To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Akira Toriyama’s original Dragon Ball manga, which first appeared in Weekly Shonen Jump, a fan vote has revealed the most popular fighter in the series. As Dragon Ball looks ahead to a major event planned for 2026 and its future, it’s also a time to celebrate the franchise’s incredible journey over the past four decades.
Leading up to the event, a fan poll was held to determine the most popular character in the entire Dragon Ball franchise. The poll pitted every character against each other, and unsurprisingly, Goku came out on top. It’s hard to imagine Dragon Ball without Goku, so his victory isn’t much of a shock.
Dragon Ball Fans Choose Goku as Their Best Character
Based on a recent fan poll shared on social media, here are the top ten most popular Dragon Ball characters:
- Son Goku
- Vegeta
- Son Gohan
- Piccolo
- Vegito
- Trunks (Teen)
- Bardock
- Android 18
- Cell
- Frieza
The list of top ten characters includes some unexpected picks, like Vegito and Bardock. Just outside the top ten, you’ll find other popular characters such as Krillin, Yamcha, and Bulma. But the most surprising entry is Bulma’s cat, landing at number 15 – even higher than Chichi, Android 17, and Videl!
Ultimately, Goku remains the most popular and powerful character in the Dragon Ball universe. While other characters might temporarily surpass him, fans consistently consider Goku to be the strongest. A big part of the fun for Dragon Ball enthusiasts is debating how he’d fare against characters from other series, and discussions about Vegeta or Piccolo don’t usually begin until Goku’s strength is established.
What’s Next for Dragon Ball?
The popular series Dragon Ball is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a special event in Japan this weekend. While details are still under wraps, the event promises to share news about what’s next for the franchise. This could include the continuation of the Dragon Ball Super manga, which paused after the passing of creator Akira Toriyama in 2024, or even a new season of the Dragon Ball Super anime.
The future of Dragon Ball could open doors to surprising new anime projects. While the franchise likely has many plans in development, it remains to be seen how Shueisha and other involved companies will proceed after the passing of Akira Toriyama.
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2026-01-24 19:12