Gohan Is a Better Father Than Goku Ever Was And Dragon Ball's Best Movie Proves It

Goku's qualities as a father have been consistently put into question for decades, but the best Dragon Ball movie to date definitively made Gohan one of the best dads in the franchise. Dragon Ball Z focused part of its story on fatherhood, which unexpectedly saw Piccolo fall into the role of raising Gohan more than Goku. The bond between the former earth-threatening villain and the child of the man who defeated him became a fan-favorite dynamic thanks to a chemistry that Goku has not displayed with his children.

Throughout the best and worst arcs of the Dragon Ball franchise, Goku has proven that he is not the worst dad in the universe, but his love of fighting strong opponents often grabs his attention before the needs of his family. Dragon Ball Super decided to increase that fault with Goku's thirst for battle, directly leading to the loss of billions (maybe even trillions) of lives in the Tournament of Power. This is in part why Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero's focus on Piccolo and Gohan's bond felt so refreshing.

The most recent Dragon Ball movie was a huge hit at the box office and a large portion of the considerable fandom. While it did contain plenty of colorful battles and epic aura-filled moments, it was the satisfying story and emotional confrontations that excited fans and Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama alike. Especially with one particular moment that proved how much better a father Gohan is than Goku.

Super Hero Triumphed Because It Focused On Gohan's Relationships

The plot of Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero sees the return of the Red Ribbon Army and the organization's ability to create formidable androids. Piccolo was the first to catch on to their nefarious plans, which he saw as an opportunity to get Gohan back into fighting form, even through underhanded means.

In arguably the movie's most heartwarming moment, the toddler Pan is shown being trained by Piccolo. The moment not only shows the namekian stepping up instead of Goku, but also establishes that Gohan's daughter and his mentor also share a close relationship. Which is why the plan to fake a kidnapping with the Red Ribbon Army turned out to be a brilliant plan to get Gohan inspired into action.

With Pan's considerable strength, she was not in any real danger, but when the disguised Piccolo and a Red Ribbon Army goon confronted Gohan with a video of Pan seemingly captured, it fooled her father, and his academic persona to obliterate with a yellow flash. As soon as Gohan saw his daughter seemingly in trouble, everything else in his life went to the wayside to make way for a primal focus to save her, a dedication the series has never shown with Goku.

Super Hero Showed Gohan To Be A Dad Worth Looking Up To

In Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, Gohan went from an unassuming, dedicated scholar to a crater-forming, vengeful saiyan within seconds. The enraged half-saiyan then made his way to the Red Ribbon Army's secret base, where he confronted the misguided android Gamma 1. Their ensuing battle in the heavy rain provided the perfect outlet for Gohan to get his groove back through what, from his perspective, was a noble cause. Later in the movie, it was Piccolo’s involvement that helped him trigger his god-like beast transformation, but it was ultimately Gohan’s love for his daughter that spurred him into action.

There are a few great examples of Goku saving his son's life, but nearly every time he's done so felt like a side mission that was on the way to fighting a strong opponent that grabbed his attention. Gohan's showcase of having his priorities straight in Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero highlights a difference in the two fathers and their different parental styles, and hopefully, future Dragon Ball content can explore more of or even grow on their family dynamics in a satisfying way.