It’s always cause for excitement when a humble anime series can evolve into something much more substantial, and there’s still no end in sight when it comes to how Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball series continues to grow. After three decades and hundreds of episodes, there have been clear changes to Dragon Ball’s formula and structure, yet it’s never abandoned its original values.
Dragon Ball follows the continued adventures of Goku, but he meets many important allies on his journey. One of Goku’s first friends is Yamcha, but the character experiences some significant changes as the series transitions from Dragon Ball to Dragon Ball Z.
10 He And Bulma Are Officially Over
A core tenet of the original Dragon Ball series is the awkwardly innocent tension that exists between Yamcha and Bulma as they tag along with Goku on his quest for the Dragon Balls. Yamcha and Bulma push and pull each other in many ways, but Dragon Ball concludes in a manner that makes it seem as if they’re destined for a future together. Accordingly, a major shift takes place in Dragon Ball Z when the heroes learn that Bulma has a baby and that Yamcha isn’t the father. Bulma officially moves onto Vegeta, and Yamcha is in her rearview mirror.
9 He Perishes And Is Revived By The Dragon Balls
Death becomes much more prevalent in Dragon Ball Z, yet there are still some tragic and formative fatalities that occur in the original series. Krillin passes away, yet Yamcha manages to stay alive and prove his perseverance as a fighter. This confidence disappears in Dragon Ball Z, and Yamcha becomes well-acquainted with the process of death. Yamcha’s first passing occurs during the heroes’ fight against the Saibaman, which has become an iconic moment in the series. Much later, Yamcha also gets turned into chocolate by Buu and must once again confront his limited mortality.
8 He’s No Longer One Of The Strongest Humans
A major difference between the original Dragon Ball and its successor is that humans still represent the majority of the characters in the first series. Dragon Ball Z becomes progressively interested in the Saiyans and other powerful alien races.
In Dragon Ball, Yamcha still represents one of the strongest humans on the planet, and he’s right up there with Krillin, Tien, and Master Roshi. The subsequent series tease just how much Yamcha’s strength has fallen, with his exclusion in the Tournament of Power perhaps being the best example of his current irrelevancy.
7 He Turns To Baseball
Yamcha is a scrappy bandit when he first shows up in Dragon Ball. He’s an individual whose entire essence represents an obsessive fighting instinct. Yamcha is powerful right up to Dragon Ball’s final episode, so it’s a bit of a shock that when Dragon Ball Z catches up with him, he’s shifted his priorities to the sport of baseball. Yamcha becomes one of the more valuable players on the “Taitans” and embraces baseball in such a manner that it’s clearly more than just a hobby for him. His passion for baseball seems to mirror his growing disinterest in martial arts.
6 He Becomes Possessed And Turned Evil
It’s unfortunately become a fairly common occurrence in Dragon Ball that the series’ strongest heroes temporarily become infected or possessed by evil forces. Goku has gotten used to certain allies taking on the role of enemy, which can be a satisfying way to increase the stakes. While it may be filler material, Dragon Ball Z’s Garlic Jr. Saga turns many heroes, Yamcha included, into evil puppets. Garlic Jr.’s Black Water Mist gets the better of Yamcha, and it’s left up to the uninfected, like Gohan, to save the day.
5 He Begins To Live At Capsule Corporation
The original Dragon Ball presents more of a nomadic lifestyle for Yamcha. He seems satisfied as a warrior with no home to call his own and to instead follow wherever life takes him. There are several periods of momentary peace in Dragon Ball Z, which allows the characters to settle down in some respects.
The span of time that follows Frieza’s defeat and the arrival of the Androids leads to an ambivalent Yamcha moving into the Capsule Corporation. This arrangement is somewhat awkward since Bulma and Vegeta also live there, but it gives Yamcha a home base.
4 He’s Crossed Snake Way And Trained Under King Kai
Filler still has a controversial reputation in Dragon Ball with how it’s able to mess around with the series’ established events. There are times where filler serves its purpose and can result in thrilling detours. One of the better examples of Dragon Ball Z’s filler looks at Yamcha, Tien, and the rest of the heroes who have perished during the Saiyan Saga crossing Snake Way and training under King Kai. Not much is done with this afterward, but Yamcha’s time on King Kai’s Planet and his battle with the Ginyu Force are major moments for him.
3 He Stops Ranking At The World Martial Arts Tournament
Tournaments become a regular event in Dragon Ball, and the original series establishes this tradition through the World Martial Arts Tournament. These competitions produce some of the most exciting battles from the series and all of Master Roshi’s students, Yamcha included, rank impressively and show improvement. The World Martial Arts Tournaments continue in Dragon Ball Z, but at this point, Yamcha has officially switched over to the spectator position as he’s accepted his strength limitations. He no longer competes and is happy to just watch others fight.
2 His Relationship With Puar Lapses
Yamcha’s introduction in Dragon Ball coincides with the appearance of Puar, a shape-shifting anthropomorphic creature who’s been friends with Yamcha for two years leading up to their run-in with Goku and Bulma. Yamcha’s relationship with Puar is fascinating, with many details left to the audience’s imagination. The two remain together in Dragon Ball Z, but Puar becomes more readily associated with fellow shapeshifter, Oolong. Puar feels like more of a fixture of the Turtle House than someone who’s always by Yamcha’s side once Dragon Ball Z continues.
1 He Briefly Works In A Host Club
The later episodes in Dragon Ball Z push Yamcha into more of a supporting character role, which means that more secrets about him can develop since he’s so often missing in action. Yamcha becomes decent moral support during Buu’s reign of terror, but he also opens up a little on what he’s been up to in his spare time. Yamcha reveals that he’s spent time working at a host club, only that his employment was brief due to his continued awkward efforts with the women there. It’s an interesting turn for the character.
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