Arale Norimaki is an android built by Senbei Norimaki in Penguin Village, designed to resemble a young girl. She has severe nearsightedness corrected by thick, round glasses, which is her only physical flaw. Her hair is purple, though some adaptations show it as brown. Her appearance evolved to become shorter and more childlike over time, later explained in-story as her having multiple interchangeable bodies. Senbei initially called her thirteen years old, a statement he later regretted because her youthful look and childlike demeanor never change.

Despite possessing immense superhuman strength and high intelligence that allows her to solve complex equations or perform surgery, Arale has a profoundly naive personality and lacks common sense. She views the world with innocent curiosity and has a peculiar fascination with feces, often poking it with sticks. She enjoys Japanese superhero shows like Ultraman and monster films like Godzilla. She cares deeply for family, friends, and animals, though her naivete combined with her strength frequently causes accidental destruction.

Arale was created in Senbei's lab and enrolled in Penguin Village Middle School, where she befriended Akane Kimidori and Taro Soramame. She rescued a mistreated bear named Mr. Bear and later helped convert him into a cyborg after a hunter attacked him. She also adopted Gatchan, a winged creature hatched from a prehistoric egg. Her adventures include time travel using Senbei's inventions, journeys to prehistoric times, and encounters with extraterrestrials. She runs with her arms outstretched shouting "Kiiin," greets people with "N'cha," says goodbye with "Bye'cha," and expresses bewilderment with "Hoyoyo." Her abilities include the terrain-splitting Earth Chop and the energy-based N'cha Cannon. In crossover appearances, she effortlessly defeats General Blue in the Dragon Ball series and later interacts with Goku and Vegeta in Dragon Ball Super, where her gag-based abilities humorously contrast with serious combat logic.