Bulma

Bulma
Born	Dragon Ball universe
Occupation(s)	Inventor, engineer, scientist
Known for	Dragon Radar, time machine, Capsule Corporation heir

is a fictional persona featured in the Dragon Ball universe, making her initial appearance in the original manga series authored by Akira Toriyama. She first appeared in chapter one, titled "Bulma and Son Goku," which was published in the 19 June 1984 edition (issue 51) of Weekly Shōnen Jump. In this opening chapter, she encounters Goku and embarks on a journey alongside him to locate the mystical Dragon Balls that grant wishes.

Bulma is the daughter of Dr. Brief, who established Capsule Corporation, a company renowned for developing compact capsules capable of shrinking and storing various items. As the offspring of a prominent scientist, Bulma herself is an inventive prodigy, skilled engineer, and scientist. Among her notable creations is the Dragon Radar, a device designed to detect Dragon Balls by sensing their unique energy signatures. Her technological inventions, such as a time machine that allows her future son Trunks to travel back in time, are pivotal throughout the storyline.

Creation and design

Bulma’s character draws inspiration from Tang Sanzang of the Chinese literary classic Journey to the West. She and Goku were the first characters introduced within the manga, with creator Akira Toriyama intentionally designing characters in complementary pairs to highlight their relationships through interactions rather than exposition. Toriyama pointed out that without Bulma’s presence, Goku would remain largely silent due to his innocence. Initially, editor Kazuhiko Torishima envisioned a romantic connection between Bulma and Goku.

Her visual design is notably variable compared to other characters, reflecting her fashion-forward personality through frequent changes in hairstyle and attire. While her hair is commonly depicted as fuchsia, it originally appeared turquoise in both manga and anime versions. Toriyama altered her hairstyle to signify a three-year time lapse and also because he favored short-haired female characters. Bulma often sports outfits adorned with either her own name or the Capsule Corporation emblem.

The name "Buruma" originates from the Japanese pronunciation of "bloomer," a type of gym shorts traditionally worn by schoolgirls. Following her family’s naming convention, which revolves around undergarments, her father is Dr. Brief; her children are named Trunks and Bra (known as "Bulla" in English adaptations); and although unnamed in the series, her mother was later suggested by Toriyama to be called Panchy—a pun on panties. In the game Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, her mother is identified as Bikini. Toriyama described Bulma’s family as laid-back, with Bulma herself exercising full authority over their affairs.

Voice actors

Until her passing in November 2017, Hiromi Tsuru provided Bulma’s voice across all Japanese media. Tsuru had auditioned for this role early in her career and found portraying Bulma straightforward due to the character’s relatable, grounded nature. Following Tsuru’s death, Aya Hisakawa took over as Bulma’s voice actress beginning in February 2018.

In the English-language dubs produced by Funimation, Bulma was initially voiced by Tiffany Vollmer during the original Dragon Ball series run. After Vollmer retired from the role, Monica Rial assumed the role starting with Dragon Ball Z Kai.

Characterization

Bulma's depiction in the anime shows some differences compared to the manga; notably, her hair color is turquoise instead of violet. She is recognized for frequently altering her hairstyles and outfits, which often display the Capsule Corporation emblem. Portrayed as a highly gifted inventor, Bulma is not primarily a combatant but occasionally employs firearms and advanced technology for protection.

Appearances

Dragon Ball

Bulma debuts as a teenage inventor searching for the Dragon Balls with the goal of wishing for an ideal boyfriend. She partners with Goku, who owns a Dragon Ball inherited from his adoptive grandfather. Their adventure introduces several important companions, including Master Roshi, Oolong, Yamcha, and Pu'ar.

During the Saiyan invasion, Bulma modifies Raditz's technology to detect power levels. After significant battles lead to casualties and temporarily disable the Dragon Balls, she volunteers to travel to Namek alongside Krillin and Gohan to utilize the Namekian Dragon Balls for resurrection purposes.

She ends her relationship with Yamcha and begins dating Vegeta, resulting in the birth of their son Trunks. Using Dr. Gero's designs, Bulma constructs a detonator aimed at the Androids but later repairs Android 16 prior to a martial arts tournament.

In an alternate timeline where Bulma survives the Android threat, she dedicates herself to creating a time machine to avert disaster and supports Trunks' mission to save Goku. Following the Android saga, she invents a watch that allows Gohan to maintain his superhero identity and is briefly killed by Majin Buu before being revived along with Earth's population. Subsequently, she gives birth to her daughter Bulla.

Dragon Ball Super

Before Bulla's arrival, Bulma hosts a gathering that unintentionally angers Destroyer God Beerus, nearly causing Earth's destruction. She develops the Super Dragon Radar to locate Universe 7’s Super Dragon Balls first and prevent them from falling into wrong hands. After Frieza's defeat, she assists Trunks by building a time machine and participates in major events such as summoning Beerus and handling crises involving Arale.

During the Universe Survival Saga, Bulma offers a 100 million Zeni prize per Universe 7 team member if they win and reveals that Whis accelerated Bulla’s conception so Vegeta could compete without distraction. She accompanies Goku and Vegeta in Dragon Ball Super: Broly, where it is revealed she uses Dragon Balls for cosmetic upkeep. Following these events, she establishes a Capsule Corp division tasked with protecting Dragon Balls from malevolent forces.

In Toriyama's films

Bulma features in eight Dragon Ball Z movies with roles ranging from employing the Dragon Radar to locate characters, serving as leverage or aid during conflicts, and supporting significant storylines involving characters like Broly and Tapion.

In other media

Bulma made an early cameo appearance in the Urusei Yatsura film Remember My Love (1985). In filler arcs of Dragon Ball Z, she experiences body-swapping with Captain Ginyu and briefly falls under mind control during the Garlic Jr. saga.

In Dragon Ball GT, Bulma is possessed by Baby, acting as his queen and enabling his transformation into Golden Great Ape before being freed. She also assists Vegeta’s transformation into Super Saiyan 4 and witnesses Omega Shenron’s defeat.

Primarily appearing as a non-playable character in numerous Dragon Ball video games, Bulma is playable in titles like Dragon Ball: Origins. She also appears in various capacities such as selling items or offering gameplay assistance across multiple game series.

Portrayed by Jeannie Hsieh in the unofficial live-action Dragon Ball: The Magic Begins, Lee Ju Hee in a Korean adaptation, and Emmy Rossum in the official live-action film Dragonball Evolution, Rossum described her portrayal as "bad-ass yet quirky."

Bulma appears alongside Nami as space pirates in the crossover Cross Epoch. In Toriyama's 2013 manga Jaco the Galactic Patrolman, which takes place before Dragon Ball, Bulma is shown as a child along with her family; her older sister Tights is also introduced there. To promote Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F' (2015), a blog run by Bulma was launched on Ameblo.

Reception

Brian Camp and Julie Davis emphasize Bulma’s remarkable transformation from a "teen obsessed with boys" into a nurturing matriarch who brings order and unity, complementing Goku’s role as leader.

Hiromi Tsuru, the voice behind Bulma, characterized her as "lively" and "mischievous," expressing initial astonishment over Bulma’s romantic involvement with Vegeta rather than Yamcha. IGN recognized the Bulma-Vegeta relationship as the most surprising narrative twist within Dragon Ball Z.

See also

• List of Dragon Ball characters

External links

• Official blog for Bulma