Throughout the entirety of Dragon Ball Z, Goku and Gohan stayed true to certain established character roles from start to finish, especially in the eyes of one classic Dragon Ball character: Chi-Chi. While Chi-Chi didn’t always like that Goku would run off to fight increasingly powerful enemies, she more or less accepted it as an inevitability. But with Gohan, Chi-Chi was never comfortable with him being in a fight. At least, until Dragon Ball GT.
While Goku had been around since the classic Dragon Ball series, Gohan didn’t make his debut until the start of Dragon Ball Z. Right from the start, Gohan proved that he was exceptionally strong, as he inflicted a debilitating blow against Raditz, stood his ground against Nappa and Vegeta, took on Frieza and the Ginyu Force, and even obliterated Cell – all before he reached his teenage years.
However, despite his obvious strength, his mother, Chi-Chi, hated the fact that he got involved in such dangerous fights. Even since his first appearance, it was clear that Chi-Chi wanted Gohan to be a scholar rather than a fighter like his father. But, if Gohan ever did have to fight, Chi-Chi would only allow it if Goku was involved. In GT, that status quo has totally been flipped.
Dragon Ball Super Proved Why it’s Z’s True Successor Over GT With One Fight
Dragon Ball Super and Dragon Ball GT are both sequel series to Dragon Ball Z, but Super proved why it’s Z’s true successor with its best fight.
Chi-Chi Only Lets Goku Fight If Gohan Is There Too, Flipping Their DBZ Roles
Dragon Ball GT original anime produced by Toei Animation
In Dragon Ball GT season 1, episode 2 (written by Aya Matsui, directed by Osamu Kasai, produced by Toei Animation), Goku and his family are reeling after the Dragon Ball hero was transformed into a child by the magic of the Black Star Dragon Balls. While Goku was totally fine with being a kid, he and his family were later told by King Kai that the Earth will explode unless the Black Star Dragon Balls are collected again within a year, and that they have been scattered across the universe.
Obviously, this is an enormous and dangerous undertaking, and Chi-Chi is rightfully nervous that her husband (who is currently a child) is now forced to do it. However, Chi-Chi becomes much more optimistic the second Gohan says he’ll join Goku on the journey.
Chi-Chi Has Become More Protective of Goku than Gohan In GT
This exchange in Dragon Ball GT shows that Chi-Chi was worried about Goku’s safety, but became much more relaxed when Gohan said he’d be around to make sure everything was okay. This is the exact opposite of their dynamic in Dragon Ball Z, where Gohan was only allowed to fight with Goku there – and even then, Chi-Chi wasn’t happy about it. When Gohan signed up to trek through the stars with his father in an effort to save the world, Chi-Chi was overjoyed that Goku would have someone looking out for him the same way she tolerated Gohan fighting because Goku was looking after him all those years ago.
While Gohan wouldn’t end up going on the mission across the universe in search of the Black Star Dragon Balls – as the three adventurers ended up being Goku, Trunks, and Pan – the evidence presented just in this conversation about the mission alone was enough to prove that Dragon Ball GT totally flipped Goku and Gohan’s previously established roles in Dragon Ball Z – at least, in the eyes of Chi-Chi.
The Dragon Ball GT anime is available on Crunchyroll.
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Dragon Ball GT
Dragon Ball GT is the third series in Akira Toriyama’s most famous anime franchise. However, it is the first one not to adapt a manga storyline. Set after the events of the Buu Saga, Dragon Ball GT sees Goku and the Z-Warriors battle powerful villains such as Baby, Super 17, and the Shadow Dragons. 18 years after the 64-episode show was met with a lukewarm reception, Dragon Ball Super replaced it in the anime’s official continuity.
- Release Date
- March 26, 1997
- Seasons
- 3
- Franchise(s)
- Dragon Ball
