Ella Walter
Pan, a character in the Dragon Ball universe, has sparked much discussion among fans regarding her inability to transform into a Super Saiyan. Despite possessing Saiyan blood, Pan never achieves this form, leading to speculation about the reasons behind it. Some attribute it to her gender, diluted Saiyan lineage, or a lack of training and drive. Others suggest narrative patterns in Dragon Ball GT, where Pan's role is often to initiate incidents that Goku resolves, making her transformation unnecessary for the plot. Akira Toriyama, the creator of Dragon Ball, has stated that Pan never had a reason or situation to transform and that he couldn't figure out how to design a female Super Saiyan.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of Saiyan blood | 1/4th Saiyan |
| Plot reason | To be rescued by Goku |
| Storytelling reason | Lack of incentive to transform |
| Storytelling reason | Lack of vision for female Super Saiyan design |
| Storytelling reason | Lack of rigorous training |
| Storytelling reason | Peaceful life |
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What You'll Learn
Pan's character arc in Dragon Ball GT revolves around her being rescued by Goku
Pan, Gohan's daughter, is introduced in the late stages of Dragon Ball Z and has a more prominent role in Dragon Ball GT. She is a quarter Saiyan and possesses immense power and strong genes. She is also tenacious and rambunctious, which puts her in a good position to harness her strength. However, she is not as strong as Goku or Trunks, and she constantly gets in their way. She is often portrayed as a damsel in distress, needing to be rescued by Goku. This is part of her character arc in Dragon Ball GT, where she is a "heroine who makes Goku a hero".
Pan's character arc revolves around her being rescued by Goku, with her role in the story being that of a supporting character or a damsel in distress. This is despite her having the potential to be a powerful fighter. In the Baby Saga, she is kidnapped and treated like a "butt-monkey", but she saves Goku-GT and becomes Golden-Ozaru, which finally has Goku react and become Super Saiyan 4. In the Shadow Dragon Saga, she underestimates a dragon, Nuova Shenron, and is knocked out cold. She is reckless and almost dies from heat exhaustion and dehydration in the desert. Goku and Trunks save her, but she barely shows any gratitude.
Pan is also criticised for being disrespectful to Goku, wishing he was wearing diapers when he gets the body and voice of his younger self. She also blames him for things that are not his fault, such as Emperor Pilaf turning him into a child using the Black Star Dragon Balls. She even says that she wishes she had never joined Goku and Trunks on their space journey. She constantly gets kidnapped, which holds them back and creates tension as they are on a time limit to collect the Black Star Dragon Balls.
Despite her genetics granting her the propensity for a Super Saiyan transformation, Pan never achieves this form in Dragon Ball GT. Some fans have argued that this is due to sexism or the creator's inability to design a female Super Saiyan. It is also theorised that her Saiyan bloodline is too thin, with only a quarter of her blood being Saiyan. However, others argue that this should not be an issue, as half-blooded Saiyans like Gohan, Trunks, and Goten were able to transform easily.
In conclusion, Pan's character arc in Dragon Ball GT revolves around her being rescued by Goku and playing the role of a damsel in distress. Despite her potential for strength and transformation, she is often portrayed as a burden and a source of tension in the story. The reasons for her lack of transformation are debated by fans, with some arguing for the influence of sexism or creative limitations, while others point to the dilution of her Saiyan bloodline.
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She has 1/4 Saiyan blood, making transformation harder
Pan, the granddaughter of Goku, has 1/4 Saiyan blood, which makes her transformation into a Super Saiyan harder. While it is biologically possible for her to transform, the circumstances of her life may have hindered this possibility.
Pan's peaceful life, protected by Goku, Gohan, Vegeta, Gotenks, and Trunks, meant she lacked the drive to train rigorously. Her character was designed to be strong, but ultimately rescued by Goku, maintaining the pattern of "Pan sets the incident in motion while Goku resolves it".
The creator of Dragon Ball, Akira Toriyama, has also stated that he couldn't figure out how to draw a female Super Saiyan, and that Pan never had a reason or situation to transform. However, some fans have pointed out that this explanation is unsatisfactory, as a female Super Saiyan could simply have yellow, spikey hair like her male counterparts.
Despite these challenges, some believe that Pan could have become a Super Saiyan if given the right circumstances and training. Additionally, in the Dragon Ball universe, there are now female Super Saiyans, such as Caulifla and Kale, which opens up the possibility for Pan to transform in the future.
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Lack of rigorous training
One of the primary reasons why Pan, despite her immense potential, might not have been able to turn Super Saiyan is a lack of rigorous training. Throughout the Dragon Ball franchise, it has been established that achieving the Super Saiyan transformation requires not just raw power and talent but also intense emotional stimulus and rigorous mental and physical training.
Pan, being the granddaughter of Goku and daughter of Gohan – two of the most powerful Saiyans in history – undoubtedly possesses the genetic potential for extraordinary power. However, unlike her illustrious ancestors, Pan did not undergo the same rigorous training regimens that were instrumental in unlocking their Super Saiyan abilities. Goku, for instance, trained relentlessly under the tutelage of masters like Master Roshi and King Kai, pushing his body and mind to their absolute limits. This relentless pursuit of self-improvement laid the foundation for him to eventually attain the Super Saiyan transformation.
Gohan, Pan's father, followed a similar path, undergoing intense training from an early age, including rigorous gravity training with his father and Piccolo, a ruthless Namekian warrior. These training sessions pushed Gohan to his limits, forcing him to tap into hidden reserves of power and ultimately unlocking his Super Saiyan abilities.
In contrast, Pan's upbringing and training were relatively less intense and structured. While she undoubtedly received guidance and training from her family, it lacked the same level of rigor and discipline that characterized the training of Goku and Gohan. This could have resulted in a lack of mental and emotional fortitude, which is essential to withstand the strain of harnessing and controlling the immense power of the Super Saiyan transformation.
Furthermore, the absence of a pressing external threat or a personal crisis could also be a factor. Both Goku and Gohan were often driven by the need to protect their loved ones and the world from formidable villains. This sense of urgency and emotional stimulus played a pivotal role in unlocking their hidden powers. Pan, on the other hand, has yet to face such a pivotal moment, which could be a contributing factor in her inability to tap into her latent Super Saiyan powers.
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Akira Toriyama couldn't figure out how to draw a female Super Saiyan
While there are several speculations as to why Pan never turned Super Saiyan in Dragon Ball GT, one of the reasons provided by the series' producer, Kōzō Morishita, is that Pan's character was designed to be someone whom Goku needed to save, and the Super Saiyan power-up would have made that need unnecessary. Morishita also added that if the episode where Pan was turned into a doll had been a later one, she might have become a Super Saiyan.
However, it is notable that Akira Toriyama, the creator of Dragon Ball, has stated that Pan never had a reason or situation to turn Super Saiyan. He envisioned Pan as a little girl living in a time of peace, so there would be no need for her to become a Super Saiyan. Additionally, Toriyama has also mentioned that he didn't know how he would draw a female Super Saiyan, and this uncertainty may have contributed to Pan's lack of transformation.
The discussion surrounding Pan's potential transformation has sparked debates about the representation of female characters in the Dragon Ball universe. Some fans have criticised the series for its lack of strong female characters, with most of the main female characters falling into stereotypical roles such as the damsel in distress or eye candy. It is worth noting that in Dragon Ball Super, it is confirmed that girls can turn Super Saiyan, with Caulifla and Kale being the first female Super Saiyans.
While Toriyama has not provided a definitive answer, the combination of narrative choices, character dynamics, and the challenge of designing a female Super Saiyan seem to be the main reasons why Pan never turned Super Saiyan.
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No incentive to transform
One of the reasons put forward for Pan's inability to transform is that she never had an incentive to do so. Dragon Ball GT producer Kōzō Morishita has stated that Pan's role in the series was to be a "heroine who makes Goku a hero". In other words, Pan's purpose in the narrative was to be someone whom Goku needed to save, and her transformation into a Super Saiyan would have made that need unnecessary.
Akira Toriyama, the creator of Dragon Ball, has also commented on Pan's Super Saiyan hesitancy, stating that Pan never had a reason or situation to transform. She lived a peaceful life, protected by Goku, Gohan, Vegeta, Gotenks, and Trunks, and never trained to become a powerful warrior. She only trained because of Goku and Mr. Satan's influence but seemed to take it more as a hobby.
In addition, Toriyama has claimed that he couldn't figure out how to draw a female Super Saiyan or what they might look like. However, some fans have disputed this, arguing that there is plenty of good fan art depicting a Super Saiyan Pan and that there is no reason why female Super Saiyans would have to 'bulk up' and become muscular like their male counterparts. Strength in the Dragon Ball universe doesn't always manifest physically, and some of the strongest characters are small and don't physically 'show' their strength.
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Frequently asked questions
There are a few reasons posited by fans for why Pan never turns Super Saiyan. One is that her Saiyan bloodline is too thin, as she is only a quarter Saiyan. Another is that she lived a peaceful life with Goku, Gohan, Vegeta, and others to protect her, so she never had the incentive or need to transform.
Some fans have argued that the reason Pan never turns Super Saiyan is sexist, especially considering that Goku Jr., who has less Saiyan blood than Pan, can transform. However, it is worth noting that in the Dragon Ball universe, female characters are often relegated to the role of the damsel in distress, nagging housewife/mother, or eye candy, so the lack of strong female characters may be a broader issue within the franchise.
According to Toei Animation producer Kōzō Morishita, Pan's role in Dragon Ball GT was to be strong but ultimately need rescuing by Goku, so it would have broken that pattern for her to become a Super Saiyan. However, Morishita also said that perhaps Pan could have become a Super Saiyan if the episode where she turned into a doll had been later in the series.
There is a chance that Pan will turn Super Saiyan in future Dragon Ball content. Akira Toriyama has said that he didn't know how to draw a female Super Saiyan, which is why it never happened in Dragon Ball GT. However, with the introduction of female Super Saiyans in Dragon Ball Super, it is possible that Pan could get her own Super Saiyan transformation in the future.
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