Dragon Ball features over 700 characters across various sagas and side characters. Since its revival in 2013, the franchise has focused on increasing the participation of characters and significantly boosting the power levels of Goku and Vegeta, which has led to the Z Fighters being somewhat overshadowed. As a result, several characters with great potential have been left underutilized.
Below are some characters in Dragon Ball that deserve more recognition:
1. Gohan
After defeating Cell and achieving the Super Saiyan 2 transformation, Gohan stopped training seriously. The first time he fought alongside his father and Vegeta, Gohan was on the verge of a breakthrough but chose to neglect his training to enjoy peace on Earth. No one explained to him that the training sessions were crucial for his development.
Later, Gohan regained some of his former glory in Dragon Ball Super: Super HERO, but he still appears to be underutilized despite his abilities.
2. Goten
As Goku’s second son, Goten can transform into a Super Saiyan from a very young age. He has a strong desire to train and became a Super Saiyan in just three months. Later, Goten and Trunks trained together to combine their powers and created Gotenks, who was trained by Piccolo and achieved Super Saiyan 3 status.
He has the ability to grow stronger and overcome formidable opponents, but Dragon Ball has not given him the opportunity to shine.
3. Trunks
Trunks is in a similar position to Goten. Although he can transform into a Super Saiyan at a young age, he hasn’t had much development throughout the series.
As the son of Bulma and Vegeta, the future version of Trunks appears to warn Goku and the Z Fighters about impending dangers associated with androids. The “present” version of Trunks is more beloved and receives more nurturing than his future counterpart.
4. Uub
After Goku defeated Kid Buu, the greatest threat Earth had ever faced in Dragon Ball, he requested that the Dragon God grant a chance for Kid Buu to be reborn as a human, named Uub. Despite inheriting Kid Buu’s potential, Uub is quite gentle and kind-hearted, which is why Goku chose him as his student.
The martial arts tournament at the end of Dragon Ball Z is the first time a human opponent was showcased with strength and fighting style comparable to Uub’s. Uub has the ability to excel in combat and can master techniques from opponents merely by observing them. However, despite his potential, Uub has not been fully developed as a character.
5. Videl
Videl is often seen as a character that many fans hope for more from, yet she ultimately turns into a supporting character. Although she may never reach the power level of a Saiyan, she has proven to be a strong fighter, helping to combat evil and assist law enforcement in stopping criminal activities.
Being a martial arts enthusiast and the daughter of the famous Mr. Satan, Videl marries Gohan and has a daughter named Pan.
