TV-Series
Description
Android 8, also known as Eighter or Hatchan, is a significant character who first appears during the Red Ribbon Army storyline. He is the eighth model in a series of androids created by the Red Ribbon Army's Dr. Gero, though some anime-only material suggests his construction was completed by a scientist named Dr. Flappe under duress. Physically, Android 8 is designed to resemble the classic film version of Frankenstein's monster. He is a large, stocky figure with a broad, blocky head, short dark hair, prominent stitches on his forehead and cheek, and powerful limbs.
Despite his fearsome and imposing appearance, Android 8 is defined by a gentle, timid, and deeply kind-hearted personality. He is a pacifist who harbors a strong dislike for violence and cruelty, a trait that the Red Ribbon Army considered a malfunction. This fundamental goodness is his primary motivation; he refuses to follow orders that would cause harm to others, even at great personal risk. He is initially imprisoned within Muscle Tower as a last-resort weapon. When ninja Sergeant Murasaki releases him to eliminate the young Son Goku, Android 8 flatly refuses. Murasaki threatens to detonate a bomb built inside the android's body, but Goku destroys the remote control, saving his new friend. Unable to pronounce his full designation, Goku nicknames him Eighter, a name the android happily accepts.
His role in the story is that of an unconventional ally. While not a warrior by nature, his strength proves vital in defeating the tyrannical General White. After White shoots Goku in the back, Android 8's pacifism gives way to a rare, righteous fury; he incapacitates the general with a single, powerful punch. Following the fall of Muscle Tower, Android 8 reveals he had found and hidden the Two-Star Dragon Ball to prevent the army from killing the people of Jingle Village once they obtained it. Moved by his selflessness, the village elder invites him to live in the village, where he finds a peaceful home.
Key relationships include his strong bond with Goku, who sees past his monstrous exterior to the friend within. He also develops a close friendship with Suno, a girl from Jingle Village. Android 8's character development is subtle but meaningful; he transitions from a captive weapon designed for destruction to a free individual who chooses a life of peace and community. He learns to assert his own will, even fighting back when his friends are threatened.
While he does not appear in major battles after the Red Ribbon Army arc, Android 8 makes several cameo appearances throughout the series, demonstrating his long-lasting presence. He is seen during the King Piccolo saga helping the injured, and in the final battle against Kid Buu in Dragon Ball Z, he joins all of Earth's inhabitants in lending his energy to Goku's Super Spirit Bomb. He also makes brief appearances in Dragon Ball GT and Dragon Ball Super.
In terms of abilities, Android 8 possesses tremendous physical strength, enough to send a man flying through a wall and to briefly hold his own against powerful mechanical foes. He is also exceptionally durable, being completely invulnerable to extreme cold that would freeze a normal person, as demonstrated during a battle with the monster Buyon. In the film The Path to Power, he is depicted as being able to fly. Like other androids, he was originally equipped with a self-destruct bomb, which was later removed in the anime by Dr. Flappe. The fact that he is revived along with the other inhabitants of Earth confirms that he is a cyborg based on a human being, similar to Androids 17 and 18, rather than a purely mechanical robot.
Despite his fearsome and imposing appearance, Android 8 is defined by a gentle, timid, and deeply kind-hearted personality. He is a pacifist who harbors a strong dislike for violence and cruelty, a trait that the Red Ribbon Army considered a malfunction. This fundamental goodness is his primary motivation; he refuses to follow orders that would cause harm to others, even at great personal risk. He is initially imprisoned within Muscle Tower as a last-resort weapon. When ninja Sergeant Murasaki releases him to eliminate the young Son Goku, Android 8 flatly refuses. Murasaki threatens to detonate a bomb built inside the android's body, but Goku destroys the remote control, saving his new friend. Unable to pronounce his full designation, Goku nicknames him Eighter, a name the android happily accepts.
His role in the story is that of an unconventional ally. While not a warrior by nature, his strength proves vital in defeating the tyrannical General White. After White shoots Goku in the back, Android 8's pacifism gives way to a rare, righteous fury; he incapacitates the general with a single, powerful punch. Following the fall of Muscle Tower, Android 8 reveals he had found and hidden the Two-Star Dragon Ball to prevent the army from killing the people of Jingle Village once they obtained it. Moved by his selflessness, the village elder invites him to live in the village, where he finds a peaceful home.
Key relationships include his strong bond with Goku, who sees past his monstrous exterior to the friend within. He also develops a close friendship with Suno, a girl from Jingle Village. Android 8's character development is subtle but meaningful; he transitions from a captive weapon designed for destruction to a free individual who chooses a life of peace and community. He learns to assert his own will, even fighting back when his friends are threatened.
While he does not appear in major battles after the Red Ribbon Army arc, Android 8 makes several cameo appearances throughout the series, demonstrating his long-lasting presence. He is seen during the King Piccolo saga helping the injured, and in the final battle against Kid Buu in Dragon Ball Z, he joins all of Earth's inhabitants in lending his energy to Goku's Super Spirit Bomb. He also makes brief appearances in Dragon Ball GT and Dragon Ball Super.
In terms of abilities, Android 8 possesses tremendous physical strength, enough to send a man flying through a wall and to briefly hold his own against powerful mechanical foes. He is also exceptionally durable, being completely invulnerable to extreme cold that would freeze a normal person, as demonstrated during a battle with the monster Buyon. In the film The Path to Power, he is depicted as being able to fly. Like other androids, he was originally equipped with a self-destruct bomb, which was later removed in the anime by Dr. Flappe. The fact that he is revived along with the other inhabitants of Earth confirms that he is a cyborg based on a human being, similar to Androids 17 and 18, rather than a purely mechanical robot.