Akira Toriyama says Goku isn't a good person

According to a discussion I just listened to on YouTube, Akira Toriyama stated in an interview shortly after DBZ ended that he was upset and disappointed with the portrayal of Goku in the anime. According to Toriyama, he never intended for Goku to be a righteous hero. Toriyama intended for Goku to be a selfish and self-centered man who really only cared about fighting. Goku does not primarily fight for others, he fights mostly for his own enjoyment. The reason he does so many questionable things throughout the series and endangers the lives of his friends and family is because he puts himself before them. Goku, or the manga portrayal of him at least, was never meant to be a good person nor a role model.

What do you think about this? I think it explains a lot and also shows just how different Goku is from most protagonists.

I also will take this into account while writing my upcoming fan fiction. Cyborg Gohan, the protagonist of my story, fights only to protect himself and others. He doesn't enjoy fighting and isn't even a warrior at heart. This makes him the complete polar opposite of his father and in the end makes him the better hero.

-Racob has spoken

Link?

This doesn't make him different from others characters; everyone already knew this. He's still the #1 cliche around.

@captainmarvel4ever: http://www.kanzenshuu.com/translations/wired-japan-1997-akira-toriyama-interview/

Wired: There’s actually “poison” inside?

Toriyama: Right. There’s how, basically, Son Goku from Dragon Ball doesn’t fight for the sake of others, but because he wants to fight against strong guys. So once Dragon Ball got animated, at any rate, I’ve always been dissatisfied with the “righteous hero”-type portrayal they gave him. I guess I couldn’t quite get them to grasp the elements of “poison” that slip in and out of sight among the shadows.

Wired: Perhaps that’s because it’s animation aimed at children, after all?

Toriyama: Well, that might be some of it, too.

@racob7: Thanks

Huh, that actually explains a LOT of Goku's actions throughout the series, and why I never found him to be a very good protagonist as an adult.

It does feel a little weird to learn this, but at the same time it makes me feel kinda good to know that people want to see a hero instead of a selfish jerk.

Except Goku is still a good person. He simply has flaws, like everyone else.

Thought it was obvious

Along with the fact that toriyama also said that all goku's main priorities are fighting and eating

That's still very much part of his character. Goku does plenty of things that could be seen as selfish and self centered.

Even Piccolo said Goku isn't that righteous.

He's a horrible father which should've been an indicator..

All the saiyans are just a bunch of selfish motherf*ckers

The anime equivalent of Man Of Steel.

K.

Korrasami--evil twin

This. He has flaws just like everyone else, no one said he was perfect.

Of course Goku is a bad person - he comes from the DBZ universe; all of the characters sucks and are "bad".

This should be obvious to anyone who isn't a damn fanboy.

he was portrayed as a warrior

• yet pure of heart- pure as a infant
• yet dies for others
• lives to fight stronger opponents

all mentioned in the manga.

Jonathan Joestar is better

@beaconofstrength: how so? Details please

So what about Vegeta

@lettsplay10: I felt like EOZ Vegeta fought more for his family than for the safety of Earth as a whole. He was sort of a lone wolf protecting mate and his cubs.

Makes sense but Goku will always be Goku.

Not that surprising

Not that surprising but he's fought for earth plenty of times.

I never took any DBZ characters too seriously to begin with. The story is designed to make you care more about the action than the actual characters anyway. People don't read/watch DBZ to be moved, they just want to see aliens blow sh*t up.

Funny, I just got back from a con that had Sean Schemmel and he mentioned this, saying he didn't agree with it.

I suppose it's a little contradictory on Akiras part. I mean how many times has Goku fought for the entire world?

Makes sense.

So, he was meant to be like Vegeta. Selfish and arrogant and only cares about fighting. Sounds about right.

Ok.

Goku is based on the Monkey King who was a bit of selfish dick to begin with. Makes sense that Toriyama would want to hold true to that.

@racob7: I've been saying this for years. But then again, I grew up without really watching the show. I mostly just read the manga and didn't watch the complete series until about a year or two ago.

For anybody who doubts it though

I suggest you reread what vegeta is saying while goku fights buu

Muhahahahahahaha, yes!

I've always said Goku was a heartless monster driven only by his lust for violence.

And guess what? I was right.

Some of that character is still intact though. Goku letting Frieza get to 100%, not taking Cell seriously, etc. Goku was a Saiyan, and Saiyans love to fight, it's why Goku even in the most life threatening situation would say "this is fun"

Goku wasn't a horrible father either. He loved Gohan and tried to spend as much time with him as he could, and keep him out of danger. He was negligent but not because he didn't care, but because he had to protect the world.

This could be said for every Shonen hero. Naruto cares about people, but most of the reason he was fighting was to gain admiration, and become the greatest ninja possible at least until the past 5 years.

Goku's not a bad person he's just really dumb. RE: When he made Gohan fight Cell and even Piccolo practically called Goku out for being a shitty dad because Gohan was like extremely close to dying. Goku didn't mean harm on his son he just wanted to see how well he would do.

Sigh...you frustrate me, Akira.

Because Akira ripoff superman(not mention other scifi films)...He became in the manga and anime a superman ripoff.

Gallery

Now Goku is 50% Monkey King ripoff and 50% superman ripoff, because of this article..Before he was 60% superman ripoff, and 40% monkey king ripoff.

Goku is not a good person...

The monkey king did not fight aliens,save the world,,etc...

The original dragon ball manga: Akira ripoff superman by having kid goku throw a car.Later on Goku became less of a monkey king ripoff, but more of a superman ripoff.

@racob7 said:

According to a discussion I just listened to on YouTube, Akira Toriyama stated in an interview shortly after DBZ ended that he was upset and disappointed with the portrayal of Goku in the anime. According to Toriyama, he never intended for Goku to be a righteous hero. Toriyama intended for Goku to be a selfish and self-centered man who really only cared about fighting. Goku does not primarily fight for others, he fights mostly for his own enjoyment. The reason he does so many questionable things throughout the series and endangers the lives of his friends and family is because he puts himself before them. Goku, or the manga portrayal of him at least, was never meant to be a good person nor a role model.

What do you think about this? I think it explains a lot and also shows just how different Goku is from most protagonists.

I also will take this into account while writing my upcoming fan fiction. Cyborg Gohan, the protagonist of my story, fights only to protect himself and others. He doesn't enjoy fighting and isn't even a warrior at heart. This makes him the complete polar opposite of his father and in the end makes him the better hero.

-Racob has spoken

Goku is a anti-hero by definition.

Manga Goku in some ways is different from anime Goku but...I don't know that I agree with Akira on this one.

@dreambig: What!?! Its his creation!!

The story isn't any different. He is the exact same character. He is just as righteous as he was before.

Of course, I always saw him as a bad person, so there is that.

@guardiandevil83: I know and I'm usually pretty lenient on the creator's word being the official one but I just can't agree with what he's saying here.
However it's only fair to add that I do think Goku is a pretty bad father >.<

Is this really happening?

Tori's words kinda fall flat in chapter 1 of the original manga...