Trunks (Dragon Ball)

Trunks
Occupation	Fictional character
Known for	Dragon Ball manga and anime series

Trunks is a fictional figure from the Dragon Ball manga, created by Akira Toriyama. As the son of Vegeta and Bulma, he is a hybrid of Saiyan and human heritage, appearing in two distinct versions. His first appearance was in chapter #331 titled "The Young Boy of Mystery," published on July 2, 1991, where he arrives as an enigmatic youth who travels back through time to alert Son Goku and his companions about the lethal Androids engineered by the Red Ribbon Army. This iteration from the future timeline, known as , has become one of the franchise's most beloved characters due to his pivotal storyline.

The Trunks from the current timeline is initially shown as an infant during the Cell/Android saga, which revolves around the Red Ribbon Androids. He later emerges as a central figure throughout Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball Super, and other adaptations including Dragon Ball GT and various films produced by Toei Animation.

Voice actors

In the original Japanese versions, Trunks is predominantly voiced by Takeshi Kusao, except for the younger mini Trunks featured in Dragon Ball Daima, who is voiced by Tsubasa Yonaga. Although Akira Toriyama contemplated changing the voice actor for young Trunks, Kusao was retained to ensure continuity across different storylines. The infant sounds were provided anonymously by Hiromi Tsuru.

For English-language dubs produced by Funimation Entertainment, teenage and adult Trunks are voiced by Eric Vale, while child Trunks’ voice was performed by Laura Bailey in both the series and movies such as Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods. Starting with Dragon Ball Super, child Trunks is voiced by Alexis Tipton.

Abilities

Trunks exhibits numerous abilities typical of Saiyans, including extraordinary strength, agility, reflexes, and energy-based attacks fueled by ki. Both versions possess the capability to transform into Super Saiyan forms; Future Trunks achieves this transformation during his early teenage years, whereas present-day Trunks attains it around age eight.

Among Future Trunks’ distinctive techniques are the and , and he is recognized for his use of a longsword sheathed on his back. His primary method of travel is through flight using ki manipulation, although he also pilots various vehicles developed by his family’s corporation, including the time machine utilized for his temporal journeys. Unlike his present counterpart, Future Trunks masters two additional Super Saiyan levels after training alongside Vegeta within the Room of Spirit and Time; however, these advanced forms drain large amounts of ki and decrease his speed, prompting him to abandon them following his initial encounter with Cell. After returning to the past timeline, he gains access to Super Saiyan 2 and adopts Vegeta’s signature moves like Galick Gun and Final Flash. Subsequently, driven by intense anger from battles against Black and Zamasu, he unlocks a new transformation called , which provides him with sufficient power to confront these foes.

The present timeline’s Trunks can temporarily merge with Goten through the Fusion technique taught by Goku, forming the entity . This fused warrior employs various uniquely named attacks such as and their hallmark move . Additionally, Gotenks can easily reach Super Saiyan 3—a form that proved difficult for Goku to master.

Future Trunks

Trunks makes his initial appearance in chapter #331, titled The Young Boy of Mystery, which was released in Weekly Shōnen Jump on July 15, 1991. He emerges as an enigmatic seventeen-year-old capable of transforming into a Super Saiyan, quickly eliminating Frieza and King Cold. After Goku returns from Planet Yardrat, Trunks reveals the grim reality of his future.

In the side narrative Trunks: The Story – The Lone Warrior and chapters #419–420, it is disclosed that Trunks hails from a future ravaged by Androids #17 and #18, engineered by Doctor Gero of the Red Ribbon Army. Within this timeline, Goku succumbs to a heart virus, leaving only Gohan alive until he too falls victim to the Androids. Trunks trains covertly with Gohan and, following Gohan’s death, becomes Earth's last defender until Bulma finalizes a time machine. He journeys to the past to alert Goku and deliver medicine before returning to his original era.

Subsequently, Trunks returns to assist in the contemporary conflict against the Androids, discovering that his interference has generated an alternate timeline while his original remains intact. He undergoes training with Vegeta inside the Room of Spirit and Time to ready himself for Cell’s arrival. Despite acquiring enhanced abilities, Trunks is killed by Cell during the tournament but is later revived. He then heads back to his timeline to vanquish both the Androids and Cell there. Years down the line, he supports Universe 7’s Supreme Kai in combating Babidi and Dabura to thwart Majin Buu’s resurrection.

During this interval, having attained Super Saiyan 2, Trunks confronts a new menace: Goku Black, who decimates Earth's population. Stranded in the present after his time machine is destroyed, Bulma reconstructs it. Motivated by an adult Gohan and reunited with a reformed Android #18, Trunks trains under Vegeta’s guidance with determination to surpass both his father and Goku Black.

Following Beerus’ erasure of Zamasu—Goku Black’s actual identity as a rogue Supreme Kai inhabiting Goku’s body—Trunks joins forces with others against fused Zamasu. Utilizing energy concentrated into his sword as the Spirit Bomb Sword, he defeats Fusion Zamasu. Although Zamasu’s essence threatens the multiverse, it is ultimately eradicated by that timeline’s Zeno. Trunks then returns to a rejuvenated future timeline free from Zamasu’s influence, bidding farewell alongside Mai as they embark on a new beginning.

Present Trunks

The second version of Trunks first appears as an infant in chapter #337, Super Warriors Assemble (August 26, 1991), initially serving as a background figure. At eight years old, he competes in the 25th Tenkaichi Budokai, where he defeats Son Goten in the junior division; Goten is both his closest friend and rival, though Trunks is older and stronger. Together they impersonate Mighty Mask to enter the adult division but are disqualified by Android #18.

When Majin Buu arrives, Trunks trains alongside Goten within the Room of Spirit and Time to form the fusion warrior Gotenks. After being absorbed by Buu and subsequently resurrected, Trunks helps rally Earth’s defenders for Goku’s Genki-Dama attack. As an adult, he participates in the 28th Tenkaichi Budokai against Otokosuki.

In Dragon Ball Super, set prior to Dragon Ball Z's conclusion, Trunks supports Goten while providing moments of comic relief. During the Goku Black arc, he encounters his future self. In the Universe Survival arc, Trunks and Goten are assigned to oversee Android 17's animal sanctuary instead of competing in the Tournament of Power.

Both adult brothers return in Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, aiding Gohan and Piccolo against a revived Red Ribbon Army. Their fusion form, Gotenks, appears overweight due to an incorrect fusion technique.

Appearances in other media

In Dragon Ball GT, Trunks assumes the role of Capsule Corporation President but approaches it casually. He accompanies Goku and Pan on an interstellar quest for Black Star Dragon Balls, facing Dr. Myu’s robots and Baby—who later possesses Vegeta and brainwashes Earth's population. Though initially controlled by Baby, Trunks eventually fights alongside Goku and others against various foes.

Trunks also appears as Xeno Trunks in promotional anime for Super Dragon Ball Heroes, wielding Super Saiyan God abilities through God Ki.

Both versions of Trunks appear prominently across numerous Dragon Ball video games such as Jump Super Stars, Jump Ultimate Stars, and Battle Stadium D.O.N. The title Dragon Ball Z: Shin Budokai – Another Road focuses on his battle with Majin Buu within his own future timeline. Additionally, he acts as a time guide in the 1992 interactive game Dragon Ball Z: Get Together! Goku World. Future Trunks plays a significant role in Dragon Ball Online as Time Patrol Trunks and is central to Dragon Ball: Xenoverse, assisting in correcting timeline anomalies caused by Towa and Mira.

In the crossover manga Cross Epoch, Trunks is featured as part of Captain Vegeta's air pirate crew. He also appears in the 2004 Fuji TV interactive special Kyūtai Panic Adventure Returns!, delivering Dragon Balls to restore Odaiba.

Musically, "Chīsa na Senshi~Goten to Trunks no Theme~" by Shin Oya highlights both characters.

Trunks has also been promoted through his own branded soft drink known as Trunks Cola.

Reception

Trunks—especially his future incarnation—has garnered positive feedback. Reviewing the TV special The History of Trunks, adapted from the manga Trunks the Story: The Lone Warrior, Bobby Cooper from DVD Talk commended Trunks’ origin tale as a compelling motivation for his fighting resolve. Likewise, Chris Shepard of Anime News Network found him relatable and engaging during combat sequences. Conversely, an article from IGN criticized Trunks’ design in Dragon Ball GT as somewhat "goofy." His climactic battle against Zamasu in Dragon Ball Super received acclaim for its intense energy transfer scenes; however, some reviewers described it as "cheesy." IGN’s Shawn Saris emphasized how Trunks exemplifies humanity by channeling allies' powers through his sword to defeat Zamasu.

Among fans, Trunks ranks highly; his future self secured third place in both 1993 and 1995 popularity polls conducted by Weekly Shōnen Jump readers. In 2004's book Dragon Ball Forever, he was voted fourth most popular character. He consistently appeared in Anime Grand Prix rankings—fifth best male character in 1992 and 1993—and placed nineteenth in 1994. Jian DeLeon from Complex ranked him thirteenth among the 25 Most Stylish Anime Characters.

Japanese voice actor Takeshi Kusao considers Trunks his favorite role, recalling how impactful Trunks’ debut fight against Frieza was. Funimation voice actor Christopher Sabat also favors him for portraying “the lone survivor of the apocalypse” with memorable battles. Actor Masi Oka compared his character Hiro Nakamura from Heroes to Trunks due to their shared traits as time travelers wielding swords. Manga artist Tite Kubo cited Trunks’ first fight scene as one of the most shocking moments he has witnessed.