Among other iconic traits, theDragon Ballfranchise is known worldwide for its unique and shocking transformations. Most of them have become an essential part of anime history, due to their impact on the public at large, such as the Super Saiyan form. Goku’s signature transformation set a precedent for not only his franchise but the entire industry at large.
Yet, a lesser-known version of this iconic technique made its appearance first, although it went unnoticed by most fans:the False Super Saiyan. This ability, introduced in the fourth ofthe long list of amazingDragon Ballmovies, holds a special place in the timeline of the series. While strange, its origins and the story behind its creation might interest a large portion of fans who did not know about it beforehand.
Everything About The Unique False Super Saiyan Transformation
This Form Has Only Been Officially Seen Once
During the fourth movie of theDragon Ball Zseries,Lord Slug, Goku, and his comrades are tasked with defeating the titular Namekian invader who wanted to rule over Earth. Due to the villain’s status as a Super Namekian, Kakarot’s physical might was not enough to defeat him. Moments before Slug managed to put an end to Goku’s life, his Saiyan heritage awoken, giving him momentarily access to a superior strength. While in this form, Kakarot entered a berserker-like rage, with his fighting instincts taking over and a golden aura surrounding his body.
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This form, named False or Pseudo Super Saiyan, does not alter Goku’s physical appearance beyond making his eyes completely white. Nonetheless, it did grant him a massive boost in strength, agility, and endurance, being enough to surpass the power of Slug. Woefully,the Pseudo Super Saiyan form is just a momentary form, only active while the warrior using it is in danger of dying. Shortly after utilizing it, Goku returned to his base form, forcing him and Piccolo to find another way to defeatKing Piccolo’s cinematic rip-off.
The Story Behind The False Super Saiyan
Despite Its Small Appearance, It Did Have An Effect On Goku’s Iconic Form
The Pseudo Super Saiyan form was born as an attempt to introduce what would go on to become the series’ staple transformation before its official release. The Lord Slug movie was released 6 days beforeKrillin’s heartbreaking death on Planet Namekpushed Goku to the limit. Since Akira Toriyama, the creator of the Dragon Ball franchise, had not revealed his plans for the transformation yet, the crew behind the film based the movie-exclusive form around the few notes they received. This is why its aura looks so similar to the official Super Saiyan’s.
…When he became a Super Saiyan, we wouldn’t have to do the black fill.
- Akira Toriyama, “Dragon Ball Super Exciting Guide: Story Volume”
False Super Saiyan, born from the anger felt by its user, is also a trait shared by Goku’s two forms. Although the similarities end there,the movie-exclusive form did help Toriyama create the iconic Super Saiyan form, inspiring him to have Kakarot’s hair spike up while transformed. It also made him understand that Super Saiyan was the perfect opportunity to change the hero’s hair color, as coloring it black used to take hours from his assistant.
Other Characters Have Used Similar Techniques
Could Psuedo Super Saiyan Be Canon?
Despite its status as a non-canonical form, techniques like the False Super Saiyan have been seen on different occasions. The most prominent example comes from another beloved movie in the franchise,Broly, the Legendary Super Saiyan.One of the main differences between the movie and theSuperversion of this characteris his origin story. In the film, a newborn Broly had to awaken his power to save himself and his father from the destruction of Planet Vegeta. As he carried both to safety, the infant was surrounded by a gold aura, not too dissimilar from the False Super Saiyan’s.
False Super Saiyanmight not be as iconic as Goku’s long list of beloved transformations. Nevertheless, it is an important part ofDragon Ball’s history, as the iconic Super Saiyan could have been completely different without its existence. Until this form becomes canon, it will remain an interesting fact of Toriyama’s beloved and complex universe.
Dragon Ball Z
Cast
Dragon Ball Z follows Goku, who lives a peaceful life with his family until the arrival of Raditz, a mysterious warrior claiming to be Goku’s brother. This revelation unveils their true heritage as Saiyans, a formidable warrior race known for conquering planets.
