Ever wondered why Son Gohan , who seemed like Goku's perfect successor in Dragon Ball Z , ended up becoming a supporting character? The official answer has come: Akira Toriyama, the series' creator, simply got tired of him.
In a recent interview, former Dragon Ball Kazuhiko Torishima , Yu Kondo , and Fuyuto Takeda revealed details about Toriyama's creative process. According to them, the author didn't abandon Gohan high school arc because fans hated the idea, but because he himself lost interest. After the intense Cell Saga , Toriyama wanted something lighter and more fun, like the early days of Dragon Ball or Dr. Slump . This is how Great Saiyaman , with Gohan trying to balance his school life and heroism in a comedic way.
However, drawing school settings full of characters took a lot of time and effort, and Toriyama, known for abandoning ideas that didn't captivate him, decided to put Gohan's story aside.
What happened to Gohan in Dragon Ball?
For years, fans believed the character had lost ground due to a decline in popularity, especially after the Majin Buu Saga , where he appeared weaker than when he defeated Cell. But in reality, Toriyama admitted that Gohan never fully fit the role of protagonist. Unlike Goku, who lives to fight, Gohan has always been a reluctant warrior.
To this day, the debate over Gohan's wasted potential continues. The film Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero attempted to revitalize the character, but Dragon Ball Daima seems to have sidelined him again. Will the character ever regain the brilliance he had at the height of the Cell Saga?
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Source: X (twitter)
