TV-Series
Description
Genio delle Tartarughe, also widely known as Muten, is a central figure in the martial arts world. He is an ancient and wise master, recognized as the creator of the Kamehameha technique, a powerful energy wave that becomes a signature move for many fighters. Physically, he appears as a bald, elderly man with a thick white beard and mustache. He typically wears sunglasses, beach-style clothing or a martial arts uniform, and often carries a walking stick. A large turtle shell is sometimes strapped to his back as a training weight, reflecting his title, which translates to Turtle Hermit. He resides on a small, isolated island in a house known as Kame House, living alongside his longtime companion, an anthropomorphic sea turtle.
Muten was once celebrated as the strongest martial artist on Earth before the emergence of younger warriors like Son Goku. Despite his advanced age, his power level in a relaxed state was once measured at 139, and he is capable of vastly increasing his strength and muscle mass for powerful attacks. His personality is a blend of contradictions. While he is often depicted as a lecherous old man with a strong and openly expressed interest in beautiful women, a trait that frequently lands him in comedic trouble, he also possesses great wisdom, a sharp perception of others’ character, and a deep, genuine love for martial arts. His seemingly foolish or perverted antics often mask a keen intellect and a profound understanding of the true path of the warrior.
Muten's primary motivation throughout the story is to ensure that the next generation of martial artists uses their power for good and continues to grow. He famously adopted the disguised identity of Jackie Chun to compete in the World Martial Arts Tournament. His hidden goal was to defeat his own students, Goku and Krillin, to prevent them from becoming arrogant after winning, teaching them that there would always be someone stronger to strive against. In battle, his role quickly shifts from being a direct participant to a mentor and a source of wisdom. After being killed by the demon king Piccolo and later revived, he largely retires from active fighting, his power level eventually dwarfed by the Saiyans and other alien warriors. His legacy, however, endures through his students and the proliferation of the Kamehameha wave.
His key relationships are central to his role. He is the master to several of the series' main characters, including Son Goku, Krillin, Yamcha, and even Goku's grandfather, Son Gohan, as well as the Ox-King. These students form the core of the warriors who protect Earth. He also has a rivalry with the Crane Hermit, Tsuru Sennin, as they were once fellow students under the same master, Mutaito. Muten’s older sister is the fortuneteller Baba.
Over the course of the story, Muten undergoes a significant but subtle development. In his youth, he trained under Master Mutaito and the divine being Korin, and he was the first human to drink the Ultra Divine Water, which contributed to his incredible longevity. In the early days of Dragon Ball, he is an active, albeit aging, champion. Following the battle with King Piccolo, where he dies attempting to use the forbidden Mafuba (Evil Containment Wave) technique, his role changes. After his revival, he steps back to become a supporting character, offering guidance, comic relief, and a place of refuge at Kame House. Later in the Dragon Ball Super series, he returns to a more active role, using his centuries of experience rather than raw power to contribute in tournaments and even impart crucial lessons that help Goku achieve new transformations.
Among his many notable abilities, the most famous is the Kamehameha. When he uses it at full power in a bulked-up, max-power state, its force is potent enough to destroy the moon. He is also a master of various other techniques, including the Afterimage Technique (Zanzoken), the Thunder Shock Surprise (Bankoku Bikkuri Sho) which paralyzes opponents, and the dangerous Mafuba, a technique that can seal away evil beings but at great risk to the user's own life. He possesses centuries of knowledge in martial arts, including unique styles like Drunken Fist, and has a collection of magical items, such as the flying Nimbus cloud, which he gifts to Goku.
Muten was once celebrated as the strongest martial artist on Earth before the emergence of younger warriors like Son Goku. Despite his advanced age, his power level in a relaxed state was once measured at 139, and he is capable of vastly increasing his strength and muscle mass for powerful attacks. His personality is a blend of contradictions. While he is often depicted as a lecherous old man with a strong and openly expressed interest in beautiful women, a trait that frequently lands him in comedic trouble, he also possesses great wisdom, a sharp perception of others’ character, and a deep, genuine love for martial arts. His seemingly foolish or perverted antics often mask a keen intellect and a profound understanding of the true path of the warrior.
Muten's primary motivation throughout the story is to ensure that the next generation of martial artists uses their power for good and continues to grow. He famously adopted the disguised identity of Jackie Chun to compete in the World Martial Arts Tournament. His hidden goal was to defeat his own students, Goku and Krillin, to prevent them from becoming arrogant after winning, teaching them that there would always be someone stronger to strive against. In battle, his role quickly shifts from being a direct participant to a mentor and a source of wisdom. After being killed by the demon king Piccolo and later revived, he largely retires from active fighting, his power level eventually dwarfed by the Saiyans and other alien warriors. His legacy, however, endures through his students and the proliferation of the Kamehameha wave.
His key relationships are central to his role. He is the master to several of the series' main characters, including Son Goku, Krillin, Yamcha, and even Goku's grandfather, Son Gohan, as well as the Ox-King. These students form the core of the warriors who protect Earth. He also has a rivalry with the Crane Hermit, Tsuru Sennin, as they were once fellow students under the same master, Mutaito. Muten’s older sister is the fortuneteller Baba.
Over the course of the story, Muten undergoes a significant but subtle development. In his youth, he trained under Master Mutaito and the divine being Korin, and he was the first human to drink the Ultra Divine Water, which contributed to his incredible longevity. In the early days of Dragon Ball, he is an active, albeit aging, champion. Following the battle with King Piccolo, where he dies attempting to use the forbidden Mafuba (Evil Containment Wave) technique, his role changes. After his revival, he steps back to become a supporting character, offering guidance, comic relief, and a place of refuge at Kame House. Later in the Dragon Ball Super series, he returns to a more active role, using his centuries of experience rather than raw power to contribute in tournaments and even impart crucial lessons that help Goku achieve new transformations.
Among his many notable abilities, the most famous is the Kamehameha. When he uses it at full power in a bulked-up, max-power state, its force is potent enough to destroy the moon. He is also a master of various other techniques, including the Afterimage Technique (Zanzoken), the Thunder Shock Surprise (Bankoku Bikkuri Sho) which paralyzes opponents, and the dangerous Mafuba, a technique that can seal away evil beings but at great risk to the user's own life. He possesses centuries of knowledge in martial arts, including unique styles like Drunken Fist, and has a collection of magical items, such as the flying Nimbus cloud, which he gifts to Goku.