Have you ever wondered why Son Gohan, who seemed to be the perfect successor to Goku in Dragon Ball Z, ended up becoming a secondary character? The official answer is: Akira Toriyama, the creator of the series, simply got tired of him.
In a recent interview, former Dragon Ball, Kazuhiko TorishimaYu Kondo, and Fuyuto Takedarevealed 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 in the early days of Dragon Ball or Dr. Slump. That's how the Great Saiyaman, with Gohan trying to balance his school and heroic life in a comical way.
However, designing school settings full of characters required a lot of time and effort, and Toriyama, known for abandoning ideas that didn't captivate him, decided to leave Gohan's story aside.
What happened to Gohan in Dragon Ball?
For years, fans believed the character lost prominence due to declining popularity, especially after the Majin Buu Saga, where he seemed 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 was always a reluctant warrior.
To this day, the debate about 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?
And you, what do you think about the fate of Goku's son? Leave your comments below and don't forget to follow AnimeNew for more news and trivia about anime, manga, and otaku culture!
Source: X (twitter)