Dragon Ball Z, as one of the most popular anime series in history, has no shortage of iconic moments. If 10 longtime fans were asked which scene was their favorite, they might give 10 different answers. From the moment Raditz touches down on Earth, to the defeat of Kid Buu in the final arc, Dragon Ball Z is electric.
An entire generation of fans began their journeys into the world of anime with Dragon Ball Z, and few have forgotten which battle truly captured their attention. However, there is one moment the franchise has yet to top over 30 years later.
Though Goku is Dragon Ball’s protagonist and arguably the most recognizable anime character in history, he isn’t the centerpiece of the anime’s greatest scene. Rather, he plays the supporting role to his son, who comfortably stepped into the lead just moments before. Dragon Ball is packed with iconic sequences, but none beat the Father-Son Kamehameha.
Gohan Steals the Spotlight in Dragon Ball’s Best Moment
No Other Dragon Ball Moment Is As Triumphant and Emotionally Charged
Dragon Ball, throughout its many installments and stories, is a mostly straightforward series. Its characters are well-written, including some of the most iconic villains in anime, and its clashes between titans rival any other top action title. The running narrative itself, however, isn’t anything too complex.
Powerful villains appear, and Earth’s heroes are forced to power up and overcome the latest threat. There’s rarely anything more complicated than that, though it’s the quality of Dragon Ball’s characters and just how much fans care about them that makes the whole package work. The writing is simple, but that doesn’t make it any less effective, and Gohan is proof of that.
The hybrid Saiyan’s character arc is one of Dragon Ball Z’s main focal points, and it finally reaches its climax during the Cell Saga. After teasing Gohan’s immense potential for nearly 200 episodes, he finally explodes and takes on the role as Earth’s number one protector.
The symbolic passing of the torch from father to son is a massive payoff for how Akira Toriyama built Gohan’s progression, and the physical passing of the torch that takes place at the end of the arc makes the situation that much better. The Father-Son Kamehameha is emotional, triumphant, and cathartic.
For years, fans could only watch as the boy took brutal punishment in battle and showed flashes of dramatic strength. And it’s the moment that Cell is vaporized that it all pays off.
Among the twisting plot threads of the Android and Cell Sagas, Toriyama was masterfully able to craft a coming-of-age conclusion to Gohan’s arc, and it’s perfect. For years, fans could only watch as the boy took brutal punishment in battle and showed flashes of dramatic strength. And it’s the moment that Cell is vaporized that it all pays off.
The soundtrack work across both the original Japanese broadcast and the Funimation dub is impressively moving, while the added anime-original scene of Gohan walking towards Cell, one arm extended firing his father’s most powerful attack, is as good as Dragon Ball, or shōnen anime in general, gets.
The Cell Saga Includes Some of Dragon Ball’s Best Writing
Akira Toriyama Crafted a Masterful Arc Despite Some Difficulties
The creation story of Dragon Ball’s Android/Cell Saga has become somewhat infamous among fans of the series. Because Akira Toriyama wrote with only light planning for future events, the arc was plagued by a number of last-minute changes and several instances of editor interference.
Originally, Android #19 and Dr. Gero were meant to be the arc’s main villains, but the series’ creator was met with harsh criticism from editors. The same feedback was given when Androids #17 and #18 were introduced, and when he finally landed on Cell, he was told the villain needed transformations.
Despite all the noise, Toriyama was able to produce a mostly coherent time travel story with several villains, all while bringing Gohan’s character arc to its climax and introducing the iconic Super Saiyan 2 transformation. There are far more moving parts during the Cell Saga than anywhere else in the series, and the section is deserving of more praise than it’s given.
Villains and final showdown aside, the arrival of Trunks and the alternate future are some of Dragon Ball’s best world-building moments. In its earliest moments, there’s even a bit of horror in Cell’s origins and introduction, the likes of which the franchise has never revisited.
While the Planet Namek Saga might Dragon Ball Z’s most popular section, and deservedly so considering Frieza’s presence and the very first Super Saiyan, Akira Toriyama’s strengths as a writer are never more prevalent anywhere in the series than during the Cell Saga.
The final showdown might not have the action of the previous arc, but its emotional impact cannot be understated. The passing of the torch from father to son, through a move Goku learned by relying on the strength of others, is a perfect encapsulation of all that has made Dragon Ball so popular for over four decades and counting.