Bakabon is a perpetually dim-witted yet fundamentally kind-hearted young boy who originally starred as the protagonist in the manga. His laid-back attitude fuels frequent mischief, often alongside his equally foolish father. Bakabon's simple-mindedness manifests through absurd logic and unwittingly enabling his father's schemes without grasping consequences. Despite his stupidity, he occasionally demonstrates unexpected devotion, such as working part-time as a shoeshine boy to buy his mother a birthday present. He wears a traditional kimono without pants underneath as a visual trademark.

Over time, Bakabon's narrative role shifted from primary protagonist to a secondary figure, largely overshadowed by his father's antics. His younger brother Hajime, a child prodigy introduced later, sharply contrasts Bakabon's intellectual shortcomings. Bakabon attends Bokenasu Elementary School (renamed Bakada Elementary School), a setting reinforcing the series' comedic tone. While his core traits—naivety, family loyalty, and participation in chaotic escapades—remain consistent across adaptations, his prominence diminishes in favor of ensemble humor involving eccentric neighbors like the trigger-happy Police Officer with Connected Eyes and the enigmatic street-sweeper Rerere.

In the 2018 "Late Night!" anime adaptation, Bakabon inhabits a modernized setting but retains his classic design and family role. He engages in meta-humor sketches and crude gags facilitated by the late-night timeslot, though his personality and narrative function mirror prior iterations. His background lacks significant development arcs, serving primarily as a static comedic fixture reacting to surrounding absurdity. Official media, including spin-offs and movies, offers no substantial evolution or deeper exploration beyond his established role as the good-natured, simple son enabling the family's nonsensical adventures.