“Pan?” – Goku’s Fans Got Angry At Dragon Ball Super For No Reason

Goku‘s parenting skills have always been a popular subject for fans of the Dragon Ball series, but a recent scene in Dragon Ball Super led some readers to believe Goku is an even worse grandfather for Pan. It turns out that, instead, it was a joke that poorly translates from Japanese to English.

Many have discussed whether the Saiyan hero is a good father, mostly due to the prolonged absences from his family. While Goku has a polarizing relationship with his sons, he is shown on occasion to be a caring and attentive father. However, one scene in Dragon Ball Super chapter #103 puts him in a truly bad light as a grandfather.

In the chapter, when Piccolo says they have to go pick up Pan from school, Goku seemingly does the unthinkable and forgets the name of his only grandchild. However, luckily this was not the case, and Goku fans who got angry at the series for painting him in a bad light were misguided.

Goku Did Not Forget Pan’s Name in Dragon Ball Super

The Joke Is About Goku’s Love for Food, not Him Being an Absent Grandfather

In the Japanese language, “pan” is a borrowed word used to mean “bread” (derived from the Old Portuguese word used by some of the first European visitors to the country). In that scene, thus, Goku believes Piccolo is going to pick up food, which plays into the classic joke of the gluttonous Saiyans. However, Vegeta misinterprets it as Goku forgetting the name of his only grandchild, something that wouldn’t make sense even for the absent-minded Goku. This made many Goku fans angry, as Dragon Ball Super has often been criticized for its depiction of the character as too dumb and clueless.

While the joke is hard to translate into English, it’s surprising that the translation team made no effort to make it clearer. It should also be noted that this is the second time a similar scene has happened in the series. In chapter #18 of Dragon Ball Super, Future Trunks gives a senzu bean to Mai, who is unconscious, by chewing it and passing it from his mouth to hers. Goku seems shocked at the sight, and Vegeta thinks it’s because Goku never kissed anyone, which wasn’t the case. That joke was also lost on many readers, fueling criticism over Goku’s representation in the series.

It’s still true, however, that Goku has been so distant from Pan that the first thing he thinks about when hearing her name is bread. That also justifies Vegeta and Piccolo’s angry reaction to his comment. While Goku did not forget about his granddaughter, he also spent the past three years away from home, training on Beerus’ planet, and he only came back when he sensed Gohan’s growth in power. Vegeta, at least, is staying in touch with Bulma regularly.

Goku Still Has a Long Way to Go as a Grandfather

After Pan is born, Goku shared some heartwarming moments with his grandchild. While his forgetfulness is a running gag in the series, it also shows how absent he has been from her life. The Saiyan and his granddaughter eventually rekindle their bond in Dragon Ball Z‘s finale, which is set after the events of Dragon Ball Super. The duo’s close relationship is especially prominent throughout Dragon Ball GT, where Goku’s love for Pan serves as a catalyst for his Super Saiyan 4 transformation.

Goku’s relationship with his family will always remain a topic for debate. While the hero’s relationship with his granddaughter needs to improve, he is shown to care deeply for her. Fortunately, he makes up for his shortcomings as a grandfather as Pan grows up, forming an inseparable bond with his only grandchild. In Dragon Ball Super‘s latest chapter, fans can see the start of Goku‘s renewed relationship with Pan, as the kid immediately reacts to his grandfather’s presence, just before the chapter ends with Akira Toriyama’s emotional farewell to his fans.

The Dragon Ball Super manga is available from MANGA Plus and Viz Media. The anime is available on Crunchyroll.

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