trunks’ first appearance in dbz, tite kubo

SUMMARY

  • Tite Kubo once spoke about one of the best moments in Dragon Ball Z, that is yet to be surpassed by any other battle shonen manga.
  • It was the first appearance of Future Trunks during the fight against Frieza, and the fight that ensued between the two characters.
  • Despite his minimal screen time, Trunks provided many memorable moments that fans still love to reminisce about after all these years.

Even years after the Dragon Ball series’ initial parts have ended, there are many moments that fans fondly reminisce about to this day. The Saiyan transformations and Spirit Bomb are some of them. This is the best testament to Akira Toriyama’s effect on fans. No one is immune to the charm if they stumbled upon Dragon Ball at the right time in their lives. 

The picture shows Future Trunks with confident expressions on his face Future Trunks | Credits: Studio Toei Animation

And, the interesting part is that it’s not just even about fans, but famous figures of the anime-manga industry would jump with joy at the mere mention of Toriyama’s magnum opus. With that, Tite Kubo sharing his favorite Dragon Ball moment that involves a character with fairly little screen time reminds us of one of the best character introductions in the series. 

The Best Character Introduction in Dragon Ball Z 

Saiyan Transformation of Future Trunks in Dragon Ball ZFuture Trunks’ Saiyan Transformation | Credits: Studio Toei Animation

Most fans are aware of Eiichiro Oda and Masashi Kishimoto’s love for Dragon Ball. They were inspired by it and its influence on them reflects through their own creations. It wasn’t just Dragon Ball, but both mangaka were really fond of Akira Toriyama as a mentor. While Tite Kubo hasn’t been as vocal, his one statement is a huge proof of his appreciation for the series. Moreover, it clearly establishes the greatness of Dragon Ball

To this day I’ve never experienced a shock from any battle comic surpassing the scene where trunks first appears, and I surely never will!

Any Dragon Ball fan would know exactly which moment Kubo is referring to. During the fight against Frieza, Goku’s absence was concerning for Vegeta and Piccolo. They knew they stood no chance against Frieza, yet they were determined to face him until Goku returned. However, Vegeta sensed a power that was akin to a Saiyan.

Gohan looks on while Trunks trains his Saiyan Transformation in Akira Toriyama's Dragon BallTrunks trains with Gohan | Credits: Studio Toei Animation

The rapid pace at which the power was growing exceeded Goku’s transformation as well. This character was Future Trunks who effortlessly killed all of Frieza’s soldiers and his dad. Frieza had just gotten stronger before descending on Earth, but it didn’t deter Future Trunks. He sliced Frieza in half without being intimidated by his newly found strength. This scene was both surprising and invigorating.

The revelation that this character was Future Trunks was all the more exciting due to his interaction with Goku about the future. Kubo hit the mark when he said nothing can surpass Trump’s introduction in Dragon Ball Z and remembering this scene confirms it for all of us. 

Here’s What Makes Future Trunks So Interesting 

 History of TrunksA still from History of Trunks special | Credits: Studio Toei Animation

Future Trunks’ introduction showcased his composed and confident demeanor. He achieved his goal without wasting any time. His fighting style which involved swords was different from the other Saiyan. All of this was executed well and it was easily one of the best twists. Frieza’s strength was just established and glorified, but Future Trunks instantly makes us forget all about it with his presence.

While he’s always a joy to watch on screen, even with the minimal screen time, nothing can surpass his introduction. All his strengths and a fraction of his struggles were conveyed within a few minutes and with conviction. His interaction with Goku was heartwarming and interesting at the same time. As he teased what was going to happen in the future. How can a character rise the ranks of best characters with few scenes solely? Well, only Future Trunks knew how to pull that off and he gave us an answer with his presence. 

Dragon Ball Z is available to stream on Crunchyroll. 

Akira ToriyamaDragon BallDragon Ball ZTite Kubo

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Written by Laveena Joshi

Articles Published: 189

Laveena holds a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism with a keen interest in entertainment journalism. Known to defend Naruto with her life, her love for anime has turned into great appreciation for the Japanese Culture. Besides considering herself a veteran weeb, she's also a self-proclaimed coffee connoisseur. Better if the perfect brew is paired with a random video essay from YouTube. Blending her love for anime with the know-hows of content writing, she is now an anime content writer at FandomWire.