9 Most Unlikable Dragon Ball Characters Fans Can’t Stand

With over 40 years of history, Dragon Ball is known worldwide for its memorable characters. Created by Akira Toriyama, the series has become one of the most popular anime and manga franchises ever. Its impact is clear – every year, a giant Goku balloon appears in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, showing how much Japanese animation has grown in popularity in the West. Fans who have followed Dragon Ball for a long time would probably find it hard to pick just one favorite character from its huge cast.

With so many characters appearing throughout the entire series, it’s not surprising that some fans dislike certain ones. These nine characters are frequently mentioned by the Dragon Ball community as being particularly annoying or having a negative impact on the story.

Kale

Wildly Powerful, Absolutely Zero Confidence

First Manga Appearance: Dragon Ball Super, Chapter 32
First Anime Appearance: Dragon Ball Super, Episode 89

Kale is a powerful Saiyan from Universe 6 who appears in the anime series Dragon Ball Super. Created by Toei Animation (not the original creator, Akira Toriyama), she’s known for being quiet and shy. However, she has the unusual ability to transform into a Berserker Super Saiyan, granting her a virtually limitless energy source.

Although Kale’s character is more developed in the original manga, many viewers of the Dragon Ball Super anime grew frustrated with her constant lack of confidence. She’s incredibly powerful as a Super Saiyan, even able to shatter steel with her screams, but is barely able to speak when she’s not transformed. While the idea of such a timid Saiyan reaching such a powerful state was interesting, many—including the creator, Toriyama—felt it wasn’t handled well in the show.

Bojack

A Space Pirate Villain Lacking Personality

First Appearance: Dragon Ball Z: Bojack Unbound (1993 film)

Bojack is the main villain in the Dragon Ball Z movie Bojack Unbound, which is the twelfth Dragon Ball film. It’s also the first movie where Gohan takes the lead as the main hero. Bojack is a ruthless space pirate who commands a group of mercenaries called the Galaxy Soldiers. He was originally defeated and imprisoned by the Kais, but he escaped after the battle with Cell. Once free, he declared his intention to destroy all Earth’s fighters and conquer the universe.

Fans recognized Bojack’s potential as a villain and understood the danger he posed, especially considering what Gohan and Goku did during the Cell saga. However, most viewers felt the movie didn’t give him enough screen time to develop into a truly compelling antagonist. Critics also found his henchmen uninspired and lacking a strong team dynamic.

Tien

Always the Bridesmaid, Never the Bride

First Manga Appearance: Dragon Ball, Chapter 113
First Anime Appearance: Dragon Ball, Episode 82

Tien Shinhan started as a villain, initially wanting revenge on Goku for defeating his teacher. However, he later became one of Goku’s allies, joining the Z Fighters to protect Earth from danger. Throughout the Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z series, Tien transforms from a ruthless fighter into an honorable warrior, constantly training to become stronger and eventually surpass Goku, like many other characters in the show.

Honestly, a lot of the negativity around Tien isn’t about him as a character, but how Dragon Ball has treated him over the years. He never quite reached the popularity of guys like Krillin or Master Roshi, and it feels like Toriyama just sort of… sidelined him. He keeps popping back up in each new story arc, but usually just to lose or hang out in the background. It’s a real frustration for fans like me, because he could be so much more!

Ribrianne

If We Have to Hear the Word ‘Love’ One More Time, I Swear

First Manga Appearance: Dragon Ball Super, Chapter 33
First Anime Appearance: Dragon Ball Super, Episode 91

Ribrianne is a powerful and memorable female fighter from Universe 2 in the Dragon Ball series. As the leader of the Kamikaze Fireballs, she’s known for her playful personality and unique belief that love is the ultimate strength. She demonstrated this in her battle against Vegeta, briefly overpowering him even while he was in his Super Saiyan form. Interestingly, when Ribrianne transforms to become even stronger, she becomes more affectionate, despite also growing much larger in size.

Although fans aren’t necessarily against Ribrianne’s character or her magical girl design, many feel she appeared for too long in the series. Viewers have also expressed frustration with her constant talk about love, as she frequently delivers long speeches about feelings, ultimately becoming repetitive and slowing down the plot of Dragon Ball Super.

Oolong

A Pig, Indeed

First Manga Appearance: Dragon Ball, Chapter 5
First Anime Appearance: Dragon Ball, Episode 4

Oolong is a shapeshifting pig who first appeared in the original Dragon Ball series. After helping Bulma and Goku collect the Dragon Balls, he ended up living at Capsule Corp. While mostly used for comedic effect, he makes fewer appearances in Dragon Ball Z, often showing up for a quick laugh or a nostalgic moment. Oolong is known for being a coward and readily admits it, preferring to let the Z Warriors handle the fighting while he stays safely out of the way.

These days, fans aren’t enjoying Oolong’s inappropriate behavior as much. His strange hobbies—like collecting women’s underwear and eating enormous amounts of food—make it hard for many to see him as a valuable part of the Dragon Ball story, and a lot of people wish he hadn’t been included.

Pan

Talk About Wasted Potential

First Manga Appearance: Dragon Ball Z, Chapter 324
First Anime Appearance: Dragon Ball Z, Episode 289

When Pan, the daughter of Gohan and Videl, was introduced, fans were initially excited. However, that excitement faded in Dragon Ball GT. Despite being only one-quarter Saiyan, she inherited a good deal of her father’s strength and was already a powerful fighter by the end of Dragon Ball Z, even capable of flying around the world all by herself as a young child.

Sadly, the promising portrayal of Pan didn’t last. In Dragon Ball GT, she often acted helpless, overreacting to minor issues and refusing to take responsibility for her actions. Many fans had hoped she’d become a strong, capable character like Bulma, but instead, she became annoying and didn’t contribute much to the story.

Jiren

Personality Type: Strong Guy

First Manga Appearance: Dragon Ball Super, Chapter 30
First Anime Appearance: Dragon Ball Super, Episode 85

Jiren the Gray was the primary opponent in the Universe Survival Saga of Dragon Ball Super, and he’s considered one of the most powerful characters ever. He consistently challenges Goku, defeating him several times before Goku finally wins with the help of his friends – a strategy Jiren scorns, as he believes in relying solely on his own power to achieve victory.

People didn’t dislike Jiren because he was too powerful. The real issue was his lack of personality. He was easily forgettable because he just wasn’t interesting enough – being strong was his only defining characteristic, and in a show with many strong characters, that wasn’t enough to make him stand out.

Master Roshi

Someone Come Get Their Grandpa

First Manga Appearance: Dragon Ball, Chapter 3
First Anime Appearance: Dragon Ball, Episode 3

Master Roshi is one of the most famous characters in the Dragon Ball series, right up there with Goku. He’s known for his jokes and playful personality, but he’s much more than just comic relief. Roshi was the martial arts teacher for Goku, Gohan, Krillin, Yamcha, and many others. Even now, he’s a skilled fighter and is happy to train anyone who seeks him out on his remote island.

Many longtime fans fondly remember Master Roshi, but some newer viewers are disturbed by his inappropriate behavior towards women, with some describing it as assault. While he’s portrayed as a wise teacher in the original Dragon Ball series, he’s largely reduced to a lecherous stereotype in Dragon Ball Z, which disappoints many fans.

Cabba

Now That’s What I Call Character Design

First Manga Appearance: Dragon Ball Super, Chapter 7
First Anime Appearance: Dragon Ball Super, Episode 32

Cabba is a character from Dragon Ball Super who belongs to the Sadala Defense Forces and is a Saiyan from Universe 6. He’s usually a polite and modest fighter, but gets very focused in battle. He’s surprisingly strong, even managing to fight on equal footing with Vegeta when Vegeta isn’t using any special transformations. However, Vegeta quickly defeats him once he transforms into a Super Saiyan.

Many fans dislike Cabba because his appearance and story are uninspired and feel awkwardly added to the series. He comes across as a weaker version of Vegeta or even Tarble, and some believe Tarble would have been a more compelling character to develop.

2025-12-13 17:36