Why Son Gokou is My All-Time Favorite Anime Character
I’ve read many Japanese manga, seen quite some animes. But none can compare to my all-time favorite, Dragon Ball Z. And in my opinion, Son Gokou, the main character of the DBZ franchise, is my all-time favorite character. 
I’m sure those who have followed the cartoon or comic will know easily why, even though Dragon Ball has been around for more than two decades.
Son Gokou’s character is an inspiration to kids in many ways, and even to me. Now I can see a lot clearly why and how, through his own journey, his character to can also relate to and teach about success in life.
This is why where you start doesn’t matter isn’t as important as where you finish, why you should always strive higher, and why you should never give up…
Son Gokou of Dragon Ball
Son Gokou is actually of alien origin called Saiyans, a race of gifted and skillful fighters. He was found on Earth because his home planet, Planet Vegeta, was destroyed by galactic ruler Frieza. His parent sent him to Earth by a space shuttle as a toddler before the destruction, partly also because his strength was tested to be largely inferior for a Saiyan.
On Earth is where Gokou grew up and spent most of his life. Unlike the typical Saiyan who is usually cocky and violent, Gokou was humble and even though his powers were superior to humans at a young age, he never abused his strength for evil.
His quest for the Dragon Balls met him with a lot of people, usually squaring as foes initially but would eventually become friends. Krillin, Yamcha, Ten Shin Han, Piccolo, and many more…
Gokou had always strive to be the best fighter ever, accepted every new challenge optimistically and positively, and his “I never give up” attitude was what attracted many people around him to look up to him, and this is also a big reason why many of them were converted from foes to friends.
When he met his brother, a Saiyan and also his first encounter with the extra-terrestrial from another planet, he was very intimidated at first. However this was temporary and after realizing that there are bigger forces outside Earth, Gokou became all the more determined to train harder. His horizons expanded, and continued to train hard… all the way up to eventually pitting against and finally defeating King Frieza, the very man who destroyed his people and home planet decades ago.
For many reasons, Gokou would have lost to Frieza. The gap in strength between them was huge, but Gokou had never once called in quits and believes in his friends and the importance of the mission at hand (quoting, he once said that if he “didn’t defeat Frieza now, the galaxy will never be at peace”).
After unlocking his inner strength as a Super Saiyan, though much to his surprise because he wasn’t even aware of it, he defeated Frieza on Planet Nameck and made it back to Earth before the planet was destroyed.
At this point, Gokou didn’t stop. He didn’t grow complacent and continued to train hard as wave of new challenges came. Even into the afterlife.
Where he previously came from Earth, now Gokou meet champions from other worlds and dimensions he had no knowledge of whatsoever. Even Ten Shin Han himself said that Gokou has “grown to become a totally different person. I was once fighting on par with him. Now he’s the strongest being in the universe.”
Justin Lee on February 10th, 2010
That makes two of us! That was really a good post, Ed. Son Goku and the Dragonball series really inspired me when I was young too. I think when I was in Standard 5-6. Now that you’ve written this post I feel like reading the comic again. Perhaps I should ask from Dan Khoo soon haha.