The height conundrum

[RandomGuy96]

Seems about right. I was just asking because I was planning on making an estimated height list for most of the characters, using the official heights and charts.

So, new topic: Nappa. Just how tall is he? He seems to fluctuate.

When he and Vegeta first arrive on Earth, he looks gigantic, with the 5'4.5 Vegeta barley getting to his waist. Later though, when they first confront the gang, Vegeta is up to his upper stomach. Next panel, he's back to Nappa's waist. Then later after they plant the Saibamen, back at his stomach. And so on and so forth.

On the cover of chapter 300, Piccolo (who should be below 7'4 at this point) seems to dwarf Vegeta to the same extent as Nappa. Then again, both comparisons are just Vegeta being way too short. That cover and the Freeza Saga in general is crap for height comparisons, as Gohan and especially Krillin are too short.

I've always thought 6'10 was an appropriate height for him (a little shorter than Saiyan arc Piccolo), but I have a feeling he's supposed to be bigger. He seems way taller than Piccolo for one panel when Piccolo grabs his tail, but not anywhere else...

[Attitudefan]

Nappa looks to be a little more than a head taller than Piccolo. If Goku comes up to Piccolo's shoulder, then Goku would come up to a little less than that, like Nappa's upper chest. I would estimate that Nappa would be around mid 7 feet to up to 8 feet. Nappa seems to be drawn with the worst posture ever, especially when he is mad. Shorter than Recoome, but not by much, whatever Recoome's height might be (over 8 feet I think).



He is easily over a foot taller than Ten, who is at ~6'2".

[RandomGuy96]

Goku shouldn't be at Piccolo's shoulder. A strong 5'8 guy would just barley reach a strong 6'9 guy's shoulder- Goku is a weak 5'9 guy, and Piccolo is a 7 footer (7'5 in the Buu arc, likely a bit shorter here using his father as an example). He should be at chest level.

He doesn't actually look that big compared to Ten there. He's if anything too small, when you remember Ten isn't standing straight up. I think he only looks gigantic in a few panels, like when he's standing next to Vegeta or Krillin, but Piccolo dwarfs them just as much if not more than Nappa, so I'm pretty sure he's under 7'0 (or just or slightly over it) and Krillin and Vegeta are drawn too short.

In the only direct, standing straight up height comparisons we get, Vegeta is a little past Nappa's waist, while he's a bit below Piccolo's on the cover of the chapter where Piccolo fights Freeza. That's where I estimated 6'10 from.

[Attitudefan]

Goku shouldn't be at Piccolo's shoulder. A strong 5'8 guy would just barley reach a strong 6'9 guy's shoulder- Goku is a weak 5'9 guy, and Piccolo is a 7 footer (7'4 in the Buu arc, likely a bit shorter here using his father as an example). He should be at chest level.

He doesn't actually look that big compared to Ten there. He's if anything too small, when you remember Ten isn't standing straight up. I think he only looks gigantic in a few panels, like when he's standing next to Vegeta or Krillin, but Piccolo dwarfs them just as much if not more than Nappa, so I'm pretty sure he's under 7'0 (or just or slightly over it) and Krillin and Vegeta are drawn too short.

In the only direct, standing straight up height comparisons we get, Vegeta is a little past Nappa's waist, while he's a bit below Piccolo's on the cover of the chapter where Piccolo fights Freeza. That's where I estimated 6'10 from.

Yeah, I think 6'10 sounds accurate actually now that you mention it.

This is a compressed panning shot from the anime:



Here, Nappa's fist is as big as (or bigger!!) Goku's head!! That's where I was kinda getting at that he was bigger than what he is drawn out to be sometimes. It almost looks like if he stood up straight, Goku would reach his lower chest actually, forget his upper chest!

But I think it is clear here that Nappa is considerably bigger than Piccolo:

Spoiler:

and here's a shot in the manga where Goku seems to reach around Nappa's chest despite the angle.

Spoiler:

[RandomGuy96]

Manga image doesn't seem to work.

I think that image is just exaggerating his height. Like when Krillin was hitting him the second time and he looked twenty feet tall (going by Krillin being 5'0). Piccolo looks like he'd be taller if he stood up in one of the panels where he's grabbing Nappa's tail.

Saiyan-era Piccolo and Nappa seem pretty comparable in height, with Piccolo edging Nappa out, when drawn next to the shorter-than-usually-depicted Vegeta:

Spoiler:

Spoiler:

He looks to be a bit above Nappa's waist and right at Piccolo's.

[Attitudefan]

GOOD POINT!!! GOOD COMPARISON!! Hehe, I actually think Vegeta was intentionally that small as we see on cover pages throughout the pre-Cyborg arc. He spontaniously grows thereafter, which the games such as Raging Blast, have taken note and made his Saiyan/Namek (Scouter Vegeta generally as one) have a shorter model than his later arc models. So, I would assume he is that short during that timeframe and had a late growth spurt of maybe two or three inches Lucky for Vegeta that he isn't so much of a midget later on when he gets it on with the earth women!

[RandomGuy96]

I think that's just a change in art style, because the height growth seems to be far more than a few inches. Goku and by extension Gohan also starts looking 6'4-6'5 around the Buu arc for whatever reason. Weird.

Anyway, here are my estimates for most major characters' heights. Anything seem wrong here?
* = indicates an officially listed height

Gohan:
-Kid: 126 cm (4'1.5)
-Teen: 176 cm (5'9)*
-Adult: 181 cm (5'11)
Goku:
-Kid: 123 cm (4'0.5)
-Teen: 170 cm (5'7)
-Adult: 175 cm (5'9)*
Goten:
-Kid: 123 cm (4'0.5)*
-Teen: 173 cm (5'8)
Trunks:
-Kid: 128 cm (4'2.5)
-Teen: 170 cm (5'7)*
Vegeta:
-Adult: 164 cm (5'4.5) *

Piccolo:
-Daimao (young): 249 cm (8'2)*
-Daimao (old): 260 cm (8'6)*
-Teen: 203 cm (6'8)
-Adult (Saiyans/Freeza): 214 cm (7'0)
-Adult (androids): 216 cm (7'1)
-Adult (Buu): 226 cm (7'5)*

Tenshinhan:
-Adult: 187 cm (6'1.5)*
Yamcha:
-Adult: 183 cm (6'0)*
Roshi:
-Old: 165 cm (5'5)*
Yajirobe: 165 cm (5'5)*
Krillin:
-Adult: 153 cm (5'0)*
Chiaotzu:
-Adult: 138 cm (4'6)*
Mr. Satan: 188 cm (6'2)*
Bulma:
-Adult: 165 cm (5'5)*
Chi-Chi:
-Adult: 163 cm (5'4)*
Videl:
-Teen/Adult: 157 cm (5'2)*

Raditz: 190 cm (6'3)
Nappa: 209 cm (6'10)
Bardock: 175 cm (5'9)
K. Vegeta: 193 cm (6'4)

Burter: 282 cm (9'3)
Recoome: 241 cm (7'11)
Ginyu: 206 cm (6'9)
Jeice: 168 cm (5'6)
Guldo: 122 cm (4'0)

King Cold: 318 cm (10'5)
Cooler:
-True Form: 178 cm (5'10)
-Super Form: 229 cm (7'6)
Freeza:
-1st Suppression: 132 cm (4'4)
-2nd Suppression: 221 cm (7'3)
-3rd Suppression: 233 cm (7'8)
-True Form: 142 cm (4'8)

Android 16: 239 cm (7'10)
Android 17: 172 cm (5'7.5)
Android 18: 172 cm (5'7.5)

Cell:
-Imperfect: 228 cm (7'6)
-Semi-Perfect: 259 cm (8'6)
-Perfect: 203 cm (6'8)

Kibito: 249 cm (8'2)
Dabra: 240 cm (7'10)
Kaioshin: 157 cm (5'2)

Majin Buu:
-Super: 245 cm (8'0) = Buff
-Fat: 240 cm (7'10)
-Evil: 231 cm (7'7)
-Good: 184 cm (6'0.5)
-Pure: 140 cm (4'7)

[Attitudefan]

I think Ginyu should be downgraded... but then if we do that, then it would really be a problem for Jeice since he is a little under Ginyu's chin (that is counting the hair though). Ginyu looks to be more of a 6'6" than a 6'9". I would think Ginyu is bulkier than Perfect Cell but smaller than him in height. King Vegeta too, might be a tad too tall, but I'll have to double check on some height charts. If I remember, he was close to Ten's height but I could be wrong!

The rest seem to be spot on actually! I wouldn't know how to calculate 3rd form Freeza since his head is elongated in an odd way. Where did you/would you measure from?

Also, it seems that the Namek species continue to grow into old age until a certain point late into their old age. Or at least, with a certain clan of Namek. Kami probably stopped since he was split and became divine (now that I think about it, he's one that you are missing from your list).

[RandomGuy96]

I think Ginyu should be downgraded... but then if we do that, then it would really be a problem for Jeice since he is a little under Ginyu's chin (that is counting the hair though). Ginyu looks to be more of a 6'6" than a 6'9". I would think Ginyu is bulkier than Perfect Cell but smaller than him in height. King Vegeta too, might be a tad too tall, but I'll have to double check on some height charts. If I remember, he was close to Ten's height but I could be wrong!

The rest seem to be spot on actually! I wouldn't know how to calculate 3rd form Freeza since his head is elongated in an odd way. Where did you/would you measure from?

Also, it seems that the Namek species continue to grow into old age until a certain point late into their old age. Or at least, with a certain clan of Namek. Kami probably stopped since he was split and became divine (now that I think about it, he's one that you are missing from your list).

Maybe. I was mostly going by that cover where Goku appeared to be at shoulder level with him. Also because Jeice has big hair. Without it, it seems he just barley reaches Ginyu's shoulder, if that, and Jeice at least seems taller than Vegeta. King Vegeta's height is based on the M8 height chart. Looking at it again, yeah, I might have overestimated him a little. Looks more 6'5-ish, comparing him to Goku (who is roughly at the top of his mouth) and his son (who is shoulder level).

Spoiler:

Kami probably stopped, but wasn't he supposed to be dying of old age soon? I think that Namekians may grow right until they die, going by the tallest Namekians we've seen, Daimao and Guru.

I just made him a few inches shorter than his 2nd form, as he always seemed to be such. It's more of a guess than anything; even when not factoring in his strange head shape and posture, it'd be hard to guess him because he never just stands next to anyone else.

[Attitudefan]

Yeah, I would say K. Vegeta would be closer to 6'5". That sounds a bit more correct.

Jeice is taller than Vegeta, no doubt. To me, he always looked closer in height to Goku than to Vegeta but still being quite a bit smaller than Goku. Does that make sense?

I think Kami was just a pessimist. He never did die of old age in the show, and Piccolo never seemed concerned about it. But yeah, Nameks probalby grow until they die with The Grand Elder and Daimao being the biggest of the bunch we know so far (Even Slug was portrayed to be bigger in his old age).

3rd form Freeza is definitely smaller than his second form, in both muscle mass and height, but then again, he could be taller since we don't see him stand directly beside someone. The lack of muscle he has on the 3rd form cold create the illusion of him being smaller!

[Patrick]

I don't think King Vegeta is 'only' 6'5". If you compare him next to Piccolo, he looks like he's about 6'8" or 6'9". I'd guess Piccolo would be like 7' or 7'1" around the time of M8.

Makes you wonder why Vegeta is so short though, since his dad is really tall.

[RandomGuy96]

I don't think King Vegeta is 'only' 6'5". If you compare him next to Piccolo, he looks like he's about 6'8" or 6'9". I'd guess Piccolo would be like 7' or 7'1" around the time of M8.

Makes you wonder why Vegeta is so short though, since his dad is really tall.

He doesn't even seem to be a full 6'5 compared to Goku. I'm scaling everyone in M8 after Goku's height, and to a lesser extent Vegeta's, because Piccolo really doesn't look the full 7'5 there. 6'8-6'9 would mean he'd have a full head and some change on Goku, which he clearly doesn't.

I guess Paragus would be 6'2-6'3, and base Broly would be around Piccolo's actual height in the Buu arc, with Goku at his chest and Vegeta at his stomach.

Changed King Vegeta's height to 6'4 (193 cm).

[Attitudefan]

I don't think King Vegeta is 'only' 6'5". If you compare him next to Piccolo, he looks like he's about 6'8" or 6'9". I'd guess Piccolo would be like 7' or 7'1" around the time of M8.

Makes you wonder why Vegeta is so short though, since his dad is really tall.

Well, I am 5'9" (slightly taller but barely), and I have a few 6'4" and 6'5" friends. Let me just say that I come up just past their chin, and that corroborates with what I see here with Goku and Vegeta Sr. If King Vegeta was taller than 6'5", and was 4 inches taller, than GOku probably would not come up past his chin, and be a head under. There is no way King Vegeta is over 6'5".

It does surprise me how tall he is though, considering how small Vegeta is. I guess Vegeta's mother is just as short or shorter. That, or Vegeta took 'roids or testosterone, stunting his growth

[RandomGuy96]

It would explain why he's so jacked... though most likely he just got unlucky with his genes.

I wonder if King Vegeta being so much taller than his son was an intentional allusion to King Cold, or vice versa? Freeza and Vegeta are incredibly similar characters, and both of them having fathers who physically dwarf them despite being weaker than them would strengthen the parallel. Cold and Vegeta even both have the same title and the same standard armor + red cape combo.

[SingleFringe&Sparks]

GOOD POINT!!! GOOD COMPARISON!! Hehe, I actually think Vegeta was intentionally that small as we see on cover pages throughout the pre-Cyborg arc. He spontaniously grows thereafter, which the games such as Raging Blast, have taken note and made his Saiyan/Namek (Scouter Vegeta generally as one) have a shorter model than his later arc models. So, I would assume he is that short during that timeframe and had a late growth spurt of maybe two or three inches Lucky for Vegeta that he isn't so much of a midget later on when he gets it on with the earth women!

Vegeta seemed a lot more stumpier rather than just plain sorter than everyone else in the cast during the Saiyan saga. He looked like he was 4 ft high. Look at his leg when he kicks Goku at the start of the fight; then the part where he sits on Goku's arms to punch in his spine later in the fight before the beam struggle... Vegeta looked like a child to me up to that point.

[RandomGuy96]

Yeah, as I've said, Saiyan/Namek arc Vegeta is a midget. He's barley as tall as Piccolo's waist, clearly nowhere near even 5'0, even when factoring in the not-quite-realistic proportions of the art style. Which means those shots where true form Freeza and Vegeta appear to be around the same height are actually consistent with how small Freeza appears on the cover page where he's staring down (...up?) Goku.

[Attitudefan]

Yeah, as I've said, Saiyan/Namek arc Vegeta is a midget. He's barley as tall as Piccolo's waist, clearly nowhere near even 5'0, even when factoring in the not-quite-realistic proportions of the art style. Which means those shots where true form Freeza and Vegeta appear to be around the same height are actually consistent with how small Freeza appears on the cover page where he's staring down (...up?) Goku.

Vegeta in the Saiyan arc has proportions similar to that of Krillin. The way his arms and legs are drawn are exactly how Krillin and other short people (such as 5 (...6) year old Gohan) are drawn. I kinda like him that way though, stumpy, short, just like his temper.

I see that parallel with him and Freeza, and it makes them more interesting as characters especially when they are intertwined in the same drama going on.

Vegeta is depicted to be quite a bit shorter than Bulma consistently throughout the first half of DBZ. It's not until later, after he becomes a 'good guy', that he looks closer to his official height given.

So if we allow Piccolo to have different height based on the arc, I think we should for Vegeta.

Actually, now that I think about it, him and first form Freeza are really close in height, Vegeta has the edge of course, but they are close to being eye level with each other! (See their test of strength when they first clash).

Even in the Freeza arc, Vegeta still looks pretty stumpy, granted, it might not be as bad as before.

Spoiler:

Vegeta's proportions are quite a bit different by the time Cell arrives (the art style shifting has a lot to do with it, making Goku have proportions of a person well over 6 feet).

Spoiler:

[Patrick]

On that last image, Vegeta is barely at Trunks's shoulders(granted, he's kinda in the background). Vegeta is 5'4.5" and Trunks is just 5'7", he shouldn't have a full head and shoulders on him. I'm 6'1", and even a person who's 5'4" just comes up to my chin.

[RandomGuy96]

As you said, he's in the background.

[Patrick]

Even so, Vegeta's basically 2 steps away from Trunks. A difference of 21/2" shouldn't look like that big of a gap if he's just a little behind Trunks.