10 Controversial Aspects of Goku's Character in Dragon Ball GT

Goku as a Child for Too Long

One of the most controversial aspects of Dragon Ball GT is that Goku remains a child for the entire series, which was initiated by a misguided wish made by Emperor Pilaf. This transformation back to a child was intended to capture the light-hearted humor of the original Dragon Ball series, but it proved to be a sticking point for fans who missed the grown Goku from Dragon Ball Z. While Dragon Ball DAIMA has shown that this idea can work for a short arc, GT's decision to keep Goku as a child throughout made many fans uncomfortable, leaving them yearning for the character development and maturity that the older Goku embodied.

For more details on the evolution of Dragon Ball characters and transformations, you can visit Anime News Network.

Power Reduction and Inconsistency

Goku's power level regression is another contentious point. While it isn't unusual for anime to scale back their protagonists' powers, the manner in which GT does so is inconsistent and frustrating. Goku is unable to utilize some of his strongest abilities due to his child form, such as Instant Transmission and maintaining Super Saiyan 3, which diminishes the excitement of battles.

However, this inconsistency is highlighted further when Goku transforms into Super Saiyan 4, regaining lost abilities without any explanation. This half-hearted approach undermines the series' attempt at lowering power levels for storytelling purposes, leaving many plot holes. For in-depth information on Goku's transformations, check out MyAnimeList.

Poor Judgment Against Baby

Goku's strategic missteps are apparent in his encounter with Baby, one of the series' major villains. Instead of preemptively dealing with Baby when he is most vulnerable, Goku's passive approach enables Baby's eventual possession of Vegeta, leading to a catastrophic series of events, including the infection of Earth and Piccolo's death. This example highlights a flaw in Goku's judgment, which fans found exasperating as it led to widespread devastation that might have been averted with a more decisive approach.

Over-Centralization of Goku's Role

One of the cardinal criticisms of Dragon Ball GT is its over-reliance on Goku to resolve every major conflict. While it's not uncommon for the Dragon Ball series to focus heavily on Goku, GT fails to provide other strong characters like Vegeta, Uub, and Gohan an opportunity to shine. Spectators are consistently denied thrilling combat moments from other Z Fighters because Goku inevitably steals the show.

This approach has made GT feel formulaic and predictable, as it leaves little room for other characters' development or victories. Discover more about the Z Fighters and their potential on Crunchyroll.

Goku's Immaturity

Despite Goku's adult mind, his behavior in a child's body is immature to a fault. Unlike other series where mature characters trapped in childlike forms retain their sophistication, Goku in GT appears to regress further into childish antics, leaving teammates exasperated. The adventure aspect of GT often sees Goku fail to take situations seriously, contributing to unnecessary peril and embarrassment for characters like Pan and Trunks.

This immaturity, when juxtaposed with his transition into a grandparent, feels jarring and detracts from his role's gravity. Articles like those on Kotaku delve deeper into the intricacies of Goku's character.

Conclusion and Legacy

Finally, Dragon Ball GT's conclusion with Goku leaving with Shenron is another divisive aspect, as it echoes themes from Dragon Ball Z. It denies Goku a fulfilled ending and leaves a bittersweet taste for fans as Goku continues to step into danger, leaving his loved ones for supposed greater good. Though many hoped for closure, Goku's departure felt repetitive and unceremonious, an aspect the series struggled to justify meaningfully.

In conclusion, Dragon Ball GT offered bold ideas, but Goku's portrayal was riddled with inconsistencies and poor decisions. These factors strongly influenced fans' perceptions of the series, which you can read more about on Anime Planet.