English: Goku (Kakarott)
Japanese: Gokuu, Gokou, (Kakarotto)

Goku is (if you couldn't tell) the star of Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, and Dragon Ball GT. We first meet him as a young boy of unknown age (unknown because he can't count), living alone in the woods and fishing for gargantuan fish in the buff. Later, we learn that he was raised by his grandfather Son Gohan (btw, Son is the family name), who was killed one night by the mysterious were-monkey that roamed the woods by the light of the full moon. But Goku wasn't left completely alone... for his grandfather left him a special orange sphere, that Goku believed his grandfather's soul rested in. But then Bulma, a rather hyperactive urban girl on a mission, deftly pointed out to Goku that the sphere was in fact the four-star Dragon Ball, one of seven that, if collected, would grant a person a wish.

And so the adventure was on. But Goku was never interested in making a wish. See, he doesn't have a selfish bone in his body. He wanted the adventure... to explore the world, and learn to be a true warrior. That he did, for during his quest with Bulma he circled the globe searching for Dragon Balls, and eventually came under the tutelage of the great martial artist Master Roshi, who actually trained Grandpa Gohan in his youth. His supernatural adventures brought him into the sights of Kami, the god of Earth, who also took Goku under his wing. These teachers helped Goku blossom from a rugged young boy into a graceful martial artist, who always managed to become just powerful enough to topple any foe.

Goku was never an ordinary child (nor an ordinary man when he grew up). There was something distinctly special about him. He was sweet-natured to a fault, always believing that even the worst of people could see the error of his ways. His naivete cost him his life (when he believed Radditz was truly sorry for kidnapping Gohan), but it also won him many friends who, at first, were his enemies (and no, I can't even count how many there were). No matter how old he became, he looked at the world through the eyes of a child, full of hope and possibility, and worth fighting and even dying to protect. His inspiring strength and sweet character won him many admirers, including Chichi, daughter of Ox King (one of Grandpa Gohan's friends), and worthy martial artist in her own right. They married at the end of Dragon Ball, and settled down in the woods of Mount Paozu.

Dragon Ball Z continues the adventures of Goku, but the villains become galactic tyrants, and what was once a fight for justice quickly becomes a fight for the continued survival of humanity. And while the other Z-Senshi slowly become outclassed by the phenomenally powerful alien enemies, Goku always manages to beat the odds and defeat his opponents. And one reason why he has such unlimited potential involves the mystery of his origin- not only was he an orphan, he was an alien named Kakarott, sent to Earth to purge it of life. But Goku never fulfilled that mission, for when he was a child, he tumbled down a cliff and hit his head, forever scrambling the brain programming he was subjected to as an infant, and even distorting his natural Saiyan bloodlust. Rather than seeking violence, Goku sought a challenge, and whenever he could, he refrained from killing his opponent, no matter how dangerous.

Goku's indomitable determination, fueled by his love for his friends and family, always push him passed whatever barriers he faces. And those barriers include the legendary power of the Super Saiyan, which he is able to harness in order to save the universe from Frieza, the monster responsible for the extinction of the Saiyan race, as well as the enslavement of hundreds of worlds. Also, he managed to conquer Death itself many times, always finding a way to return to his family when direly needed, always with increased power enabling him to save the day. And even when he doesn't actually save the day himself, he lends encouragement and support to the other Z-Senshi, helping them beat the odds themselves.