TV-Series
Description
Created by Doctor Gero for the Red Ribbon Army, Android 8 is the eighth unit in a series of artificial humans. He is first encountered by a young Son Goku inside Muscle Tower, where he is presented as a final line of defense. His physical design is a clear homage to the Frankenstein monster, featuring a large, stocky frame, a large forehead with a prominent stitched scar, a square jaw, and short, dark hair. While some sources indicate he is a fully mechanical being, other guides and anime filler suggest he may have been converted from a human base, though he is consistently characterized as an independent, sentient individual.
Despite his intimidating appearance, Android 8 possesses a gentle and profoundly peaceful nature. He is kind, docile, and despises violence to such an extent that the Red Ribbon Army considers him a faulty and unsuccessful creation. He flatly refuses orders to fight, believing that harming others is wrong. However, this pacifism has a firm limit; when his friends are threatened or hurt, his demeanor shifts. His most notable outburst occurs after General White shoots Goku, triggering a rare but powerful surge of rage that allows him to single-handedly defeat the general. In the alternate retelling, The Path to Power, he is briefly depicted as a mind-controlled brute before regaining his emotional awareness and choosing his own path.
His primary motivation is simply to live in peace and protect those he cares about. This is demonstrated when he secretly hides the Dragon Ball that the Red Ribbon Army was searching for, knowing they planned to massacre the villagers of Jingle Village once it was found. He chooses to live among these villagers after the fall of Muscle Tower, finding a quiet life that suits his temperament. His friendship with Goku is the most significant relationship in his story. Goku refuses to let the army destroy him, names him Eighter, and his selfless bravery inspires a deep loyalty in the android. This bond teaches Goku a valuable lesson about mercy and heroism, showing him that killing an opponent is not always the right path.
During the Red Ribbon Army storyline, Eighter acts as an ally who provides crucial support. He endures extreme cold to help Goku defeat the monster Buyon and ultimately destroys Muscle Tower, liberating the surrounding region. After this arc, he largely remains in the background living a peaceful life. He makes brief reappearances much later in the series, notably during the battle against Kid Buu, where he raises his arms to contribute energy to Goku's Super Spirit Bomb. He also appears in Dragon Ball GT, where he is evacuated from Earth before its destruction. In certain video game storylines, he is temporarily brainwashed by General White into a mindless brute, only to be freed and return to his gentle self.
In terms of abilities, Eighter possesses immense raw strength, which is rarely seen due to his peaceful nature. He is capable of punching General White with enough force to send him flying over mountains, and Goku noted that this punch was even stronger than his own at the time. His android body is also highly durable, able to withstand gunfire and freezing temperatures without visible harm. Like many early Red Ribbon androids, he initially had a bomb installed in his chest, which allowed for self-destruction. In the main storyline, this bomb is removed by Doctor Flappe shortly after the battle at Muscle Tower, and in the film The Path to Power, Goku uses a wish on the Dragon Balls to have it removed and to revive Eighter after he is destroyed.
Despite his intimidating appearance, Android 8 possesses a gentle and profoundly peaceful nature. He is kind, docile, and despises violence to such an extent that the Red Ribbon Army considers him a faulty and unsuccessful creation. He flatly refuses orders to fight, believing that harming others is wrong. However, this pacifism has a firm limit; when his friends are threatened or hurt, his demeanor shifts. His most notable outburst occurs after General White shoots Goku, triggering a rare but powerful surge of rage that allows him to single-handedly defeat the general. In the alternate retelling, The Path to Power, he is briefly depicted as a mind-controlled brute before regaining his emotional awareness and choosing his own path.
His primary motivation is simply to live in peace and protect those he cares about. This is demonstrated when he secretly hides the Dragon Ball that the Red Ribbon Army was searching for, knowing they planned to massacre the villagers of Jingle Village once it was found. He chooses to live among these villagers after the fall of Muscle Tower, finding a quiet life that suits his temperament. His friendship with Goku is the most significant relationship in his story. Goku refuses to let the army destroy him, names him Eighter, and his selfless bravery inspires a deep loyalty in the android. This bond teaches Goku a valuable lesson about mercy and heroism, showing him that killing an opponent is not always the right path.
During the Red Ribbon Army storyline, Eighter acts as an ally who provides crucial support. He endures extreme cold to help Goku defeat the monster Buyon and ultimately destroys Muscle Tower, liberating the surrounding region. After this arc, he largely remains in the background living a peaceful life. He makes brief reappearances much later in the series, notably during the battle against Kid Buu, where he raises his arms to contribute energy to Goku's Super Spirit Bomb. He also appears in Dragon Ball GT, where he is evacuated from Earth before its destruction. In certain video game storylines, he is temporarily brainwashed by General White into a mindless brute, only to be freed and return to his gentle self.
In terms of abilities, Eighter possesses immense raw strength, which is rarely seen due to his peaceful nature. He is capable of punching General White with enough force to send him flying over mountains, and Goku noted that this punch was even stronger than his own at the time. His android body is also highly durable, able to withstand gunfire and freezing temperatures without visible harm. Like many early Red Ribbon androids, he initially had a bomb installed in his chest, which allowed for self-destruction. In the main storyline, this bomb is removed by Doctor Flappe shortly after the battle at Muscle Tower, and in the film The Path to Power, Goku uses a wish on the Dragon Balls to have it removed and to revive Eighter after he is destroyed.