2026 Is The Year Goku Lost His Place As Dragon Ball's One True Hero

Custom Image by Ana Nieves Published Jul 25, 2026, 10:30 AM EDT Casandra Ronning is a staff writer for Screen Rant's anime section. Since mid-2024, she has dedicated herself to expanding her knowledge and experience in the entertainment industry. She is most proud of conducting an exclusive interview with popular voice actor Stephanie Nadolny. Sign in to your ScreenRant account Dragon Ball may be one of the most popular and influential anime series ever created, however, it’s hard to deny that the series is rather formulaic. Since the original series, no matter how great the threat or how dire the situation became, the story always positioned Goku as the hero who ultimately saves the day in one way or another. While this is partly what makes Goku as iconic as he is, it has also made every outcome feel predictable and sidelined its growing cast. However, in the past decade, that expectation is gradually beginning to disappear. It’s possible that Goku will no longer be the franchise’s central hero when Dragon Ball Super returns, given the series’ increasing willingness to focus on other major characters in the latest arcs. Yet, rather than weakening the franchise’s identity, this shift could prove to be exactly what Dragon Ball needs as it enters a new era. Goku Isn’t Dragon Ball’s Sole Champion Anymore Since 1984, when Akira Toriyama first introduced Dragon Ball and Goku to audiences, the journey centered around lighthearted adventure and martial arts as Goku constantly worked to improve himself and overcome ever-growing stakes. This structure carried over to Dragon Ball Z, where nearly every major conflict eventually led back to Goku delivering the final blow and saving the day. Even though the series had expanded the Z-Fighters to include Gohan, Piccolo, and Vegeta, three thrilling characters who have since become fan favorites, they were often relegated to the sidelines where they constantly lived in Goku’s shadow. While they often helped to weaken the villains or build tension and stakes, the formula of Goku claiming the final victory, often in the final moment, was seemingly set in stone. However, after decades of following that formula, even Dragon Ball has reached a point where its repetition is no longer working in the franchise’s favor and could hurt its long-term appeal. That’s not to say that Goku will cease to stand as the series’ central or most legendary hero, but rather that the story will benefit greatly from allowing other major characters to stand in the spotlight and earn decisive victories of their own. This is demonstrated in the Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero film, where Goku and Vegeta are given minimal screen time as Gohan and Piccolo take center stage. In the manga, the prelude to this arc even focuses on teenage Trunks and Goten as they deal with Dr. Hedo’s early androids while balancing high school as Saiyaman X-1 and X-2, respectively. By zeroing in on characters that don’t often lead the story, these arcs were thrilling, refreshing, and most of all, proof that the franchise has a wealth of untapped potential to explore. Dragon Ball Is Better When It Has More Heroes Given that the franchise has existed for over 40 years now, becoming a major influence in the anime industry and standing as a global powerhouse, Dragon Ball is at a stage where a change in the story’s structure could boost fan viewership and engagement by allowing other fan-favorites to earn real victories of their own and be pushed to new limits themselves rather than always being overshadowed by Goku or having to catch up to him. Most notable is the fact that the series has an extensive cast filled with characters brimming with under-explored potential. Vegeta’s arc as he unlocks Ultra Ego is evidence that the characters, no matter how much screen time they may or may not have had, still have plenty to offer. Aside from Goku, characters including Vegeta, Gohan, Piccolo, Trunks, and Goten are all perfect candidates to become the primary heroes of upcoming arcs. Dragon Ball · Character Profile Which Dragon Ball Character Are You? “Power comes in response to a need, not a desire.” 👊 Goku The Fighter 👑 Vegeta The Prince 🧘 Piccolo The Mentor POWER UP → 01 A powerful new enemy appears. What’s your first reaction? AThis is amazing! I can’t wait to fight them and see how strong they are! BI’ll defeat them myself. No one else is worthy of the challenge. CWe need a plan. Rushing in blindly is how people get killed. NEXT → 02 How do you train for an upcoming battle? AFind the strongest sparring partner I can and push myself past my limits every day BTrain alone in isolation — I don’t need anyone holding me back CMeditate, study the enemy’s weaknesses, and train the younger fighters so they’re ready too NEXT → 03 Your team is losing a fight. What do you do? AJump in front of everyone — I’ll take the hits so my friends can regroup BGet angry. I refuse to lose — my pride won’t allow it. I’ll surpass my limits right here. CFall back and coordinate — someone needs to think clearly while everyone else is panicking NEXT → 04 A rival challenges you to a one-on-one fight. How do you respond? AAbsolutely! Let’s go right now — no holding back! BFinally, a chance to prove I am the strongest. I accept — and I will crush you. CIf it serves a purpose, fine. But pointless fighting is a waste of energy. NEXT → 05 An old enemy offers to join your side. What do you do? AI don’t trust them — once an enemy, always an enemy. They’ll betray us. BSure! Everyone deserves a second chance. The more friends the better! CI’ll allow it, but I’m watching them closely. Trust is earned, not given. NEXT → 06 What’s your biggest weakness? AI’m too trusting and sometimes let enemies power up just for the thrill of the fight BMy pride — I’d rather die than accept help from someone else CI keep everyone at arm’s length — caring about people is a liability I struggle with NEXT → 07 You sense a massive power level approaching Earth. What’s your move? AFly straight toward it — I want to meet them first and see what they’re made of BPrepare myself — if this threat is real, I’ll be the one to destroy it CGather the fighters, assess the threat, and make sure the people I protect are safe first NEXT → 08 What drives you more than anything? AProtecting those who can’t protect themselves — someone has to be the responsible one BThe thrill of getting stronger — there’s always a new level to reach, a new challenge to find CProving my worth — I am the Prince of all Saiyans, and I will surpass everyone REVEAL MY CHARACTER → Power Level Scanned Your Dragon Ball Identity 👊 Goku “I am the hope of the universe. I am the answer to all living things that cry out for peace.” You’re a pure-hearted warrior who lives for the thrill of the fight. Every challenge is an opportunity, every enemy a potential friend, and every defeat just fuel to come back stronger. People are drawn to your infectious optimism and unbreakable spirit, even when your naivety drives them crazy. You’d give your last Senzu Bean to a stranger and charge headfirst into a battle you can’t win — not because you’re reckless, but because you genuinely believe that pushing past your limits is the only way to grow. Like Goku, your greatest power isn’t your ki — it’s your ability to inspire everyone around you to be better.Pure-Hearted Fearless Limitless Inspiring 👑 Vegeta “I do not fear this new challenge. Rather like a true warrior, I will rise to meet it.” You carry yourself with the pride of royalty and the ferocity of a born warrior. Second place is not in your vocabulary, and you’d rather break your body than your spirit. People might call you arrogant, but beneath that iron exterior lies someone who has learned to fight not just for themselves, but for the people they’ve quietly grown to love. Your journey is one of evolution — from cold-blooded conqueror to Earth’s fiercest protector — and every scar you carry is proof that pride and love can coexist. Like Vegeta, you don’t just want to be the strongest — you need to earn it on your own terms.Proud Relentless Fierce Evolving 🧘 Piccolo “Sometimes, we have to look beyond what we want and do what’s best.” You’re the one everyone depends on when things fall apart — the calm center in the middle of chaos. While others charge in recklessly or let their ego do the talking, you see the bigger picture and make the hard calls that need making. You didn’t choose to care about people, but somewhere along the way it happened, and now you’d sacrifice everything for those you’ve taken under your wing. Stoic on the surface, deeply loyal underneath, you’re the mentor, the strategist, and the last line of defense all in one. Like Piccolo, your true strength is wisdom — and the courage to do what’s right even when no one is watching.Wise Tactical Protective Stoic ↻ PLAY AGAIN If this is the direction Dragon Ball takes, it would also be honoring one of Akira Toriyama’s initial intentions to replace Goku with the next generation of Z-Fighters. While Toriyama’s vision centered Gohan as the protagonist, allowing future storylines of Dragon Ball Super to put more attention on supporting characters would allow for a similar experience without completely removing Goku from the story. All in all, Dragon Ball’s increasing willingness to move beyond Goku could prove to be one of the franchise’s greatest decisions and could strengthen its legacy. Goku will always be the face of the franchise, and the series wouldn’t be the same without his presence, but as Super begins to shift its focus on the supporting cast, the future of Dragon Ball could become more exciting than ever before. ​​​​​ Video Game(s) Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2, Dragon Ball FighterZ, Dragon Ball: The Breakers, Super Dragon Ball Heroes: World Mission, Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z, Dragon Ball Xenoverse, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot First Film Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies First TV Show Dragon Ball Cast Sean Schemmel, Laura Bailey, Brian Drummond, Christopher Sabat, Scott McNeil Created by Akira Toriyama Latest Film Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero