Does Bulma not realize that Pilaf is Emperor Pilaf?

[Angelus]

She met Emperor Pilaf, Mai, and Shu when she was a kid too, just like Goku and Yamcha did. Goku and Bulma seem to be oblivious that it's them though

[Lord Beerus]

I don't think Bulma would even care to even remember him. She met so many more people over the years after encountering Pilaf, that it wouldn't surprise me that her recollections of Pilaf just slipped from her mind.

[Akyon]

Still; Pilaf has a very distinct look. Amongst Earthlings the monster type is still pretty rare, and seeing two of the same blue skinned monster types hanging out with Ninja Corgi dogs should be enough to tip most people off.

[Angelus]

And it wasn't just a casual meeting. She was kidnapped and for the first time in her life, trapped in a cell with someone that turned into a giant ape

[DBZAOTA482]

Pilaf was pretty lame as far as villainy goes. I wouldn't blame her for forgetting.

[precita]

You guys do realize Bulma only saw Pilaf once when she was 16, right? Bulma never saw Pilaf again in the rest of his Dragonball appearances, only Goku did.

While Bulma obviously remembers she was captured by a blue elf, she probably has no idea its the same person. Not to mention Pilaf is a kid again in Super so he probably looks different int he show universe.

[ChiefWamsutta]

This always bugged me.

It's probably just that she is getting old and has had to focus more on adventures in recent years.

[Angelus]

And wouldn't Goku know from Pilaf's Ki?

[nite_jay]

And wouldn't Goku know from Pilaf's Ki?

I don't think Goku could sense ki when they first met.

[Akyon]

Actually...thinking about it; Oolong should probably recognise him.

He hasn't exactly been involved in many adventures so he hasn't got as many cluttered memories of antagonists as Bulma, Goku or Yamcha. It was the one person he was responsible for 'defeating'.

[ShadowBardock89]

She is suffering from Toriyamnesia. Makes you forget about people.

[precita]

She is suffering from Toriyamnesia. Makes you forget about people.

She literally only saw Pilaf for 1 day when she was 16. Bulma is in her 40's now.

I think some of you are forgetting Bulma never saw Pilaf again after that first arc ended.

[rereboy]

She is suffering from Toriyamnesia. Makes you forget about people.

She literally only saw Pilaf for 1 day when she was 16. Bulma is in her 40's now.

I think some of you are forgetting Bulma never saw Pilaf again after that first arc ended.

Pilaf kidnapped her and was going to let her roast to death in the blazing sun of the desert in a cell. The only reason she survived was because Goku happened to transform into a giant beast. How exactly does a person forget that and that person?

[nickzambuto]

She is suffering from Toriyamnesia. Makes you forget about people.

She literally only saw Pilaf for 1 day when she was 16. Bulma is in her 40's now.

I think some of you are forgetting Bulma never saw Pilaf again after that first arc ended.

Pilaf kidnapped her and was going to let her roast to death in the blazing sun of the desert in a cell. The only reason she survived was because Goku happened to transform into a giant beast. How exactly does a person forget that and that person?

She didn't forget, she just hasn't made the connection between kid Pilaf and the guy she saw once 30+ years ago. That guy probably hasn't been on her mind in decades, the later adventures and villains she met would be far more impactful and interesting.

[TekTheNinja]

Actually, why didn't anyone recall Mai when they all saw future Mai? Or do they recognize all of them, but just don't bring it up because they don't care?

[DBZ Macky]

I feel the need to bring up the fact that it's been like 30 years since the incident at Pilaf's castle. After that, they never saw them again except when Goku fought the combined machine, but that's Goku, who has a forgetfulness streak in Super anyways.

They probably forgot the Pilaf gang.

It's not so hard to believe when you realize even Mr. Toriyama forgot Soba's name
Though you could also say he's as forgetful as Goku, or even worse

On further thought though, they recently referenced Oolong's panty wish... maybe the wish was more memorable than whatever happened then... I dunno.

[TekTheNinja]

I feel the need to bring up the fact that it's been like 30 years since the incident at Pilaf's castle. After that, they never saw them again except when Goku fought the combined machine, but that's Goku, who has a forgetfulness streak in Super anyways.

They probably forgot the Pilaf gang.

It's not so hard to believe when you realize even Mr. Toriyama forgot Soba's name
Though you could also say he's as forgetful as Goku, or even worse

On further thought though, they recently referenced Oolong's panty wish... maybe the wish was more memorable than whatever happened then... I dunno.

According to a recent interview, It seems like Goku recognizes Arale.

[DBZ Macky]

According to a recent interview, It seems like Goku recognizes Arale.

Maybe he remembers strong people? He forgot about Chichi, although that could mostly be attributed to her changed appearance.

[rereboy]

She didn't forget, she just hasn't made the connection between kid Pilaf and the guy she saw once 30+ years ago. That guy probably hasn't been on her mind in decades, the later adventures and villains she met would be far more impactful and interesting.

The situation she was in with Pilaf was one of the most dire situations she was ever personally in:

- In the 21st tournament, she was in no personal and imminent danger.
- In the RR army arc, she was personally in danger a couple of times.
- In the 22nd tournament, she was in no personal and imminent danger.
- In the Piccolo Daimao arc, she feared for everyone, but she was never in a situation of personal and imminent danger.
- In the Piccolo Jr arc, she feared for everyone, but she was never in a situation of personal and imminent danger.
- In the Saiyan arc, she feared for everyone, but she was never in a situation of personal and imminent danger.
- In the Namek arc, she was in personal danger and imminent a few times when the planet was about to explode.
- In the Cell arc, she feared for everyone, but she was never in a situation of personal and imminent danger.
- In the Buu arc, she was in personal and imminent danger and was killed by Super Buu.

So, in short, after Pilaf, Bulma was only ever in personal and imminent danger in the RR army arc, in the Namek arc and in the Buu arc. And yet Pilaf doesn't make a big enough impression on her to remember him just because he looks a bit younger?

[TheUltimateNinja]

After a couple of decades of excitement you probably forget the details of a lot of exciting/traumatic events, girl can't have a picture perfect memory. There's lots of weird looking dudes in Dragon Ball so she could just write him off as a random blue kid.