There aren’t many anime that are able to capture the interest and imagination of audiences for multiple decades, but Dragon Ball has continually proven itself as one of the most influential anime series of its kind. There have been lots of growth in Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball since it debuted back in 1984 and it’s truly exciting to see how the franchise has expanded into a substantially larger property, but still remained true to its roots.
Goku is the intrepid hero at the center of each Dragon Ball series and the franchise chronicles his growth from a young boy into a determined adult with a family of his own. It’s remarkable to watch Goku mature, especially since there are certain habits from his youth that he’s shed and others that stick with him throughout his entire life.
10 He Kept: His Innocence
It’s become a bit of a staple in shonen series that the protagonist, despite their overwhelming strength, is also deceptively jovial and kind-hearted. This trait is a little different with Goku since the series literally starts with him as a child, but Goku’s youthful and naïve nature never fully leaves him.
It’s this innocence and purity during Goku’s youth that makes him ideal for the Flying Nimbus, which he’s still able to ride as an adult. Goku’s strength is on a whole other level once he grows up, but he’s still an incredibly friendly, silly individual most of the time.
9 He Outgrew: His Killer Instinct
Most shonen heroes would likely follow the opposite trajectory in this area, but Goku surprisingly becomes more pacifistic as he matures into adulthood. Goku still kills opponents, but he repeatedly tries to give enemies a second chance or a fairer means of combat.
It’s a bizarre approach that’s often more trouble than it’s worth. However, Goku’s killer instinct is considerably higher during his youth. Goku doesn’t relentlessly take lives, but he’s not against it, especially when his anger gets the better of him. Adult Goku tamps these feelings down rather than continue to feed them.
8 He Kept: His Mammoth Appetite
Dragon Ball tends to focus on Goku’s accomplishments as a martial artist and defender of the universe, but the original series depicts many of young Goku’s more juvenile and free-spirited habits. One detail that defines Goku very early on is that he seems to have a superhuman appetite and a bottomless stomach.
Goku gorges on giant feasts in the original series and he still requires tons of food for fuel after he grows up. A passion for food becomes surprisingly common in the Dragon Ball universe, but Goku’s appetite still might be as enviable as his raw power.
7 He Outgrew: His Ignorance To The Larger World
Goku spends his life in isolation before he meets Bulma and embarks on his earliest Dragon Ball adventure. Goku’s Grandpa Gohan tended to his needs and gave him a healthy childhood, but one that was also highly closed off as a way to protect him. Goku can still be naïve, but he at least has a modest understanding of how society operates.
Goku is originally stumped by things like the female gender or many basic luxuries of the world. This hammers in how much Goku is initially a fish out of the water, but this paradigm slowly shifts as he matures.
6 He Kept: His Reverence Toward His Friends
Goku is the strongest character in Dragon Ball, but each series also emphasizes the strong supporting characters that are in Goku’s life. Very quickly it’s established that Goku will do anything for his friends and the concepts of empathy and friendship truly open him up.
Some of the most powerful moments in the original series are when Goku mourns lost friends, like Krillin, and how he responds in turn. These passionate feelings remain in Goku as an adult and even act as the catalyst for pivotal moments in his life, like his first transformation into a Super Saiyan.
5 He Outgrew: His Focus On Martial Arts Fundamentals
Part of the joys of the original Dragon Ball series is how it’s quite grounded in comparison to the level of power and battle theatrics that are present in its successors. Goku learns signature energy attacks in the original series, like the Kamehameha, but they’re not overused. Battle strategy and combat fundamentals are what’s most important.
Goku’s adult life is filled with powerful transformations and even though he’s still a competent fighter who knows how to read his opponent, it’s highly unlikely that strategy and fists will ever be Goku’s solution over a new Super Saiyan transformation or special technique.
4 He Kept: His Complete Asexuality
It makes sense that Goku would be quite oblivious to matters of the heart and female anatomy based on his secluded youth and general ignorance. There are constant jokes in the original series that stem from Goku’s enthusiasm over the difference between men and women.
He even agrees to marry Chi-Chi because he confuses the concept with a kind of food. Goku builds a family and has two children, yet Goku still gets confounded over the concept of kissing and basic romantic gestures. It truly feels like Goku is just forever stunted in this department.
3 He Outgrew: His Ability To Stop & Smell The Roses
This may seem perfunctory, but Goku’s life becomes much more fast-paced once he becomes an adult and learns progressively powerful techniques. Goku’s youth allowed him to leisurely travel by foot or by vehicle, which let him and Bulma meet small communities and learn to appreciate the world around them.
Goku is still a slacker as an adult, but his ability to fly or use Instant Transmission to literally teleport to another planet causes Goku to move at a much more relentless speed. Goku’s current tactics are more effective, but he seems to have lost the ability to slow down.
2 He Kept: His Passion To Grow Stronger
Some individuals in Dragon Ball naturally have the capacity for extreme strength and don’t even need to train. Goku, however, seems to value the process on how to become stronger as much as the fights themselves. Goku doesn’t let his youth get in his way and he’s always looking for new tips on how to better hone his skills and eliminate his weaknesses.
This passion only intensifies as Goku grows older. Goku has even left the fate of the entire universe in jeopardy simply because he’s so excited over the battle prospects and what they could do for his strength.
1 He Outgrew: Respect For His Mentors
Goku is a phenomenal martial artist and he even becomes a mentor for other budding fighters at various points. Goku accrues some impressive mentors over the course of the franchise, but it’s fascinating to realize that he gives his teachers more respect when he’s just a child.
Goku shows staunch respect for Korin and Mr. Popo and still also values Master Roshi’s teachings. Alternatively, Goku’s attitude towards authority figures from later in his life, like King Kai, Beerus, and Zeno, is considerably more unrefined. He still properly learns from them, but it’s shocking how his discipline can abandon him.
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