Akira Toriyama’s plan for Goku in Dragon Ball that never came to be: “It didn’t work”
The legendary mangaka wanted Gohan to take over as the main protagonist—but it wasn’t meant to be.
Dragon Ball is Akira Toriyama’s masterpiece, one of the most famous shonen manga in history, shaping global pop culture forever. However, Toriyama tried to move on from Goku’s story multiple times, long before the actual end of his adventures.
Initially, he planned to end the series after Goku’s first Dragon Ball quest, with Pilaf as the main antagonist. But his editors convinced him to extend the story, first to 10 volumes, then ultimately to 42, pushing him past the Frieza, Cell, and Majin Buu sagas until Goku’s final farewell with Uub.
Among these extensions, Toriyama also attempted a major protagonist shift, replacing Goku with his son Gohan, but that plan failed.
Light, fire, Son Gohan!
Toriyama was fully committed to making Gohan the new lead. In the original Dragon Ball manga, he even wrote an introductory statement after the Cell saga:
“Dragon Ball will continue a little longer! From now on, taking Goku’s place as the protagonist will be his much more serious son, Gohan!”
Fans will remember that Gohan defeated Cell, with Goku supporting him from the afterlife, creating a powerful generational handoff through their iconic Kamehameha.
However, things changed drastically as the Majin Buu saga progressed. Super Buu absorbed Gohan, forcing Goku to return and eliminate him.
Why did Toriyama reverse his decision mid-story? The mangaka himself explained:
“I tried to make Gohan the protagonist. It didn’t work. Compared to Goku, I felt he wasn’t ready,” Toriyama admitted in an interview featured in Daizenshuu.
Toriyama originally intended for Goku to remain in the afterlife permanently, leaving Gohan as the sole hero. But this led to Goku’s sudden resurrection, courtesy of the Elder Kaioshin.
In the original introduction of Volume 35, Toriyama reflected on his decision:
“I think it’s better not to feel too attached to the characters I draw, but even so, I find it sad to see the death of a protagonist I’ve drawn for ten years. I thought about other possibilities, but I felt letting him die was the best choice. I tried not to make it too tragic, but still—sorry, Son Goku, please forgive me.”
A decision that shaped Dragon Ball forever
Toriyama’s failed attempt to replace Goku ultimately cemented him as the franchise’s eternal protagonist. While Gohan had his moments, fans never fully embraced him as Goku’s successor.
Would Dragon Ball have been different if Gohan had taken over? Perhaps—but in the end, Goku remained the heart of the series.
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