Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball showcases incredible action sequences, memorable transformations, and a wide range of attacks, but none of this matters without a compelling cast of characters. Audiences have fallen in love with Dragon Ball because of iconic anime characters like Goku, Vegeta, Piccolo, Future Trunks, and Gohan, but credit is also due to Dragon Ball’s villains, who have also become larger-than-life figures who are practically synonymous with evil.
Dragon Ball is responsible for beloved characters whom the audience can’t get enough of. Unfortunately, not all of Dragon Ball’s characters are winners. Dragon Ball has introduced certain individuals who either fail to meet expectations, rub fans the wrong way, or are intentionally abrasive. These are the Dragon Ball characters who represent the worst of the worst and truly wear out fans’ patience.
Jiren’s Unbelievable Power Comes At The Expense Of A Personality
Dragon Ball Super’s Tournament of Power is designed to showcase the strongest fighters from across the multiverse. Universe 7 slowly dominates their competition, only for Universe 11’s Jiren to quickly stand out as the tournament’s greatest fighter. Jiren spends lengthy portions of the tournament locked in meditation, only to then lash out with incredible power whenever he’s threatened by Goku, Vegeta, and Frieza.
The Tournament of Power spends dozens of episodes inflating Jiren’s value and treating him like the ultimate opponent, because in many ways, he is. It’s just unfortunate that the anime barely gives him a personality beyond a traumatic childhood and a desire to keep the peace. To Jiren’s credit, Dragon Ball Super’s manga does more to make him feel like an actual character. It’s still disappointing that such a phenomenal threat feels like he exists just so that there’s someone strong enough to punch Goku.
Chiaotzu Has Struggled To Find His Place Among Increasingly Evolving Allies
Shorty grabs Chiaotzu during battle in Dragon Ball Z.Image via Toei Animation
Chiaotzu is a breath of fresh air when he’s first introduced, alongside Tien, as Master Shen’s Crane School rivals for Goku and Krillin. Chiaotzu benefits from a unique means of power that includes psychic abilities such as telepathy and telekinesis. This stands out during the 22nd World Tournament, but it fails to make much of an impression once Dragon Ball evolves into Dragon Ball Z.
Chiaotzu accepts that his best days are past him when he meets an embarrassing end against Nappa in the Saiyan Saga. Chiaotzu doesn’t deserve hatred because he can’t keep up with Saiyan strength. That being said, it’s frustrating to see so much potential go to waste with this unusual fighter and that more wasn’t ever done with him. Any time Chiaotzu shows up, it becomes a reminder of what could have been.
Maron Is A Childish Punchline That Feels Too Mean-Hearted
Master Roshi pushes Maron out of the way in Dragon Ball Z.Image via Toei Animation
Krillin and Android 18’s daughter is named Marron and she’s an adorable addition to their family. Maron, on the other hand, is a different character who often slips through the cracks and has ties to Krillin’s swinging bachelor days. Maron is an anime-only filler character who Krillin dates – and actually proposes to – during the Garlic Jr. Saga.
Maron looks suspiciously similar to Bulma, yet she’s not given much to do besides receive insults as a ditzy airhead. Even Korin can’t help but make fun of Maron and indulge in rude and dismissive stereotypes. The ire that Maron receives is meant to be comical, along with the general idea that someone like Krillin has somehow won her over. Maron’s material doesn’t work and comes across as unnecessarily cruel.
Old Kai Abuses His Power & Repeats Past Mistakes
Old Kai smiles in Dragon Ball Z.Image via Toei Animation
Dragon Ball does great work when it comes to expanding its boundaries and gradually introducing more celestial deities and increasingly important Kais. It’s a big deal when Shin, Universe 7’s Supreme Kai, enters the picture. Matters become even more complicated when Gohan frees Old Kai from the Z Sword.
Old Kai possesses remarkable knowledge and power, but he makes some rather inappropriate requests when it comes to his cooperation. This schtick had already been explored by Master Roshi and so it seems quite regressive to return to it, this late in Dragon Ball Z, and with a God, no less. Additionally, Old Kai just isn’t as important of a character as Dragon Ball wants him to be. Shin and Kibito could serve the same purpose.
Giru Is Dragon Ball GT’s Unofficial Mascot & Irritating Sidekick
Dragon Ball GT initially caused some tonal confusion among its fans when the anime was clearly geared more towards younger audiences. This is achieved by sillier and lighthearted storytelling, a younger cast that includes Pan and a de-aged Goku, but also a playful Machine Mutant companion, Giru. Giru becomes a permanent part of Goku, Pan, and Trunks’ crew when he eats their Dragon Radar and takes on its traits.
Giru is a tough pill to swallow. Giru functions with a shrill voice and is usually a foil for Pan, which just leads to greater problems. Giru deserves credit for saving Goku and Pan during their fight against Haze Shenron, but he’s largely dead weight. Giru feels like a character who exists purely to move merchandise, which represents the beginning of the end for Dragon Ball creatively.
Monaka Is Turned Into Dragon Ball Super’s Secret Scapegoat
Monaka avoids exploded glass in Dragon Ball Super.Image via Toei Animation
In a desperate attempt to keep Goku and Vegeta motivated, Beerus tells his prize Saiyans that there’s actually a stronger warrior than them in Universe 7 named Monaka. In reality, Monaka is a basic delivery driver who can barely throw a punch. However, Beerus bribes Monaka to go along with this elaborate subterfuge so that Goku and Vegeta will push themselves even harder in order to overpower this hypothetical threat.
Beerus’ plan works, but the truth about Monaka never comes to light. Accordingly, this has led to a handful of awkward situations where Monaka leans into the lie and suffers embarrassing consequences. It’s also somewhat insulting to Goku and Vegeta that they wouldn’t be able to accurately sense Monaka’s true power level and know that he doesn’t actually possess any strength. Monaka is a one-note joke that gets pushed too far.
Ribrianne’s Extended Stay In The Tournament Of Power Insults Dragon Ball’s Best
Super Ribrianne blocks Android 18’s attack in Dragon Ball Super’s Tournament of Power.Image via Toei Animation
Dragon Ball Super’s Tournament of Power is a massive battle royale between the strongest fighters from across the multiverse. It’s fascinating to see the different flavors that are present in each universe, such as Universe 2’s Kamikaze Fireballs and their indulgence in magical girl staples. Ribrianne is basically a shojo injection into a shonen series.
Ribrianne pokes fun at standard magical girl staples and subverts the audience’s expectations on this front. Ribrianne is a cute gag that ultimately overstays her welcome. She’d be a tolerable character if she was only dwelled on for a single episode. That being said, Ribrianne becomes a major player in the Tournament of Power. It’s frustrating to see such a ludicrous idea overpower legitimate martial artists.
Dolltaki’s Unnerving Obsession Makes Him One Of Dragon Ball GT’s Worst
Dolltaki hugs his Pan Doll in Dragon Ball GT.Image via Toei Animation
Dragon Ball GT builds to some exceptional storytelling, satisfying villains, and a particularly memorable transformation. However, it takes some time for the anime to find its footing and the introductory Black Star Dragon Ball Saga represents Dragon Ball GT’s clunkiest episodes. This saga introduces some especially loathsome and regrettable new characters, like Zoonama and the Para Brothers. The worst of the bunch, however, is Master Dolltaki. Dolltaki is one of the top agents of the Cult of Luud and an essential player when it comes to providing Lord Luud with energy.
In a particularly convoluted system, Dolltaki can transform individuals into dolls, which are then absorbed by Luud and converted into power. This would be creepy on its own, but Dolltaki grows especially attached to his Pan doll and begins to play house with her. Pan is helpless and immobile during all of this, while Dolltaki grows more interested in his new toy. Dolltaki’s attitude and the incredibly strange purpose that he serves makes him such a weird individual.
Smitty & Van Zant Are Heartless Harbingers Who Reflect Humanity’s Worst
.jpeg)
Van Zant, a criminal, sneers in Dragon Ball Z.Image via Toei Animation
Majin Buu’s awakening unleashes unprecedented peril on the planet, which prompts a too-real look at how some of the population decides to act. Smitty and Van Zant are small-time criminals who take advantage of the chaos at hand in order to engage in some easy looting. The random mayhem that Smitty and Van Zant cause leads to Mr. Satan’s dog, Bee, gets accidentally caught in the crossfire.
The senseless murder of this canine triggers a visceral reaction in Buu that leads to the creation of Evil Buu. Dragon Ball needs a catalyst for Evil Buu’s creation, but these characters are just too one-dimensional and almost comically evil. These characters might have been more palatable if they were individuals that the audience got to spend more time with and could see them devolve into these reckless people. As it stands, they’re just cruel plot devices who are meant to be hated.
Bio-Broly Represents The Very Worst Of Dragon Ball Z’s Movie Trends
Broly, Universe 7’s Legendary Super Saiyan, has received a proper redemption and become one of the most satisfying later additions to Dragon Ball Super. Dragon Ball Z’s take on the character, while incredibly popular, is incredibly shallow. There’s not much depth to Broly beyond the aggressive trigger that was instilled in him during his youth. He barely even says anything in his two movies other than vicious roars. Broly returns a third time in Dragon Ball Z: Bio-Broly, albeit as a reanimated clone.
Bio-Broly is technically a separate character and the definition of diminishing returns. Beyond Bio-Broly’s goopy design, there’s nothing interesting about this character, who happens to be completely vulnerable to seawater. Bio-Broly’s failure effectively ended the Legendary Super Saiyan’s cinematic run and there’s a reason that he’s barely featured in any Dragon Ball video games.