The Transformation of Emperor Pilaf in Dragon Ball Super: A Comedy of Errors
In the captivating Dragon Ball Super series, Emperor Pilaf is portrayed as a child, an intriguing twist that combines humor with continuity. His character arc, a significant part of the Dragon Ball series, is a composite of the comedic and the profound. This transformation serves to both maintain the storyline’s consistency with the earlier series and inject a refreshing dose of humor into the narrative. Let’s delve deeper into what led to this transformation and explore the implications of Pilaf becoming a child.
Why Emperor Pilaf is a Child
During the saga of Dragon Ball Super, Emperor Pilaf and his gang inadvertently make a wish using the Dragon Balls. Their wish to become younger is a misinterpretation or a misunderstanding of the true nature of the Dragon Balls. In the original Dragon Ball series, Pilaf is a recurring antagonist, known for his relentless pursuit of the Dragon Balls to achieve unparalleled power and command over the world. The wish to become younger is initially intended to help them maintain their youth, a common aspiration in the series.
A Sarcastic Gag Reference to Dragon Ball GT
There's a theory that this transformation was a sarcastic reference to the Dragon Ball GT series, where the characters freely wished to become younger, including Goku. Akira Toriyama, the creator of Dragon Ball, likely found humor in the idea of reversing this trope. However, in the story, the characters' intention was to use the Dragon Balls for their own ambitions, not to become children. The vagueness of the wish could be the reason behind the unexpected outcome.
The Miscalculation: A Miswish
The transformation hints at a miscalculation or a misinterpretation of the Dragon Balls' power. If we examine the timeline in detail, we can trace the Pilaf Gang's wish back to the three-year time skip between the Trunks Saga and the Android Saga. Pilaf, Mai, and Shu used the Dragon Balls to wish themselves younger to avoid aging. However, the wish backfired, leading to a more dramatic and comedic consequence.
The Age Calculation
Given the timeline, the Pilaf Gang used the Dragon Balls to wish for youth around the beginning of Age 766. By the time Dragon Ball Super begins in Age 778, we can estimate the ages of the characters. If we take the wish as occurring at the beginning of Age 766, Pilaf, Mai, and Shu should be around 12 years old due to the passage of time. However, if we consider age as the duration of their life, their ages would differ considerably.
Mai: Around 41 years old (if considering her age as the duration of her life, she might be the oldest).
Pilaf: Approximately 63 years old (if considering his age as the duration of his life).
Shu: About 24 years old (if considering his age as the duration of his life).
In relation to Kid Trunks, who would be around 12 during this time, Mai’s age of 41 is indeed remarkable, especially given her semi-relationship with him. This transformation not only adds humor but also underscores the magical and whimsical nature of the Dragon Ball series, blending reality with fantasy in a unique and engaging way.
Conclusion: A Blend of Humor and Continuity
The transformation of Emperor Pilaf into a child is a creative and humorous annotation of the Dragon Ball series. It maintains the compelling narrative of Dragon Ball Super while providing a fresh perspective on the characters and their ambitions. The essence of the wish, whether intentional or not, leads to comedic situations and a deeper exploration of the characters' personalities. This twist keeps the audience engaged and highlights the unmatched creativity of the Dragon Ball universe.