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The Kamehameha is arguably the most iconic attack in anime and manga history, and that isn’t exactly a rare feat for Dragon Ball. Its protagonist is the instantly recognizable Saiyan himself, Goku, who introduced one of the most influential transformations in history during a fight that still ranks among the best ever featured in Shōnen Jump. Dragon Ball‘s impact on the world of anime and manga cannot be understated, and the series has inspired several generations of fans to try their hand at firing the protagonist’s signature move.
However, series creator Akira Toriyama once revealed that his favorite Kamehameha wasn’t used by Goku. It may be strange to say now, after Dragon Ball‘s leading Saiyan more or less made the move his own, but the Kamehameha was never unique to Goku, and was actually the signature attack of another character in the series. Its first user, and the fighter who has long been surpassed by his students, was Master Roshi, whose first Kamehameha was Toriyama’s favorite.
Akira Toriyama’s Favorite Kamehameha Was the Very First
Master Roshi’s Early Kamehameha Was Toriyama’s Favorite Throughout Dragon Ball
When different fans think of the Kamehameha, there’s a high chance they all recall a different one, and that’s a testament to just how iconic an attack it is. Goku’s angry Kamehameha against Frieza on Namek, Gohan’s final stand against Cell, the stylish combination that eliminated Kefla during the Tournament of Power. All are instances of the attack leaving lasting impressions on viewers. Akira Toriyama’s favorite, however, was the first to have ever appeared in Dragon Ball.
In only chapter #14, titled “Kame Kame Kame Kame Kame Chameleon”, a reference to the 1983 song by Culture Club, “Karma Chameleon”, Master Roshi fired the first ever Kamehameha, effectively changing the series forever. Up to that point, Dragon Ball was a silly, light-hearted manga that followed a strange boy on a journey to retrieve magical wish-granting orbs. The Kamehameha, and the subsequent introduction of Ki, foreshadowed a shift towards action that no one, not even Toriyama himself, could have predicted.
In a 1995 interview, when asked about his favorite use of the attack, Toriyama said, “The one that left the biggest impression was the very first one, the one Roshi put out,” before continuing, “Because the history of the Kamehameha started from here.” An attack which would be used against the greatest threats to humanity Earth had ever seen began as Master Roshi’s method of putting out a fire. Though Goku popularized the move, it isn’t exactly his, and few of Dragon Ball‘s most popular techniques are.
Goku Has No Original Techniques of His Own
The Series’ Leading Saiyan Has Never Introduced His Own Original Attack
Goku, as Dragon Ball‘s protagonist and one of the most popular characters in anime and manga history, has a wide arsenal of techniques and attacks. The series has always made it a point to showcase his fighting genius, and whenever the Saiyan is exposed to an attack he enjoys or finds useful, it doesn’t take very long for him to master it. In fact, after seeing the Kamehameha for the very first time, Goku replicates the move and accidentally destroys a car in the process.
However, despite the many battles he’s been part of throughout the series, Goku has never used a technique or attack that is entirely his own. The Kamehameha is Master Roshi’s, the Kaioken and Spirit Bomb are King Kai’s, and any fighter born with a tail is capable of transforming into a Super Saiyan. It may seem strange, but this was likely an intentional choice by Akira Toriyama. Goku does not become the fighter he is without the help of his friends and loved ones, and their influence is felt in the way he fights.
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Dragon Ball’s Kamehameha Redefines Iconic, And These 7 Scenes Will Show You Why
Dragon Ball is a series known for having the most iconic attacks in anime, and there isn’t a technique more famous than the Kamehameha.
However, despite becoming the undisputed king of the Kamehameha throughout Dragon Ball, Goku wasn’t the one responsible for Akira Toriyama’s favorite use of the attack. Currently, the Saiyan has reached a level of strength once unimaginable to fans of the series, yet the influence of the Turtle School of martial arts is still present in Goku’s most popular moves. Master Roshi doesn’t play the major role in the series that he used to, but his Kamehameha changed Dragon Ball forever.
Source: Dragon Ball Daizenshuu 4 (translation by Kanzenshuu)
From the creative mind of Akira Toriyama, Dragon Ball is a mega multimedia franchise that spans back to the 1980s. Dragon Ball expanded quickly, starting as a serialized manga for Weekly Shonen Jump in Japan. It made its way overseas via manga and an anime adaptation that is enjoyed worldwide. Dragon Ball was the initial starting animated series that followed the adventures of the young Son Goku as he sought after the Dragon Balls. These mystical orbs would grant the wish of any who gathered them together. Then, the series would branch off into the immensely popular Dragon Ball Z, which followed Goku as an adult and featured high-intensity battles and Goku’s never-ending search to be the strongest. The series has also enjoyed several popular video game adaptations and continues to release several new animated series and theatrical films up to the recent popular Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero.
- Created by
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Akira Toriyama
- First Film
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Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies
- First Episode Air Date
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April 26, 1989
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