Does Toriyama regret creating Goten?

[precita]

We know Toriyama doesn't even like using Gohan much anymore, saying "He didn't seem fit to be the hero over Goku" and even Gohan got sidelined.

And now it seems Goku's second son, Goten, has it even worse. We know he was originally created to give Trunks a friend his age, or Gohan to have a younger brother while Goku was dead...and then he came up with the idea of Fusion as the series progressed. But since then....there's been nothing for him. Its very strange to me, but then I see how Gohan is treated so I know Goten has no hope.

I honestly never would have imagined Goten be treated so poorly to the point where he may as well not exist. At least Gohan is still there even if he was sidelined for a while.

[sintzu]

Gohan went through a character arc and played a very major role in Z so I can see why he'd regret focusing so much on someone he ended up not using but Goten is such a nobody that he probably doesn't care enough to even remember his name.

[SuperKirillin]

Goten had a better image in GT, amirite?

[precita]

Teen/adult Goten is basically Yamcha 2.0. I mean, there's not much difference between Goten's adult personality and Yamcha.

[SuperKirillin]

Gohan went through a character arc and played a very major role in Z so I can see why he'd regret focusing so much on someone he ended up not using but Goten is such a nobody that he probably doesn't care enough to even remember his name.

"This so called Son Goten is he a Saiya-jin?" - Akira Toriyama

[Nejishiki]

I'm not getting the impression that Toriyama "doesn't like" Gohan's character as many are presuming. The story provided about changing his mind about his main character role read simply as a matter of not thinking he could easily create the stories he wanted with him. Making things as easy as possible is his mantra, after all. It just so happens narrative conflict is simpler with Goku's character, in his mind.

Concerning Goten, I believe it's as basic as not having a story to tell for him. I don't really see how he's "treated poorly" just because he doesn't have an active role. If the author doesn't have ideas for the character, then I don't see it fit to force something out of him. Let it be natural. I'm personally interested in his transition from wanting to be exactly like his father to moving away from those boyish thoughts though. That's a story that could be explored provided the proper setup for it is executed. The upcoming story doesn't seem to lend itself towards detailing that nor did previous arcs. It should blend into the story with purpose instead of utilizing characters for the sake of a so-called "fanservice quota", I think. That's not to say I don't appreciate the minor details with character interactions. I just don't think there's urgency for concern or injustice against what's established presented in these current developments.

[SuperKirillin]

Teen/adult Goten is basically Yamcha 2.0. I mean, there's not much difference between Goten's adult personality and Yamcha.

[spoiler]Yamaha without scars [/spoiler]

[FoolsGil]

Does anyone else find it odd that both of Goku's sons are compared to Yamcha? Goku you poor bastard, too stupid to realize none of your saiyan children are yours. And Chi Chi? Oh I have some choice words for you!

Great Question OP. Depends if Toriyama regrets creating Chaozu. Goten's treatment reminds me of Chaozu, not Yamcha.

1st, Chaozu, like Goten was created as a tool first, character second. Chaozu was made to even up the Crane and Turtle School Rivalries if you consider Goku mastered the school and no longer a student of Master Roshi (Yamcha - Tenshinhan, Krillin - Chaozu) And possibly when Toriyama first decided to make Gohan the hero, he likely made Goten to be Gohan's Gohan, or maybe he knew he would use fusion in his next story no matter if Gohan was the hero or not and created Goten specifically to be Trunks' partner. As you can see, the ends justified the means, Toriyama needed a device for his story and molded them into characters.

2nd, So what happens when those tools are no longer needed? Well, for Chaozu, he was shelved. His greatest and only fight in the series completed, he took on Yamcha's Mr. Exposition role for Tenshinhan's abilities and showed he potentially could beat Goku with his psychic powers, then was a background character for the rest of the series, and except for one moment of awesome in Super, has done jack. Now look at Goten. Well, after the Buu Saga, his and Trunks fusion is shown to be worthless since all the opponents now are stronger than a fused SSJ3 substantially. And while for most of Super he and Trunks are sideline characters, used for dialogue and comic relief, Trunks has a girlfriend (who's...like older than his mom...technically ) and was a key figure in what may be one of the greatest arcs in the franchise, so Trunks has far more than a fusion to be a character while Goten can't even be bothered to rebel against Chi Chi when forced to become a scholar.

So in conclusion? In My Humble Opinion? No. Toriyama doesn't regret creating Goten. I don't think he regrets creating anyone including Chaozu. But did he drop the ball on Goten for the reasons OP stated? Yes. Yes so much.

[Luso Saiyan]

We know Toriyama doesn't even like using Gohan much anymore,

No, we don't.

[Ki Breaker]

He probably does.
That is the reason bra isn't born yet I assume, he is going to recton her, why bring in a character who he can't even use

[Neo-Makaiōshin]

Maybe it´s just simply Toriyama not having any plans for the character, I don´t know why it´s so far for fans to grasp this concept?

[mabalia]

Teen/adult Goten is basically Yamcha 2.0. I mean, there's not much difference between Goten's adult personality and Yamcha.

Yamcha don't have luck with women, adult Goten is quite a charming man who has a way with ladies

[Lord Beerus]

I don't see why he should.

[dragonballhero]

Yeah, I don't think that's the case, but I do feel like Goten DOES need SOME character development so he's not just.....there. I love Goten, he's one of my favorite characters, but you don't know how bad I want Toriyama to just do SOMETHING with him already.

[kinisking]

He obviously regrets the half saiyans. They make his pride and joy, Goku, look less special in comparison.

[8000 Saiyan]

Why should he regret creating him?

[Soppa Saia People]

He obviously regrets the half saiyans. They make his pride and joy, Goku, look less special in comparison.

Isn't Piccolo his favorite character ?

[kinisking]

He obviously regrets the half saiyans. They make his pride and joy, Goku, look less special in comparison.

Isn't Piccolo his favorite character ?

I have no clue actually. Would be surprising if that was the case considering how irrelevant piccolo is.

[sintzu]

He obviously regrets the half saiyans. They make his pride and joy, Goku, look less special in comparison.

Isn't Piccolo his favorite character ?

I have no clue actually. Would be surprising if that was the case considering how irrelevant piccolo is.

He said in the 90's that Piccolo and MR.Satan were his 2 favorites.

[kinisking]

Isn't Piccolo his favorite character ?

I have no clue actually. Would be surprising if that was the case considering how irrelevant piccolo is.

He said in the 90's that Piccolo and MR.Satan were his 2 favorites.

If someone other than goku was his favorite, I'd immediately guess them to be a gag character. I'm not surprised by Mr Satan because of that, but piccolo? Interesting. I wonder why he doesn't treat him better. I also wonder if his opinions have changed.