TV Special
Description
Bardock is a fictional character introduced in the 1990 television special Dragon Ball Z: Bardock - The Father of Goku, created by Toei Animation based on the visual design of the series protagonist, Goku, by franchise creator Akira Toriyama. Within the story's backstory, Bardock is the biological father of the Saiyan warriors Raditz and Kakarot, the latter of whom is better known by his Earth name, Goku. He is a Saiyan, a warlike, mercenary species who possess immense natural strength, the ability to manipulate ki energy, and superhuman agility and reflexes. Like all full-blooded Saiyans, Bardock has a monkey-like tail that allows him to transform into a colossal, rampaging Great Ape when exposed to the energy of a full moon. Physically, Bardock bears a striking resemblance to his youngest son, Goku, a fact that other characters who knew him often comment upon. His most distinguishing features are a long, thick scar running down his left cheek and the red armband or headband he wears, which was originally stained with the blood of a fallen comrade.
As a character, Bardock displays many of the personality traits typical of the Saiyan race. He is depicted as fearless, cocky, and a lover of combat who is willing to kill in cold blood as part of his mercenary work. He has a laid-back and reckless demeanor, taking on dangerous missions that surprise even the elite soldiers of the tyrant Frieza. However, unlike the cold and simple-minded portrayal of many of his race, Bardock possesses a calmer judgment and a measure of humanity. He is shown to care deeply for the members of his Saiyan platoon, becoming enraged after they are betrayed and killed. His famous bravery is most evident when he sees his own impending doom; rather than attempting to flee, he chooses to stand and fight a hopeless battle against an overwhelmingly powerful foe. While he initially thinks little of being a father and largely ignores his newborn son Kakarot due to his low power level, this changes as he begins to experience psychic visions of the future. It is these visions that transform his motivations from simple survival and revenge for his fallen crew to a desperate, one-Saiyan crusade to save his entire race from annihilation.
The central role of Bardock in the narrative is to serve as a pivotal figure in the tragic backstory of Goku and the Saiyan race. In the original television special, after a mission on the planet Kanassa, a surviving native strikes Bardock, cursing him with the ability to see into the future. He begins to have recurring visions of the destruction of Planet Vegeta and the death of his people at the hands of Frieza, the galactic tyrant for whom the Saiyans work as mercenaries. When his own platoon is wiped out by Frieza's elite soldier, Dodoria, Bardock realizes his visions are true. He rushes to warn his fellow Saiyans, but no one believes him. Defiant and alone, he flies into space to confront Frieza directly. He fights through legions of Frieza's soldiers, but the tyrant effortlessly counters his final desperate attack with a massive energy sphere that destroys Planet Vegeta. As Bardock is consumed by the blast, his final vision is of his infant son, Kakarot, growing up to avenge their race by defeating Frieza on the distant planet Earth. He dies with a smile, finding hope in his son's destined future.
Key relationships define Bardock's character. His most important bond is with his youngest son, Kakarot, a relationship that is largely defined by his final visions of the child's future. He also has an elder son, Raditz, though their relationship is explored less. In later reinterpretations of the story, particularly in the Dragon Ball Minus manga chapter and the film Dragon Ball Super: Broly, Bardock is married to a Saiyan woman named Gine. This version depicts them as a rare Saiyan couple joined by a genuine emotional bond rather than a practical reproductive purpose. In these stories, Bardock is shown as a caring father who, suspecting Frieza's treachery, personally arranges for his toddler-aged son Kakarot to be sent to Earth for his own safety, leading to an emotional farewell.
Over the various tellings of his story, Bardock's character has seen notable development. The original portrayal shows him as a cold, ruthless mercenary who gradually becomes a tragic hero, driven by a sense of justice and the desire to change a grim fate. The later Minus and Dragon Ball Super: Broly reinterpretation presents him from the outset as a more empathetic and family-oriented figure, a change that creator Akira Toriyama noted was influenced by his wife Gine's gentle nature. His role was further expanded in the Dragon Ball Super manga, where flashbacks show him on a mission on Planet Cereal, rescuing a Namekian named Monaito and a young Cerealian named Granolah, and defeating a powerful warrior from the Heeter family. This adds layers to his legacy, showing acts of compassion that directly affect the story's present day.
In terms of notable abilities, Bardock possesses all the standard powers of a Saiyan warrior, including superhuman strength, speed, stamina, and the power of flight through ki manipulation. He is considered one of the strongest low-class Saiyan warriors, with a power level estimated to be around 10,000 just before his death. His signature energy attack is known as the Final Spirit Cannon or the Riot Javelin, a concentrated sphere of ki. His most unique ability is a form of precognition, the power to see into the future, which was granted to him as a curse by a dying Kanassan warrior. In later spin-off and what-if stories, such as the Dragon Ball: Episode of Bardock manga, he is depicted as achieving the legendary Super Saiyan transformation, a form with golden hair and immense power, after being hurled into the past to confront an ancestor of Frieza.
As a character, Bardock displays many of the personality traits typical of the Saiyan race. He is depicted as fearless, cocky, and a lover of combat who is willing to kill in cold blood as part of his mercenary work. He has a laid-back and reckless demeanor, taking on dangerous missions that surprise even the elite soldiers of the tyrant Frieza. However, unlike the cold and simple-minded portrayal of many of his race, Bardock possesses a calmer judgment and a measure of humanity. He is shown to care deeply for the members of his Saiyan platoon, becoming enraged after they are betrayed and killed. His famous bravery is most evident when he sees his own impending doom; rather than attempting to flee, he chooses to stand and fight a hopeless battle against an overwhelmingly powerful foe. While he initially thinks little of being a father and largely ignores his newborn son Kakarot due to his low power level, this changes as he begins to experience psychic visions of the future. It is these visions that transform his motivations from simple survival and revenge for his fallen crew to a desperate, one-Saiyan crusade to save his entire race from annihilation.
The central role of Bardock in the narrative is to serve as a pivotal figure in the tragic backstory of Goku and the Saiyan race. In the original television special, after a mission on the planet Kanassa, a surviving native strikes Bardock, cursing him with the ability to see into the future. He begins to have recurring visions of the destruction of Planet Vegeta and the death of his people at the hands of Frieza, the galactic tyrant for whom the Saiyans work as mercenaries. When his own platoon is wiped out by Frieza's elite soldier, Dodoria, Bardock realizes his visions are true. He rushes to warn his fellow Saiyans, but no one believes him. Defiant and alone, he flies into space to confront Frieza directly. He fights through legions of Frieza's soldiers, but the tyrant effortlessly counters his final desperate attack with a massive energy sphere that destroys Planet Vegeta. As Bardock is consumed by the blast, his final vision is of his infant son, Kakarot, growing up to avenge their race by defeating Frieza on the distant planet Earth. He dies with a smile, finding hope in his son's destined future.
Key relationships define Bardock's character. His most important bond is with his youngest son, Kakarot, a relationship that is largely defined by his final visions of the child's future. He also has an elder son, Raditz, though their relationship is explored less. In later reinterpretations of the story, particularly in the Dragon Ball Minus manga chapter and the film Dragon Ball Super: Broly, Bardock is married to a Saiyan woman named Gine. This version depicts them as a rare Saiyan couple joined by a genuine emotional bond rather than a practical reproductive purpose. In these stories, Bardock is shown as a caring father who, suspecting Frieza's treachery, personally arranges for his toddler-aged son Kakarot to be sent to Earth for his own safety, leading to an emotional farewell.
Over the various tellings of his story, Bardock's character has seen notable development. The original portrayal shows him as a cold, ruthless mercenary who gradually becomes a tragic hero, driven by a sense of justice and the desire to change a grim fate. The later Minus and Dragon Ball Super: Broly reinterpretation presents him from the outset as a more empathetic and family-oriented figure, a change that creator Akira Toriyama noted was influenced by his wife Gine's gentle nature. His role was further expanded in the Dragon Ball Super manga, where flashbacks show him on a mission on Planet Cereal, rescuing a Namekian named Monaito and a young Cerealian named Granolah, and defeating a powerful warrior from the Heeter family. This adds layers to his legacy, showing acts of compassion that directly affect the story's present day.
In terms of notable abilities, Bardock possesses all the standard powers of a Saiyan warrior, including superhuman strength, speed, stamina, and the power of flight through ki manipulation. He is considered one of the strongest low-class Saiyan warriors, with a power level estimated to be around 10,000 just before his death. His signature energy attack is known as the Final Spirit Cannon or the Riot Javelin, a concentrated sphere of ki. His most unique ability is a form of precognition, the power to see into the future, which was granted to him as a curse by a dying Kanassan warrior. In later spin-off and what-if stories, such as the Dragon Ball: Episode of Bardock manga, he is depicted as achieving the legendary Super Saiyan transformation, a form with golden hair and immense power, after being hurled into the past to confront an ancestor of Frieza.