TV-Series
Description
Android No. 16 is a fictional character from the Android and Cell story arcs. He is a mechanical being, created by the villainous Dr. Gero. Unlike the other androids, No. 17 and No. 18, who were originally human, No. 16 is a completely artificial construct with no organic components. His design is notably larger and more robust than his counterparts. A key piece of his background, revealed in supplementary material, is that his physical appearance is modeled directly after Dr. Gero's deceased son, a former soldier of the Red Ribbon Army named Gevo.
Dr. Gero designed No. 16 with a single, overriding purpose: to locate and destroy Son Goku, avenging the destruction of the Red Ribbon Army. However, Gero considered No. 16 a failure and never activated him. The reasons for this are twofold. Primarily, No. 16 possessed a gentle and peaceful personality, often interacting with nature and allowing small animals to perch on him, which made him unsuitable as a ruthless killing machine. Secondly, given that No. 16 resembled his lost son, Gero likely could not bear the thought of seeing him damaged or destroyed in battle.
In the main timeline, No. 16 is activated by No. 18 after No. 17 kills Dr. Gero. His personality is that of a stoic, quiet giant, who rarely speaks but acts with decisive, single-minded determination. While his core programming compels him to kill Goku, he does not share the sadistic enjoyment of battle or destruction that his creators expected. He demonstrates a strong affinity for the natural world, a trait that creates a stark and memorable contrast with his enormous, weapon-laden frame. He does not consider No. 17 and No. 18 to be evil and shows no interest in harming them.
No. 16's primary role in the story is that of an unexpected protector. When the bio-engineered creature Cell appears with the goal of absorbing No. 17 and No. 18 to achieve his perfect form, No. 16 recognizes the threat and urges the other androids to flee, stating his power is comparable to Cell’s. He engages Cell in a fierce battle, even managing to tear off Cell's tail to prevent an absorption, but is ultimately overwhelmed and severely damaged when Cell transforms after absorbing No. 17. His body is later recovered and repaired by Bulma at Capsule Corporation.
During the Cell Games, a repaired No. 16 attempts to use a self-destruct mechanism to destroy Cell. However, Bulma had previously discovered and removed the bomb from his body, not wanting to risk detonation. When his final attack fails, Cell destroys No. 16, leaving only his head intact. In this final moment, No. 16 plays a crucial role in the climax of the arc. His severed head convinces the Earth's champion, Mr. Satan, to throw him closer to the young warrior Gohan. No. 16 speaks to Gohan, telling him that it is right to fight in defense of others and giving him permission to unleash his anger against Cell. Cell crushes No. 16’s head, and this act of destruction is the catalyst that finally pushes Gohan to transform into a Super Saiyan 2, unlocking his hidden power to defeat Cell.
As a purely mechanical android, No. 16 generates no ki, making him undetectable by the energy-sensing abilities of the Z-Fighters. He possesses a built-in radar to locate his targets instead. His notable combat abilities include the Hell Flash, a devastating energy blast fired from his forearms after detaching his hands. He can also launch his fists as projectile attacks, and he is a powerful and durable hand-to-hand combatant, physically stronger than No. 17 and No. 18. Throughout his short existence, No. 16 evolves from a programmed assassin into a tragic, peaceful being who ultimately sacrifices himself to inspire victory, fulfilling his purpose in a way his creator never intended.
Dr. Gero designed No. 16 with a single, overriding purpose: to locate and destroy Son Goku, avenging the destruction of the Red Ribbon Army. However, Gero considered No. 16 a failure and never activated him. The reasons for this are twofold. Primarily, No. 16 possessed a gentle and peaceful personality, often interacting with nature and allowing small animals to perch on him, which made him unsuitable as a ruthless killing machine. Secondly, given that No. 16 resembled his lost son, Gero likely could not bear the thought of seeing him damaged or destroyed in battle.
In the main timeline, No. 16 is activated by No. 18 after No. 17 kills Dr. Gero. His personality is that of a stoic, quiet giant, who rarely speaks but acts with decisive, single-minded determination. While his core programming compels him to kill Goku, he does not share the sadistic enjoyment of battle or destruction that his creators expected. He demonstrates a strong affinity for the natural world, a trait that creates a stark and memorable contrast with his enormous, weapon-laden frame. He does not consider No. 17 and No. 18 to be evil and shows no interest in harming them.
No. 16's primary role in the story is that of an unexpected protector. When the bio-engineered creature Cell appears with the goal of absorbing No. 17 and No. 18 to achieve his perfect form, No. 16 recognizes the threat and urges the other androids to flee, stating his power is comparable to Cell’s. He engages Cell in a fierce battle, even managing to tear off Cell's tail to prevent an absorption, but is ultimately overwhelmed and severely damaged when Cell transforms after absorbing No. 17. His body is later recovered and repaired by Bulma at Capsule Corporation.
During the Cell Games, a repaired No. 16 attempts to use a self-destruct mechanism to destroy Cell. However, Bulma had previously discovered and removed the bomb from his body, not wanting to risk detonation. When his final attack fails, Cell destroys No. 16, leaving only his head intact. In this final moment, No. 16 plays a crucial role in the climax of the arc. His severed head convinces the Earth's champion, Mr. Satan, to throw him closer to the young warrior Gohan. No. 16 speaks to Gohan, telling him that it is right to fight in defense of others and giving him permission to unleash his anger against Cell. Cell crushes No. 16’s head, and this act of destruction is the catalyst that finally pushes Gohan to transform into a Super Saiyan 2, unlocking his hidden power to defeat Cell.
As a purely mechanical android, No. 16 generates no ki, making him undetectable by the energy-sensing abilities of the Z-Fighters. He possesses a built-in radar to locate his targets instead. His notable combat abilities include the Hell Flash, a devastating energy blast fired from his forearms after detaching his hands. He can also launch his fists as projectile attacks, and he is a powerful and durable hand-to-hand combatant, physically stronger than No. 17 and No. 18. Throughout his short existence, No. 16 evolves from a programmed assassin into a tragic, peaceful being who ultimately sacrifices himself to inspire victory, fulfilling his purpose in a way his creator never intended.