TV Special
Description
Bardock is a low-class Saiyan warrior and the biological father of Raditz and Kakarot, who would later be known as Goku on Earth. He serves as the central character in the 1990 television special Dragon Ball Z: Bardock - The Father of Goku, which explores his final days before the destruction of the Saiyan homeworld, Planet Vegeta. As a mercenary working under the intergalactic tyrant Frieza, Bardock leads a small platoon of Saiyan soldiers consisting of his comrades Tora, Fasha, Borgos, and Shugesh. Together, this team travels to various planets, decimating their native populations and preparing worlds for Frieza's planetary trade.
In terms of appearance, Bardock bears a striking resemblance to his youngest son, Goku, sharing the same facial structure and spiky black hair. However, his most distinguishing feature is a long, thick scar running down his left cheek, which gives him a more rugged and battle-hardened look. He has a tanner skin tone than Goku and his eyes are more defined and stern. Bardock wears the standard battle armor of Frieza's forces, consisting of a dark blue and green chest plate, dark blue combat pants, long red armbands, a green scouter over his left eye, and black and green boots.
Like most Saiyans, Bardock possesses a cocky and aggressive personality, with a deep love for fighting and little hesitation to kill in cold blood. Unlike the cold-hearted and simple thoughts of many of his race, however, Bardock also exhibits calm judgment and a measure of humanity. He is known for saving his companions in battle, which is rare behavior for a Saiyan, and as a result, he is greatly respected among low-class warriors. While praised by others as brilliant, Bardock rejects such compliments, believing that he is simply experienced in combat rather than naturally gifted. His loyalty and compassion for his friends run deep, and he openly views Tora as his best friend. After his entire platoon is wiped out by Frieza's elite soldier Dodoria, Bardock mourns their deaths deeply and vows to avenge them.
Bardock also possesses a great sense of pride and independence. While most Saiyans have been tamed by Frieza and his army, including King Vegeta himself, Bardock is described as the only Saiyan who retains something of his people's pure nature and shows a willingness to challenge the tyrant. This fearless and laid-back personality leads him to take on missions that baffle even Frieza's elite soldiers and ultimately to confront Frieza alone.
Bardock's motivations shift dramatically over the course of his story. Initially, he is a devoted soldier who carries out missions for Frieza without question. During a routine incursion on the planet Kanassa, a surviving native strikes Bardock, granting him the ability to see into the future. Through these visions, Bardock witnesses the impending destruction of Planet Vegeta at Frieza's hands, as well as glimpses of his infant son Kakarot's future on Earth. This precognitive gift drives him to attempt to warn his fellow Saiyans of the coming genocide. When they refuse to believe him, his motivation becomes one of desperate defiance, as he decides to confront Frieza directly in a last-ditch effort to save his race.
His role in the story is pivotal as the father of the series protagonist, Goku. Bardock's decision to send his newborn son to Earth in a space pod sets the entire Dragon Ball narrative in motion. In the special, after seeing visions of Kakarot growing up to become a powerful warrior, Bardock fights his way through Frieza's army and launches an attack on the tyrant himself. Although his attack, the Final Spirit Cannon or Riot Javelin, is easily nullified, and he is obliterated by Frieza's Supernova along with Planet Vegeta, Bardock dies smiling. In his final moment, he has one last vision of his son challenging and defeating Frieza, and he finds peace knowing that Kakarot will avenge their people.
Bardock's key relationships include his wife Gine, who is a rare example of a gentle-natured Saiyan. According to series creator Akira Toriyama, Bardock and Gine are among the few Saiyans who are joined by an emotional bond rather than a purely practical reproductive purpose. Gine was once a member of Bardock's team, and after being saved by him multiple times on the battlefield, she developed feelings for him. Her gentle nature eventually changed Bardock's behavior as well, as Saiyans typically do not demonstrate care for their children, but Bardock does. His relationship with his sons is complicated. He shows little initial interest in his newborn Kakarot, checking his power level only to see if his visions are accurate. However, in later interpretations such as the Dragon Ball Minus chapter and the film Dragon Ball Super: Broly, Bardock is portrayed as a caring father who personally ensures Kakarot's escape to Earth out of a genuine desire to save his son.
Regarding character development, Bardock undergoes a significant transformation from a ruthless mercenary to a tragic hero. He begins as a typical Saiyan warrior, cold and efficient in his work of planetary conquest. The death of his comrades and his newfound ability to see the future awaken a deeper sense of purpose and morality within him. He becomes willing to sacrifice everything to try to prevent his race's extinction. The tragedy of Bardock lies in his inability to change the future he sees, but his final smile suggests that he finds redemption in knowing his legacy will live on through his son.
In terms of notable abilities, Bardock possesses all the standard powers of a Saiyan warrior. His Saiyan biology grants him enhanced strength, speed, agility, durability, reflexes, and the ability to fly through the manipulation of ki energy. He can generate and project energy blasts, sense power levels using his scouter, and use telepathy and telekinesis. Like all Saiyans with a tail, he can transform into a Great Ape when exposed to the energy of a full moon, which multiplies his power tenfold. His signature attack is the Final Spirit Cannon, also known as the Riot Javelin, an energy sphere technique that he uses in his final assault against Frieza. The most unique ability Bardock acquires is precognition from the Kanassan warrior, allowing him to see future events, though these visions are involuntary and often distracting. According to Toriyama, Bardock is considered one of the strongest low-class warriors, though his power level remains below that of a mid-class warrior, estimated around ten thousand during the events of the special.
In terms of appearance, Bardock bears a striking resemblance to his youngest son, Goku, sharing the same facial structure and spiky black hair. However, his most distinguishing feature is a long, thick scar running down his left cheek, which gives him a more rugged and battle-hardened look. He has a tanner skin tone than Goku and his eyes are more defined and stern. Bardock wears the standard battle armor of Frieza's forces, consisting of a dark blue and green chest plate, dark blue combat pants, long red armbands, a green scouter over his left eye, and black and green boots.
Like most Saiyans, Bardock possesses a cocky and aggressive personality, with a deep love for fighting and little hesitation to kill in cold blood. Unlike the cold-hearted and simple thoughts of many of his race, however, Bardock also exhibits calm judgment and a measure of humanity. He is known for saving his companions in battle, which is rare behavior for a Saiyan, and as a result, he is greatly respected among low-class warriors. While praised by others as brilliant, Bardock rejects such compliments, believing that he is simply experienced in combat rather than naturally gifted. His loyalty and compassion for his friends run deep, and he openly views Tora as his best friend. After his entire platoon is wiped out by Frieza's elite soldier Dodoria, Bardock mourns their deaths deeply and vows to avenge them.
Bardock also possesses a great sense of pride and independence. While most Saiyans have been tamed by Frieza and his army, including King Vegeta himself, Bardock is described as the only Saiyan who retains something of his people's pure nature and shows a willingness to challenge the tyrant. This fearless and laid-back personality leads him to take on missions that baffle even Frieza's elite soldiers and ultimately to confront Frieza alone.
Bardock's motivations shift dramatically over the course of his story. Initially, he is a devoted soldier who carries out missions for Frieza without question. During a routine incursion on the planet Kanassa, a surviving native strikes Bardock, granting him the ability to see into the future. Through these visions, Bardock witnesses the impending destruction of Planet Vegeta at Frieza's hands, as well as glimpses of his infant son Kakarot's future on Earth. This precognitive gift drives him to attempt to warn his fellow Saiyans of the coming genocide. When they refuse to believe him, his motivation becomes one of desperate defiance, as he decides to confront Frieza directly in a last-ditch effort to save his race.
His role in the story is pivotal as the father of the series protagonist, Goku. Bardock's decision to send his newborn son to Earth in a space pod sets the entire Dragon Ball narrative in motion. In the special, after seeing visions of Kakarot growing up to become a powerful warrior, Bardock fights his way through Frieza's army and launches an attack on the tyrant himself. Although his attack, the Final Spirit Cannon or Riot Javelin, is easily nullified, and he is obliterated by Frieza's Supernova along with Planet Vegeta, Bardock dies smiling. In his final moment, he has one last vision of his son challenging and defeating Frieza, and he finds peace knowing that Kakarot will avenge their people.
Bardock's key relationships include his wife Gine, who is a rare example of a gentle-natured Saiyan. According to series creator Akira Toriyama, Bardock and Gine are among the few Saiyans who are joined by an emotional bond rather than a purely practical reproductive purpose. Gine was once a member of Bardock's team, and after being saved by him multiple times on the battlefield, she developed feelings for him. Her gentle nature eventually changed Bardock's behavior as well, as Saiyans typically do not demonstrate care for their children, but Bardock does. His relationship with his sons is complicated. He shows little initial interest in his newborn Kakarot, checking his power level only to see if his visions are accurate. However, in later interpretations such as the Dragon Ball Minus chapter and the film Dragon Ball Super: Broly, Bardock is portrayed as a caring father who personally ensures Kakarot's escape to Earth out of a genuine desire to save his son.
Regarding character development, Bardock undergoes a significant transformation from a ruthless mercenary to a tragic hero. He begins as a typical Saiyan warrior, cold and efficient in his work of planetary conquest. The death of his comrades and his newfound ability to see the future awaken a deeper sense of purpose and morality within him. He becomes willing to sacrifice everything to try to prevent his race's extinction. The tragedy of Bardock lies in his inability to change the future he sees, but his final smile suggests that he finds redemption in knowing his legacy will live on through his son.
In terms of notable abilities, Bardock possesses all the standard powers of a Saiyan warrior. His Saiyan biology grants him enhanced strength, speed, agility, durability, reflexes, and the ability to fly through the manipulation of ki energy. He can generate and project energy blasts, sense power levels using his scouter, and use telepathy and telekinesis. Like all Saiyans with a tail, he can transform into a Great Ape when exposed to the energy of a full moon, which multiplies his power tenfold. His signature attack is the Final Spirit Cannon, also known as the Riot Javelin, an energy sphere technique that he uses in his final assault against Frieza. The most unique ability Bardock acquires is precognition from the Kanassan warrior, allowing him to see future events, though these visions are involuntary and often distracting. According to Toriyama, Bardock is considered one of the strongest low-class warriors, though his power level remains below that of a mid-class warrior, estimated around ten thousand during the events of the special.