HAIR DISCUSSION: Goku Version

[Li'l Lemmy]

Has anyone else realized this?

It's DragonBall Rememberance Week for a friend of mine, so that's where our discussions have been headed lately. Somehow or other the conversation came around to Goku, and from there we had a most illogical conversation that turned out to be, in fact . . . weirdly logical. Observe:

[20:45] SuupaaGohan2: WTF IS WITH GOKOU'S FUCKING HAIR?!
[20:45] SuupaaGohan2: HAS NO ONE NOTICED THIS SHIT BEFORE?!
[20:46] Lemmy: Noticed what, now?
[20:46] SuupaaGohan2: Everyone knows it's STUPID LOOKING
[20:46] SuupaaGohan2: But in terms of it being...
[20:46] SuupaaGohan2: A WEIRD SHAPE
[20:46] SuupaaGohan2: AND BEING ABSURDLY SPIKY,
[20:46] SuupaaGohan2: EVEN BY ANIME STANDARDS
[20:46] SuupaaGohan2: But I have NEVER seen anyone mention the fact that IT TRANSCENDS DIMENSIONS
[20:46] SuupaaGohan2: SPACE TIME ITSELF IS NO MATCH FOR HIS HAIR
[20:49] Lemmy: Not sure I get what'cha mean, there. You mean the way it . . . looks? Everyone notices that.
[20:49] SuupaaGohan2: NO IDIOT
[20:49] SuupaaGohan2: I JUST SAID EVERYONE NOTICES THAT
[20:50] SuupaaGohan2: I mean about...
[20:50] SuupaaGohan2: *thinks*
[20:50] SuupaaGohan2: OKAY SO
[20:50] SuupaaGohan2: Spiky hair
[20:50] SuupaaGohan2: In Anime that's FINE
[20:50] SuupaaGohan2: It makes TOTAL SENSE
[20:50] SuupaaGohan2: Especially if it is AN ABSURD COLOR
[20:50] SuupaaGohan2: That's aaaaaaaaaaall well and good
[20:50] SuupaaGohan2: But typically,
[20:50] SuupaaGohan2: Assume I had even GOKOU'S hair,
[20:50] SuupaaGohan2: Somehow possible in the physical realm
[20:50] SuupaaGohan2: IMAGINE IT X_X
[20:57] Lemmy: Hmm. Well . . . other than the fact that it'd take a helluvalotta gel to get it frozen into that position, I'm not seeing the problem.
[21:02] SuupaaGohan2: FINE, idiot, you're an obsessed weirdo anyways
[21:02] SuupaaGohan2: I assume you have action figures of some sort
[21:02] SuupaaGohan2: GO GET A LITTLE GOKOU TOY
[21:03] SuupaaGohan2: LIKE, THOSE BURGER KING ONES I STILL HAVE SOMEWHERES
[21:03] SuupaaGohan2: GO GET ONE I KNOW YOU HAVE THEM X_X
[21:03] Lemmy: . . . hmm.
[21:03] Lemmy: *goes to get*
[21:11] Lemmy: LOOK, IT'S SON GOKU.
[21:11] Lemmy: *plays with figurine*
[21:11] SuupaaGohan2: ZOMG
[21:11] SuupaaGohan2: LOOK AT HIM HEAD ON
[21:11] Lemmy: I am! He's awesomely action-figure-ish.
[21:11] SuupaaGohan2: NOW
[21:11] SuupaaGohan2: TURN HIM
[21:11] SuupaaGohan2: AROUND AND AROUND AND AROUND
[21:11] SuupaaGohan2: SPIN SPIN SPIN
[21:12] SuupaaGohan2: AND WATCH
[21:12] SuupaaGohan2: THE DIRECTION HIS HAIR GOES IN
[21:12] SuupaaGohan2: NOTICE IT?
[21:12] SuupaaGohan2: Does the hair change when his head moves or does it,
[21:12] SuupaaGohan2: As it would in real life,
[21:12] SuupaaGohan2: Stay facing the same direction at all times,
[21:12] SuupaaGohan2: Same style,
[21:12] SuupaaGohan2: Just from varied angles?
[21:12] Lemmy: *tries it*
[21:13] Lemmy: . . . it . . . it's not doing what it does in the anime. W-WHY ISN'T IT DOING IT?! It's all funky an' shit, it doesn't look like Goku now!
[21:13] SuupaaGohan2: BINGO.
[21:14] SuupaaGohan2: AND YET THE TOY IS MORE REALISTIC.
[21:14] SuupaaGohan2: Applying the word 'realistic' to Anime within limits, and all...
[21:14] SuupaaGohan2: But for all it's worth MOST Anime would still be consistent with something like THIS
[21:14] SuupaaGohan2: NEVER BEFORE HAVE I SEEN THIS GOKOU TRAVESTY IN *ANY OTHER SERIES*
[21:14] SuupaaGohan2: Yuugi's hair does its own freakish things depending on the angle I suppose...
[21:14] SuupaaGohan2: BUT NOT TO THIS DEGREE
[21:15] SuupaaGohan2: I AM NOW PICTURING GOKOU'S VOICE AS THE “ATTENTION DUELISTS!!” GUY FROM YU-GI-OH! THE ABRIDGED SERIES
[21:15] SuupaaGohan2: Like, in a battle, say we have Gokou vs…
[21:15] SuupaaGohan2: Uh…
[21:15] SuupaaGohan2: Yajirobe…
[21:15] SuupaaGohan2: So he’s all like,
[21:15] SuupaaGohan2: "My voice gives me super strength!!"
[21:16] SuupaaGohan2: Then Sooper Akshun Figyur Gokoo screams out with a devastating roar,
[21:16] SuupaaGohan2: "OH YEAH?! WELL MY HAIR GIVES ME THE ABILITY TO DEFY GRAVITY!!"
[21:16] SuupaaGohan2: AND THEN HE KICKS HIM IN THE FACE!!
[21:16] SuupaaGohan2: AND YAJIROBE’D BE ALL LIKE,
[21:16] SuupaaGohan2: “OH THE HUMANITY!!”
[21:16] SuupaaGohan2: It is a new age of Dragonball Z battles.
[21:16] SuupaaGohan2: With action figures.
[21:16] SuupaaGohan2: And hair.
[21:16] SuupaaGohan2: FEAR IT.
[21:18] Lemmy: My perceptions have been shattered!! YOU KILLED SON GOKU. W-We have to keep this a secret, you'll ruin it for everyone!!

. . . and five minutes later, I decided to post it anyways.

So what the fuck? Is SG2 the first to notice this bizarre absurdity, or what? I'm sure that this ain't the case, but I've still never seen any heavy-handed discussions or references about it around here (other than Mr. Announcer's brilliant little comic from back in February that got posted to the Fanworks thread). Is it something that's just silently acknowledged by all?

GET OUT YOUR ACTION FIGURES AND SEE!!

Coming next time on DRAGONBALL Z HAIR DISCUSSION: Why Trunks, in both his future and present incarnation, have such inconsistant Super Saiyajin hair.


~Da Lemmy

[Big Momma]

Oh man, at the terms of being "t3h n00bz0rz" I must say, this convo gave me much lulz.

He does have a point, though. Goku's hair is pretty weird by anime standards. In the anime/etc. His hair stays in the same position, I can't see that happening in real life.(Comparing anime to real life...whats wrong with me?!) I remember thinking things like this before, but I've never actually dwelled on the idea before. I wonder if Teen Gohans hair does this too? Or Gotens?

[21:15] SuupaaGohan2: Like, in a battle, say we have Gokou vs…
[21:15] SuupaaGohan2: Uh…
[21:15] SuupaaGohan2: Yajirobe…
[21:15] SuupaaGohan2: So he’s all like,
[21:15] SuupaaGohan2: "My voice gives me super strength!!"
[21:16] SuupaaGohan2: Then Sooper Akshun Figyur Gokoo screams out with a devastating roar,
[21:16] SuupaaGohan2: "OH YEAH?! WELL MY HAIR GIVES ME THE ABILITY TO DEFY GRAVITY!!"
[21:16] SuupaaGohan2: AND THEN HE KICKS HIM IN THE FACE!!
[21:16] SuupaaGohan2: AND YAJIROBE’D BE ALL LIKE,
[21:16] SuupaaGohan2: “OH THE HUMANITY!!”
[21:16] SuupaaGohan2: It is a new age of Dragonball Z battles.
[21:16] SuupaaGohan2: With action figures.
[21:16] SuupaaGohan2: And hair.
[21:16] SuupaaGohan2: FEAR IT.

I swear I'll be laughing at this for days.

Man, if this SuupaaGohan2 guy has MSN, then can you please let me meet him.(FunkMonkey777@hotmail) I know he'd keep me laughing for days on end. And if he doesn't have MSN, I swear I will travel to the ends of the earth to find the program he is using...I swear it.

[Captain Awesome]

Not to rain on your parade, but I really thought everybody kinda knew this already.

Especially if you're artistically inclined and enjoy drawing Dragonball.

[Godo]

Explanation by Announcerguy:

http://announcerguy.deviantart.com/art/ ... n-29442941

Simply, in the anime, there are two Gokus.

[Tsukento]

Explanation by Announcerguy:

http://announcerguy.deviantart.com/art/ ... n-29442941

Simply, in the anime, there are two Gokus.

Damn! Beat me to it!

[Chuquita]

I love Goku's crazy hair. X3

I have a gif somewhere of when Goku's turning back and forth to bury Vegeta, and his hair keeps doing the gravity-defying flippy thing.

If I find it I'll plug a link in this post later.

[Suupaa Gohan 2]

Man, if this SuupaaGohan2 guy has MSN, then can you please let me meet him.(FunkMonkey777@hotmail) I know he'd keep me laughing for days on end. And if he doesn't have MSN, I swear I will travel to the ends of the earth to find the program he is using...I swear it.

I have AIM, and my SN is exactly what you see in the snippet Lemmy posted. I've got an MSN, too, and all that info is in my profile, but you'd be more likely to find me on AIM. That being said, I'm a girl ^^;

Not to rain on your parade, but I really thought everybody kinda knew this already.

Especially if you're artistically inclined and enjoy drawing Dragonball.

Oh, I've noticed it for a long time, but I'm curious as to why honestly in all my years of fandom I have never heard anyone else mention it before. I mean, Anime hair can be screwy, as I said, but never have I seen it to the degree that Gokou displays. I've heard the typical comment on how his hair in general is ridiculous, like in terms of the absurd shape even for a 'spiky-haireded Anime character', but I'd never heard this particular facet mentioned...and I was wondering why, is all.

Explanation by Announcerguy:

http://announcerguy.deviantart.com/art/ ... n-29442941

Simply, in the anime, there are two Gokus.

Hahaha, I watch her on DA and yet I've never seen that one ^^; That's exactly what I'm talking about, and it's brilliant. Except, shouldn't there be like...four of him...taking into account a head-on view, both angles from a 3/4 view, and a profile view? Or am I just reading waaaaaay too much into this?

I have a gif somewhere of when Goku's turning back and forth to bury Vegeta, and his hair keeps doing the gravity-defying flippy thing
.

That actually reminds me of a Doujinshi snippet I've got somewhere of teen Gohan pondering why Vegeta's hair still stands straight up in the gravity room...surmising that it's because his skull is elongated and...t-that shape...

I've got a printout of it at home, so I'll try to remember to scan it later today if I don't find it on the internets.

[Onikage725]

I smell raisins, and my head hurts.

[gohanku]

I never noticed it before that way. Imean it was just hair but upon thinking deeper into it, I IT does defy all laws of the universe. I mean how does it follow the way the eyes move. I mean it's like Goku's hair move to the side Goku is facing. Are the eyes and hair a couple or something?

[Xyex]

Actually, it's really simple if you look at it from a 2D perspective. I've always just assumed that the 'big spike' as sticking out in front of his head and simply the best way to represent that from a front (or rear) angle shot is to stick it out to the side, in the direction he's facing the most. It's hard to convey 'forward' on a flat surface.

[Super Sonic]

You could say it's similar to 2d fighting game scenarios. Like how Sagat's bad eye switches to the one away from the front.

[Suupaa Gohan 2]

You could say it's similar to 2d fighting game scenarios. Like how Sagat's bad eye switches to the one away from the front.

That happens a lot in 2D games, particularly older ones, where sprite mirroring is common. I always loved how in Zelda II Link would go from his typical left-handedness to a rightie just depending on the direction he was facing.

But that practice isn't typically as common in animation, and while I've seen SIMILAR techniques used, I've never seen it happen to the extent it does with Gokou, and I think it's mainly because his hairstyle is so odd that it's difficult to depict it any other way. It's still kinda funny, though.

Also,

I mean how does it follow the way the eyes move. I mean it's like Goku's hair move to the side Goku is facing. Are the eyes and hair a couple or something?

You, sir, are made of win.

[Smooth Criminal]

I'm... I'm overwhelmed by the sheer nerdish-ness of that conversation.

With that said, Goku's hair is crazy looking because Toriyama wanted to give him features that stand out. What a concept.....

[NeptuneKai]

I'm... I'm overwhelmed by the sheer nerdish-ness of that conversation.

With that said, Goku's hair is crazy looking because Toriyama wanted to give him features that stand out. What a concept.....

How dare people have fun semi-serious topics on Daizex! Dragonball is a place of serious business so stop your heehawing around. Get back to work on the timeline we have a quota to fill. Did anyone fit the movies chronologically into the series yet? Don't let me catch you all goofing off again.

[Carrie]

I'm... I'm overwhelmed by the sheer nerdish-ness of that conversation.

With that said, Goku's hair is crazy looking because Toriyama wanted to give him features that stand out. What a concept.....

How dare people have fun semi-serious topics on Daizex! Dragonball is a place of serious business so stop your heehawing around. Get back to work on the timeline we have a quota to fill. Did anyone fit the movies chronologically into the series yet? Don't let me catch you all goofing off again.

Fucking awesome. Will not let it happen again, sir!

[Humpski]

Goku's hair is not even nearly the "craziest hair in anime".

You're all forgetting this guy:

[Prince Vegeta]

Goku's hair is not even nearly the "craziest hair in anime".

You're all forgetting this guy:
*picture*

This guy has some pretty freaky hair too.

[NeptuneKai]

Goku's hair is not even nearly the "craziest hair in anime".

You're all forgetting this guy:

I find it ironic that both Atem and Yugi have the same friggin' hair style on sheer coincidence.

[Big Momma]

I always thought that purple thing was a hat :S

But I think the weirdest hair prize should go to Bobobo, and I don't neccesarily mean the hair on his scalp...

[DemonKingPiccolo]

Goku's hair is very 2D, it doesn't even shift with perspective change. His hair looks pretty much the same at full head view, 3/4, and side. Even up and down shots are the same. It've tried to draw Goku's hair 3D and make it look the same from every angle, it's literally impossible. Gohan's hair doesn't change as well.