There are hundreds of anime series that have become timeless classics, but it’s almost impossible to discuss action shonen without bringing up Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball Z. Dragon Ball Z has become a foundational anime series that’s gone on to influence countless other series, and the heroic Goku remains one of anime’s most popular protagonists.
Goku has accomplished some incredible things and defeated some notorious opponents, but an important chapter from his training that sometimes gets overlooked is Goku’s time spent on Planet Yardrat. Yardrat has recently gained new significance after Vegeta’s visit to the planet, which means it’s never been a better time to revisit Goku’s pitstop on the planet.
8 He Could Have Learned More Than Just Instant Transmission
Yardrat has become such a notorious destination in the galaxy because when Goku returns from his time there, he’s learned the pivotal teleportation-like technique, Instant Transmission. Due to Yardrat’s minimal focus in Dragon Ball, it’s been easy to reduce Yardrat to the “Instant Transmission Planet,” but there’s been additional information that comes to light that highlights the depth of the planet and its people. The Yardratians have a wealth of coveted techniques at their disposal, with Instant Transmission merely being one of the perks of their powers. Goku had the ability to learn more of what the planet has to offer and master additional techniques, but he instead just comes away with Instant Transmission.
7 He Trained There For Over A Year
Goku’s time on Planet Yardrat occurs after the destruction of Planet Namek and before the Android Invasion begins on Earth. Dragon Ball skips over a significant period of time between these events, in which it’s assumed that Goku died on Namek. When Vegeta visits Yardrat in Dragon Ball Super, more of the specifics of Goku’s visit are detailed, like how it took Goku 150 days to properly tap into the initial stage of Yardratian training and that his full stay on the planet was closer to a year in length. This amounts to one of the lengthier training periods for Goku, but it’s a testament to just how difficult it is to tap into the strength and abilities that the Yardratians possess.
6 He Was Trained By Their Elder, Pybara
Dragon Ball makes it clear that there are all sorts of different hierarchies and societies that exist on the universe’s different planets. Planet Yardrat could be a lawless destination, but it’s in fact quite civilized and much like Namek – there’s an Elder who looks over the people and holds some of the greater Yardratian secrets.
Pybara is the Yardratian Elder, and he seems to be the primary figure that teaches outside visitors, like Goku and then later Vegeta, Yardratian techniques. Pybara is the one who teaches Goku Instant Transmission.
5 The Yardratians Were The Targets Of The Ginyu Force
When Goku first arrives on Planet Namek, one of the first ways in which he demonstrates his new and improved strength is by easily disposing the Ginyu Force. The Ginyu Force is known for causing trouble throughout the universe, and Frieza trusts them enough as a means to an end. When Goku arrives on Yardrat, he’s informed by them that Ginyu and company were on their way to Yardrat and it would have been their next target if not for Goku taking care of them. Goku is polite to the Yardratians, but his disposal of the Ginyu Force seems to be a big factor in their willingness to train him.
4 Goku’s Latent Energy Was Unlocked And Enhanced
A major principle behind how the Yardratians channel their energy and operate their techniques is through an intense connection to their inner spirit. Vegeta arrives on Yardrat eager to learn techniques, but he’s informed that such training is impossible without first attaining this zen-like control of one’s energy. Pybara informs Vegeta that it took Goku 150 days to go through this stage, but one of the advantages is that the individual’s inner strength experiences a major boost. This also accounts for Goku’s generally higher power level when he shows back up on Earth.
3 He Mostly Dealt With Only One Form Of The Race
No anime is perfect, and considering how long Dragon Ball has been around, it’s actually surprising that there aren’t more inconsistencies in the series. Yardratians are first depicted in Dragon Ball Z’s anime, with a pink and purple taller design that Toei came up with on their own.
Toriyama came up with a blue and green Yardratian that’s smaller and cuter, which made its debut in Dragon Ball Online. Dragon Ball Super reconciles these differences and shows that both versions of Yardratians exist on the planet. However, Goku’s experience turns out to be with Toei’s take on the species.
2 He Was Impressed With The Yardratian’s Appetites
A strange trope that exists for a number of shonen protagonists is that they have monstrous appetites. This applies to Goku, but it also seems to stand for the Saiyan race as a whole. There are some changes made to the anime’s canon courtesy of Dragon Ball Z’s dub, one of which is that Goku’s impressed over the Yardratians’ appetite, which he claims rivals that of a Saiyan. This is a detail that’s specific to the dub, but it’s still worth mentioning, and many dub-exclusive details have found their way into Dragon Ball’s canon at certain points.
1 He Was Less Impressive Of A Student Than Vegeta
Goku has proven himself on numerous occasions to be an exceptional student and one of the most powerful fighters in the universe, but he’s also someone who’s frequently bested in competitions. He might typically be the one who saves the day, but he’s not always the best. Dragon Ball Super has Vegeta follow in Goku’s footsteps to some extent when he visits Planet Yardrat to train. Vegeta forges his own path on Yardrat, but Pybara can’t help but compare the two Saiyans against each other. Vegeta makes his way through the training more quickly, and his exit is marked with the honor of being told that he’s Pybara’s finest pupil. Goku pales in comparison, and he doesn’t learn Forced Spirit Fission or more complex techniques.
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