Dragon Ball Franchise

What Is Goku’s True Motivation Throughout the Dragon Ball Franchise?

A deep dive into what drives the most influential anime character of all time

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What Drives the Most Famous Character in Anime History?

Goku from Dragon Ball is one of the most famous fictional characters in the world today. He’s known by billions, and Dragon Ball has been a top-earning anime for the better part of 40 years now. So the question is: what drives Goku, and why are so many drawn to him?

Goku’s Motivation Goes Deeper Than You Realize

Most Dragon Ball fans know that, on the surface, Goku appears to be driven by an obsession with getting stronger. He’s often only there for his friends and family when they need him most — making it seem as if he cares about training as much as anything else. However, after returning to original Dragon Ball and rewatching the story for the first time in a long time, it’s clear that Goku’s determination to be strong goes far deeper than a surface-level lust for power — and it all started when his beloved grandfather, who raised him alone in the wilderness, was killed by a monster that comes out when the moon is full. Goku agitatedly says to Bulma early in the series, “I’m not making it up, Bulma! My Grandpa was trampled to death by that monster.” (Goku, Dragon Ball, E12).

At the time, Goku was unaware that he was the monster, but that’s a story for another time. Grandpa Gohan was everything to Goku, and when he was killed by a being even more powerful than him, Goku struggled with this deeply. Goku even kept and treasured a four-star Dragon Ball that his grandpa gave him, claiming that the ball was his grandfather’s spirit.

Goku, Bulma, and the only thing Goku has to remember his beloved mentor and grandfather by — the four-star Dragon Ball. (Dragon Ball, Episode 1)

Goku experienced a horrible loss at a young age, which instilled in him the idea that if he wants to protect the people he loves, he has to be the strongest — and that is the true driving factor behind Goku’s determination. And in moments where he isn’t strong enough throughout the franchise, he sacrifices himself — on multiple occasions — showing his true disposition in full force. Though it may not have been clear to Goku — or even to the writer, Akira Toriyama — Goku simply wants to be able to protect the people he loves, and that is what makes him so relatable and loved.

The Only Proof You Need — Goku Going Super Saiyan for the First Time

Goku’s Super Saiyan transformation against Frieza is perhaps the most famous fictional character transformation in history — like, all of history. Again, Goku is known by billions around the world. And what was the deciding factor in his transformation against Frieza? What truly pushed the pure-spirited warrior over the edge? The brutal and merciless death of his best friend, Krillin. Even after everything Goku had endured up to this point throughout Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z, he still wasn’t enough to save his friend. The most legendary moment in anime history was fueled not only by Goku’s desire to protect the people he loves, but by his failure to do so. I could write an entire book of similar moments Goku has ot this throughout the totality of the franchise, but I don’t think it’s necessary here. Though his training prepares his body for the transformations, his love for his friends and family is ALWAYS what pushes him to the next level.

And that’s what makes this character so memorable.

Goku’s first Super Saiyan transformation didn’t just change the fight — it changed anime forever. (Dragon Ball Z Kai, Episode 47)

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Akira Toriyama’s Comments on Goku’s Demeanor

Akira Toriyama himself claimed that Goku wasn’t a righteous hero, but was instead motivated by a desire to grow stronger. Perhaps this is true, but his motivation to grow stronger was not born out of selfishness. I wrote an article called 👉*Anime Is an Art Form*, which explains that even writers don’t always know exactly why they write characters the way they do. Rather than every character and story decision being cold and calculated, stories often flow through creators as expressions of their emotions and perceptions — shaped by a combination of genetics and life experiences.

And so, Goku goes far deeper than anime fans realize, because he likely goes deeper than the author even realized — though it’s possible that Toriyama did understand Goku’s nature but wanted to keep it open to interpretation.

At the end of the day, Goku’s deeper motivation would be clear to any high-level psychologist; to them, it would be plain as day after a single watch-through.

It can also be argued that Goku’s demeanor is the result of him being a Saiyan — a warrior race — but this argument is very weak. In fact, none of the other Saiyans in the series have Goku’s level of obsession with training. Vegeta, Nappa, and Raditz are naturally strong. But early in the series, none of them come close to what a properly trained Saiyan warrior can achieve — despite having vast fighting experience. Even Vegeta doesn’t take training seriously until he meets Goku and realizes the rewards that dedicated training has to offer their kind. When Vegeta does begin training seriously, he grows very strong very quickly, indicating that he’s new to having a rigorous training regimen.

Goku’s Final Wake-Up Call

After the events of Dragon Ball, Goku goes on countless adventures where he makes friends and even defeats the world’s most powerful known villain — the Demon King Piccolo. These events allow Goku to heal from the death of his grandpa, whom he actually reunites with during the series.

A heartfelt moment of Goku and Grandpa Gohan being reunited. (Dragon Ball, Episode 76).

At the beginning of Dragon Ball Z, Goku has seemingly settled down a bit to be a good father figure for his son, Gohan. Goku had experienced several years of peace at this point and had stopped improving his strength the way he once did. However — just as he finally started to let his guard down — he got his ass kicked, and his four-year-old child taken by Raditz. That was the final straw for Goku. The death of Grandpa Gohan planted a seed, but almost losing his son while being completely powerless over the situation is what sealed the deal. From that day forth, Goku put his training first. He may not have realized why at the time, but his obsession with strength was not rooted in selfishness — it was born out of love and a deep sense of helplessness.

Did Akira Toriyama Even Know This?

When you look at Goku’s story and progression as a whole, it’s undeniable that loss and feelings of helplessness fueled his drive to one day become among the strongest warriors in the universe. He loves his friends and family and wants to be able to keep them safe. To be honest, I don’t even think Akira Toriyama was fully aware of this, which ties back to what I discussed earlier. Storytelling, including anime, is a form of art. The best artists are able to tap into their deepest emotions and give life to them through their chosen form of expression. For Toriyama, it’s creating manga. Read more on that topic here: 👉 *Anime Is an Art Form*

Deep down, Akira Toriyama likely felt a fear of losing people he loved — something completely natural for any human. His way of coping with that fear may have been creating a character who experienced loss and became strong enough to never have to experience it again, even if that meant the character came off as selfish at times. To further this idea, Toriyama also created the Dragon Balls, which allow characters to be wished back to life — and some characters are wished back more than once.

Akira Toriyama’s ability to express emotion through the incredible adventure that is Dragon Ball is what allowed the story to become a global phenomenon. Yes, fear of losing loved ones is a very standard human emotion, but that’s exactly what makes this story so brilliant. Nearly everyone can relate to it. At the end of the day, this character and this story are known by billions for a reason. Loss — and the potential of loss — is hard, and we all need a way to cope with it.

That’s the beauty of art, though. Dragon Ball didn’t just help Akira Toriyama — it became a story of love, adventure, and inspiration for countless others who needed it.

Goku and Bulma starting off the adventure of a lifetime in Episode 1 of Dragon Ball. (Dragon Ball, Episode 1)

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Written by Samuel J. Spoerl