is the concept that Universe 2 is inhabited by fighters resembling magical girls. The possibility that Universe 2 might even be a shojo universe within a shonen series adds an interesting twist to the narrative.

Despite frequent criticism for being one of the less favorable characters in “Dragon Ball Super,” Brianne de Chateau is known for her unconventional portrayal of combat and transformations as Ribrianne, who challenges traditional magical girl aesthetics. Ribrianne’s distinctive nature may appear jarring, but this is intentional, and she deserves acknowledgment for her unique characterization. Notably, Ribrianne does not possess a subdued Brianne form in the manga, instead debuting already in an exaggerated state, which made her more acceptable to some readers.

In Dragon Ball Z, Goten and Trunks quickly demonstrate an ability to harness Super Saiyan strength at a pace unmatched by their family members, indicating they could be the future generation of heroes. The characters Goku and Piccolo invest significant time in training them, especially in the art of fusion. As Gotenks, their combined form, they surpass their individual achievements, even reaching Super Saiyan 3 power during the Buu Saga. Yet, given that only one other character also achieves this level of power, it’s surprising that Gotenks doesn’t receive more recognition.

In the series Dragon Ball Super, Gotenks’ immature behaviors are amplified significantly, resulting in contentious battles against Super Buu and decreasing effectiveness. It’s surprising that despite numerous opportunities post-Tournament of Power, Gotenks has yet to successfully fuse in any manga material. Fans find it disappointing to see his potential squandered and his character reduced to humoristic antics. Nevertheless, even in this frustrating state, Gotenks retains one of the franchise’s most inventive fighting styles.

In a more casual and understandable manner: The Dragon Ball series has become quite action-focused over time, but its initial storyline leans more towards adventure fantasies. Characters like Puar, who seem out of place with the current tone of Dragon Ball, reflect this contrast. During the early days of Dragon Ball when problems were simpler, shapeshifters like Puar were quite useful. However, as another shapeshifter, Oolong, joined the group, Puar’s presence became less significant and seemingly unnecessary.

Oolong might be more mischievous than Puar, but it’s Puar’s irritating voice and repetitive behaviors that often attract the most dislike. Initially, Puar fit well into the early storyline of Dragon Ball, but now seems outdated. However, his abilities still provide some amusing visual jokes. Moreover, Puar plays an underappreciated role in Yamcha’s character development and their friendship adds a deeper layer to both characters.

As a Dragon Ball Super devotee, I find Monaka to be quite intriguing as he serves more as a narrative catalyst than a well-rounded character in his own right. In an attempt to push Goku and Vegeta towards intense training for the Tournament of Destroyers, Beerus deceitfully informs them that Monaka is Universe 7’s strongest warrior. This unsuspecting pawn becomes instrumental in Beerus’ scheme for an effortless reward. The secret about Monaka’s real strength remains hidden from Goku and Vegeta, making it one of the longest-lasting jokes in Dragon Ball lore.

In the manga of Dragon Ball Super, there’s an extra enjoyable page where Zamasu employs the Super Dragon Balls to seize Monaka’s body instead of Goku’s, as he too has fallen for the deception. Some Dragon Ball fans argue that the Monaka joke has been overused, but it never really hinders anyone’s progress. It’s a humorous detail that usually works well in this regard. Furthermore, Dragon Ball Super has gradually given Monaka more character development – though in small amounts – such as his appearance during the Copy-Vegeta Saga.

As an observer, I find myself reflecting on the often underestimated character from Dragon Ball lore – Chiaotzu. It’s easy to miss his introduction as the subordinate to Krillin, but when you delve deeper, he truly shines in his antagonistic role. His psychic abilities are formidable, and they often leave our heroes reeling. However, Chiaotzu, much like Tien, eventually recognizes their mistakes under Master Shen’s tutelage and choose to defect from him.

Regrettably, Chiaotzu experiences a devastating loss against Nappa at the start of Dragon Ball Z , one from which he never truly recovers. This leaves Chiaotzu in a challenging situation where he either remains relatively underdeveloped or seems insignificant when given more focus. It would be wonderful to see a well-crafted storyline that adequately highlights Chiaotzu’s potential once more. Nonetheless, he continues to provide amusement as Tien’s contrasting counterpart.

In many ways, Dragon Ball DAIMA harkens back to the humorous antics of the original Dragon Ball, while still maintaining its share of intense action and more mature scenes. However, what sets it apart are the numerous characters who seem to exist primarily for comedic effect and to mock conventional norms, often embarrassing the villains. The heroes’ infiltration of the First Demon World results in the dispatch of characters like Kadem, Danima, Hillia, Mashim, and Gaimoi by Demon King Gomah. Interestingly enough, the Gendarmerie Force turns out to be a misdirect and functions more like DAIMA‘s own take on an even zanier Ginyu Force.

Instead of focusing more on acting and dramatics than actual combat, the five soldiers are swiftly defeated by Vegeta when it comes to a fight. This group was often mocked as unnecessary during the climax of the anime, but their comedic elements were surprisingly well-received. The way they annoy Gomah is quite entertaining. Initially, Gomah thought these warriors might be useful to him, but instead, they cause damage to his castle and escalate his frustration. This serves to emphasize Gomah’s lack of competence in this position.

Yajirobe, once an agile ronin, had already settled into a complacent lifestyle as Dragon Ball Z unfolds. It’s worthy of note that someone who acknowledges their own limitations is commendable. He finds his place at Korin Tower and assists in distributing Senzu Beans, which aligns well with the swordsman’s skillset. Yajirobe’s decision to retire might appear disrespectful to his impressive past feats in the original Dragon Ball, such as…

In the series Dragon Ball Z, the expanding roster tends to limit character development for individuals like Yajirobe. This narrative shift thus seems logical and offers a more dignified end than a brutal or manipulated demise. While Yajirobe may not have fully realized his potential in certain aspects, he remains useful whenever needed. His role in stopping Great Ape Vegeta during the Saiyan Saga and Future Yajirobe’s participation in Future Trunks’ dystopian timeline are particularly notable contributions.

I find myself in an intriguing setting, later identified as the universe of “Dragon Ball,” where events unfold as a prequel to the main series. A character named Jaco gradually makes his presence known and eventually becomes a significant figure in “Dragon Ball Super.” As galactic perils escalate, Jaco takes on a more prominent role.

In typical Akira Toriyama fashion, Jaco possesses an elevated status, yet he is frequently troubled by his own apprehensions. He’s the kind of character who will caution others about potential dangers, only to flee when those dangers materialize.

Despite being perceived as cowardly by some, Jaco proves to be valuable in the Galactic Patrol during the Moro assault in Dragon Ball Super. Some fans might consider him an unimportant character compared to more heroic ones like Merus. However, Jaco’s endearing qualities make him hard not to like, even though he doesn’t typically save the day.

In this version, I tried to maintain the original meaning and tone while using simpler language and a more straightforward sentence structure.

In a more straightforward and engaging manner, one could say: Chi-Chi is frequently subjected to unwarranted criticism and is often portrayed as a dampener on Goku’s joy. However, this perception of Chi-Chi is misguided, particularly since it relies heavily on additional anime content that intensifies her abrasive traits. Initially, in the original Dragon Ball series, their relationship deepens during their 23rd World Tournament match and subsequent Bansho Fan adventure. It’s gratifying to observe Goku finding a partner who shares his spirit and keeps pace with him. Contrastingly, when Dragon Ball Z resumes five years later, Chi-Chi appears to have largely abandoned martial arts for domestic responsibilities, which can come as quite a shock.

Fans criticize Chi-Chi not only due to her lack of enthusiasm for martial arts, but also because she frequently encourages this perspective on both Goku and Gohan, which some fans feel restricts their freedom to train and be content. At the same time, it’s reasonable that Chi-Chi desires family stability and a secure future for her children. While Chi-Chi might not be the most lighthearted character in Dragon Ball, there’s no denying her unwavering commitment to safeguarding her family.

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2025-07-06 21:53