:Goku

Goku, and Dragon Ball in general, evolved from one of Akira Toriyama's earlier one-shot series called Dragon Boy. In this story, the protagonist looks similar to Goku, but has a pair of wings.{{cite book |last1= Toriyama |first1= Akira |author-link1= Akira Toriyama |script-title=ja:DRAGON BALL 大全集 2: STORY GUIDE |series= Dragon Ball |date= August 9, 1995 |publisher= Shueisha |language= ja |isbn= 4-08-782752-6 |page= 46 |chapter= Before Dragon Ball Pt. 1}} The original inspiration were Hong Kong action cinema, including those by Bruce Lee such as Enter the Dragon (1973) and by Jackie Chan such as Drunken Master (1978);{{cite book |title=TV Anime Guide: Dragon Ball Z Son Goku Densetsu |date=2003 |publisher=Shueisha |isbn=4088735463 |chapter=Akira Toriyama × Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru |chapter-url=https://www.kanzenshuu.com/translations/son-goku-densetsu-toriyama-x-nakatsuru/}}{{cite book |title=The Dragon Ball Z Legend: The Quest Continues |date=2004 |publisher=DH Publishing Inc |isbn=9780972312493 |page=7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hEeDFD3KItgC&pg=PA7}} Toriyama said he had a young Chan in mind for a live-action Goku, stating that "nobody could play Goku but him."{{Cite episode |title=『漫道コバヤシ』～映画「ドラゴンボールZ神と神」公開記念！出でよ神龍！！鳥山明先生、アンケート答えておくれーーーっ！！！！！SP～ |trans-title=A Public Movie Celebration For “Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods”! Come forth, Shenlong! Akira Toriyama-sensei, Answers Our Questionnaire!!!! Special |series=Mandō Kobayashi |series-link=:ja:漫道コバヤシ |first=Kendō |last=Kobayashi |author-link=Kendo Kobayashi |network=Fuji TV One Two Next |date=24 March 2013 |number=2 |quote=If it were back when Jackie Chan was still young, I suppose I would have thought nobody could play Goku but him. |lang=ja}} Goku uses a variety and hybrid of East Asian martial arts styles, including Karate and Wing Chun (Kung fu).{{Cite web |last=Arts |first=Way of Martial |title=What Martial Arts Does Goku Use? (Do They Work In Real Life?) |url=https://wayofmartialarts.com/what-martial-arts-does-goku-use/ |access-date=2023-05-27 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Gerardo |date=2021-04-19 |title=What Martial Arts Does Goku Use in Dragon Ball Z? |url=https://combatmuseum.com/what-martial-arts-does-goku-use-in-dragon-ball-z/ |access-date=2023-05-27 |website=Combat Museum |language=en-US}}

Bulma and Goku were the first pair of characters which were introduced in the manga and Toriyama stated that he subsequently introduced other characters in pairs because "that way, I'm able to explain the characters and their relationship to each other through their interactions. In my case, I feel that it isn't good to insert too much narration. I suppose Goku and Bulma are representative of that." He further added that "as a child, Goku doesn't know anything [of the world], so without Bulma, he'd be a character who didn't say anything."{{cite journal |title=Akira Toriyama Special Interview |journal=V Jump |publisher=Shueisha |date=21 May 2013}} Toriyama mentioned Torishima wanted Goku to form a relationship with Bulma, but this was never applied to the series.Toriyama, Akira (1986). Dr. Slump, Volume 16. Viz Media. p. 130. {{ISBN|978-1-4215-1060-6}}. With the conclusion of the Cell arc, Gohan was intended to replace his father as the protagonist, but Toriyama later decided that Gohan was unsuitable for the role. According to Toriyama, Goku is more of a selfish person than a hero as his main interest in the story is to fight strong opponents rather than protecting the innocent. As a result, Toriyama was angered when the anime adaptations of Dragon Ball started portraying Goku as more heroic than his manga counterpart.{{cite magazine|magazine=Wired|date=March 1997|title=Thus Spake Dr. Slump|volume=3|issue=1}} Toei kept portraying Goku as a more heroic figure, especially in the anime sequel Dragon Ball GT where he often rescues his granddaughter Pan as producer Kōzō Morishita was influenced by the 1997 film Titanic.{{cite AV media |title=Dragon Book|year=2005|publisher=Toei|format=DVD |url=https://www.kanzenshuu.com/translations/dragon-ball-gt-dragon-book-gt-back-then-kozo-morishita-interview/ }}

The character Goku is based on Sun Wukong (Son Goku in Japanese),{{refn|group=nb|{{Nihongo2|孫悟空}}, reads as "Son Gokū" in Japanese, hence providing the origin of Goku's name.}} the central character of the Chinese novel Journey to the West.{{cite book |last=West |first= Mark I. |title= The Japanification of children's popular culture: From Godzilla to Miyazaki |year=2009 |publisher= Scarecrow Press |location= Lanham |isbn= 978-0810851214 |page= 203 |quote= In fact, Goku is based on a character from a classic Chinese novel, The Journey to the West (Hsi Yu Chi). This character is a monkey who protects a Buddhist monk from evil monsters in the pilgrimage to India. Monkey, or Sun Wukong, is a favorite character [...]}} To be creative with the idea of Sun Wukong, Toriyama designed Goku as a human boy with a monkey's tail, rather than a complete simian, because the tail would give the character a distinguishing feature.{{cite book |last1= Toriyama |first1= Akira |author-link1= Akira Toriyama |script-title=ja:DRAGON BALL 大全集 2: STORY GUIDE |series= Dragon Ball |date= August 9, 1995 |publisher= Shueisha |language= ja |isbn= 4-08-782752-6 |pages= 164–169}} He later stated that the tail was a pain to draw, hence why he had it get cut off early on.{{cite book |script-title=ja:DRAGON BALL フルカラー フリーザ編 5 |language= ja |publisher= Shueisha |pages=240–245 |year=2013 |isbn= 978-4-08-870716-7}} Toriyama did not initially plan to make Goku an alien, it was not until the introduction of fighters from other planets that he established him as a Saiyan{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo||サイヤ人|Saiya-jin|lit. "Saiya Person"}}}}{{refn|group=nb|"Saiya", an anagram for {{nihongo||野菜|Yasai|lit. vegetable}}.}}.{{cite book |last=Toriyama|first=Akira|author-link1= Akira Toriyama |script-title=ja:DRAGON BALL 天下一伝説 |year=2004 |publisher=Shueisha|pages=80–91|language=ja|isbn=4-08-873705-9}} Goku was given the ability to teleport to any planet in seconds, so that Toriyama could increase the pace of the story.{{cite book |last=Toriyama|first=Akira|author-link1= Akira Toriyama|title= DRAGON BALL 大全集 4: WORLD GUIDE|date= October 9, 1995|publisher= Shueisha|isbn=4-08-782754-2|pages= 164–168 |script-chapter=ja:鳥山明的超会見 第４回}}

Wanting the series to have a Chinese appearance, Toriyama used the color of the robes worn by Buddhist monks for Goku's dōgi.{{cite book |last=Toriyama|first=Akira|author-link1= Akira Toriyama|title=DRAGON BALL 大全集 1: COMPLETE ILLUSTRATIONS|date= June 25, 1995|publisher= Shueisha|isbn=4-08-782754-2|pages= 202–207 |script-chapter=ja:鳥山明的超会見 第１回}} During the early chapters of the manga, Toriyama's editor Kazuhiko Torishima commented that Goku looked rather plain. Toriyama had given him simple clothes on purpose because it was a fighting manga, so to combat this he added several characters like Master Roshi and Krillin, and created the Tenkaichi Budōkai{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo|"Strongest Under the Heavens Martial Arts Tournament"|天下一武道会|}}}}{{refn|group=nb|Renamed to "The World Martial Arts Tournament" in Funimation's dub.}} to focus the storyline on fighting. To defy the assumption that Goku would win the tournaments, Toriyama made him lose the first and second but win the third.

Toriyama's editor was initially against having Goku grow up, saying it was uncommon to have the protagonist drastically change in manga, however, he gave in when Toriyama threatened that he would not be able to continue the series if the character did not.{{cite journal |title=Shenlong Times 1 |script-work=ja:DRAGON BALL 大全集 1: COMPLETE ILLUSTRATIONS |publisher=Shueisha |year=1995| language=ja}} Toriyama later stated he had him grow up as a means to make drawing the fight scenes easier.{{cite book |script-title=ja:DRAGON BALL 超画集|language=ja|publisher=Shueisha|pages=224–225|year=2013|isbn=978-4-08-782520-6}}

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When Toriyama thought up the Super Saiyan{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo4||{{ruby|超|スーパー}}サイヤ人|Sūpā Saiya-jin|lit. "Super Saiya Person"}}}} concept during the Frieza arc, he felt the only way to show Goku's massive power-up was to have him transform. Initially he was concerned that the facial expression looked like that of a villain, but felt it was acceptable since the transformation was brought about by anger.{{cite book |last=Toriyama|first=Akira|author-link1= Akira Toriyama|title=DRAGON BALL 大全集 5: TV ANIMATION PART 2 |year=1995 |publisher=Shueisha |pages=206–210 |isbn=4-08-782755-0}} The Super Saiyan form spared the trouble of coloring Goku's hair all the time for the standard black-and-white manga pages.Dragon Ball: Super Exciting Guide, 2009 This was the reason for the Super Saiyan form having blonde hair, because it was easier to draw for Toriyama's assistant who spent a lot of time blacking in Goku's hair. Goku's piercing eyes in Super Saiyan form were inspired by Bruce Lee's paralyzing glare.{{cite news |title=Comic Legends: Why Did Goku's Hair Turn Blonde? |url=https://www.cbr.com/goku-dragon-ball-blonde/ |access-date=21 November 2019 |work=Comic Book Resources |date=1 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719145451/https://www.cbr.com/goku-dragon-ball-blonde/ |archive-date=July 19, 2018 |url-status=live }} For the Dragon Ball Z anime adaptation, character designer Tadayoshi Yamamuro used Lee as a reference, stating that, when he "first becomes a Super Saiyan, his slanting pose with that scowling look in his eyes is all Bruce Lee."{{cite book |chapter=Dragon Ball Back Then Vol. 2: Interview with “Dragon Ball Z” character designer Tadayoshi Yamamuro |title=Dragon Ball Anime Illustration: Kin'iro no Senshi |script-title=ja:(ドラゴンボール アニメイラスト集 「黄金の戦士」) |trans-title=Dragon Ball Anime Illustration Collection: The Golden Warrior |date=April 21, 2010 |publisher=Hōmusha |location=Tōkyō |isbn=978-4834284133 |pages=50–1 |language=ja}}

Dragon Ball GT chief character designer Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru said he agonized over designing Goku's Super Saiyan 4 appearance, which was the idea of the show's producers, questioning whether it was necessary to go further with the transformations. Because Super Saiyan 4 is brought about while in a Saiyan's Ōzaru{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo4|"Great Ape"|大猿|}}}} form, he made the hair more "wild" and covered Goku's body in red fur. There was only a single final draft of the character, although Nakatsuru did consider making the hair blonde, he ended up choosing black as it provides more contrast with the red fur.{{cite book |script-title=ja:DRAGON BALL アニメイラスト集 「黄金の戦士」|year=2010|publisher=Shueisha|pages=78–79|language=ja|isbn=978-4-8342-8413-3}}

During the plans of the final story arc of Dragon Ball Super, it was decided that Goku should have another transformation: The Ultra Instinct. The concept was that the Ultra Instinct would be completely different from Goku's previous Super Saiyan transformations.{{cite web|url=https://dragonball.news/news/180309ar.html |script-title=ja:クライマックスを迎える『ドラゴンボール超』宇宙サバイバル編を作り出した職人たち|language=ja|access-date=March 10, 2018|date=March 9, 2018|publisher=Official Dragon Ball Website|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417034558/https://dragonball.news/news/180309ar.html|archive-date=April 17, 2019|url-status=live |work=ドラゴンボールオフィシャルサイト }}

File:野沢雅子.png has been Goku's Japanese voice actress in every single piece of Dragon Ball media.]]

In the Japanese version of every Dragon Ball anime series and subsequent related media, Goku has been voiced by Masako Nozawa. Toriyama selected Nozawa upon hearing her audition sample, remarking that only Goku could sound like that.{{cite book|last1= Toriyama|first1= Akira|author-link1= Akira Toriyama |script-title=ja:DRAGON BALL 大全集 3: TV ANIMATION PART 1|trans-title= Dragon Ball Great Complete Collection 3 TV Animation Part 1|series= Dragon Ball|date= September 10, 1995|publisher= Shueisha|language= ja|isbn= 4-08-782753-4|page= 202 |script-chapter=ja:鳥山明的超会見|trans-chapter= Akira Toriyama Super Interview}} Nozawa stated that she was ecstatic when she got the role because she had always wanted to be in one of Toriyama's works. She said she had to be mindful of the fact that Goku grew up in the mountains and did not know much of the world. Despite having to voice Goku, Gohan, Goten and Bardock, Nozawa says she is able to instantly get into the respective character upon seeing their image.{{cite book|title=DRAGON BALL 大全集 補巻 TV ANIMATION PART 3|year=1996|publisher=Shueisha|pages=107–113|isbn=4-08-102019-1}}

Nozawa explained that she did not read the manga so that she would not know what was coming in the story until recording, making her reactions the same as Goku's.{{cite book|title=DRAGON BALL 超全集 4 超事典|year=2013|publisher=Shueisha|pages=340–345|isbn=978-4-08-782499-5}} Nozawa said that she liked young Goku with his tail because he was cute, and stated that the character was still the same even at the end of the series.{{cite book |last1= Jump Comics|title= Dragon Ball GT: Perfect File 2|date=December 1997|publisher= Shueisha|language=ja|isbn= 4-08-874090-4}}

In the numerous English versions, Goku has been played by different actors because different companies produced the dubs, by reason of changes of automated dialogue replacement companies and recording studios, or due to actors quitting:

• In Harmony Gold's very brief dub of the original Dragon Ball series, along with the movies Curse of the Blood Rubies and Mystical Adventure, Goku{{refn|group=nb|In this dub Goku was renamed "Zero".}} was voiced by Barbara Goodson.{{Cite web |url=http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Dragon-Ball/Son-Goku-Kid/ |title=Son Goku (Kid) Voices (Dragon Ball) - Behind The Voice Actors |access-date=February 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206071336/http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Dragon-Ball/Goku-Son-Kid |archive-date=February 6, 2018 |url-status=live }}
• In Funimation's initial dub of the anime, Goku was voiced by Saffron Henderson in the first 13 episodes of the original Dragon Ball series (produced in association with BLT Productions) and the movie Curse of the Blood Rubies,{{cite web|title=Interview with Saffron Henderson.|url=http://www.myfavoritegames.com/dragonball-z/Info/Interviews/Interviews-SaffronHenderson.htm/|website=www.myfavoritegames.com|access-date=August 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220170309/http://www.myfavoritegames.com/dragonball-z/info/interviews/interviews-saffronhenderson.htm|archive-date=December 20, 2016|url-status=dead}} and by Ian James Corlett and Peter Kelamis in the first 67 episodes of Dragon Ball Z (edited into 53 episodes, produced in association with Saban and Ocean Productions) and the movies Dead Zone, The World's Strongest, and The Tree of Might.{{cite web|title=DBZ Uncensored: Interview With Ian Corlett|url=http://dbzu.3gkai.com/opinions/icorlett.html|website=dbzu.3gkai.com|access-date=August 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315234805/http://dbzu.3gkai.com/opinions/icorlett.html|archive-date=March 15, 2016|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=DBZ Uncensored: Interview With Peter Kelamis|url=http://dbzu.3gkai.com/opinions/pkelamis.html|website=dbzu.3gkai.com|access-date=August 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150218235042/http://dbzu.3gkai.com/opinions/pkelamis.html|archive-date=February 18, 2015|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Dragon-Ball/Son-Goku-Kakarot/ |title=Son Goku / Kakarot Voices (Dragon Ball) - Behind The Voice Actors |access-date=February 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208140038/http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Dragon-Ball/Goku-Son-Kakarot |archive-date=February 8, 2018 |url-status=live }}
• In Funimation's in-house dub, Goku as an adult has been consistently voiced by Sean Schemmel throughout the entire Dragon Ball franchise,{{Cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2013-04-24/kyle-herbert-sean-schemmel-returning-in-dragon-ball-z-kai-buu-saga-dub|title=Kyle Herbert, Sean Schemmel Returning in Dragon Ball Z Kai Buu Saga Dub|work=Anime News Network|access-date=July 14, 2017|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731010433/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2013-04-24/kyle-herbert-sean-schemmel-returning-in-dragon-ball-z-kai-buu-saga-dub|archive-date=July 31, 2017|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2015-05-28/stars-behind-dragon-ball-z-christopher-r-sabat-sean-schemmel-to-appear-at-otakon-2015/.88661|title=Stars behind Dragon Ball Z, Christopher R. Sabat, Sean Schemmel to Appear at Otakon 2015|work=Anime News Network|access-date=July 14, 2017|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170730023521/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2015-05-28/stars-behind-dragon-ball-z-christopher-r-sabat-sean-schemmel-to-appear-at-otakon-2015/.88661|archive-date=July 30, 2017|url-status=live}} while Kid Goku was voiced by Ceyli Delgadillo in the movies Sleeping Princess in Devil's Castle and Mystical Adventure, by Stephanie Nadolny in the original Dragon Ball series, Dragon Ball GT, Dragon Ball Daima, the movie The Path to Power, and various video games,{{cite episode|title=The Secret of the Dragon Balls|series=Dragon Ball Vol 1|number=1|time=Closing credits, English Language Cast|publisher=Funimation|medium=DVD}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/dragon-ball/dvd-season-2|title=Dragon Ball DVD Season 2 Uncut Set|work=Anime News Network|access-date=July 14, 2017|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170711082231/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/dragon-ball/dvd-season-2|archive-date=July 11, 2017|url-status=live}} and by Colleen Clinkenbeard in Dragon Ball Z Kai, Dragon Ball Super, the movies Curse of the Blood Rubies, Broly, and Super Hero, and various video games.
• In AB Groupe's dub of the anime produced for Canadian and European broadcast (initially also in association with Ocean Productions and later with Blue Water Studios), Goku was voiced by Peter Kelamis again and later by Kirby Morrow in episodes 123-291 of Dragon Ball Z, by Zoe Slusar as a child in both Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball GT, by Jeffrey Watson as an older teen in Dragon Ball, and by Jeremiah Yurk as an adult and Super Saiyan 4 in GT.
• In Bang Zoom's dub of the first 27 episodes of Dragon Ball Super produced for Toonami Asia's broadcast, Goku was voiced by Lex Lang as an adult and Philece Sampler as a child.

File:Weekly Shōnen Jump No. 51 (Dec. 1984) is the first appearance of Goku. Cover art by Akira Toriyama.jpg in their first appearances]]

Goku first appears in Dragon Ball as a monkey-tailed child adopted by the hermit martial artist Gohan. Before the series' narrative begins, he accidentally and unknowingly kills Gohan when he temporarily transforms into the mighty Ōzaru after staring at a full moon. Goku loses the ability when his friends cut off his tail.{{cite book |last1= Toriyama|first1= Akira|author-link1= Akira Toriyama|script-title=ja:ドラゴンボール危機一髪|series= Dragon Ball|volume= 2|date= January 15, 1986|publisher= Shueisha|language= ja|isbn= 4-08-851832-2|script-chapter=ja:22 悟空の大変身}}

Living alone with an item known as a Dragon Ball which he keeps as a memento of Gohan, Goku befriends a teenage girl named Bulma. He joins her to find the seven Dragon Balls, which, when gathered, summon the wish-granting dragon Shenron. They encounter the desert bandit Yamcha and two shapeshifters named Oolong and Puar, who join their quest. Goku is later trained by the martial artist Master Roshi, alongside a monk named Krillin, who later becomes his best friend. It is Roshi who gives Goku the magic cloud Kinto'un{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo4|"Somersault Cloud"|筋斗雲|}}}}{{refn|group=nb|Renamed to "Flying Nimbus" in Funimation's dub.}}, as a reward for saving his pet sea turtle, which becomes Goku's primary source of flight travel across the world.

Goku's first shown martial arts attack as a child is Jan ken{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo4|"Jan Fist"|ジャン拳|}}}}, three physical blows modeled after the hand signs in rock-paper-scissors.{{cite book |last1= Toriyama|first1= Akira|author-link1= Akira Toriyama|script-title=ja:孫悟空と仲間たち|series= Dragon Ball|volume= 2|date= September 10, 1985|publisher= Shueisha|language= ja|isbn= 4-08-851831-4|script-chapter=ja:8 ヤムチャおそるべし!!}} As a child, he wields the Nyoi-bō{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo4|"Mind Stick"|如意棒|}}}}{{refn|group=nb|Renamed to "Power Pole" in Funimation's dub.}}, a magic staff that extends and retracts on command, given to him by his grandfather.{{Cite comic |cartoonist = Toriyama, Akira|story = ブルマと孫悟空|volume= 17|title = Weekly Shonen Jump|issue = 51|date = December 3, 1984 |publisher = Shueisha|location = Japan|page = 2}}

Goku's signature attack is the Kamehameha (named after King Kamehameha I of Hawai'i), which he learned from Roshi.{{cite book |last1= Toriyama|first1= Akira|author-link1= Akira Toriyama|script-title=ja:ドラゴンボール危機一髪|series= Dragon Ball|volume= 2|date= January 15, 1986|publisher= Shueisha|language= ja|isbn= 4-08-851832-2|script-chapter=ja:13 亀仙人のかめはめ波！！}} The Kamehameha is a concentration of energy, released as a concussive beam. Roshi spent about 50 years developing and perfecting the technique, but, as a child, Goku is able to understand and copy the technique immediately after only one demonstration. After training with the Earth's Guardian, Kami, Goku learns to fly by virtue of the technique Bukū-jutsu{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo4|"Air Dance Technique"|舞空術|}}}} and uses the Nimbus cloud less frequently for flight travel.

While participating in the World Martial Arts Tournament that attracts the most powerful fighters in the world, Goku battles foes, later turned allies, such as Tien Shinhan and Chiaotzu, as well as the Namekian Piccolo. After becoming the runner-up champion of the 21st and 22nd tournaments, Goku wins in the 23rd with Piccolo's defeat, and marries Chi-Chi soon after to fulfill a promise he made to her years ago despite not knowing what marriage was.

File:Three Super Saiyan Stages of Son Goku.PNG

Five years later, Goku meets his evil older brother Raditz and learns about his heritage.{{cite book |last1= Toriyama|first1= Akira|author-link1= Akira Toriyama|script-title=ja:かつてない恐怖|series= Dragon Ball|volume= 17|date= May 15, 1989|publisher= Shueisha|language= ja|isbn= 4-08-851614-1|chapter= 195-204}}{{cite book |last1= Toriyama|first1= Akira|author-link1= Akira Toriyama|script-title=ja:孫悟空とピッコロ大魔王|series= Dragon Ball|volume= 18|date= July 15, 1989|publisher= Shueisha|language= ja|isbn= 4-08-851615-X|script-chapter=ja:205 あの世でファイト！！}} Goku comes from a race of nearly extinct extraterrestrials called Saiyans, himself having been sent from their home planet to prepare Earth for sale on the intergalactic market by destroying all its life (at least according to Raditz, who was absent at the time of his planet's destruction, when Goku was sent to Earth as an infant by Bardock and Gine to protect their son from Frieza).{{cite book |last1= Toriyama|first1= Akira|title= Doragon boru daizenshu|author-link1= Akira Toriyama |script-title=ja:DRAGON BALL 大全集 7: DRAGON BALL 大事典|series= Dragon Ball|date= February 25, 1996|publisher= Shueisha|language= ja|isbn= 4-08-782756-9}} While Grandpa Gohan was taking care of him, Goku accidentally fell into a deep ravine and suffered a severe head injury, which caused him to forget his mission and drastically altered his personality.

After Raditz kidnaps Goku's son Gohan, he forms a truce with Piccolo in order to defeat Raditz. After sacrificing his life during the battle, Goku trains with King Kai in the Other World. He teaches Goku the Kaiō-ken{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo4|"World King Fist"|界王拳|}}}}, which multiplies his energy and strength but with possible strain to the body.{{cite book |last1= Toriyama|first1= Akira|author-link1= Akira Toriyama|script-title=ja:いそげ！孫悟空|series= Dragon Ball|volume= 19|date= November 15, 1989|publisher= Shueisha|language= ja|isbn= 4-08-851616-8|script-chapter=ja:224 孫悟空の静かな怒り}} It is from King Kai that Goku learns his most powerful attack: the Genki-Dama{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo4|"Energy Sphere"|元気玉|}}}}{{refn|group=nb|Renamed to "Spirit Bomb" in Funimation's dub.}}, an energy sphere created by gathering energy from surrounding animals, nature and humans.{{cite book |last1= Toriyama|first1= Akira|script-title=ja:孫悟空とピッコロ大魔王|series= Dragon Ball|volume= 18|date= July 15, 1989|publisher= Shueisha|language= ja|isbn= 4-08-851615-X|script-chapter=ja:211 界王さまと、がんばる死人孫悟空！}}

After being revived by the Dragon Balls, Goku faces off with the Saiyan prince Vegeta, who eventually becomes his greatest rival and another ally. On his journey to Planet Namek in order to aid his friends in gathering the Namekian Dragon Balls to revive those killed by the Saiyans, Goku fights the galactic tyrant Frieza, who destroyed the Saiyans' home planet and nearly the entire race. During his epic battle with Frieza, Goku becomes the first Saiyan in a thousand years to transform into a fabled Super Saiyan.{{cite book |last1= Toriyama|first1= Akira|author-link1= Akira Toriyama|script-title=ja:伝説の超サイヤ人|series= Dragon Ball|volume= 27|date= August 12, 1991|publisher= Shueisha|language= ja|isbn= 4-08-851417-3|script-chapter=ja:318 伝説の超サイヤ人}}

After defeating Frieza and escaping the destruction of Namek, Goku learns a teleportation skill called Shunkan Idō{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo4|"Instantaneous Movement"|瞬間移動|}}}}{{refn|group=nb|Renamed to "Instant Transmission" in Funimation's dub.}}, taught by the inhabitants of the planet Yardrat.{{cite book |last1= Toriyama|first1= Akira|author-link1= Akira Toriyama|script-title=ja:未来から来た少年|series= Dragon Ball|volume= 28|date= November 15, 1991|publisher= Shueisha|language= ja|isbn= 4-08-851418-1|script-chapter=ja:336 ３年後の賭け}} Goku contracts a heart virus whereof the time-traveler Trunks warns him, but recovers after taking medicine provided by Trunks. Goku trains Gohan to be his successor and sacrifices himself again during the battle against the evil bio-android Cell. Goku is temporarily resurrected on Earth seven years later and meets his second son Goten.{{cite book |last1= Toriyama|first1= Akira|author-link1= Akira Toriyama|script-title=ja:バイバイ ドラゴンワールド|series= Dragon Ball|year= 1995|volume= 26|publisher= Shueisha|language= ja|isbn= 4-08-851090-9|script-chapter=ja:503 孫悟空最後の合体！！}}

Goku battles Vegeta again after Vegeta willingly falls under the control of the wizard Babidi in order to gain power. Shortly after, he is drawn into a battle for the universe against the monster Majin Buu. Despite having mastered two new Super Saiyan transformations, Goku prepares Goten and Trunks to take his place as Earth's defender. After his life is fully restored, Goku attempts to fuse with Gohan in order to defeat Buu, but this fails when the latter is temporarily absorbed by Buu and so he persuades the newly arrived Vegeta to fuse with him, creating Vegito.{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo4||ベジット|Bejitto|}}}}{{refn|group=nb|"Vegerot" in Viz Media's manga translation.}} Later when the Fusion technique is abandoned on both sides, Goku destroys Buu with a Spirit Bomb attack. Ten years later, during another World Martial Arts Tournament, Goku meets Uub, Buu's human reincarnation, and leaves with him, intending to train him as the new protector of Earth.{{cite episode|title=Even Stronger!! Goku's Dream is Super-Huge|airdate=January 31, 1996|number=291|series=Dragon Ball Z}}

After defeating Majin Buu, Goku meets a new opponent known as Beerus, the God of Destruction in the film Battle of Gods. An alternative, more innately powerful form known as the Super Saiyan God{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo4||{{ruby|超|スーパー}}サイヤ人ゴッド|Sūpā Saiya-jin Goddo}}}} is reached by Goku during this film. Though the temporary transformation wears off, Goku manages to harness its godly powers. In its sequel film Resurrection 'F', Goku manages to achieve a blue-haired evolution of Super Saiyan God under Whis's tutelage, known as the Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo4||{{ruby|超|スーパー}}サイヤ人ゴッド{{ruby|SS|スーパーサイヤ人}}|Sūpā Saiya-jin Goddo Sūpā Saiya-jin}}}}, or "Super Saiyan Blue" for short, which Goku uses to battle the newly revived Frieza.{{cite web|title=Goku's New Super Saiyan God Form Revealed for DBZ: Resurrection 'F' Film|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-04-09/goku-new-super-saiyan-god-form-revealed-for-dbz-resurrection-f-film/.86933|website=Anime News Network|date=April 9, 2015|access-date=May 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150504060756/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-04-09/goku-new-super-saiyan-god-form-revealed-for-dbz-resurrection-f-film/.86933|archive-date=May 4, 2015|url-status=live}} These forms appear in Dragon Ball Super and its manga tie-in, which expand upon the stories from the two films.

Afterwards, Goku and his friends participate in a fighting tournament set between Beerus and his brother Champa, who is Universe 6's God of Destruction, facing the best warriors from Champa's universe. During this tournament, Goku reveals that he has learned to combine the perfect energy control of his Super Saiyan Blue form with his older technique, the Kaiō-ken. After meeting with the omnipotent being known as Grand Zeno, Goku encounters an evil alternate version of himself called "Goku Black", who is terrorizing Future Trunks' timeline. Black is eventually revealed to be a rogue Supreme Kai in training named Zamasu, who has stolen Goku's body from yet another alternate timeline and teamed up with the Zamasu of Future Trunks' timeline to fulfill their "Zero Mortals Plan". After Zamasu and Black become even more dangerous by undergoing Potara Fusion during the battle in Future Trunks' timeline, Goku ultimately summons the future version of Grand Zeno who erases Zamasu.

Goku causes the Zenos to decide to hold a multi-universal martial arts tournament with the losing universes wiped from existence; the Tournament of Power{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo4|力ちからの大会たいかい|Chikara no Taikai}}}}.{{cite episode|title=You're The Tenth Warrior! Goku Goes To See Freeza!!|series=Dragon Ball Super|number=93|airdate=June 4, 2017}} Throughout the tournament, Goku faces multiple opponents but finds his toughest in Jiren. It is during his fights with Jiren that Goku acquires a temporary transformed state using a divine technique known as Migatte no Goku'i.{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo4|"Secret of the Self-Centered"|身勝手みがっての極意ごくい}}}}{{refn|group=nb|referred to as "Ultra Instinct" in most English media}} Ultimately, Goku and Frieza manage to work together to force Jiren out of bounds in a triple elimination, leaving Android 17 as the winner who uses his wish on the Super Dragon Balls to restore the erased universes.{{cite episode|title=The Miraculous Conclusion! Farewell, Goku! Until We Meet Again!|series=Dragon Ball Super|number=131|airdate=March 25, 2018}}

Goku's origin story from the Dragon Ball Minus manga chapter is retold in the film Dragon Ball Super: Broly. His birth parents are Bardock, a low-class Saiyan mercenary, and Gine, the owner of a butcher shop. Bardock has a strong suspicion that Frieza is up to something when he receives an order on his scouter for all Saiyans to return home, so he convinces Gine to send their infant son in a space pod to Earth. In the present, following the events of the Tournament of Power, Goku and Vegeta encounter another Saiyan survivor named Broly, whom Frieza has recruited to defeat them. When Broly proves to be too powerful for either of them to handle individually, Goku and Vegeta use the Metamoran Fusion Dance, which creates Gogeta.{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo4||ゴジータ|Gojīta}}}} Gogeta almost defeats his opponent, but Broly's allies teleport him back to the barren planet he grew up on. Goku teleports to this planet as well to provide Broly and his two friends with survival supplies, hoping to be able to spar with Broly again someday.{{cite web |url=http://www.toei-animation-usa.com/newsAdmin/first-look-at-the-dragon-ball-super-movie-reveals-the-best-is-yet-to-come-67.html |title=FIRST LOOK AT THE 'DRAGON BALL SUPER' MOVIE REVEALS THE BEST IS YET TO COME |access-date=January 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190204145505/http://www.toei-animation-usa.com/newsAdmin/first-look-at-the-dragon-ball-super-movie-reveals-the-best-is-yet-to-come-67.html |archive-date=February 4, 2019 |url-status=live }}

In the manga, directly after the final scene of Broly, Goku and Vegeta meet Galactic Patrol by Jaco and a mysteriously highly skilled agent named Merus in order to help stop an ancient warlock called Moro. With Moro headed to New Namek to use the Namekian Dragon Balls, the two Saiyans travel to the planet to stop him, where they are defeated by him using his magic to drain their life essences until near death. Once recovered, they attempt to go after Moro again, but he escapes from them, Merus and (the also conscripted) Majin Buu with the help of his accomplice Cranberry (who he kills) in order to wish upon the Dragon Balls to free all the Galactic Prison prisoners. After a few days, Goku hears from Merus that Moro has grown even stronger and is unstoppable. This leads to Goku asking Merus to help train him to master the Ultra Instinct technique so he can defeat Moro. Goku helps his friends take out Moro's forces before he comes face-to-face with Moro again. When Moro fuses with Seven-Three, he and his allies are soundly defeated and mortally wounded. Goku achieves the full power of "Ultra Instinct" once more, which he uses to debilitate Moro to near-death. Even after healing him with a Senzu bean, he is unfazed by his ensuing sneak attack, unsuccessfully attempting to convince him to reconsider his ways and go back to prison, and him using a stray severed arm with Merus's copied power to obtain Ultra Instinct for himself, Goku continuously outmatches Moro. Ultimately, with the help of his friends and family, along with key assistance from Buu/Grand Supreme Kai and Uub unknowingly contributing divine power, Goku manages to finish off Moro and save the Earth once more.{{cite book | last = Toriyama| first = Akira| author-link = Akira Toriyama|title = Dragon Ball Super|publisher = Viz Media| year = 2020 | volume = 15 | isbn = 978-1-9747-2517-5|chapter=Chapter 66}} He, Vegeta, Buu and Jaco then reunite with a now-mortal Merus to be honoured as heroes by the Galactic Patrol.

Much later, Goku and Vegeta are contacted by a group of beings called the Heeters, on a seemingly imperative mission to defeat a surviving member of the now-extinct sharpshooting Cerealean race; Granolah. Blinded by his desire for revenge, Granolah confronts Goku and defeats him, as Goku's Ultra Instinct turns out to be taxing to his body and loses its accuracy as he keeps fighting. The fight is later revealed to be a ruse by the Heeters to eliminate Granolah and the Saiyans from the Heeters' plot to assassinate Frieza and achieve universal conquest. He is later rescued by the last Namekian on the planet Cereal, Monaito, who hides them in his home after a disastrous battle with the Heeter warrior Gas, who wishes absolute power using the planet's Dragon Balls. Monaito reveals the identity of his father, Bardock, and the story of his actions in keeping him and the young Granolah safe from the Heeters a long time ago. Moved by the story, Goku and Vegeta finally find resolve about the meaning of the Saiyan race's pride, and later confront Gas for a second round. Goku stalls him by teleporting across random locations within the cosmos via Shunkan Idō with Gas tailing him, in an effort to give Granolah time to regain his power. Remembering Whis' advice about finding one's true and personal Ultra Instinct, Goku later molds his own version of the technique, using his emotions as freely as he pleases.{{cite book | last = Toriyama| first = Akira| author-link = Akira Toriyama|title = Dragon Ball Super|publisher = Viz Media| year = 2022 | volume = 20 | isbn = 978-1-9747-4360-5 |chapter=Chapter 74}} Despite this, he and Vegeta are ultimately bested, even after Granolah inflicted his deadliest sniping shot towards the villain with Goku's assistance, but are saved by Frieza's unexpected arrival. Frieza kills Gas and Elec, the Heeter leader and mastermind of the coup, in swift succession, before unveiling a new transformation and demonstrating his new powers by knocking Goku and Vegeta out of their empowered forms in one quick strike. He spares the duo before making his leave.

In the film Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, Goku does not play the role of protagonist, as he and Vegeta train on Beerus' domain, accompanied by newcomer Broly,{{cite web|url=https://comicbook.com/anime/news/dragon-ball-super-super-hero-broly-new-art-anime-movie/|title=Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero Reveals Closer Look at Broly With New Art|date=February 19, 2022 |access-date=January 11, 2024}} and his companions from the previous film. He spars with Vegeta without any transformations or ki techniques except for flight. Back on Earth, Piccolo is forced to deal with the reinvigorated Red Ribbon Army with Gohan as his only best defense for Earth against the army's threat, as Bulma is unable to contact Goku and Vegeta because Beerus' ice cream container accidentally obstructed Whis' angelic staff. In the post-credits scene, tired and exhausted, Goku falls down from Vegeta's weak last punch, admitting defeat as his rival celebrates his triumph.

In the anime-only sequel series Dragon Ball GT, Goku is transformed back into a child by an accidental wish made by his old enemy Pilaf using the Black Star Dragon Balls while Pilaf was about to wish to take over the world.{{cite episode|title=The Mysterious Dragon Balls Activate!! Goku Becomes A Child!?|airdate=February 7, 1996|number=1|series=Dragon Ball GT}} Goku, Trunks and his own granddaughter Pan travel the universe to search for the Black Star Dragon Balls and return them to Earth to prevent its destruction. After acquiring the Super Saiyan 4 transformation, Goku battles the evil Tuffle Baby, Super Android 17, and the evil Shadow Dragons. His final challenge is against Omega Shenron, whom he destroys using the Spirit Bomb.{{cite episode|title=A Miraculous Come-From-Behind Victory!! Goku Saves The Universe|airdate=November 12, 1997|number=63|series=Dragon Ball GT}} Goku leaves with the original form of Shenron, but not before saying his goodbyes to his friends on Earth. He appears 100 years later at the next World Martial Arts Tournament as an adult, where he watches a battle between Goku Jr., his descendant, and Vegeta Jr., Vegeta's descendant. An elderly Pan sees him, but he quickly departs.{{cite episode|title=Goodbye, Goku... 'Til the Day We Meet Again|airdate=November 19, 1997|number=64|series=Dragon Ball GT}}

Goku has appeared in various other media including an unofficial Taiwanese live-action film{{cite AV media notes |script-title=zh:新七龍珠 神龍的傳說|title-link= Dragon Ball: The Magic Begins|type= Credits|publisher= Tai Seng|date= June 27, 2000|language= zh}} and an unofficial Korean live-action film.{{cite AV media notes |script-title=ko:드래곤볼 싸워라 손오공 이겨라 손오공|title-link= Dragon Ball (1990 film)|type= Credits|year= 1990|language= ko}} He was portrayed by Justin Chatwin in the 2009 20th Century Fox feature Dragonball Evolution.{{cite magazine|author = Tatiana Siegel|title = 'Dragonball' comes to bigscreen|magazine = Variety|date = November 13, 2007|url = https://variety.com/2007/film/markets-festivals/dragonball-comes-to-bigscreen-1117975946/|access-date = November 14, 2007|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121021231709/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117975946?refCatId=13|archive-date = October 21, 2012|url-status = live}} Goku has appeared in almost every Dragon Ball licensed video game, including crossover games such as Jump Super Stars, Jump Ultimate Stars and Battle Stadium D.O.N. In 1992, Goku was featured in the interactive game Dragon Ball Z: Get Together! Goku World,{{Cite video game |title=Dragon Ball Z: Get Together! Goku World |script-title=ja:Dragon Ball Z: あつまれ!! 悟空ワールド|developer= Toei Animation|publisher= Bandai|date= 1992|platform= Videkko|language= ja}} in which Goku and his gang travel back in time to review events in the Dragon Ball timeline and interacts with his younger self. In December 2007, Goku made a guest appearance in avatar form in the MMORPG Second Life for a Jump Festa promotion titled Jumpland@Second Life.{{cite news|url= https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-12-21/dragon-ball-naruto-one-piece-to-enter-second-life|title= Dragon Ball, Naruto, One Piece to Enter Second Life|access-date= November 3, 2008|work= Anime News Network|date= December 21, 2007|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161225204744/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-12-21/dragon-ball-naruto-one-piece-to-enter-second-life|archive-date= December 25, 2016|url-status= live}} Goku appears in the Dr. Slump and Arale-chan video game for the Nintendo DS.{{cite web|url= http://www.gamekyo.com/newsen29110_dr-slump-arale-chan-feat-son-goku-kid.html|title= Dr Slump Arale-chan feat Son Goku Kid|access-date= February 6, 2009|publisher= GameKyo.com|date= September 26, 2008|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091231150136/http://www.gamekyo.com/newsen29110_dr-slump-arale-chan-feat-son-goku-kid.html|archive-date= December 31, 2009|url-status= live}}

Goku has been the subject of, and is mentioned in, various songs. "Son Goku Song"{{cite AV media notes |chapter= Son Goku Song |date= October 21, 1991 |title= Dragon Ball: Complete Music Collection |type= CD|publisher= Columbia Records |id= COCC-9202|location= Japan |language=ja }} and "Gokū no Gokigen Jānī"{{cite AV media notes |chapter=Gokū no Gokigen Jānī |date= October 21, 1991|title= Dragon Ball: Complete Music Collection|type= CD|publisher= Columbia Records|id= COCC-9202|location= Japan|language=ja }} feature Goku as a child singing about himself. During his adult years, the song "Aitsu wa Son Gokū" by Hironobu Kageyama, where Kageyama praises everything about Goku,{{cite AV media notes |chapter= Aitsu wa Son Goku |date= 1989|title= Dragon Ball Z Hit Song Collection|type= CD|publisher= Columbia Records|id= CC-3768|location= Japan|language=ja}} and the duet "Ore-tachi no Energy"{{cite AV media notes |chapter= Ore-tachi no Energy |date= October 1, 1990|title= Dragon Ball Z Hit Song Collection IV: Character Special|type= CD|publisher= Columbia Records|id= COCC-6830|location= Japan|language=ja}} feature words spoken by the character. For the release of the single of the Dragonball Evolution international theme song "Rule", Toriyama supplied CD artwork of singer Ayumi Hamasaki dressed as Goku.{{cite news|url= https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-02-03/dragonball-toriyama-sketches-ayumi-hamasaki-as-goku|title=Dragonball's Toriyama Sketches Ayumi Hamasaki as Goku|access-date= February 4, 2009|work= Anime News Network|date= February 3, 2009|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121020001407/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-02-03/dragonball-toriyama-sketches-ayumi-hamasaki-as-goku|archive-date= October 20, 2012|url-status= live}}

Goku has been used in Japanese public service announcements aimed at children. In June 1988, Goku and other Dragon Ball characters were featured in two PSA short films. The first, in which Goku is taught the importance of obeying traffic safety by others, is entitled Goku's Traffic Safety{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo||悟空の交通安全|Gokū no Kōtsū Anzen}}}}.{{cite AV media notes |title= Dragon Ball DVD Box: DragonBox|title-link= Dragon Ball |type= Booklet|publisher= Pony Canyon|location= Japan|id= 50482|year= 2004|language= ja}} The second is called Goku's Fire Fighting Regiment{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo||悟空の消防隊|Gokū no Shōbō-tai}}}}, in which he teaches two children the importance of fire safety.

Goku has made guest appearances in various Japanese television shows and manga. In 2005, Goku appeared in the Toriyama parody manga Neko Majin Z where he is the sensei of the main character Z.{{cite web |script-title=ja:『ネコマジンZ』ストーリーグイヅェスト|url= http://mj.shueisha.co.jp/nekomajin/zetto.html|publisher= Shueisha |language= ja|format= Flash|access-date= June 5, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090926212505/http://mj.shueisha.co.jp/nekomajin/zetto.html|archive-date= September 26, 2009}} On September 15, 2006, in celebration of the 30th anniversary of Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen-mae Hashutsujo, the special manga Super Kochikame{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo||超こち亀|Chō Kochikame}}}} was released. The chapter entitled This is the Police Station in front of Dragon Park on Planet Namek{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo||こちらナメック星ドラゴン公園前派出所|Kochira Namekku-sei Doragon Kōen-mae Hashutsujo}}}} has Ryotsu Kankichi travel to planet Namek and try to issue Freeza a citation and scold both he and Goku for parking their ships illegally.{{cite book |last1= Akimoto|first1= Osamu|author-link1= Osamu Akimoto|title= Super Kochikame|series= Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen-mae Hashutsujo|date= September 15, 2006 |publisher= Shueisha|language=ja|isbn= 4-08-874096-3|chapter= This is the Dragon Police Station in front of the Park on Planet Namek}}

Goku and other Dragon Ball characters joined the cast of One Piece in the 2006 crossover manga Cross Epoch.{{cite journal |last= Toriyama|first= Akira|author-link= Akira Toriyama|author2=Oda, Eiichiro |author-link2=Eiichiro Oda |date= December 25, 2006|title= Cross Epoch|journal= Shonen Jump|series= Dragon Ball & One Piece|issue= 4/5|publisher= Shueisha |language=ja}} He appears in a single panel of Toriyama's 2013 manga Jaco the Galactic Patrolman, which is set before the events of Dragon Ball.{{cite journal |title=The Galactic Patrolman's Completed Mission |journal=Weekly Shōnen Jump |issue=44 |publisher=Shueisha |date=September 30, 2013}} The collected tankōbon volume of Jaco features the bonus story Dragon Ball Minus: The Departure of the Fated Child, depicting how and why Goku's parents sent him to Earth.{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2014-02-05/akira-toriyama-to-draw-manga-about-goku-mom|title=Akira Toriyama to Draw Manga About Goku's Mom|work=Anime News Network|date=February 5, 2014|access-date=February 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140206014822/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2014-02-05/akira-toriyama-to-draw-manga-about-goku-mom|archive-date=February 6, 2014|url-status=live}}{{cite book |last=Toriyama |first=Akira |date=January 6, 2015 |title=Jaco the Galactic Patrolman |publisher=Viz Media |pages=232–247 |isbn= 978-1-4215-6630-6}}

Goku has been the subject of various parodies. In the episode "Career Day" of Takeshi's Castle, known in the United States as MXC, the hosts Beat Takeshi and Sonomanma Higashi dressed as popular anime characters, one as Goku as a child, the other as Doraemon.{{cite episode |title= Career Day|series= MXC|network= Spike|airdate= March 24, 2005|number= 52}} Weekly Shōnen Jump{{'}}s Gag Special 2005 issue, released on November 12, 2004, featured a Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo one-shot Dragon Ball parody manga, a retelling of the first fight between Goku and Vegeta.{{Cite comic |cartoonist= Sawai, Yoshio|story= Dragon Ball|title= Shonen Jump Gag Special 2005|issue= |date= November 12, 2004|publisher= Shueisha|location= Japan|page= 2}} In chapter #179 of the Yakitate!! Japan manga, Kawachi executes a Genki-Dama parody called a Shinrai-Dama{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo|lit. "Trust Ball"|信頼玉|}}}} on the character Katsuo.{{cite book|last1= Hashiguchi|first1= Takashi|author-link1= Takashi Hashiguchi|title=Yakitate!! Japan 20|volume= 20|date= November 18, 2005|publisher= Shougakukan|isbn= 4-09-127060-3|pages= 11–14|chapter= 179 Punch Line}} In the manga and anime series Blood Lad, the character Staz performs the gestures for Goku's Kamehameha, having learned it from his favorite manga superhero, but it has no actual effect.{{Cite web |url=https://kotaku.com/blood-lad-is-a-fighting-anime-done-right-1304888541 |title=Blood Lad is a Fighting Anime Done Right |date=September 13, 2013 |access-date=October 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028092847/https://kotaku.com/blood-lad-is-a-fighting-anime-done-right-1304888541 |archive-date=October 28, 2017 |url-status=live }}

Goku regularly appears on Fuji TV. In 2003, Goku appeared in the interactive feature Orb's Panic Adventure!{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo||球体パニックアドベンチャー!|Kyūtai Panikku Adobenchā!}}}}, which was featured at the Fuji TV headquarters in the orb section. In this, Freeza attacks a visiting tourist, blasting the orb section free from the rest of the Fuji TV building. Goku fights Freeza over the real life aqua city of Odaiba.{{cite web |url= http://www.fujitv.co.jp/safe/red_mpl/search/srchFrame.cgi?URL=%8B%85%91%CC%83p%83j%83b%83N%83A%83h%83x%83%93%83%60%83%83%81%5B%21&MD=f&image.x=10&image.y=12|archive-url= http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20160522104334/http://www.fujitv.co.jp/safe/red_mpl/search/srchFrame.cgi?URL=%8B%85%91%CC%83p%83j%83b%83N%83A%83h%83x%83%93%83%60%83%83%81%5B%21&MD=f&image.x=10&image.y=12|url-status=dead|archive-date= May 22, 2016|title= Fuji TV News|access-date= September 25, 2008|publisher= Fuji TV|year= 2003}}{{cite web |url= http://www.fujitv.co.jp/safe/red_mpl/search/srchFrame.cgi?URL=%8B%85%91%CC%83p%83j%83b%83N%83A%83h%83x%83%93%83%60%83%83%81%5B%21&MD=f&image.x=10&image.y=12|archive-url= http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20160522104334/http://www.fujitv.co.jp/safe/red_mpl/search/srchFrame.cgi?URL=%8B%85%91%CC%83p%83j%83b%83N%83A%83h%83x%83%93%83%60%83%83%81%5B%21&MD=f&image.x=10&image.y=12|url-status=dead|archive-date= May 22, 2016|title= Fuji TV listing|access-date= September 25, 2008|publisher= Fuji TV}} In 2004, a sequel called Orb's Panic Adventure Returns!{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo||球体パニックアドベンチャーリターンズ!|Kyūtai Panikku Adobenchā Ritānzu!}}}} was produced.{{cite web|url= http://www.startech.jp/history/history.html|title= Star*Tech event listings|access-date= September 25, 2008|publisher= Star*Tech|url-status=dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20030104155235/http://www.startech.jp/history/history.html|archive-date= January 4, 2003}} On March 25, 2006, Goku and Freeza appeared in an original animated short film in the IQ Mirror Mistake 7{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo||ＩＱミラーまちがい７|Aikyū Mirā Machigai Nana}}}} segment of the Japanese game show IQ Supplement{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo||IQサプリ|IQ Sapuri}}}}.{{cite episode |script-title=ja:ＩＱミラーまちがい７|series= IQサプリ|network= Fuji TV|airdate=March 25, 2006}}

On April 7, 2007, Goku and Fuji TV announcer Masaharu Miyake were commentators on the anime segment in the Japan Great Man Awards{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo||日本偉人大賞|Nippon Ijin Taishō}}}} titled Who is the Strongest Hero?{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo||最強の偉人は誰？|Saikyō no Ijin ha Dare?}}}}. The segment featured a special tournament to decide who was the greatest person in Japanese history. During the intermission, Goku promoted the coming release of R2 Dragon Ball DVDs.{{cite episode|script-title=ja:日本偉人大賞2007|series=日本偉人大賞|network= Fuji TV|airdate=April 7, 2007}}

Since the U.S. debut of Dragon Ball Z in 1996, Goku has appeared in American pop culture. He was featured in an issue of Wizard magazine in which he and Superman fought a hypothetical battle and won.{{cite journal |last= The Wizard Staff|date=October 2002|title= E@st Vs. West: Goku Vs Superman|journal= Wizard Magazine|issue= 133|page= 64}} In the Codename: Kids Next Door episode "Operation: R.E.P.O.R.T", Numbuh Four's version of the story is a parody of the Goku and Freeza's battle in Dragon Ball Z.{{cite episode |title= Operation R.E.P.O.R.T.|episode-link= List of Codename: Kids Next Door episodes#Season 2: 2003-2004|series= Codename: Kids Next Door|network= Cartoon Network|airdate= December 5, 2003|season= 2|number= 22a}} Goku appears in Robot Chicken in a sketch entitled A Very Dragon Ball Z Christmas, where Goku and Gohan fight an evil Mrs. Claus with Santa's reindeer, in an attempt to save Christmas.{{cite episode |title= Easter Basket|episode-link= List of Robot Chicken episodes#Season 2: 2006|series= Robot Chicken|network= Cartoon Network|airdate= April 16, 2006|season= 2|number= 23}}

The Saturday Night Live sketch TV Funhouse titled Kobayashi depicts real-life hot-dog-eating champion Takeru Kobayashi as able to transform into a Super Saiyan as he prepares to eat hot dogs; Goku appears briefly near the end.{{cite episode |title= Kobayashi|episode-link= List of Saturday TV Funhouse segments|series= Saturday TV Funhouse|network= NBC|airdate= November 11, 2006|number= 93}} Goku is referenced in the songs "Goku" and "Anime" by Soulja Boy Tell 'Em, where he brags that he looks and feels like Goku.{{cite web|url= http://www.geekosystem.com/soulja-boy-anime-song/|title= Why Anime is Doomed: Soulja Boy Records "Anime" and "Goku," Manga Also in Works|first= Michael|last= Suen|date= July 23, 2010|publisher= Geekosystem|access-date= July 29, 2010|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100729061027/http://www.geekosystem.com/soulja-boy-anime-song/|archive-date= July 29, 2010|url-status= live}}

Goku appears in a parody of the film Moneyball on an episode of Mad entitled Money Ball Z, in which Billy Beane drafts Goku and a couple of other Dragon Ball characters into the Oakland A's.{{cite episode |title= Money Ball Z / Green Care Bear|series= Mad|network= Cartoon Network|airdate= November 21, 2011}} In 2013, he and Superman fought in a "Death Battle" episode of the Rooster Teeth web series ScrewAttack and lost.{{cite news |last1=Potvin |first1=James |title=Death Battle!: The 10 Best Fights Ever |url=https://screenrant.com/death-battle-best-fights-ever/ |access-date=September 10, 2022 |work=ScreenRant |date=January 3, 2022}} The episode "Goku vs. Superman" in the web series Epic Rap Battles of History{{Cite web |url=http://www.adweek.com/digital/goku-superman-face-epic-rap-battle-series-158026/ |title=Goku, Superman Face Off in Epic Rap Battle Series |date=May 30, 2014 |access-date=October 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027234729/http://www.adweek.com/digital/goku-superman-face-epic-rap-battle-series-158026/ |archive-date=October 27, 2017 |url-status=live }} won a Streamy Award for Best Music Video.{{Cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2014/09/streamys-2014-winners-list-streamy-awards-829610/ |title=Streamy Award Round 1 Winners: 'Epic Rap Battles Of History,' 'RWBY,' Fallon, Seinfeld |date=September 5, 2014 |access-date=October 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915084615/http://deadline.com/2014/09/streamys-2014-winners-list-streamy-awards-829610/ |archive-date=September 15, 2017 |url-status=live }}

The use of the Kamehameha attack became an Internet meme which started with Japanese schoolgirls photographing themselves apparently using, and being affected by, this attack.{{cite web|title=Japanese Schoolgirls Start New 'Makankosappo' Trend|date=April 2013|url=http://musicfeeds.com.au/culture/japanese-schoolgirls-start-new-makankosappo-trend/|publisher=MusicFeeds.com.au|access-date=April 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130405080252/http://musicfeeds.com.au/culture/japanese-schoolgirls-start-new-makankosappo-trend/|archive-date=April 5, 2013|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Nova moda online no Japão inspirada no "Dragon Ball"|url=https://diariodigital.sapo.pt/news.asp?id_news=624372|publisher=Diario Digital|access-date=April 3, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141214111014/http://diariodigital.sapo.pt/news.asp?id_news=624372|archive-date=December 14, 2014}} It has attracted considerable media attention in France,[http://www.huffingtonpost.fr/2013/04/05/le-vadering-apres-le-harlem-shake-kamehameha-nouvelle-mode_n_3018864.html PHOTOS. Le Vadering : après le Harlem Shake et le "kamehameha", la nouvelle mode photo des internautes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308062945/http://www.huffingtonpost.fr/2013/04/05/le-vadering-apres-le-harlem-shake-kamehameha-nouvelle-mode_n_3018864.html|date=March 8, 2016}}, Le Huffington Post Germany,[https://www.welt.de/vermischtes/weltgeschehen/article115001829/Bizarres-Kamehameha-ist-der-letzte-Schrei-im-Netz.html Bizarres Kamehameha ist der letzte Schrei im Netz] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308215049/http://www.welt.de/vermischtes/weltgeschehen/article115001829/Bizarres-Kamehameha-ist-der-letzte-Schrei-im-Netz.html |date=March 8, 2016 }}, WELT as well as in many Spanish-speaking countries in South America.{{cite web|title=Memes del ´KameHameHa´, la nueva sensación en Internet|url=http://www.capital.com.pe/2013-04-03-memes-del-kamehameha--la-nueva-sensacion-en-internet-noticia_582011.html|publisher=Capital.pe|access-date=April 6, 2013|language=es|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130405060114/http://www.capital.com.pe/2013-04-03-memes-del-kamehameha--la-nueva-sensacion-en-internet-noticia_582011.html|archive-date=April 5, 2013}}{{cite news|title='KameHameHa', la nueva tendencia que revive el recuerdo de Gokú|url=http://www.eltiempo.com/gente/kamehameha-nueva-tendencia_12728526-4|access-date=April 6, 2013|newspaper=El Tiempo|language=es}}{{cite web|title=KameHameHa, el nuevo meme de moda que llega desde Japón|date=April 3, 2013|url=http://www.rpp.com.pe/2013-04-03-kamehameha-el-nuevo-meme-de-moda-que-llega-desde-japon-noticia_581926.html|publisher=Radio Programas del Perú|access-date=April 6, 2013}}

File:NYCC 2016 - Super Saiyan Blue Goku (30227483945).jpg

A number of notable public figures have commented on their feelings towards Goku or his status in popular culture. For example, Jackie Chan has gone on record stating that Goku is his favorite Dragon Ball character.{{cite book |last= Toriyama|first= Akira|author-link= Akira Toriyama |script-title=ja:DRAGON BALL 大全集 1: COMPLETE ILLUSTRATIONS|date= June 25, 1995|publisher= Shueisha|language= ja|isbn= 4-08-782754-2|page= 7|chapter= I Love Dragon Ball #1: Jackie Chan}} The German rock band Son Goku takes their name from the Dragon Ball protagonist. The band's lead singer Thomas D chose the name because Goku embodies the band's philosophy, saying he was "fascinated by Goku's naïveté and cheerfulness, yet, at the same time, a great warrior saving the world."{{cite web|url = http://www.munichx.de/hoeren/thomas_d_interview.php|title = Thomas D. und Bertil Mark im Interview|author = Munichx.de|access-date = January 14, 2008|language = de|quote = so fasziniert, aufgrund seiner Naivität und Frohsinns und gleichzeitig wurde er zum großen Kämpfer und rettet die Welt.|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080202140812/http://www.munichx.de/hoeren/thomas_d_interview.php|archive-date = February 2, 2008|url-status = live}}

In 2010, a fiberglass statue of Goku was created by Canadian-born Hong Kong artist Edison Chen, with Chen's facial features instead of Goku's, as part of Chen's collection that was displayed at the "Treacherous Treis" exhibition in Singapore's Museum of Art and Design.{{cite web |url = http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/entertainment/view/1083800/1/.html|title = Edison Chen makes pop-art debut |date = September 28, 2010|author= Han Wei Chou |access-date = November 9, 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101001213911/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/entertainment/view/1083800/1/.html|archive-date =October 1, 2010 |url-status =dead }}{{cite news|title=Edison Chen Exhibition With DBZ Art

|url=https://www.kanzenshuu.com/2010/09/28/edison-chen-exhibition-with-dbz-art/|access-date=November 9, 2020|website=Kanzenshuu|date=September 28, 2010}} CNN released an article explaining how Goku was Spanish professional tennis player Rafael Nadal's childhood inspiration, and called Nadal "the Dragon Ball of tennis" due to his unorthodox style "from another planet."{{cite news|last=Johnson|first=Christopher|title=Rafael Nadal: The 'Dragon Ball' of tennis|url=http://www.cnngo.com/tokyo/play/rafael-nadal-dragon-ball-tennis-216638|access-date=December 31, 2011|newspaper=CNN International|date=October 8, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120131190153/http://www.cnngo.com/tokyo/play/rafael-nadal-dragon-ball-tennis-216638|archive-date=January 31, 2012|url-status=dead}}

File:Carnalval SP 2013 - 0036 (8478410082).jpg]]

One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda and Naruto creator Masashi Kishimoto said that Goku inspired their protagonists as well as series structure,{{cite book |last=Kishimoto|first=Masashi |author-link= Masashi Kishimoto|title=Uzumaki: the Art of Naruto|year=2007 |publisher=Viz Media |pages=138–139 |isbn=978-1-4215-1407-9}}{{cite book |last= Oda|first= Eiichiro|author-link= Eiichiro Oda|title= One Piece Color Walk|volume= 1|language=ja|isbn= 978-4-08-859217-6|chapter= Interview with Eiichiro Oda and Akira Toriyama|date= July 2001|publisher= 集英社}} with Tekken{{'s}} Lars Alexandersson showing traits of a hero through his design inspired by Goku alongside Marvel Comic's Thor.{{cite book|title=The Art of Tekken: A Complete Visual History|publisher=Dynamite Entertainment|year=2019|isbn=978-1524107734|author=Hurwitch, Nick|pages=100–101}} Commenting on Goku's popularity, Kishimoto stated that when people hear the name "Son Goku", no longer do they think of the Journey to the West character, but instead Dragon Ball's protagonist comes to mind.{{cite book |title=Dragon Ball Landmark |date=December 19, 2003 |publisher=Shueisha |language=ja |isbn=4-08-873478-5 |editor-last=Suzuki |editor-first=Haruhiko |page=164 |chapter=5: Dragon Ball Children}} Additionally, for the second half of the series, Kishimoto created an ape named Son Goku in reference to Toriyama's character to the point the ape has four tails just like the four-star Dragon Ball Goku earned from his grandfather.{{cite book |last=Kishimoto|first=Masashi|title=NARUTO|year=2009 |publisher=Shueisha |page=98 |isbn=978-4-08-874823-8}}

In his book about Akira Toriyama published in 2004, Julius Weideman said Goku's journey and ever-growing strength resulted in the character winning "the admiration of young boys everywhere."Wiedemann, Julius (September 25, 2004). "Akira Toriyama", in Amano Masanao (ed.): Manga Design. Taschen, p. 372. {{ISBN|3-8228-2591-3}} Jason Thompson stated that unlike the "manly" heroes of other popular shōnen manga of the late 1980s and early 1990s, such as City Hunter and Fist of the North Star, Toriyama made his protagonist (Goku) cartoonish and small, thus starting a trend that Thompson says continues to this day.{{cite news|last=Thompson|first=Jason|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/house-of-1000-manga/2011-03-10|title=Jason Thompson's House of 1000 Manga – Dragon Ball|work=Anime News Network|date=March 10, 2011|access-date=October 10, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916075738/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/house-of-1000-manga/2011-03-10|archive-date=September 16, 2016|url-status=live}} In 2015, the Japan Anniversary Association officially declared May 9 as "Goku Day".{{refn|group=nb|{{nihongo4||悟空の日|Gokū no hi|lit. "Goku's Day"}}}}{{refn|group=nb|In Japanese the numbers 5 and 9 can be pronounced as "Go" and "Ku" respectively.}}{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2015-05-09/may-9-officially-recognized-as-goku-day/.87998|title=May 9 'Officially' Recognized as Goku Day|work=Anime News Network|date=May 9, 2015|access-date=May 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161113063311/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2015-05-09/may-9-officially-recognized-as-goku-day/.87998|archive-date=November 13, 2016|url-status=live}} Goku is the first manga character to have a balloon at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, with his first appearance at the 2018 parade.{{Cite web |url=https://comicbook.com/anime/2018/11/01/dragon-ball-first-look-goku-thanksgiving-day-parade/ |title='Dragon Ball Super': First Look at Goku Thanksgiving Day Parade Balloon |access-date=November 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181101191142/https://comicbook.com/anime/2018/11/01/dragon-ball-first-look-goku-thanksgiving-day-parade/ |archive-date=November 1, 2018 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2018-11-01/goku-takes-manhattan-in-macy-thanksgiving-day-parade/.138927 |title= Goku Takes Manhattan in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade |access-date=November 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181102004217/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2018-11-01/goku-takes-manhattan-in-macy-thanksgiving-day-parade/.138927 |archive-date=November 2, 2018 |url-status=live }}

Several pieces of merchandising based on Goku have been released, including action figures,{{cite web|url=https://actionfiguremall.com/goku-action-figure/|title=Best Goku Action Figure toys and Collectibles|website=Action Figure Mall|access-date=September 11, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151103200413/http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000GTLP04/|archive-date=November 3, 2015|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001CSCSI6/|title=Super Saiyan goku dragon ball z 4"" ultimate collection f|website=Amazon|access-date=September 11, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151103200420/http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001CSCSI6/|archive-date=November 3, 2015|url-status=live}} plushes,{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0017DR2YG/|title=Dragon Ball Z DBZ GOKU 13" Plush Toy|website=Amazon|access-date=September 11, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151103200421/http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0017DR2YG/|archive-date=November 3, 2015|url-status=live}} and keychains.{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000YP7H52/|title=Goku & Tenkaichi Budokai - Dragonball Twin Figure Keychain (Japanese Imported)|website=Amazon|access-date=September 11, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151103200423/http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000YP7H52/|archive-date=November 3, 2015|url-status=live}}

Goku has appeared in several "top" character lists. He was ranked number one in IGN's 2009 list of Top 25 Anime Characters of All Time{{cite web|url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/103/1036651p5.html|title=Goku wins a place with the best|date=October 20, 2009|last=Mackenzie|first=Chris|website=IGN|access-date=October 21, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091023064649/http://movies.ign.com/articles/103/1036651p5.html|archive-date=October 23, 2009|url-status=live}} and reappeared on the same list in 2014, however, on this occasion they ranked him third, with Cowboy Bebop{{'}}s Spike Spiegel and Neon Genesis Evangelion{{'}}s Shinji Ikari placed above him, saying that "He was, in many ways, a character that bucked the trends of his time and defined the direction of shonen manga/anime for decades."{{cite web | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/02/04/top-25-greatest-anime-characters?page=5 | title=Top 25 Greatest Anime Characters | last=Isler | first=Ramsey | date=February 4, 2014 | website=IGN | access-date=March 13, 2014 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20140313033531/http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/02/04/top-25-greatest-anime-characters?page=5 | archive-date=March 13, 2014 | url-status=live }} In Mania Entertainment's 10 Most Iconic Anime Heroes, Thomas Zoth commented that "Goku and Dragon Ball completely revolutionized shōnen manga."{{cite web|url=http://www.mania.com/10-iconic-anime-heroes_article_119883.html|title=10 Most Iconic Anime Heroes|last=Zoth|first=Thomas|date=January 12, 2010|publisher=Mania Entertainment|access-date=January 22, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017063118/http://www.mania.com/10-iconic-anime-heroes_article_119883.html|archive-date=October 17, 2013}}

In a Newtype poll from March 2010, Goku was voted the fifth most popular male character from the 1980s.{{cite journal |journal=Newtype |issue=4|date=March 2010|publisher=Kadokawa Shoten|title=NT Research}} Goku ranked consistently high in the Anime Grand Prix poll in the category of "best male character" in the late 1980s and early 1990s, appearing seventeenth in the 1987 poll,{{cite magazine| script-title=ja:第9回アニメグランプリ［1987年6月号］|trans-title=The 9th Anime Grand Prix (June issue 1987)| url=http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1987.html| magazine=Animage| language=ja| access-date=November 17, 2013| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101019174520/http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1987.html| archive-date=October 19, 2010}} fifteenth in the 1988 poll,{{cite magazine|script-title=ja:第10回アニメグランプリ［1988年6月号］ |trans-title=10th Anime Grand Prix (1988 June issue) |url=http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1988.html |magazine=Animage |language=ja |access-date=November 17, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014221205/http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1988.html |archive-date=October 14, 2013 }} second in the 1989 poll,{{cite magazine|script-title=ja:第11回アニメグランプリ［1989年5月号］ |trans-title=11th Anime Grand Prix since (1989 May issue) |url=http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1989.html |magazine=Animage |language=ja |access-date=December 7, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014173325/http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1989.html |archive-date=October 14, 2013 }} fourth in the 1990 poll,{{cite magazine| script-title=ja:第12回アニメグランプリ［1990年5月号］|trans-title=12th Anime Grand Prix since (1990 May issue)| url=http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1990.html| magazine=Animage| language=ja| access-date=November 17, 2013| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101019175311/http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1990.html| archive-date=October 19, 2010}} third in the 1991 poll,{{cite magazine|script-title=ja:第13回アニメグランプリ［1991年5月号］ |trans-title=13th Anime Grand Prix since (1991 May issue) |url=http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1991.html |magazine=Animage |language=ja |access-date=November 17, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100523154147/http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1991.html |archive-date=May 23, 2010 }} fourth in the 1992 poll,{{cite magazine|script-title=ja:第14回アニメグランプリ［1992年5月号］ |trans-title=14th Anime Grand Prix since (1992 May issue) |url=http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1992.html |magazine=Animage |language=ja |access-date=November 17, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716180936/http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1992.html |archive-date=July 16, 2011 }} thirteenth in 1993 poll,{{cite magazine |script-title=ja:第15回アニメグランプリ［1993年5月号］ |trans-title=15th Anime Grand Prix (1993 May issue) |url=http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1993.html |magazine=Animage |language=ja |access-date=November 17, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090913102306/http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1993.html |archive-date=September 13, 2009 }} and twelfth in 1994 poll.{{cite magazine |script-title=ja:第16回アニメグランプリ［1994年5月号］ |trans-title=16th Anime Grand Prix (1994 May issue) |url=http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1994.html |magazine=Animage |language=ja |access-date=November 17, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090914195200/http://animage.jp/old/gp/gp_1994.html |archive-date=September 14, 2009 }}

In a 1993 character popularity poll for the series, Weekly Shōnen Jump readers voted Goku second, after his son Gohan.{{cite book |title=Dragon Ball The Complete Illustrations|date=October 2008|publisher=Viz Media|isbn=978-1-4215-2566-2|pages=215, 217}} He came in first in the magazine's 1995 poll, as well as in a 2004 poll amongst fans of the series for the book Dragon Ball Forever.{{cite book|title=Dragon Ball Forever |year=2004 |publisher=Shueisha |isbn=4-08-873702-4|language=ja}} In a 2005 The Daily Reader article entitled "The Greatest Geek Movie Heroes of All Time", Goku is the only animated character listed, and is ranked tenth.{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2001-02-25/goku-wins-a-place-with-the-best|title=Goku wins a place with the best|date=February 25, 2001|work=Anime News Network|access-date=September 26, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090425205234/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2001-02-25/goku-wins-a-place-with-the-best|archive-date=April 25, 2009|url-status=live}} In a survey of 1,000 people, conducted by Oricon in 2007, Goku ranked first place as the "Strongest Manga character of all time."{{cite web|url=http://rn-cdn.oricon.co.jp/news/ranking/45750/#rk|title=1000 People Chose! The Strongest Character Ranking In Cartoon History!|date=June 22, 2007 |language=ja|access-date=October 28, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120211092718/http://rn-cdn.oricon.co.jp/news/ranking/45750/#rk|archive-date=February 11, 2012|url-status=live}}

In the survey "Friendship" developed by rankingjapan.com, in which people chose which anime character they would like as a friend, Goku ranked fifth.{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-02-28/which-anime-character-do-you-wish-you-could-be-friends-with|title=Which Anime Character Do You Wish You Could Be Friends With?|date=February 28, 2007|work=Anime News Network|access-date=June 29, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170722042758/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-02-28/which-anime-character-do-you-wish-you-could-be-friends-with|archive-date=July 22, 2017|url-status=live}} In 2000, Goku placed third in an Animax poll of favorite anime characters.{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2000-09-11/gundam-tops-anime-poll|title=Gundam Tops Anime Poll|date=September 12, 2000|work=Anime News Network|access-date=November 10, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110220020326/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2000-09-11/gundam-tops-anime-poll|archive-date=February 20, 2011|url-status=live}} In 2011, readers of Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition voted Goku as the 41st-top video game character of all time.{{cite news |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2011/02/16/guinness-names-top-50-video-game-characters-of-all-time.aspx |title=Guinness Names Top 50 Video Game Characters Of All Time |newspaper=Game Informer |first=Jeff |last=Marchiafava |date=February 16, 2011 |access-date=February 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120201201521/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2011/02/16/guinness-names-top-50-video-game-characters-of-all-time.aspx |archive-date=February 1, 2012 |url-status=live }} NTT customers voted him as their third favorite black haired male anime character in a 2014 poll.{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2014-05-05/japanese-fans-rank-their-favorite-black-haired-anime-characters|title=Japanese Fans Rank Their Favorite Black-Haired Anime Characters|date=May 5, 2014|last=Dong|first=Bamboo|work=Anime News Network|access-date=May 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140506213212/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2014-05-05/japanese-fans-rank-their-favorite-black-haired-anime-characters|archive-date=May 6, 2014|url-status=live}}

Game designer Hiroshi Matsuyama from CyberConnect2 said that while Goku is an appealing character readers could root for during the manga, he was hard to relate and, thus, instead preferred other characters like Krillin or Bulma. However, during the manga's final story arc, Matsuyama recalls being overjoyed when Goku says that Mr. Satan, a comic relief character with no superextraordinary skills, was the real hero of mankind as the Earthlings found him as the saviour of mankind when Buu was about win the final fight.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_uslx6AJ6s&feature=youtu.be| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/U_uslx6AJ6s| archive-date=2021-10-30|title=Ep. 31 Favorite Dragon Ball Z moment?|via=Youtube|work=CyberConnect2 OFFICIAL CHANNEL| date=February 3, 2021|accessdate=February 3, 2021}}{{cbignore}}

Goku's characterization has been well received by publications for manga, anime and other media. Anime News Network noted Goku as a good source of comedy and remarked that after everything he experiences, he still remains a naïve character.{{cite news|url= https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/dragon-ball-gn-5|title= Dragon Ball (manga) Graphic Novel vol 5|work= Anime News Network|date= November 18, 2001|last= Divers|first= Allen|access-date= September 27, 2008|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160506190050/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/dragon-ball-gn-5|archive-date= May 6, 2016|url-status= live}} Tim Jones from THEM Anime Reviews noted that Goku is not an omnipotent character in the first anime series, unlike Dragon Ball Z, and does not disappear for long periods of time between sagas. Jones also liked the way the series' depict his entire adventures, making him a good main character.{{cite web|url= http://www.themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=565|title= Dragon Ball anime review|publisher= themanime.org|last= Jones|first= Tim|access-date= October 3, 2008|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100713023707/http://www.themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=565|archive-date= July 13, 2010|url-status= live}} Voice actor Mamoru Miyano said that Goku's first Super Saiyan transformation in the manga was his favorite part from the series as Goku not only changed visually but his personality changes into a "classic, prototypical hero".{{cite web|url=https://en.dragon-ball-official.com/news/01_1106.html|title=Interview with the Voice of Gamma 2 from Dragon Ball Super: SUPER HERO, Mamoru Miyano!|website=Dragon Ball Official|accessdate=June 5, 2022}}

Rationalmagic.com praised Goku's innocence as one of the funniest parts of the series.{{cite web|url= http://www.rationalmagic.com/Comics/DragonBall1.html|title= Dragon Ball Volume 1 review|publisher= Rationalmagic.com|access-date= October 3, 2008|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101127052226/http://rationalmagic.com/Comics/DragonBall1.html|archive-date= November 27, 2010|url-status= live}} In January 2017, Nozawa won two Guinness World Records for her longevity as Goku; she has been the sole voice actor for the role for over 23 years.{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2017-01-31/goku-voice-actress-masako-nozawa-earns-2-guinness-world-records/.111698|title=Goku Voice Actress Masako Nozawa Earns 2 Guinness World Records|date=February 1, 2017|work=Anime News Network|access-date=February 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170201034526/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2017-01-31/goku-voice-actress-masako-nozawa-earns-2-guinness-world-records/.111698|archive-date=February 1, 2017|url-status=live}} According to Screen Rant, Goku's origin story has some similarities to that of Superman.{{Cite web |url=https://screenrant.com/dragon-ball-super-broly-goku-origin-change-superman/ |title=Dragon Ball Super: Broly Changed Goku's Origin (Making It More Like Superman) |website=Screen Rant |date=July 15, 2019 |access-date=September 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716140957/https://screenrant.com/dragon-ball-super-broly-goku-origin-change-superman/ |archive-date=July 16, 2019 |url-status=live }} On the other hand, Collider was more critical to Goku's actions in the series most notably when Gohan becomes an active character who goes through several character's arcs yet he is constantly overshadowed by his father to the point Akira Toriyama refrained from turning Gohan into his successor following the Cell Games and Goku once again took over Gohan's role in the final arc of Dragon Ball Z.{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/dragon-ball-super-super-hero-gohan-what-happened-before/|title=What Happened to Gohan Before 'Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero?'|website=Collider|date=January 25, 2022 |accessdate=June 5, 2022}}

Despite his predominantly positive reception, Goku has received some negative feedback, in particular for his characterization in Dragon Ball Super due to how his constant desires for fighting stronger enemies resulted in setting up a story where all universes could be destroyed. While Anime Now's Richard Eisenbeis believes Goku is determined to protect his universe, the fact that he does not seemingly care about other loser universes being destroyed has been criticized.{{cite news|url=http://www.anime-now.com/entry/2017/02/15/000042|title=Why Goku Is Worse Than the Villains in Dragon Ball Super|date=February 15, 2017|last=Eisenbeis|first=Richard|work=Anime News Network|access-date=May 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216134033/http://www.anime-now.com/entry/2017/02/15/000042|archive-date=February 16, 2017|url-status=dead}}

Monique Jones from Syfy panned the character's relationship dynamic with his wife, as well as his perceived incompetency and irresponsibility as a father, drawing attention to the "tons of memes and fan chatter about Piccolo actually being the best dad Gohan's ever had".{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Monique |title=Dragon Ball Z's Chi-Chi deserved better |url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/dragon-ball-zs-chi-chi-deserved-better |website=SYFY WIRE |access-date=14 August 2020 |language=en |date=8 April 2019 |archive-date=November 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108002739/https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/dragon-ball-zs-chi-chi-deserved-better |url-status=dead }} Sam Leach from Anime News Network agreed that fans of the series tend to joke about Piccolo being a better paternal figure to Gohan than his actual father, Goku, and felt that Dragon Ball Super emphasized this more when Piccolo started training him again.{{cite news|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/dragon-ball-super/episode-90/.116070|title=Dragon Ball Super Episode 90|date=May 14, 2017|publisher=Anime News Network|first=Sam|last=Leach|access-date=May 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517080317/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/dragon-ball-super/episode-90/.116070|archive-date=May 17, 2017|url-status=live}}

The same site also criticized Goku often being busy in the narrative, most notably in Frieza's resurrection, as the supporting characters have some extra scenes only to have their spotlight stolen by Goku and Vegeta. His rematch with Frieza was criticized for how overpowered the character has become and how much back up his allies can provide in the battle, ruining the tension the film was supposed to generate.{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/dragon-ball-z/resurrection-f/.91226|title=Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F'|date=August 3, 2015|access-date=November 9, 2020}} Despite enjoying his rematch with Frieza, DVD Talk expressed similar responses in the handling of these characters.{{cite web|url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/69691/dragon-ball-z-resurrection-f-collectors-edition/|title=Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F' - Collector's Edition|date=November 13, 2015|access-date=November 9, 2020}}

IGN noted that Goku has a tendency to show enemies mercy, including Vegeta, Piccolo, Cell and Moro. His decision to let Cell have a senzu bean without informing his allies in particular was considered to be infamous, which affected Gohan's confidence and led to his defeat.{{cite web|url=https://latam.ign.com/dragon-ball-super/66110/news/dragon-ball-super-las-semillas-del-ermitano-perderian-su-importancia|date=December 27, 2019|title=Dragon Ball Super: las Semillas del Ermitaño perderían su importancia|website=IGN|access-date=November 9, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://latam.ign.com/dragon-ball-1/73374/news/dragon-ball-estos-son-todos-los-villanos-a-los-que-goku-les-ha-dado-la-semilla-del-ermitano|date=October 30, 2020|title=Dragon Ball: estos son todos los villanos a los que Goku les ha dado la Semilla del Ermitaño|website=IGN|access-date=November 9, 2020}} La Tercera went to call Goku irresponsible and immature to the character for helping Moro as a result of this show of mercy and the consequences.{{cite web|url=https://www.latercera.com/mouse/goku-demuestra-que-no-ha-aprendido-nada-en-el-manga-de-dragon-ball-super/|title=Gokú demuestra que no ha aprendido nada en el manga de Dragon Ball Super|website=La Tercera|date=October 20, 2020|accessdate=December 16, 2021}} Both Goku and Vegeta were criticized for being too overpowered in Super to the point they steal the series' spotlight to the supporting cast while their strategies either lack complexity or create a plothole such as the time limit to the fusion Vegito.{{Cite news |url=https://comicsverse.com/admit-dragon-ball-super-is-terrible/ |first=Jay |last=Gibbs |title=It's Time to Admit that DRAGON BALL SUPER is Terrible |date=September 3, 2017 |website=ComicsVerse |access-date=May 3, 2018}}

• List of Dragon Ball characters

{{reflist|45em|group=nb}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{cite book |

url=http://thedaoofdragonball.com/books/its-over-9000/ | last=Padula|first=Derek|others=foreword by Ryo Horikawa|title=Dragon Ball Z 'It's Over 9,000!' When Worldviews Collide | year=2012 | publisher=Derek Padula| isbn=978-0-9831205-2-0}}

{{Dragon Ball}}

{{Subject bar|Anime and manga|Martial arts|1980s|q=y|commons=y}}

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