TV-Series
Description
ChaoZu is a character who first appears in the original Dragon Ball series and continues to play a supporting role in Dragon Ball Z Kai. He is a small, pale-skinned human-like fighter with prominent red cheeks and, like his ally Kuririn, he lacks a visible nose. ChaoZu is almost always seen in the company of his best friend and fellow martial artist, Tenshinhan.
Originating as a student of the Crane School under the villainous Master Shen, ChaoZu initially serves as a minor antagonist. During the 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament, he is pitted against Kuririn, whom he torments using his psychic abilities. However, after witnessing Tenshinhan reject their master's murderous ways and show mercy to Goku, ChaoZu also abandons the Crane School, becoming a loyal ally to the Dragon Team. Despite his small stature and childlike appearance, ChaoZu is a brave and dedicated fighter. He possesses a quiet demeanor and is wholly devoted to Tenshinhan, often following him without question. Nevertheless, when he feels a course of action is right, he can act on his own initiative, even ignoring Tenshinhan's pleas to do so.
His personality is a mix of sincerity and childishness. Early on, he could be sadistic, following orders to cruelly burn an opponent or slowly torture Kuririn, reflecting the corrupting influence of Master Shen. After reforming, his more innocent nature comes to the forefront. He is somewhat naive, struggles to understand basic mathematics, and is prone to missing jokes, traits that are humorously exploited by Kuririn during their fight. His entire identity is closely tied to his relationship with Tenshinhan; he is fiercely protective of his friend and their bond is the primary driver of his actions, initially leading him to turn against his master and later to sacrifice his life in battle.
Within the story of Dragon Ball Z Kai, ChaoZu is a minor but memorable member of the Z Fighters. His primary role is to support Tenshinhan and the other warriors against powerful threats like the Saiyans. After the death of Goku's brother Raditz, ChaoZu trains with the other warriors at the sacred lookout in preparation for the arrival of Vegeta and Nappa. During the battle against the giant Saiyan Nappa, ChaoZu demonstrates his most notable act of courage. Realizing he is hopelessly outmatched, and believing the Dragon Balls can revive him, he latches onto Nappa's back and uses a self-destruction technique in an attempt to save his friends. The attack ultimately fails to harm Nappa, resulting in ChaoZu's death. For a significant portion of the Frieza Saga, ChaoZu remains in the afterlife, where he trains with Tenshinhan and the others under the guidance of King Kai. He is eventually revived by the Dragon Balls after the battle with Frieza, reuniting with his companions on Earth.
ChaoZu's key relationship is, without question, his friendship with Tenshinhan. They are inseparable partners who trained together from childhood. They are often introduced as a pair, and ChaoZu looks up to Tenshinhan as an older brother figure. This bond is the central pillar of his development. He begins as an amoral student obeying a cruel master but chooses a path of heroism solely to remain by Tenshinhan's side. His role in the story, particularly his self-sacrifice, stems directly from his desire to protect his best friend and their new allies.
In terms of abilities, ChaoZu is not among the most powerful fighters, but he possesses unique skills that set him apart. His most prominent talent is his psychic power, which includes telekinesis and telepathy. He can paralyze opponents, manipulate objects with his mind, and even attack an enemy's internal organs, as he demonstrated against Kuririn. As a Crane School student, he also learned the Dodon Ray, a powerful and piercing energy beam fired from the finger. He is capable of flight and energy manipulation common to martial artists in the series. However, his most dangerous technique is his self-destruction, an explosion of his own life force that he used in a desperate gamble against Nappa. While his power level does not increase as dramatically as Goku or Vegeta's, his psychic abilities make him a unique support fighter.
Originating as a student of the Crane School under the villainous Master Shen, ChaoZu initially serves as a minor antagonist. During the 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament, he is pitted against Kuririn, whom he torments using his psychic abilities. However, after witnessing Tenshinhan reject their master's murderous ways and show mercy to Goku, ChaoZu also abandons the Crane School, becoming a loyal ally to the Dragon Team. Despite his small stature and childlike appearance, ChaoZu is a brave and dedicated fighter. He possesses a quiet demeanor and is wholly devoted to Tenshinhan, often following him without question. Nevertheless, when he feels a course of action is right, he can act on his own initiative, even ignoring Tenshinhan's pleas to do so.
His personality is a mix of sincerity and childishness. Early on, he could be sadistic, following orders to cruelly burn an opponent or slowly torture Kuririn, reflecting the corrupting influence of Master Shen. After reforming, his more innocent nature comes to the forefront. He is somewhat naive, struggles to understand basic mathematics, and is prone to missing jokes, traits that are humorously exploited by Kuririn during their fight. His entire identity is closely tied to his relationship with Tenshinhan; he is fiercely protective of his friend and their bond is the primary driver of his actions, initially leading him to turn against his master and later to sacrifice his life in battle.
Within the story of Dragon Ball Z Kai, ChaoZu is a minor but memorable member of the Z Fighters. His primary role is to support Tenshinhan and the other warriors against powerful threats like the Saiyans. After the death of Goku's brother Raditz, ChaoZu trains with the other warriors at the sacred lookout in preparation for the arrival of Vegeta and Nappa. During the battle against the giant Saiyan Nappa, ChaoZu demonstrates his most notable act of courage. Realizing he is hopelessly outmatched, and believing the Dragon Balls can revive him, he latches onto Nappa's back and uses a self-destruction technique in an attempt to save his friends. The attack ultimately fails to harm Nappa, resulting in ChaoZu's death. For a significant portion of the Frieza Saga, ChaoZu remains in the afterlife, where he trains with Tenshinhan and the others under the guidance of King Kai. He is eventually revived by the Dragon Balls after the battle with Frieza, reuniting with his companions on Earth.
ChaoZu's key relationship is, without question, his friendship with Tenshinhan. They are inseparable partners who trained together from childhood. They are often introduced as a pair, and ChaoZu looks up to Tenshinhan as an older brother figure. This bond is the central pillar of his development. He begins as an amoral student obeying a cruel master but chooses a path of heroism solely to remain by Tenshinhan's side. His role in the story, particularly his self-sacrifice, stems directly from his desire to protect his best friend and their new allies.
In terms of abilities, ChaoZu is not among the most powerful fighters, but he possesses unique skills that set him apart. His most prominent talent is his psychic power, which includes telekinesis and telepathy. He can paralyze opponents, manipulate objects with his mind, and even attack an enemy's internal organs, as he demonstrated against Kuririn. As a Crane School student, he also learned the Dodon Ray, a powerful and piercing energy beam fired from the finger. He is capable of flight and energy manipulation common to martial artists in the series. However, his most dangerous technique is his self-destruction, an explosion of his own life force that he used in a desperate gamble against Nappa. While his power level does not increase as dramatically as Goku or Vegeta's, his psychic abilities make him a unique support fighter.