Pool, known in the original Japanese version as Puar, is a small, blue, cat-like creature from the anime Dragon Ball. He is best understood as the lifelong companion and closest friend of the warrior Yamcha, and he appears throughout the original series and its sequels as a constant presence at Yamcha's side.

In terms of background, Pool is an Earthling of a special animal-like race and a skilled shapeshifter. He was born on September 2 in Age 740 and stands roughly 37 centimeters tall, weighing about nine kilograms. His name follows the series' tradition of naming characters after food, being derived from Pu-erh tea. As a child, Pool attended the Southern Transformation Kindergarten, the same school attended by Oolong, another shapeshifting character. Unlike Oolong, however, Pool graduated properly and took his training seriously, which explains why his transformation abilities are far more advanced. Before meeting the main characters, Pool lived in the Diablo Desert with Yamcha, where the two worked together as desert bandits, robbing travelers who passed through the wasteland.

Personality-wise, Pool is gentle, polite, soft-spoken, and emotionally sensitive, especially when compared to his boisterous partner Yamcha. He is also highly loyal and brave, frequently putting himself in danger to help his friends despite lacking any real fighting strength. He often serves as the voice of reason and calm in tense situations, and he shows genuine concern for the wellbeing of those around him, particularly Yamcha. His devotion to Yamcha is his defining trait; he addresses Yamcha with deep respect and is willing to do almost anything for him. At the same time, Pool has a light, sometimes comedic side, and he can be emotionally overwhelmed, such as when he faints or weeps at moments of crisis.

Pool's motivations center almost entirely on loyalty and friendship. He has no ambition for power or glory, and he rarely shows interest in direct combat. Instead, his goal is to protect, support, and accompany Yamcha, and by extension, to help the group of allies Yamcha becomes involved with. This supportive role carries through the entire story.

In the narrative, Pool begins as a minor antagonist, helping Yamcha ambush travelers in the desert. When Goku and Bulma cross the Diablo Desert in search of the Dragon Balls, Pool and Yamcha attack them, but the encounter eventually leads to a truce and friendship. From that point, Pool becomes a recurring ally who uses his transformations to assist the group in creative ways. During the first hunt for the Dragon Balls, he disguises himself as Goku to trick enemies and transforms into a bird to recover Bulma after she is turned into a carrot. When Goku is transformed into a giant ape by the full moon and goes on a rampage, Pool transforms into a giant pair of scissors and cuts off Goku's tail, stopping the rampage and saving the others. Later, at Fortune Teller Baba's palace, he teams up with Upa to defeat the vampire Fangs by transforming into objects that exploit the vampire's weaknesses. He also attends the World Martial Arts Tournaments as a spectator and supporter, and when Yamcha is badly injured during a match against Tenshinhan, Pool transforms into a flying carpet to carry his friend to the hospital. After Yamcha is killed by a Saibaman during the Saiyan invasion, Pool is shown devastated by the loss, fainting and later desperately wanting to help bring him back. After Yamcha's revival, Pool continues to appear alongside him, and during the battle against Majin Buu, he is turned into chocolate and consumed, only to be revived along with the other victims. In later stories, Pool appears in background and supporting roles, such as cheering during the tournaments and participating in lighter events, and he is even shown alongside Yamcha in the final moments of the original series, helping repair a car in the wasteland.

Pool's key relationship is unquestionably with Yamcha. The two share one of the oldest and most enduring friendships in the series, with Pool acting not only as Yamcha's partner but also as his emotional anchor. Pool often understands Yamcha's feelings better than Yamcha himself and supports him through his romantic relationship with Bulma and its eventual end. Another important relationship is with Oolong, his former classmate. The two had a strained history, as Oolong bullied Pool during their kindergarten days, but they gradually become friends after living together at Bulma's home. Pool also develops friendly bonds with Goku, Bulma, and the wider group, though he remains primarily a background figure in their adventures.

In terms of development, Pool undergoes a quiet but meaningful change. He starts as a thief and an accomplice to banditry, but after meeting Goku and Bulma, he and Yamcha abandon that life and become loyal allies. He never becomes a great fighter, but he grows into a trusted and dependable companion who consistently contributes through cleverness and courage. Physically, he shows almost no signs of aging throughout the series, and his personality remains consistently kind and devoted from beginning to end.

Pool's most notable ability is shapeshifting, which he learned through formal training. He can transform into virtually any object, animal, or person, and unlike Oolong, he faces no time limit on his transformations and can hold them indefinitely. He is also able to replicate the functions of whatever he becomes, such as flying as a bird, serving as a functional flying carpet, or cutting as a giant pair of scissors, making his transformations genuinely useful in problem-solving rather than merely cosmetic. In addition, Pool can fly naturally in his normal form, which allows him to keep up with the group during their travels. He possesses no significant combat power, but his quick thinking, acute perception, and versatile transformation skills make him a valuable helper in both dangerous and comedic situations throughout the series.