Goku: Protagonist of the Dragon Ball

Anime (Japanese animation) is very popular in Japan, especially those that are originally made from manga(Japanese comic book). The Dragon Ball series was one of those loveable manga turn into an anime and was created by Akira Toriyama, the fame artist of many popular mangas (Sand Land, Go!Go! Ackman, etc.), animes(Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, etc.), and videogames(Chrono Trigger, Blue Dragon, Dragon Quest, etc.). The Dragon Ball series was actually a franchise anime consists of three parts, the first was known as Dragon Ball, the second known as Dragon Ball Z, and the third as Dragon Ball GT. Although each part continues after one another, the storyline had been dramatically change. Perhaps nothing had advance the Dragon Ball series than its own protagonist, Goku(known as Son Gokou in Japan, "Son" is a family name given to him by his earth grandfather). Unfortunately unlike many of the earth people, Goku had a tail, he cannot be killed by bullets or any minor hazards on earth; however, a simple lump on the head by a boulder is enough to erase Goku's evil intention which he had even before he arrived on earth.

Goku's destiny first began on the early episodes of the Dragon Ball series where he met future cast of the series like the urban city girl Bulma, the lone thief Yamcha and his assistant Puar, the shape shifting pig creature Oolong, the fat but cowardly samurai Yajarobi, the old shellshocking but perverted Master Roshi, the half sweet half naughty girl Launch, the three-eyes master Tienshin, the young prince Chaoizu, the basketball head rival Krillin, the young Ox princess Chi Chi, the bandit trio of Mai, Shao, and Emperor Pilaf, the bad-ass Red Ribbon general Tao, and finally the maniac sinister that was evil King Piccolo as well as the next generation Piccolo. In Dragon Ball, Goku's destiny was to help his companions gather the seven Dragon Balls to fulfill a wish; unfortunately, Goku doesn't know what to wish for since his grandfather had already passed away long ago. In the climax of the Dragon Ball series, Goku's destiny had leaded him to train with Master Roshi alongside Krillin as well as participate in three World Martial Arts Tournaments. Goku was also a threat to the Red Ribbon Army immediately since he had ability that surpasses any of their technologies. Near the end of the Dragon Ball series Goku then met his match when he fought against the evil king Piccolo on a battle to the very end to protect the lives of all his friends. Also near the end is where Goku reach close to his adult age where he was married to the Ox King's daughter Chi Chi and later had a son named after his grandfather. This event then continues into the next series where more serious threats and the mystery regarding Goku's origin were revealed.

In Dragon Ball Z, Goku was married and lived in a peaceful area in the woods alongside his young wife and his infant son. This series of events also introduced the debut of Goku's long time brother as well as his arch rival Vegeta. It is also the first series in which Goku actually died, went to heaven, was granted a second chance to return to the living and fight and the first time he actually change the lives of his many companions including Piccolo and Vegeta. This series is also the first time Goku venture through time and space to help his companions fight against the evil tyrant Frieza and his evil army, the Ginyu Force. As the series is nearing its climax, the series went into more and more surprises with threatening news from the future about evil androids that can easily killed the entire human race. It is also the event where Goku, Gohan, Trunks, and Vegeta all discover their super saiyan self. The final saga in the DBZ series tell of more World Martial Arts Tournament events, a evil threat by the name of Babidi and Majin Buu as well as the future of Goku's adult son and his second descendant. It is also the chapter in which Goku became a sensei himself where he befriend and teach future student Uub the ability to fight and flight.

Then we had the Dragon Ball GT series where Goku had to rid all of the evil Black Stars Dragon Balls to restore the good, where he had to end the plan of two evil inventors Dr. Gero and Dr. Myuu's evil Artificial creation, the Super 17. It is also the final series where Goku's many long time friends and companions met their ends like Piccolo, Fat Buu, and Android 17. This series is the final chapter in Goku's legacy, the battle with Baby is the final battle that Goku ever really killed a bad guy. Goku then mysteriously disappear thereafter even at the time when many familiar descendants make their presence like Goku, Jr. and Vegeta, Jr. in the future generation of the World Martial Arts Tournament.

Facts about Goku:

Although brave, Goku fears of needle, a proof of this is in the Frieza saga when Vegeta and Gohan took him to the recovery room in Frieza's Domain. Goku was so childish almost crying and aiming to get away from the needle until Vegeta yell that he won't use the needle. It's also quite funny too as Gohan said to himself, "Dad I'm so a shame."

Throughout Goku's lifetime in the entire Dragon Ball storylines, Goku had four main rivals that later become his most trusted allies; they are Yamcha, Krillin, and Piccolo from Dragon Ball and Vegeta from Dragon Ball Z. Of all his rivals, only Yamcha and Krillin actually retired from fighting after the DBZ storylines.

Goku had never really killed any of the bad-guys he fought in the actual DBZ series, Raditz was killed by Piccolo with help from Goku, Nappa was killed by Vegeta and Vegeta himself was spared by Krillin with plead from Goku. Kuwi, Dodoria, Zarbon, and the whole entire Ginyu Force(excluding Captain Ginyu) was killed by Vegeta in Namek, Frieza on the other hand was defeated by Goku, but not killed until the start of the Android saga where he was both defeated and killed by Vegeta's future son Trunks. Vegeta killed Android 19, and Android 17 killed Dr. Gero, but Android 17 was suck in by Cell. Cell was almost killed by Goku, but escape death until he was killed by Goku's teenage son Gohan. In the final saga of DBZ, Dabura was killed by Fat Bou, Babidi was killed by Piccolo, and the evil Kid Buu was defeated by Vegito, but got a second chance in life thanks to Goku's wish. Goku didn't killed any bad-guy until later when he finally killed the sinister alien Baby in the final battle in Dragon Ball GT.

Although Goku had a caring heart for the bad-guys and letting them had a second chance in the anime, in the movie; however, Goku had a completely different attitude. In those event Goku fight like he's really serious and killed many evil bad-guys like Turles, King Slug, Android 13, 14, and 15, Bojack, Cooler, Broly, Dr. Willow, and Hirudegan with no mercy. This is unlike him in the anime or television show where he would spare the bad-guys, he even gave Cell a senzu bean in one episode, an unusual change of heart especially when Goku realize Cell doesn't play by the rules.

Compare to the many bad guys that he fought, the one nemesis that Goku afraid the most is his wife, Chi Chi since he was closely bond to her.

So far, Goku only made one wish in the entire Dragon Ball series and that wish was for giving Kid Buu a second chance in life.

Beside his son, Gohan and arch rival, Vegeta, Goku never really transform into a great ape in the DBZ series, but he did transform accidentally in the first Dragon Ball series twice, once where he killed his grandfather at the beginning and a second time at Emperor Pilaf's fortress. His son Gohan transform into a great ape three times in the DBZ series, twice in the anime(in the Saiyan saga) and once in the movie(Tree of Might). Vegeta; however, transform twice, once as a great ape in the Saiyan saga in DBZ and once as a golden great ape in the DBGT series. Raditz, Nappa, Goten, Trunks(both timeline), Broly, Pan, and Bra; although, being Saiyan and descendents of a Saiyan race, had never transform into a great ape in the entire Dragon Ball series, it is unknown why.

Goku had died twice in the DBZ series. Once by Piccolo and a second time by accident when he send Cell to King Kai's Planet from the Cell Game; however, Goku did passed away after the Dragon Ball GT series, how he died is not known.

Throughout Goku's adventure in the entire Dragon Ball series, he has had access to many different transportations. In the Dragon Ball series, he travels on Nimbus. In the DBZ series, he travel by flight, and later in the Namek saga he travel through space by Spaceship. Goku had also travel with Bulma in her vehicles at time as well and with Piccolo during their vehicle test. It was assume that Goku did not known the ability to flight until after training with King Kai due to the fact that when he and Piccolo went to battle Raditz, Goku was still riding on Nimbus; however, on the battle with Nappa and Vegeta, most of the other Z fighters did indeed, knew the ability to flight even before Goku went to train with King Kai meaning that perhaps after the Dragon Ball series that all Z fighters did learned the ability to flight.

Unlike many characters in the series, Goku never went to school nor did he ever get educated similar to his Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z rivals Krillin, Piccolo, and Vegeta.

Unlike many other characters, Goku never really remember his father or mother or his entire Saiyan race for that matter.

Bulma was the first girl that Goku met which to him at the time was very strange.

The first energy move that Goku learned was the Kamehameha learned from Master Roshi, a ki energy that was later used by Krillin, Gohan, Goten, Cell, and Pan. Of all the ki energy moves that he learned, Goku's most powerful energy of them all is the Spirit Bomb learned from King Kai in Kai's Planet. In Goku's battle with Vegeta and Frieza as well as most of the DBZ movies, Goku mostly end his battles using the Spirit Bomb.

Goku was the only character to carry two names; his Saiyan name is Kakarot, which often times was addressed by the Saiyans, especially Vegeta. Other than the Saiyans, none of the other bad-guys like Frieza, Cooler, or Cell knew of his second name.

As a young kid, Goku wield a rod that can adjust its width and use it to jump high to get to out of reach area, it is unknown to why Goku never wield it again after the Dragon Ball series.

In the Dragon Ball Z series, Goku was wish three times, but was actually successful the first time through. He was first wish after returning from Snake Way, then again after defeating Frieza, but refuses to return, then again in the Cell saga, but refuse to return again.

Throughout his time in the entire Dragon Ball storylines, Goku had won the World Martial Arts Tournament twice, he lost to Jacky Cheung in his first tournament debut, but won his second and third which was fought against Tienshin and the new generation Piccolo. Goku did not won the Cell Game, but gave that victory to his son, Gohan. Goku also had a draw match against Pikkon in the Kai's Supreme Martial Arts Tournament in heaven. Although Goku participate in Hercules' World Martial Arts Tournament before the Buu saga, he later withdrew from the tournament giving that opportunity to Android 18. The final World Martial Arts Tournament also saw Goku withdrawn from it after wanting to train his new student, Uub.