Every Time Great Ape Form Is Used In The Dragon Ball Anime

by

As a long-time fan of the Dragon Ball series, I can’t help but marvel at the transformation of our beloved characters over the years. From Goku’s humble beginnings as a boy with a monkey tail to Vegeta’s journey from arrogant Saiyan prince to loyal friend, each transformation is a testament to their growth and resilience.

The Dragon Ball franchise has consistently impressed viewers with some of the most awe-inspiring transformations ever seen in anime. From the thunderous Super Saiyans to unforgettable final forms, fans have witnessed countless transformations. However, one of the series’ lesser-known yet intriguing transformations is the Great Ape transformation. This transformation has been present since the early Dragon Ball days and made quite an impact, particularly at the onset of Dragon Ball Z.

One intriguing aspect of the Great Ape metamorphosis lies in its strong association with Saiyan legend. When Saiyans gazed upon a full moon, they would undergo an astonishing transformation, becoming colossal apes that boasted ten times more strength than their humanoid selves. Remarkably, this transformation didn’t diminish their stamina or Ki reserves and bore resemblance to Piccolo’s giant form. This powerful shape was a significant factor in the Saiyans being feared across the cosmos.

8 Dragon Ball – When Emperor Pilaf Traps Goku And His Friends

The First Time Goku Transforms On-Screen

For the first time ever in this series, I find myself witnessing the incredible transformation of Goku into a Great Ape. Emperor Pilaf has managed to trap not only me, but also Bulma, Yamcha, Puar, and Oolong inside a chamber designed to intensify sunlight. His intention was to incinerate us, but luckily for us, we’re imprisoned on the very night of a full moon. Intriguingly, as I gaze upon that radiant orb in the sky, I undergo the extraordinary metamorphosis into a Great Ape, making my on-screen debut as this legendary creature.

For the first time on screen, Goku undergoes his Great Ape transformation; however, this isn’t the inaugural instance of him doing so. In the storyline, it was his Great Ape form that ultimately led to the death of his adoptive father, Grandpa Gohan, when he descended to Earth as a baby.

7 Dragon Ball – At The 21st World Martial Arts Tournament

During Goku’s Fight Against Jackie Chun

In the canonical Dragon Ball series, the second and final instance where Goku transforms into a Great Ape occurs during his battle against Jackie Chun at the 21st World Martial Arts Tournament. Jackie Chun is actually Master Roshi in disguise, challenging Goku as part of his mentorship to test Goku’s skills and push him to the limits of his training.

Goku demonstrates an extraordinary increase in strength compared to his old master, yet their battle remains captivating. This continues until Goku transforms into a Great Ape upon seeing the full moon, a transformation he underwent last time he transformed. In desperation, Yamcha contemplates cutting off his tail to return him to normal, but Master Roshi (Jackie Chun) instead unleashes a powerful Kamehameha wave at Goku, seemingly eliminating him in his Great Ape form. However, Goku reappears later, safe and sound in his regular humanoid form, ultimately concluding the fight.

6 Dragon Ball Z – In Piccolo’s Desert

Gohan Transforms For The First Time

After Goku’s demise in combat against Raditz, Piccolo abducts his son, Gohan, and transports him to a barren desert for rigorous training, recognizing his prodigious power when provoked and planning to mold him into his successor. He initiates Gohan’s education by leaving him stranded in the desolate wilderness filled with untamed animals and obstacles, instructing him that the initial stage of training involves enduring the night.

As night falls with the full moon shining brightly, after having endured a taxing day in the desert, Gohan, drained, ascends a slender rock face seeking respite in a secure spot. However, he finds himself gazing at the moon instead and undergoes a transformation into a Great Ape. Piccolo, taking advantage of the situation, destroys the moon, restoring Gohan to his normal state. To ensure no future mishaps, Piccolo even removes Gohan’s tail while he was asleep.

5 Dragon Ball Z – Goku Vs Vegeta

The Prince of All Saiyans Turns Into A Monster

In the Saga of the Saiyans within “Dragon Ball Z”, following Nappa’s loss at the hands of Goku, Vegeta mercilessly slays him due to deep frustration and issues a fight challenge to Goku instead. To everyone’s surprise, including Goku himself, Vegeta emerges as an adversary far more formidable than anticipated, demonstrating incredible strength in his battle against Goku, who strained his body to its utmost extent by employing the Kaioken multiplied thrice.

Frustrated that Goku could maintain his strength during the battle, Vegeta decides to transform into a Great Ape to end the fight. Unfortunately, he discovers that the Earth’s moon has been destroyed. However, Vegeta explains that Saiyans have found a way to create artificial moons to transform at will into Great Apes. Eventually, Yajirobe cuts off his tail when Vegeta is momentarily distracted by Gohan, Krillin, and a weakened Goku, returning the Saiyan prince to his humanoid form.

4 Dragon Ball Z – Gohan Transforms Again

Great Ape Gohan Crushes A Wounded Vegeta

Following Vegeta’s transformation back into a common Saiyan, he’s gravely injured and infuriated by the tenacity of Earth’s fighters. In response, he spends extra time thrashing Yajirobe for cutting off his tail. At the same time, he seems oblivious to the fact that he’s left his artificial sun behind, which Gohan eventually examines. It’s worth noting that at this stage in the series, Gohan has grown a new tail since Piccolo plucked it previously. Interestingly, unlike Vegeta, both Goku and Gohan have managed to regrow their tails on different occasions within the anime.

This results in Gohan undergoing a transformation into a powerful Great Ape. Impressively, Vegeta manages to survive Gohan’s rampage by primarily dodging it. Eventually, he resorts to using a Destructo Disk to sever Gohan’s tail. However, this action triggers Gohan to transform back into his regular Saiyan child form, and as he does so, he unintentionally falls on Vegeta, causing him severe damage and ultimately crushing him under the weight of the transformation process.

3 Dragon Ball GT – Goku Transforms Into A Golden Great Ape

A Super Saiyan Great Ape

In the Dragon Ball GT, we encounter the Great Ape form once more, particularly during the Baby Vegeta arc. When Super Saiyan 3 isn’t sufficient for Goku to battle the alien parasite Baby inhabiting Vegeta, he finds himself pushed to his limits. The Old Kai contends that the only way Goku can prevail is by regenerating his tail, which he does. The battle transpires on a neighboring planet, from where Earth is visible. Even with his regrown tail, Goku struggles against Baby Vegeta, who has significantly augmented his power at this juncture.

Gazing at Earth from his prone position, Goku yearns to rescue his companions, triggering his transformation into a Golden Great Ape, an even more powerful variant of his usual Great Ape state as a Super Saiyan. However, in this form, he becomes too wild to maintain focus, resulting in a destructive rampage. It’s only when Pan persuades him that he regains control and reverts back to a regular Saiyan, but this time assuming the new Super Saiyan 4 form.

2 Dragon Ball GT – Baby Vegeta Transforms Using A Blutz Wave Generator

The First Non-Saiyan To Transform Into An Ape

In a fresh Super Saiyan 4 state, Goku is engaged in combat against Baby Vegeta. With Goku’s new transformation proving overwhelming, Baby manages to take control of Bulma using his powers, compelling her to activate the Blutz Wave Generator. This device allows Baby to transform into a Golden Great Ape by taking over Vegeta’s physical form. In this form, he holds an equal footing with Goku for the first time in the series, marking a significant milestone as a Non-Saiyan character achieving the transformation.

Since Baby is essentially a being exploiting Vegeta’s body, he retains command over his Golden Great Ape form until Goku collaborates with Majuub (the fusion of Majin Buu and Uub) to vanquish Baby Vegeta in his Golden Great Ape state.

1 Dragon Ball GT – Vegeta Uses Bulma’s Blutz Wave Generator

Finally Unlocks Super Saiyan 4

During the decisive fight in Dragon Ball GT, Omega Shenron – having merged with the other Shenrons – turns out to be an overwhelming foe even for Super Saiyan 4 Goku. Vegeta is convinced that their only chance of defeating him lies in harnessing the power of two Super Saiyan 4s. Recalling how Goku managed to attain this transformation by transforming into a Great Ape and mastering the form, Vegeta requests Bulma to activate her Blutz Wave Generator (originally built for Baby) on him.

Instead of Goku’s Super Saiyan 4 transition, Vegeta undergoes a normal Great Ape change, and similarly to Goku, goes berserk until Goku manages to calm him down, at which point Vegeta eventually transforms into a Super Saiyan 4. This differs from Vegeta’s initial great ape transformation on Earth, as he maintains his awareness even while fighting Goku in his Great Ape form.

Read More

2024-11-23 07:35