Highlights

  • Dragon Ball Super is a step in the right direction for female representation in the series.
  • Android 21 made a strong impression in Dragon Ball FighterZ and fans hoped for her to become canon in the anime.
  • Characters like Bonyu and Cheelai have gained popularity despite being restricted to appearances in the games.

Dragon Ball is an anime that needs no introduction. The exploits of Goku, Vegeta, Gohan, Piccolo, and the other Z Warriors as they fought against universe-ending threats time and time again made for a great watch. The combination of great fights and awe-inspiring transformations turned Dragon Ball into one of the biggest pop culture sensations that fans still quote and remember to this day, with Dragon Ball Super further strengthening the legacy of this amazing series.

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There are many memorable characters in Dragon Ball that fans love, with the series' female characters also getting their fair share of representation in the series. Some of the most iconic female Dragon Ball characters are ones that every fan adores for a bevy of reasons. While it's true that female representation in Dragon Ball has been pretty lacking (a problem that plagues most mainstream anime), there's no denying that Super has been a step in the right direction.

Updated February 10, 2024 by Ritwik Mitra: Dragon Ball is a series that needs no introduction. Akira Toriyama's masterpiece was one of the first shonen anime to transcend borders and usher in a wave of interest for anime all over the world.

The characters in this series are all pretty engaging, even if some people feel like the female members of the show don't get the same importance as males. Thankfully, this is a criticism that Toriyama has tried to address, with his efforts being admirable in bringing more Dragon Ball girls to prominence.

1 Arale Norimaki

The Protagonist Of Toriyama's Dr. Slump, The Series That Preceded Dragon Ball

Arale in Dragon Ball Super
  • First Appearance: Episode 1: Arale-chan's Birth (Dr. Slump Arale-chan)
  • Affiliation: None

Dr. Slump is a manga series that Toriyama penned before Dragon Ball became a thing. This series became a modest success, and shades of his shonen masterpiece could be seen here, with the protagonist of this title being an Android.

Eventually, Arale was added to the Dragon Ball universe as a side character. Her prevalence in the show's main arcs is non-existent, but long-time fans of Toriyama's works appreciated this nod to a simpler and more modest time in the mangaka's life.

2 Maron

A Non-Canon Character Who Became Quite Iconic In Her Own Right

Maron in Dragon Ball Z
  • First Appearance: Episode 108: The Heavens Tremble (Dragon Ball Z)
  • Affiliation: None

Dragon Ball is one of the few shows where the filler is just as iconic as the main narrative, proving just how strong the cultural influence of this series has been. One of the more memorable characters is Maron, despite being non-canon in every way.

She appears as Krillin's girlfriend in a few filler episodes where he moves heaven and earth to please her. Unfortunately, things don't work out in the long run, but Krillin won't miss her anymore now that he has the wife of his dreams in his life.

3 Android 21

Based On Vomi, Dr. Gero's Wife

Android 21 in Dragon Ball FighterZ
  • First Appearance: Dragon Ball FighterZ
  • Affiliation: Red Ribbon Army

Many unique characters in Dragon Ball have been introduced in other media than just the anime itself, with Android 21 being a great example of the same. This character is based on Vomi, the wife of Dr. Hedo. While her face is shown in the Super Hero movie, the Android variant makes her first appearance in Dragon Ball FighterZ, making an instant impression with her striking character design and impressive power.

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Her impact in the game was so immense that many fans of her character wanted to see her become canon in the anime, but it seems that fans have to remain content with the cameo she had in Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero. Hopefully, Android 21 will become an important character later on in the series... although this is nothing more than a pipe dream at this point.

4 Bonyu

A New Member Of The Ginyu Force Made By Toriyama Himself

Bonyu in Dragon Ball Z Kakarot
  • First Appearance: Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot
  • Affiliation: Ginyu Force

Toriyama has designed many great characters for the Dragon Ball franchise, and not all of them necessarily need to appear in the anime itself. A great example of this is Bonyu, a hidden sixth member of the Ginyu Force that players can battle against in the Bulma's combat training simulations. Since stronger variants of this character exist as players increase their levels, it's pretty hilarious that Bonyu has the potential to be the strongest foe that players can fight in Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot.

Bonyu's character design is nothing to write home about, but a lot of people talked about this character when Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot was launched. Adding her to the canon can be a pretty challenging move, but fans don't mind her appearance being restricted to just the games themselves. Before the advent of the DLC, battling this member of the Ginyu Force time and time again was the best way to grind levels and farm items in the game.

5 Kefla

The Fusion Of Caulifla And Kale

Kefla from Dragon Ball Super
  • First Appearance: Episode 114: Bloodcurdling! The Explosive Birth of a New Super Warrior! (Dragon Ball Super)
  • Affiliation: Universe 6

The fusion of Caulifla and Kale made for one of the most powerful Saiyan fighters in Dragon Ball history. It was clear that both these Saiyans were supremely talented, and their fused form ended up unlocking a vast reserve of power that overpowered Goku. Granted, the protagonist was exhausted after the battles he'd gone through early on, but this was still a major achievement for Kefla.

However, things completely changed when Goku managed to tap into the power of an imperfect Ultra Instinct form, something he'd unleashed against Jiren before. Knowing that he couldn't maintain this form for long, Goku decided to close the distance between him and Kefla dramatically before unleashing a Kamehameha at point-blank range to take out the fused fighter once and for all.

6 Bulla

The Child Of Bulma And Vegeta

Dragon Ball - Beerus Holding Bulla
  • First Appearance: Episode 289: Granddaughter Pan (Dragon Ball Z)
  • Affiliation: Z Warriors

Bulla is the second child of Bulma and Vegeta, although she's nothing more than an infant in Dragon Ball Super. She's way more grown up in Dragon Ball GT, and it's clear that she's taken after her mother in many ways.

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Whether Bulla will have this same personality in Dragon Ball Super is anybody's guess. As things stand, she's a pretty loud yet lovable child who has yet to grow into a character that plays a major role in the story.

7 Fortuneteller Baba

A Side Character Whose Relevance Waned With The Advent Of Dragon Ball Z

Fortuneteller Baba in Dragon Ball
  • First Appearance: Episode 61: Korin Tower (Dragon Ball)
  • Affiliation: Z Warriors (indirectly)

Fortuneteller Baba is a character that many people tend to forget, and understandably so. She was introduced all the way back in Dragon Ball, and Toriyama pretty much shelved her as a minor side character ever since.

That being said, Baba has still made sporadic appearances across the entirety of Dragon Ball ever since. Her character design is pretty notable, leading to many people remembering this character's look despite her only appearing a few times.

8 Heles

Universe 2's God Of Destruction

Heles in Dragon Ball Super
  • First Appearance: Episode 78: Even the Universes' Gods are Appalled?! The Lose-and-Perish Tournament of Power (Dragon Ball Super)
  • Affiliation: Universe 2, Gods of Destruction

The Gods of Destruction revealed their imposing presence during the Tournament of Power, cementing themselves as some of the strongest characters in the show. One such character whose design is inspired by Egyptian mythology is Heles.

Not a lot of her power was seen during the show... but fans don't really need a display of the same. Given that she's on par with characters like Beerus, it's easy to see that very few characters will be able to deal with the might of Universe 2's God of Destruction.

9 Cheelai

A Member Of The Frieza Force Who Develops A Connection With Broly

Cheelai-Broly-and-Leno
  • First Appearance: Dragon Ball Super: Broly
  • Affiliation: Frieza Force (formerly)

Dragon Ball Super: Broly introduced several new characters aside from the titular Legendary Saiyan. One such character is Cheelai, who was initially part of the Frieza Force before developing a solid friendship with Broly that helped this Saiyan remain grounded despite being assaulted by his berserk nature.

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Cheelai also had a pretty funny role in Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, where it's revealed that Beerus developed a thing for this character. Fans can't wait to see if this relationship gains more ground when more Dragon Ball Super media is developed and released.

10 Bikini

Bulma's Mother And Mr. Brief's Husband

Bikini Brief in Dragon Ball
  • First Appearance: Episode 44: Master Thief, Hasky (Dragon Ball)
  • Affiliation: Capsule Corp

Many people know Bulma, but a lot of people don't know her mother's name. In line with the pattern surrounding the names of the Brief family, this character is hilariously named Bikini Brief.

Perhaps it's the sheer ludicrousness of this name that leads to the showrunners only referring to her as Bulma's mother or Mr. Brief's husband. Regardless, this character's face is instantly recognizable for fans of Dragon Ball, which is another example of Toriyama's strong character design.

11 Launch

A Unique Side Character With Split Personalities Who Disappeared By The Time Dragon Ball Z Rolled Out

Launch with evil personality Dragon Ball
  • First Appearance: Episode 15: Look Out for Launch (Dragon Ball)
  • Affiliation: Turtle School

Launch was a pretty interesting character whose presence faded out with the appearance of Dragon Ball Z. She is a character with two personalities — a calm side with blue hair and a violent side that sports blonde hair.

It's a shame that not many people know about this interesting character, who only appears in brief moments during Dragon Ball Z. Games like Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot do a better job of showing this character and her two unique personalities.

12 Bulma

A Major Character Who's Been With Goku Since The Very Start Of Dragon Ball

Bulma and Goku in Dragon Ball
  • First Appearance: Episode 1: The Secret of the Dragon Balls (Dragon Ball)
  • Affiliation: Capsule Corp, Z Warriors

Bulma is one of the most iconic characters in Dragon Ball. It's her fateful meeting with Goku that kickstarts the events of the series and places Goku in the middle of so many predicaments and fights.

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Bulma is a genius who has built many helpful contraptions for the Z Warriors throughout the series. While she might be a bit too self-absorbed for her own good, fans of the series still love her to death for injecting some much-needed energy into the events of Dragon Ball.

13 Pan

Gohan's Daughter & Goku's Granddaughter Who Plays A Major Role In Dragon Ball GT

Pan (Dragon Ball GT)
  • First Appearance: Episode 289: Granddaughter Pan (Dragon Ball Z)
  • Affiliation: Z Warriors

Goku's granddaughter plays a central role in Dragon Ball GT when she helps the shrunken kid version of her grandfather try and recover the Dragon Balls throughout the series. She's a great character that fans grew to love throughout the series.

Of course, Dragon Ball Z features Pan in a more muted presence. She still has a decent role to play in Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, indicating that more things are to come for this budding Saiyan.

14 Android 18

A Villain Who Eventually Joins The Z Warriors As Krillin's Wife

Android 18 and Krillin make an oddly normal couple
  • First Appearance: Episode 133: Nightmare Comes True (Dragon Ball Z)
  • Affiliation: Red Ribbon Army (formerly), Z Warriors

Android 18 initially appeared as a dastardly antagonist that was set on destroying the entire world. However, Krillin's affection for her led to the android turning a new leaf and settling down with this Z Fighter instead.

She's been in the background for most of the series but can still hold her own in battle when the situation calls for it. That being said, her responsibilities as a mother have reduced her fighting role in the series even more.

15 Chi-Chi

Goku's Wife Who Used To Be A Martial Arts Whiz, With A Sizeable Inheritance To Her Name

Chi-Chi in Dragon Ball
  • First Appearance: Episode 7: The Ox King on Fire Mountain (Dragon Ball)
  • Affiliation: Z Warriors

Goku's wife is one of the most interesting characters in the entire series. The daughter of the Ox-King has a boisterous personality and doesn't take any insult lying down.

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There's a reason why the Earth's mightiest warriors are scared of her imposing presence. Chi-Chi is a strict mother who has her heart in the right place, with her outbursts being fairly entertaining in their own right.

16 Caulifla

A Universe 6 Saiyan With Limitless Potential

Dragon Ball Super Close Up Of Caulifla
  • First Appearance: Episode 88: Gohan and Piccolo Master and Pupil Clash in Max Training! (Dragon Ball Super)
  • Affiliation: Universe 6

The introduction of sister Universes in Dragon Ball Super opened the way for new Saiyans to take over the scene, with Caulifla and Kale appearing as two of the few female Saiyan warriors that have been featured in the series. The former is boisterous and outspoken, while the latter is fairly reserved in comparison.

Caulifla's Super Saiyan form is pretty powerful and lets her stand toe-to-toe with the godlike forms boasted by Goku and Vegeta. This forces her to fuse with Kale in a bid to stand a fighting chance against these fighters.

17 Kale

A Meek, Shy Saiyan Who Can Access The Legendary Super Saiyan Form

dragon-ball-super-kale-legendary-super-saiyan
  • First Appearance: Episode 89: A Mysterious Beauty Appears! The Enigma of the Tien Shin-Style Dojo? (Dragon Ball Super)
  • Affiliation: Universe 6

Kale might seem rather shy and reserved at first glance, but that does a great job of hiding her true powers. Just like Broly, she has the power to turn into a legendary Super Saiyan who goes berserk at times.

Her power is truly frightening, and her introduction served as a great way to reintroduce Broly into the fold once again. She's a pretty interesting character, with her power increasing exponentially after fusing with Caulifla to form Kefla.

18 Mai/Future Mai

Both Her Present And Future Variants Are Wildly Different Yet Entertaining In Their Own Right

Mai in Dragon Ball
  • First Appearance: Episode 1: The Secret of the Dragon Balls (Dragon Ball)
  • Affiliation: Pilaf Gang

Mai seems like nothing more than a joke character who's endlessly stuck in a loop with Emperor Pilaf in a bid to get the Dragon Balls. However, her importance is pretty high when the Future Trunks saga in Dragon Ball Super rolls around.

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It turns out that Future Mai is actually Future Trunks' romantic interest in the series. It's an engaging dynamic that elevates the importance of this character to new heights.

19 Videl

Mr. Satan's Daughter Who Develops A Relationship With Gohan

Videl fights alongside Gohan in Dragon Ball Z Fusion Reborn
  • First Appearance: Episode 200: Gohan Goes to High School (Dragon Ball Z)
  • Affiliation: Z Warriors

Most people would never have expected Mr. Satan's daughter to have such a major role in the series. However, she ends up forming a connection with Gohan during high school that endures until they get married and have a child too!

Videl is a pretty interesting character who tries her hardest to fight against powerful opposition despite being a mere Earthling. She's a fun character who gets introduced and fleshed out during the Peaceful World saga.

20 Vados

The Angel Of Universe & And Whis' Sister

Dragon Ball Vados
  • First Appearance: Episode 18: I'm Here, Too! Training Commences on Beerus' World (Dragon Ball Super)
  • Affiliation: Universe 6, Angels

Vados is the Angel of Universe 6, who's also Whis' sister. Suffice it to say, she's easily one of the strongest people in the show by a country mile. Not a lot is known about Vados at this point, aside from her identity as an Angel. Of course, later arcs may elaborate on her character in the series.

Dragon Ball
Dragon Ball
Action
Comedy
Adventure

Release Date
February 26, 1986
Creator
Akira Toriyama
Streaming Service(s)
Crunchyroll , Funimation , Hulu