Movie
Description
Master Roshi, also known as the Turtle Hermit, is an elderly martial arts master who lives alone on a small island with his anthropomorphic sea turtle companion. He is bald with a thick white mustache and beard, and almost always wears sunglasses and casual beach attire, often accompanied by a walking stick and a heavy turtle shell strapped to his back. Despite his frail appearance, he is a legendary figure who has trained many of the world’s strongest fighters, including Goku’s grandfather, and is the inventor of the powerful Kamehameha technique.
In the events of Dragon Ball Movie 1: Curse of the Blood Rubies, Master Roshi is initially a reclusive figure sought out by a young girl named Pansy, who believes he can stop the destructive King Gurumes. When Goku, Bulma, and their companions arrive at his island, Master Roshi tests the group’s character. He summons the Flying Nimbus, a magic cloud only the pure of heart can ride, to determine who is honest. Goku proves his pure nature by riding it successfully, while Yamcha, who had tried to trick Roshi, flees. Later, Master Roshi agrees to give Bulma his Dragon Ball, but only if she shows him her breasts—a demand she avoids by having the shape‑shifting Oolong disguise himself as her. Moments later, King Gurumes’s enforcers, Pasta and Bongo, attack the island in a submarine, destroying Roshi’s house. Enraged, Roshi dramatically powers up, his muscles swelling to enormous size, and unleashes a mighty Kamehameha that obliterates the submarine. Despite Pansy’s plea for him to lead a direct assault on Gurumes, Master Roshi declines, insisting that Goku and Bulma are already capable enough to handle the threat. At the film’s conclusion, Goku chooses to travel to Roshi’s island to train under him, officially becoming the Turtle Hermit’s student.
Personality-wise, Master Roshi is a contradiction. On one hand, he is deeply wise and disciplined, having dedicated centuries to perfecting martial arts and protecting Earth from major threats. He values hard work, study, and healthy living as the path to strength. On the other hand, he is famously lecherous, frequently making inappropriate advances toward attractive women, as seen when he tries to trade his Dragon Ball for a glimpse of Bulma’s body. This perverted side is played for comedy, but it does not undermine his genuine kindness or his role as a mentor. He is also somewhat mischievous and enjoys testing others before offering his help.
His motivations in the story are relatively simple: he lives a quiet, retired life and is reluctant to involve himself in the outside conflict until his home and peace are directly attacked. Once provoked, he demonstrates his immense power and then returns to his reclusive ways, content to let the next generation prove themselves. He sees potential in Goku and wants to guide him, but he believes in letting his students grow through their own challenges rather than solving everything for them.
Regarding abilities, Master Roshi is one of the most powerful human martial artists of his time. His signature technique, the Kamehameha, is a concentrated energy wave that he created after fifty years of development. In Curse of the Blood Rubies, he uses it at full power while in a bulked‑up state that massively increases his height and muscle mass, allowing him to destroy a military submarine with a single blast. He also commands the Flying Nimbus, though he cannot ride it himself due to his impure thoughts. He owns a Dragon Ball, which he gives to Bulma under his own conditions. Beyond raw power, he possesses centuries of combat experience and a deep understanding of ki control, though the film only hints at the breadth of his knowledge.
His key relationships in this movie include Goku, whom he immediately recognizes as a worthy student; Bulma, whom he treats with comedic lust; Oolong, who tricks him; Yamcha, who initially tries to deceive him but later becomes an ally; and his turtle companion, who lives with him on the island. He also has a brief, indirect connection to Pansy, whom he politely refuses but reassures. Over the course of the film, Master Roshi transitions from a distant, enigmatic figure to an active mentor who sets Goku on the path of formal training, thereby laying the foundation for the boy’s future growth as a martial artist.
In the events of Dragon Ball Movie 1: Curse of the Blood Rubies, Master Roshi is initially a reclusive figure sought out by a young girl named Pansy, who believes he can stop the destructive King Gurumes. When Goku, Bulma, and their companions arrive at his island, Master Roshi tests the group’s character. He summons the Flying Nimbus, a magic cloud only the pure of heart can ride, to determine who is honest. Goku proves his pure nature by riding it successfully, while Yamcha, who had tried to trick Roshi, flees. Later, Master Roshi agrees to give Bulma his Dragon Ball, but only if she shows him her breasts—a demand she avoids by having the shape‑shifting Oolong disguise himself as her. Moments later, King Gurumes’s enforcers, Pasta and Bongo, attack the island in a submarine, destroying Roshi’s house. Enraged, Roshi dramatically powers up, his muscles swelling to enormous size, and unleashes a mighty Kamehameha that obliterates the submarine. Despite Pansy’s plea for him to lead a direct assault on Gurumes, Master Roshi declines, insisting that Goku and Bulma are already capable enough to handle the threat. At the film’s conclusion, Goku chooses to travel to Roshi’s island to train under him, officially becoming the Turtle Hermit’s student.
Personality-wise, Master Roshi is a contradiction. On one hand, he is deeply wise and disciplined, having dedicated centuries to perfecting martial arts and protecting Earth from major threats. He values hard work, study, and healthy living as the path to strength. On the other hand, he is famously lecherous, frequently making inappropriate advances toward attractive women, as seen when he tries to trade his Dragon Ball for a glimpse of Bulma’s body. This perverted side is played for comedy, but it does not undermine his genuine kindness or his role as a mentor. He is also somewhat mischievous and enjoys testing others before offering his help.
His motivations in the story are relatively simple: he lives a quiet, retired life and is reluctant to involve himself in the outside conflict until his home and peace are directly attacked. Once provoked, he demonstrates his immense power and then returns to his reclusive ways, content to let the next generation prove themselves. He sees potential in Goku and wants to guide him, but he believes in letting his students grow through their own challenges rather than solving everything for them.
Regarding abilities, Master Roshi is one of the most powerful human martial artists of his time. His signature technique, the Kamehameha, is a concentrated energy wave that he created after fifty years of development. In Curse of the Blood Rubies, he uses it at full power while in a bulked‑up state that massively increases his height and muscle mass, allowing him to destroy a military submarine with a single blast. He also commands the Flying Nimbus, though he cannot ride it himself due to his impure thoughts. He owns a Dragon Ball, which he gives to Bulma under his own conditions. Beyond raw power, he possesses centuries of combat experience and a deep understanding of ki control, though the film only hints at the breadth of his knowledge.
His key relationships in this movie include Goku, whom he immediately recognizes as a worthy student; Bulma, whom he treats with comedic lust; Oolong, who tricks him; Yamcha, who initially tries to deceive him but later becomes an ally; and his turtle companion, who lives with him on the island. He also has a brief, indirect connection to Pansy, whom he politely refuses but reassures. Over the course of the film, Master Roshi transitions from a distant, enigmatic figure to an active mentor who sets Goku on the path of formal training, thereby laying the foundation for the boy’s future growth as a martial artist.