Android 16’s Speech in DBZ Created Anime’s Greatest Transformation

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Whenever a new power-up appears in Dragon Ball, it always gets people talking. Fans generally expect Goku to be the first to achieve it. However, the Cell Saga in Dragon Ball Z is particularly interesting because it does something different – it focuses on Gohan and his hidden strength, surprising the audience in the process.

Gohan’s transformation into Super Saiyan 2 is one of the most memorable scenes in Dragon Ball Z and in all of shonen anime. What makes it so powerful isn’t just the incredible power increase, but the moving speech that comes right before it. Even after over thirty years, Android 16’s heartfelt words still deeply connect with fans.

Android 16’s Speech Demonstrates The Culmination Of Gohan

I’ve always seen Goku as the heart of Dragon Ball, the one who really makes everything happen. But Dragon Ball Z quickly hints that Gohan could be just as important, and the story starts to feel like it could easily focus on him instead. While Goku does most of the fighting in the Saiyan and Frieza arcs, Gohan’s help is crucial, and it’s amazing he survives considering how young and inexperienced he is.

The stories of Saiyan and Frieza hint at Gohan possessing immense power, potentially even greater than Goku’s. While Gohan and Goku both have incredible strength, they approach fighting and martial arts with different mindsets.

Dragon Ball Z clearly shows the contrast between Goku and Vegeta: Goku simply loves the challenge of fighting stronger opponents and becoming more powerful himself. He isn’t motivated by a desire to dominate others, but by the thrill of the fight. The series also highlights that Gohan has an even more peaceful approach to his Saiyan power than his father does.

I’ve noticed Gohan is incredibly strong, but he doesn’t seem to enjoy fighting. He uses his power out of necessity, not because he wants to. Actually, I think his time as the Great Saiyaman – dealing with everyday problems – shows us what he really wants: to help people in small ways, not to worry about saving the world from huge threats. He prefers little acts of kindness to massive battles.

A key conflict in the Cell Saga stems from a lack of understanding surrounding Gohan. While he trains intensely with Goku and acknowledges Piccolo’s influence by wearing his gi, Goku and Piccolo disagree on how to best prepare Gohan for his fight against Perfect Cell. This difference in opinion creates tension, as they don’t fully see eye-to-eye on what Gohan needs.

Goku believes pushing Gohan to his breaking point will unlock the power needed to defeat Cell, and he’s not entirely wrong. However, this approach to motivating his son feels harsh and unkind. Gohan fights because he has to, not because he wants to. Interestingly, it’s actually Android 16, not Goku or Piccolo, whose advice has the most impact on Gohan. In fact, Gohan might not have reached his Super Saiyan 2 form without Android 16’s calming words, delivered when Gohan felt incredibly isolated and misunderstood.

Watching Android 16 interact with the world was really powerful. He showed Gohan that just because you fight, or even kill, doesn’t define you as a violent person. He helped Gohan see that sometimes fighting is unavoidable, and can actually be a way to protect the things you care about – life itself, and the planet. It made Gohan’s eventual transformation and how he used his power even more meaningful, because it was all built on those important lessons.

The real strength of Gohan’s transformation isn’t the power increase itself, but what it reveals about his character. Many later transformations in Dragon Ball haven’t been as impactful because they didn’t explore character depth in the same way. Android 16’s words to Gohan perfectly capture the spirit of the shonen genre and the idea of heroes who find strength through peace, like Gohan himself.

DBZ’s English Dub Improves Upon 16’s Speech & Marks An Exciting Turning Point

Something interesting about Dragon Ball Z is that many key scenes have multiple versions. Take Android 16’s speech to Gohan before he transforms into Super Saiyan 2, for example. There’s the original Japanese version, plus the dub version from Dragon Ball Z Kai. While all versions convey the same core message and don’t drastically differ, each offers unique details and a slightly different take on Gohan’s character. Interestingly, Funimation’s English dub of this speech has actually become more popular than the original Japanese version.

The English dub of this scene is particularly impactful because of how it delivers the famous “let it go” moment, really getting to the heart of Gohan’s feelings. It’s more direct than the original Japanese, with lines like “You’re gentle and don’t want to hurt anyone,” which are important for helping Gohan realize Android 16 truly understands him and shares his values. The line, “But it’s because you cherish life that you must protect it,” is especially well-written. This version is the best because it focuses on all life, not just nature or animals, and clearly shows how Cell goes against that fundamental principle. Other versions are similar, but lack this precise and powerful message.

The dialogue in Dragon Ball Z Kai aims for a close translation of Akira Toriyama’s original work, and there’s nothing inherently wrong with that approach. However, this version noticeably lacks the personality and character found in Funimation’s earlier dub. This difference actually boosted Funimation’s confidence in how they were adapting the series. It’s not that Funimation deliberately changed the script, but this marked a key moment for them – and for dubbing in general – showing how English dubs could add their own creative touch to improve upon the original writing.

Android 16’s Speech Hits Harder Because It’s Not From Gohan

Another key reason Android 16’s speech to Gohan is so memorable in the world of Dragon Ball transformations is that it comes from someone outside the usual hero’s journey. Typically, Dragon Ball features the character undergoing the transformation – like Goku, Vegeta, or Future Trunks – giving a powerful speech right before or after it. This makes sense, as it’s a good way for the heroes to show how much they’ve grown and what motivated the change.

When Gohan transforms into Super Saiyan 2, he remains unusually quiet. He doesn’t feel the need to talk or boast, and instead focuses on listening. Another character explains the situation, offering a clearer understanding of the world and Gohan himself than Gohan could achieve on his own. This quiet acceptance aligns with Gohan’s character arc and his growth; he finds strength by listening to others. Gohan is simply too humble to deliver a grand speech.

I’ve always found it striking that this powerful speech doesn’t come from the usual suspects – not Goku, Piccolo, or even Krillin. It’s delivered by Android 16, someone who was essentially forced into fighting and killing, an outsider looking in. While Gohan isn’t a mindless weapon, 16 seems to recognize a shared experience – how the world sees them both as tools for destruction. It’s heartbreaking, really, that it takes someone on the periphery to truly get what Gohan is going through, more than even his own family and friends. This moment feels like a real turning point for Gohan, and for the entire Dragon Ball series, and honestly, over thirty years later, it still feels incredibly impactful.

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2025-11-20 23:40