Bardock
Bardock (バーダック, Bādakku), Burdock in Viz Media's English manga translation, is a fictional character from the Dragon Ball media franchise. Created by Toei Animation based on series protagonist Goku's visual design by franchise creator Akira Toriyama, he first appears in the 1990 animated television special Dragon Ball Z: Bardock – The Father of Goku as its morally ambiguous protagonist. Bardock has few overall manga and anime appearances within the series, though he plays a pivotal part as Goku's biological father in setting up the backstory of his son, originally known by the name Kakarot, as one of the last survivors of the Saiyan genocide by the intergalactic tyrant Frieza.
| Bardock | |
|---|---|
| Dragon Ball character | |
Bardock as he appears in Dragon Ball: Episode of Bardock (2011) | |
| First appearance | Dragon Ball Z: Bardock – The Father of Goku (1990) |
| Created by | Takao Koyama Katsuyuki Sumisawa |
| Designed by | Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru Akira Toriyama |
| Voiced by |
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| In-universe information | |
| Species | Saiyan |
| Occupation | Mercenary |
| Spouse | Gine (wife) |
| Children | Kakarot / Goku (youngest son) Raditz (eldest son) |
| Relatives | |
| Abilities |
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Bardock has been well received by commentators and viewers as a tragic figure. Toriyama himself was moved by the character's story, which led to his decision to incorporate the character into the series' canon continuity. Bardock's popularity has led to the character appearing in a variety of franchise media, including several video games as well as a starring role in the 2011 spin-off manga Dragon Ball: Episode of Bardock and its subsequent animated adaptation.
A reworked version of the character developed by Toriyama appeared as the protagonist in the manga chapter Dragon Ball Minus: The Departure of the Fated Child.