TV-Series
Description
Crilin is a fictional character from the manga and anime series Dragon Ball. He is introduced as a rival to the protagonist, Son Goku, but quickly becomes his closest friend and one of the most enduring allies throughout the entire story.
His background begins at the Orin Temple, where he trained as a monk from a young age but was frequently bullied by the other students. At the age of thirteen, seeking to become stronger and impress girls, he left the temple to become a student of the legendary martial arts master, Kame Sen'nin, also known as the Turtle Hermit. On the island where the master lives, he meets Goku, and the two begin training together.
Crilin has a distinctive appearance that remains largely consistent for most of the series. He is short in stature, has a shaved head, and notably lacks a nose. On his forehead are six spots, which are moxibustion burns, a design reference to the practices of Shaolin monks. His typical attire is the orange martial arts uniform of the Turtle School. Later in the series, after the battle with the Cell Jrs., he stops shaving his head and grows his black hair out.
His personality evolves significantly over the course of the story. When first introduced, he is depicted as mischievous, selfish, jealous, and somewhat devious, often trying to cheat or take advantage of Goku's naivety to win their training exercises. However, through shared hardships and battles, his friendship with Goku transforms him. He becomes a good-natured, kindhearted, and courageous individual. While he still has moments of fear and self-doubt, especially when facing overwhelmingly powerful enemies, he consistently overcomes these feelings to stand by his friends. He also acts as a source of comic relief and a voice of reason, often reacting with disbelief or a joke when the situation becomes bizarre.
Crilin's motivations shift from selfish desires, such as popularity and attracting women, to protecting his friends and the Earth. As a human among super-powered Saiyans and Namekians, he is often outmatched, but his determination never wavers. His main role in the story is as a reliable and loyal Z Fighter who participates in nearly every major conflict from the early martial arts tournaments to the fights against the Saiyans, Frieza, the Androids, Cell, and Majin Buu. He represents the everyman and normalcy, providing a relatable perspective on the extraordinary events unfolding around him.
His key relationships define his character. His bond with Goku is the most significant, evolving from rivalry to an unbreakable lifelong friendship. He also develops a strong protective relationship with Goku's son, Gohan. Crilin's personal life takes a major turn when he falls in love with the female Artificial Human, Number 18. When given the chance to deactivate her permanently, he destroys the remote control, unable to go through with it. This act of mercy later leads to her marrying him, and they have a daughter named Marron. By the end of the series, he has settled down into a relatively normal family life and works as a police officer.
As a fighter, Crilin is widely considered the strongest pure human on Earth. While his raw power is far surpassed by his Saiyan allies, he compensates with immense ingenuity, tactical cunning, and highly refined ki manipulation. He has had his hidden potential unlocked by the Grand Elder Guru on the planet Namek, which greatly increased his strength. His most notable and feared technique is the Destructo Disc (Kienzan), a razor-sharp, spinning disk of energy with the ability to cut through almost any material, even opponents far stronger than himself. He also masters other classic techniques, such as the Kamehameha, the Solar Flare (Taiyoken), and the ability to fly using the Sky Dancing (Bukujutsu) technique.
His background begins at the Orin Temple, where he trained as a monk from a young age but was frequently bullied by the other students. At the age of thirteen, seeking to become stronger and impress girls, he left the temple to become a student of the legendary martial arts master, Kame Sen'nin, also known as the Turtle Hermit. On the island where the master lives, he meets Goku, and the two begin training together.
Crilin has a distinctive appearance that remains largely consistent for most of the series. He is short in stature, has a shaved head, and notably lacks a nose. On his forehead are six spots, which are moxibustion burns, a design reference to the practices of Shaolin monks. His typical attire is the orange martial arts uniform of the Turtle School. Later in the series, after the battle with the Cell Jrs., he stops shaving his head and grows his black hair out.
His personality evolves significantly over the course of the story. When first introduced, he is depicted as mischievous, selfish, jealous, and somewhat devious, often trying to cheat or take advantage of Goku's naivety to win their training exercises. However, through shared hardships and battles, his friendship with Goku transforms him. He becomes a good-natured, kindhearted, and courageous individual. While he still has moments of fear and self-doubt, especially when facing overwhelmingly powerful enemies, he consistently overcomes these feelings to stand by his friends. He also acts as a source of comic relief and a voice of reason, often reacting with disbelief or a joke when the situation becomes bizarre.
Crilin's motivations shift from selfish desires, such as popularity and attracting women, to protecting his friends and the Earth. As a human among super-powered Saiyans and Namekians, he is often outmatched, but his determination never wavers. His main role in the story is as a reliable and loyal Z Fighter who participates in nearly every major conflict from the early martial arts tournaments to the fights against the Saiyans, Frieza, the Androids, Cell, and Majin Buu. He represents the everyman and normalcy, providing a relatable perspective on the extraordinary events unfolding around him.
His key relationships define his character. His bond with Goku is the most significant, evolving from rivalry to an unbreakable lifelong friendship. He also develops a strong protective relationship with Goku's son, Gohan. Crilin's personal life takes a major turn when he falls in love with the female Artificial Human, Number 18. When given the chance to deactivate her permanently, he destroys the remote control, unable to go through with it. This act of mercy later leads to her marrying him, and they have a daughter named Marron. By the end of the series, he has settled down into a relatively normal family life and works as a police officer.
As a fighter, Crilin is widely considered the strongest pure human on Earth. While his raw power is far surpassed by his Saiyan allies, he compensates with immense ingenuity, tactical cunning, and highly refined ki manipulation. He has had his hidden potential unlocked by the Grand Elder Guru on the planet Namek, which greatly increased his strength. His most notable and feared technique is the Destructo Disc (Kienzan), a razor-sharp, spinning disk of energy with the ability to cut through almost any material, even opponents far stronger than himself. He also masters other classic techniques, such as the Kamehameha, the Solar Flare (Taiyoken), and the ability to fly using the Sky Dancing (Bukujutsu) technique.