Dragon Ball Reveals the First Character to Correctly Guess Goku's True Origins

Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball has amassed an impressive legacy over the course of four decades, yet pieces of knowledge still come to light that can sometimes surprise even the most dedicated of fans.

The Dragon Ball official website has long been a fantastic resource for long-time franchise fans as well as curious newcomers, serving as a strong repository of knowledge and finding creative ways to celebrate aspects of Toriyama’s franchise that might otherwise be taken for granted or slip through the cracks. For instance, the site features a special weekly character showcase, and its 149th edition corresponds to Oolong, the manga and anime's mischievous shapeshifter anthropomorphic pig.

Dragon Ball's Oolong Is the First Character to Recognize Goku's Alien Origins

Each of the Dragon Ball official site’s Weekly Character Showcases don’t just demystify a specific character but also their role during a particular arc. These can be enlightening deconstructions for some of Dragon Ball’s more central characters, such as Krillin, Piccolo or Vegeta. However, Oolong is a gag character who many Dragon Ball may overlook or forget. Oolong’s earliest appearances during the original series’ start place a heavy emphasis on his shapeshifting skills and the comedy this creates. In addition to general knowledge, each Weekly Character Showcase also reveals when their specific individual first appears, as well as a random piece of trivia connected to the character.

Oolong's showcase drops a surprising bombshell that recontextualizes the character in a fascinating light, revealing that he's technically the first character who clues into Goku's alien Saiyan heritage. When Oolong first witnesses Goku's Great Ape transformation, he remarks, "So what IS he...some kinda space alien?" It's a comment that's taken in jest, but it's also technically the first time that Goku's extraterrestrial roots get called out. It even predates Android 8's data reading of Goku that also foreshadows his Saiyan status years before these aliens get introduced.