Pilaf Gang

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Pilaf Gang
ピラフ一味 (Pirafu ichimi)
Manga Anime Mai tells Pilaf and Shuu where to look for the balls.
Manga Debut	Dragon Ball Chapter 18
Anime Debut	Dragon Ball Episode 1

The Pilaf Gang consists of Pilaf and his two trusted henchmen, Mai and Shuu. From the time they are introduced in the first Dragon Ball arc, they function as a unit and are almost never seen apart from one another until Future Mai is introduced in Dragon Ball Super. Even then, the main-timeline group continues to be virtually inseparable.

Pilaf's goal has always been world domination, and he is assisted in that quest by Mai and Shuu. They have repeatedly sought the Dragon Balls to serve that end, but whenever they are presented with the opportunity to wish for it, with the exception of the first time (when their wish is preempted by Oolong), they always wish for something else.

Around the time that the Earth is first attacked by the Artificial Humans, the Gang wishes for youth, but the phrasing of the wish causes Shenlong to return all of them to infancy, rendering Mai and the others around the same age as Trunks in both timelines.

Members

A crowd of subjects parts for Pilaf outside his castle. His subjects are never mentioned in the manga.

Pilaf's anime-only subjects bow as he passes on his horse.

Pilaf (ピラフ) Japanese VA:  Shigeru Chiba FUNimation VA:  Chuck Huber First Appears:  Dragon Ball Chapter 18 / Dragon Ball Episode 1 The leader of the Pilaf Gang, he is named after rice pilaf. Pilaf is an evil genius, but he is also a coward, and he relies on Mai and Shuu to do dangerous and unpleasant work on his behalf. In the anime, he seems to rule over a large number of people surrounding his castle, but there is no indication of this in the manga.

Mai (マイ) Japanese VA:  Eiko Yamada FUNimation VA:  Colleen Clinkenbeard First Appears:  Dragon Ball Chapter 18 / Dragon Ball Episode 1 Mai is the tallest Gang member. She and her cohort Shuu together make shūmai, a term for Chinese dumplings. Mai is developed as a love interest for Trunks beginning in Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods.

Shuu (シュウ) Japanese VA:  Tesshō Genda FUNimation VA:  Chris Cason First Appears:  Dragon Ball Chapter 18 / Dragon Ball Episode 1 Shuu is a dog person. He was originally named "Soba" (a Japanese term for thin buckwheat noodles), but Akira Toriyama forgot this detail and told Toei Animation to call him "Shuu" to complete the shūmai pun.

Names

The Pilaf Gang members are named after rice, dumplings, and noodles. Toriyama-sensei helpfully explains:

It seems that I wanted to give them a food theme.
— Akira Toriyama

The term "Pilaf Gang" (ピラフ一味 Pirafu ichimi) is used consistently to describe the group in Japanese, including in the titles of Dragon Ball Chapter 109 and Dragon Ball Super Episode 4.

Dragon Ball

The anime and manga continuities are not so different that they cannot be discussed together. Toei Animation elaborates the Gang's role throughout the episodes preceding their original introduction point, and embellishes thereafter. These anime additions lead to Funimation renaming the "Son Goku arc" as the "Emperor Pilaf Saga".

Son Goku Arc

Pilaf's Castle and environs as colored by Akira Toriyama in Dragon Ball Chapter 19.

The Pilaf Gang serves as the ultimate antagonist when Bulma and Goku set out on their first hunt for the Dragon Balls, but their part in the story is greatly enlarged in the anime. When the Gang is introduced in the manga they have already collected the One-Star Ball, and they immediately steal the five Dragon Balls that Bulma is carrying. In the anime, their story begins in episode 1 when they discover the One-Star ball in a crypt as Bulma and Goku are getting acquainted on Mount Paozu. Pilaf is ready to make his wish, but Mai tells him that he must collect all seven balls to summon the Dragon.

The anime elaborations are twists on existing scenes but the continuity is only affected in minor ways. For example, in the manga, Goku is unhappy with Bulma's food, so he goes out hunting and comes back with a wolf and a centipede. In the anime, he encounters the Mai and Shuu as they investigate a lead on a Dragon Ball that turns out to be a cave full of wolves. Goku thinks they are trying to steal his dinner, so he attacks them; as they flee, Goku attacks their airship thinking it is a bird. With the plane down, he discovers that it is not a bird after all, so he then returns to Bulma with a wolf and a centipede.

Mai and Shuu return to report their failure, telling Pilaf that the lead was bad and they were attacked by wolves and a monkey boy. Pilaf is angry, but then he gets a phone call with another tip: the Turtle Hermit has a Dragon Ball. Pilaf decides to accompany Mai and Shuu since they are apparently incompetent. While Goku and Bulma talk to the Turtle Hermit on the mainland, the Gang searches Kame House, not realizing that the Turtle Hermit has the ball on his person. Bulma flashes both Turtle Hermit and Turtle, and she departs with Goku and the Three-Star Ball while the Turtle Hermit returns to his island. Meanwhile, Pilaf finds a crocodile sleeping in the Turtle Hermit's lawn chair. After Pilaf threatens him with a knife, the crocodile informs him that the Turtle Hermit went to the mainland beach with Turtle that morning. The crocodile points to the ocean, where Turtle and Turtle Hermit are approaching. Mai draws and cocks a handgun as she and Shuu rush to protect Pilaf from the legendary martial artist. Pilaf demands, while hiding behind Mai, that the Turtle Hermit hand over his Dragon Ball, but he tells them that he gave it to a Pichi-pichi girl and a monkey boy. Mai and Shuu suspect this is the same boy they encountered before. Pilaf asks where they went, and the Turtle Hermit tells them they parted ways at the beach. They rush off, but their plane (which they have converted to a boat) needs a push; the Turtle Hermit grudgingly obliges them, poking a hole in their ship as revenge for their rudeness. As they leave, he wonders if it was a mistake to give the ball away. The Gang tries to cross the ocean to the beach, but the boat fills with water and they sink.

Mai and Shuu are literally hoisted by their own petard in Dragon Ball Episode 6.

As Goku and Bulma are camping out in Oolong's M-size capsule, Shuu and Mai approach in mech suits while Pilaf commands them remotely. When they arrive at the camper, they exit their suits. Shuu moves to attach a timed bomb underneath the camper, and then Mai notices Yamcha and Pu'er skulking about nearby. She taps Shuu on the shoulder to alert him, and this causes him to get the bomb stuck on his hand. He cannot get it off, so Mai tries to run away, and Shuu runs after her. Far away from the camper, Shuu tries to disable the bomb, and manages to reset the timer for 8 o'clock the next morning. They manage to get the bomb unstuck overnight and plant it under the camper, but after the camper departs, Yamcha hits it with a rocket launcher before the bomb goes off, causing Goku and co. to abandon the camper. When Mai and Shuu go to inspect the site, they think the bomb went off early due to bad calibration. As they are searching the wreckage, the bomb goes off at the scheduled time, foiling their plans yet again.

Mai and Shuu worry about what they will tell Pilaf this time. Shuu role-plays as Pilaf, telling Mai that he forgives her, and to have some nice warm soup. She thanks him profusely, and then wryly concludes that Pilaf would never say something so nice; he would just get mad and "thunder" at them. When they reach Pilaf, who is eating, the scene plays out just like that. He forgives them, offers them soup, and then laughs at them for believing he would do something nice. Robotic hands come out of the roof of the castle, grabbing them and suspending them in the air. The roof opens, and lightning strikes them. Shuu and Mai cannot believe he literally thundered at them. Pilaf holds up his fork while he boasts at them, and then lightning strikes his fork.

As Bulma and Goku depart the Rabbit Gang's village with Yamcha and Pu'er, a sentry robot that looks like a bird is watching them from atop a giant mushroom. At Pilaf's Castle, Mai is working to create their own Dragon Radar while Pilaf threatens her with alligators. Mai tries to distract him with talk of food and girls while she gets the machine running. Then Shuu arrives in such a breathless hurry that Pilaf thinks he has found a Dragon Ball, but Shuu only wants to tell Pilaf that it is time for his nap. Mai has the radar working, and she tells them that the next Dragon Ball is nearby. Shuu follows her instructions in paces until he arrives at the One-Star Ball that they already have. Pilaf is angry, but he tells them to instead just find the monkey boy. Mai tells him that angle is already covered; just then, the sentry robot lands on the windowsill.

Mai goes to personally stand guard atop another giant mushroom. This is Mai's first appearance in the manga, and the first hint of the existence of the Pilaf Gang. She reports back via walkie-talkie that the monkey boy has just passed through sector F-15. Pilaf tells her to commence with the plan. She asks Shuu if he can see their car, and he confirms. He is in a mech suit atop another giant mushroom, and he attacks the car with a rocket launcher. Moving quickly, he jumps down and grabs Bulma's luggage, returning to their ship. Goku calls Kinto-Un to chase after him. He finds the abandoned mech suit, but Shuu has returned to the castle with Mai. Bulma still has the Dragon Radar, so Yamcha and Pu'er give them a ride to the castle. Yamcha has his own plans for the Dragon Balls.

The Pilaf Gang breaks the 4th wall in Dragon Ball Chapter 19. This is a rare example of a manga scene being cut from the anime. It also conveys Akira Toriyama's intention to make Dragon Ball less gag-oriented than Dr. Slump.

Pilaf thinks he finally has all seven balls, but Mai and Shuu realize they are still missing one: the Four-Star Ball which Goku has tied on his belt. On their radar, they can see the final ball approaching. When the group arrives quickly, Pilaf realizes they must have their own radar. He makes plans to capture them. In the anime, Goku and co. enter the castle and proceed through a series of booby traps until they come upon arrows pointing in the direction of a small room, which also happens in the manga. They are then trapped inside the room, and Pilaf cannot believe they fell for it.

Meanwhile, Mai and Shuu search Yamcha's car and find nothing. They report back and Pilaf realizes that one of the intruders must have the last ball, but he checks them out on the surveillance camera and does not see any balls. Mai suggests he check between "that man's legs", and Pilaf reminds her that he does not like crude jokes. Mai blushes and apologizes. In the manga, Mai is holding a stick with poop on it as she apologizes, and Pilaf further chastises her for making Dr. Slump references. The manga author will not be resorting to classless jokes in this comic, just to sell more copies of Weekly Shōnen Jump. Shuu makes airplane noises in the background.

Goku and Yamcha try and fail to break out of the room. Pilaf appears on a screen and introduces himself, and Bulma berates him for stealing their Dragon Balls. Goku thinks they can break through this "window" to escape, but Yamcha explains that it is a television. Pilaf demands that they hand over the Four-Star ball, and Bulma refuses, so a robotic arm grabs her and takes her to where the Gang is located. Pilaf repeats his demand for Bulma to tell him where the ball is, but she flips him off and refuses once again. He threatens to humiliate her, and she is terrified. Yamcha tells her to hang in there, while Oolong is excited to see what happens.

Pilaf makes his move: he blows Bulma a kiss, embarrassing himself as well as Mai and Shuu. Bulma had her eyes squeezed shut and does not even know what Pilaf did; he explains with a blush and Bulma is underwhelmed. She thought he was going to strip her naked and do something lewd to her. The Gang is aghast, and Mai covers Shuu's ears. Pilaf cannot believe Bulma is so perverted. He dumps her back into the room with the others; Yamcha congratulates her for enduring it, but Oolong is just disappointed. Pilaf still cannot believe that today's girls are so forward. Mai suggests that he try the sleeping gas instead, and Pilaf thinks that is a great idea. He must have rubbed off on them at last!

The chamber is flooded with sleeping gas, and everyone inside is overcome. Pilaf enters to take the ball, but there is still gas in the room, so he falls asleep too. Mai and Shuu have come equipped with gas masks, so Mai retrieves the ball while Shuu carries Pilaf back to their operation room. Bulma wakes first and sees that Goku's Dragon Ball is gone. She wakes the others to let them know, and Goku is distressed at the loss of his grandpa. Pu'er notices that the door was left open, so they all run out to look for the balls, encountering the Gang in a hallway. Bulma asks if they have made a wish yet, and Pilaf confirms that they have not. Goku demands that they give him back his grandpa, and they run with Goku and co. in pursuit. In the anime, they reach a convergence of hallways and are unsure which way to go. Pilaf uses a keyboard to trigger another trap, hurtling them into a life-sized pinball game that is controlled by Pilaf. Eventually they are trapped in the same room again, and Pilaf gloats through the screen that he is about to make his wish.

The Gang goes outside to call Shenlong. Goku tries to break out of the room with a Kamehameha, but he has not been able to practice it yet, so only manages to make a small hole in the wall. Yamcha tells Pu'er to transform into a bat and escape. Bulma tells Oolong to go too. The shape-shifters race to the scene as Pilaf summons Shenlong. Goku begs Bulma and Yamcha to let him see what is going on, but they are hogging the hole. Pilaf fantasizes about world domination until Shenlong appears and asks for their wish. As Pilaf begins to speak, Oolong works up his nerve and races toward Shenlong, asking for a pair of girl's panties before Pilaf can finish speaking. Oolong's wish is granted, and Shenlong bids them farewell. The Dragon Balls scatter as he disappears. Pilaf rages and sends Shuu and Mai after Oolong and the others.

The Pilaf Gang locks up Goku and the others in a room made of pure steel with a roof made of tempered glass. Goku cannot bust through it with his head. Pilaf tells them through a loudspeaker that they will all be slow-baked when the sun rises. Everyone panics; Goku is hungry and he has no strength left. Pu'er is looking at the moon through the glass. Oolong wonders how Pu'er can do something like that at a time like this, but the moon is full, and Pu'er just wants to see something pretty before they die.

The Pilaf Gang all sleep together in Pilaf's Castle. Only Pilaf has a special canopy bed.

Goku suddenly warns everyone that there is a scary monster that comes out when the moon is full. Bulma is skeptical, but Goku insists it is true; this is the monster that killed his grandpa! Yamcha has heard of the legendary Son Gohan and he finds the idea of a monster strong enough to kill such a man to be incredible. Goku goes on to say that the monster destroyed their house, so Oolong asks him what kind of monster it was, but Goku does not know; he was always asleep when it appeared. Oolong does not understand how Goku could sleep through his house being destroyed by a monster. Goku then says that his grandpa told him not to look at the moon when it was full though he does not understand why looking at it would be a problem. His friends have realized that he is the monster, and they shy away from him in fear. Goku asks them what is wrong, and Bulma asks him if he looked at the full moon the night his grandpa died. He confirms that he did when he went outside to pee. Oolong says they should test it out and let Goku look at the full moon, which is behind him. Everyone is terrified. Bulma panics and points at the moon, warning Goku not to look at it, but of course he immediately looks. And then he begins to transform. He turns into a Great Ape and destroys their prison.

Goku begins destroying everything around him indiscriminately, reaching even into Pilaf's bedroom where he sleeps with Mai and Shuu. They manage to escape in their airplane. In the anime, the use the plane's weapons to shoot Goku down, but do not manage to kill him. Eventually Goku breaks off a tower from the castle and throws it after them, bringing down the plane. Bulma gets stuck under the tower when it falls and is about to be killed by Goku when Pu'er remembers that Goku's tail is his weakness. In the anime, Yamcha manages to lift the tower but Goku grabs up Bulma and threatens to eat her. Yamcha tries to cut the tail off with a sword that he fashioned out of the rock of the tower, but the sword breaks on Goku's tail. In the manga, Yamcha simply rushes to grab Goku's tail after Pu'er mentions it, immobilizing Goku with some difficulty. In the anime, he does it with the help of Oolong and Pu'er, and then he tells Pu'er to hurry up and transform into a giant pair of scissors. Pu'er transforms and cuts off Goku's tail. The Pilaf Gang returns to the castle, and Mai says they have no choice but to rebuild from scratch. In the manga, after their plane crashes, they are not seen again until their next search for the Dragon Balls.

Red Ribbon Army Arc

Pilaf has a new bed, but he sleeps on the floor. Perhaps he was traumatized by Great Ape Goku reaching into his bed?

The Pilaf Gang once again makes an early entrance in anime filler. As Goku searches for his grandpa's Four-Star Ball, Pilaf has nightmares about Goku's Great Ape transformation while he sleeps on the floor at the foot of his bed. Shuu hears Pilaf mumbling in his sleep and enters the bedroom, removing a pink slipper from Pilaf's face. Shuu tells Pilaf good morning, and Pilaf explains that sometimes it is good to sleep on the floor. Shuu claims he always does this, and Pilaf tells him to be quiet, and asks him what he wants. Shuu tells Pilaf that they have found a Dragon Ball 200 kilometers to the southwest. Pilaf makes a face, and Shuu asks him why he is crying. Pilaf asks for his slipper back, so Shuu hands it over, and Pilaf hits him over the head with it, insisting he was smiling. He looks at a painting of Shenlong on the wall, and says that it has been one year and fifteen days since then, and he has never forgotten about him. Shuu is embarrassed, but Pilaf tells him he is talking about the Dragon Balls. Pilaf tries to hit Shuu with the slipper again, but Shuu catches it, and Pilaf congratulates him. Shuu laughs nervously, and Pilaf successfully hits him on the head with the slipper, calling him an idiot. He opens the curtains, and vows that he will not allow anyone to get in his way this time. He will rule the world! He opens the window, and is sucked out along with several other things from the room. Pilaf grabs one end of a sheet, and Shuu grabs the other. Shuu tells Pilaf that he cannot open the windows; their new palace is above the clouds. Pilaf struggles to climb back inside. Meanwhile, the Red Ribbon Army is also looking for the Dragon Balls.

The Pilaf Gang takes up residence in a spaceship.

Mai and Pilaf arrive at a small town to search for the Dragon Ball. Their radar is not very precise, but she is certain it is within a one-mile radius. Pilaf tells her they must do whatever is necessary to get it; if they do not get all seven, it is useless. Mai tells him she is aware, but she is unsure how they should go about finding it. Pilaf reminds her that this is her job. The ball is not just going to turn up if they walk around. Pilaf finds an antiques merchant with a fancy crown headdress; he tries it and asks Mai how it looks on him. She thinks it is very becoming. The merchant comes over, having just unwittingly bought Goku's Dragon Radar from a thief, and tells Pilaf that the crown has a history; it was the favorite of Emperor Aremasandaru who created a kingdom in the north about 300 years past. Pilaf complains that the jewel is a little small. The merchant agrees; the crown is inadequate for someone such as Pilaf. He has some things inside that might interest Pilaf more, so Pilaf agrees to come look. Mai tries to tell Pilaf that it is not the time for shopping, but Pilaf tells her to be quiet; he is just going to have a look. The merchant sets the Dragon Radar aside as he ushers them in, and they do not notice it.

The Pilaf Gang encounters Goku outside the antique shop.

While Pilaf searches the goods, the merchant assures him that everything is superior quality, but Pilaf thinks nothing is showy enough for his chamber. The merchant asks him if he is the king of some place, and Pilaf is amazed that the merchant can tell just by looking at his face. Mai thinks he was not talking about that. The merchant has something he thinks Pilaf will like. He rummages around atop a chest of drawers, and Pilaf warns him that he will not accept anything mediocre. He is a king, after all. The merchant insists that this is a jewel among jewels. It has been passed down for thousands of years from king to king, a shining orb that is said to grant the power to control the world. It is called a Dragon Ball. Mai gasps, and Pilaf is happy. He is even happier when he realizes what the merchant said. He brings out a case with the Four-Star Ball inside. The merchant says he has not shown it to anyone else, and asks if they would like to buy it. They throw about 8 million Zenni at him and tell him to take all of it.

Just then, Goku arrives and finds his Dragon Radar sitting where the merchant left it. He turns it on and sees that a Dragon Ball is quite close by. Pilaf walks out, telling Mai that this is a good omen; they should be able to get the other six balls easily. Then they notice Goku, and Goku notices them. They recognize each other. Pilaf grips his box closely and tells Goku that it belongs to him; he paid a lot of money for it. Goku asks if it is a Dragon Ball, but Pilaf just tells him to shut up, while Mai fires her gun at him. Goku dodges the bullets, and as they run away, he demands to know how many stars are on their ball. The merchant tells him that the ball has four stars. Goku is not willing to let his grandpa's ball go, so he chases after Pilaf and Mai, but Shuu is piloting the spaceship-castle above him and he fires at Goku before grabbing up Mai and Pilaf with a robotic arm. The spaceship takes off, and Goku calls Kinto-Un to go after it.

The antiques merchant's case of fake Dragon Balls.

As Goku gains on the spaceship, Mai looks at their radar and realizes that the Dragon Ball is getting further away from them. They look at their Dragon Ball in confusion. Just then, Captain Silver arrives at the merchant's shop to ask after the Dragon Ball. The merchant tells them to wait while he goes inside. He reaches into a case full of Four-Star Balls, pulling out one of them, and he also discreetly grabs a gun. He hands the Dragon Ball to Silver and offers to give him a deal on it, but Silver is not fooled. He drops the ball on the ground, where it breaks. Pilaf has dropped his ball as well; it is just an ordinary glass ball. Silver kills the merchant while a bird flies off with the real Dragon Ball.

The Pilaf Gang locks Goku out of their spaceship.

Meanwhile, Goku has also noticed that the ball seems to be getting further away on the Dragon Radar, and he thinks the radar might be broken. Inside the ship, Mai cannot believe they paid so much money for this fake ball. Pilaf yells at her to forget the money, while Shuu enters to reaffirm that the real Dragon Ball is moving away from them. Pilaf tells him to hurry and—just then, he notices Goku peeking in the window. Shuu and Mai freak out as they realize Pilaf is about to open the window. When he does, he gets sucked out just as before. Goku approaches him on Kinto-Un as he falls and says he will save him if he hands over his grandpa. Pilaf does not know what Goku is talking about. Goku explains that he is talking about the Dragon Ball. Pilaf begins to tell him that it is fake, but then he sees the ground rushing up at him. He promises to give Goku the Dragon Ball, so Goku catches him and returns him to the ship. Mai is repairing the broken ball with glue while Goku waits outside the window. He wants to know what is taking so long, and Pilaf tells him that he is having his servants look for it in a closet, but they cannot find it. He offers Goku some tea, but then Mai enters with the ball. Shuu says they have finished, but Mai steps on his foot to remind him to be quiet. Then Pilaf starts to congratulate them for putting it back together before he catches himself, instead expressing pleasure that they found it. Mai presents the ball to Goku and warns him to hold it gently. Then Goku notices the cracks in the ball. Pilaf wraps the ball up in cloth and tells Goku to take what he came for and scram; he is busy. He hands the ball to Goku and closes the window, regretting that they have wasted so much time on this nonsense. He orders Shuu and Mai to follow the real ball. The ship takes off quickly, causing Goku to drop the ball. When he catches it, it shatters into pieces again.

The bird carries the Six-Star Ball into the territory of the Ox Demon King, where Chi-Chi has informed her father that she is going to marry Goku. They know Goku is on the way there thanks to an old housekeeper with divination talents. Captain Silver and the Pilaf Gang converge on his location, but then a pteranodon swallows the bird. The Ox King kills the pteranodon with a rock, hoping to make yakitori out of it for the wedding. Then Silver's men notice the Pilaf Gang's spaceship nearby, and they decide to hide for the time being. Mai is tracking the Ox King, but she warns Pilaf that he will be a formidable opponent. But Pilaf is going to be the king of the world and he believes he can take the Dragon Ball from anyone. Shuu tells Pilaf that the Ox Demon King is said to have been the ruler of evil gods and demons on Mount Frypan; this takes Pilaf aback but Mai cannot believe that he did not know this. Pilaf insists that he did know, and that one can never tell how a fight is going to turn out unless one tries.

The sign reads 歓迎！孫悟空様 (Welcome! Son Gokū-sama). Pilaf misreads 孫悟空 (Son Gokū) as "Mago Gosora" (a throwback to a joke from Dragon Ball Chapter 35) and Shuu corrects him.

When the Gang's spaceship approaches, the Ox King thinks it is Goku, and he and the villagers prepare a grand welcome. The Gang sees their welcome sign, and Mai recognizes the name as the kid with the cloud. Pilaf does not know why the villagers think they are Goku. Mai suggests they misunderstood something, and then Pilaf gets a great idea. Mai makes a full-head Goku mask and Pilaf orders Shuu to wear it. Shuu complains that it is too transparent, but Pilaf tells him to stop whining; they only have a 50-50 chance to beat the Ox King, and it is easier to trick him and steal the Dragon Ball. Shuu says he is not a very good Goku; in fact he uses the pronoun 私 (watashi), and Pilaf angrily reminds him that Goku uses オラ (ora). He thinks Shuu is perfect because he has a tail, so Shuu reluctantly concedes.

The ship lands, and they are greeted warmly by the villagers and the Ox King, who tells them that Chi-Chi is out and will be back soon; they are ready for the wedding. Shuu asks, what wedding? Pilaf and Mai look at each other in confusion. The Ox King tells Shuu he has grown and claps him on the back, knocking him over. Then he notices Mai and Pilaf, and asks who they are; they tell him they are Goku's friends. While Goku and Chi-Chi meet far from the village, the Ox King entertains the Gang. Shuu tells Pilaf he does not think he can marry someone he has not met, but Pilaf tells him they will be gone once they get the Dragon Ball. The Ox King apologizes that Chi-Chi has not arrived yet, but Shuu tells him it is okay; he is used to waiting. Pilaf smacks him and tells him it would be better to ask for food, or they will never get out. Shuu politely asks the Ox King for some food, and Pilaf and Mai are embarrassed that he is so bad at playing the part, but the Ox King is happy to get the feast started before the wedding.

Mai and Pilaf stick on Shuu's Goku mask backwards in Dragon Ball Episode 31.

The Ox King calls for the food to be brought in, and Mai spots the pteranodon with the Dragon Ball inside it, much to Pilaf's delight. The Ox King toasts Goku as the bird is set in front of him, telling Shuu not to hold back out of politeness. Pilaf tells Shuu to asks for some of the Ox King's bird rather than what was set in front of them. Shuu says he cannot eat that much, and Pilaf tells him to ask for an exchange. The Ox King wants to know what they are whispering about, and Pilaf tells him that Goku was just saying he wanted some of that big bird, and the Ox King is happy to give it to him, telling him again not to hold back when he wants something. He claps Shuu on the back again, knocking him flying, and the Goku mask falls off his head. Pilaf panics and tells the Ox King there is a flying pig, while he and Mai rush to stick the mask back on Shuu's head, backwards. The Ox King is annoyed that there is no flying pig, but just then, the Red Ribbon Army attacks, firing missiles into the building. The villagers go running, while the Ox King gets angry and goes on the attack. Mai tells Pilaf they should escape while they can, but Pilaf says this is the best opportunity to steal the Dragon Ball. Mai wakes Shuu up, and he complains that he is hungry. Pilaf finds the Six-Star Ball inside the bird, and then they scramble to escape the village in their spaceship.

As they take off in their spaceship, they are chased by a Red Ribbon Army fighter plane. Pilaf is happy to have a real Dragon Ball; he says he can tell it is real by its mysterious glow and feel. He has handled a real Dragon Ball before, after all. Shuu wonders how he was fooled by a fake one, then. Pilaf smacks Shuu, and then asks for a report on the enemy. Mai says they are following at a fixed distance but show no signs of attacking. Pilaf wonders who they are. Captain Silver tells his pilot that these are opponents of no consequence, but to keep following them. He orders all his fighter jets to join him and attack. The men capsulize their tanks in the village. Chi-Chi and Goku attack them before they can take off, but some manage to escape when the Ox King is discovered tied up in a net. Mai tries to conceal the ship above the clouds, but Silver follows; still, the Gang manages a sneak attack on Silver, bringing down his plane. Pilaf gloats at his terrible power.

Goku relieves himself on the Pilaf Gang's surveillance camera in Dragon Ball Episode 32.

The incoming pilots spot Silver and his pilot on a ledge where they landed with parachutes. They regroup, and call headquarters to ask for specific directions to follow the spaceship according to their Dragon Ball radar. The location is reported as being within a one-kilometer PX 303 PW, and the ball is not moving. Silver reports that they are in a desert, but the location is confirmed. There is no crashed spaceship, so Silver is confused. As the soldiers dig, they are sucked in by quicksand and trapped by Pilaf underground. He appears on a monitor and questions the soldiers, offering to let them live if they work for him. But then Mai spots Goku on her surveillance monitor; she and Pilaf are not at all happy to see him. Then he decides to relieve himself on their security camera which is hidden in a cactus. Mai blushes and looks away. Silver's planes approach, and they are attacked with Pilaf's hidden guns. Goku destroys Pilaf's guns while Silver closes in, and Pilaf cannot believe his bad luck. Goku then gets trapped by the quicksand, and when Pilaf comes on the monitor, Goku angrily recognizes him, and Pilaf laughs. Goku demands his Grandpa's Dragon Ball, and Pilaf mocks him and sends in a mech to attack to him. He takes it out with a quick Kamehameha, while Silver attacks from above. Pilaf orders Mai and Shuu to attack; more hidden guns emerge from the sand, but they are destroyed by Silver's forces.

Pilaf decides it is time. Shuu and Mai know what time: time to retreat! They run through the hallways with Dragon Ball in hand but Goku is loose; he chases after them, but Pilaf orders Shuu to close the way behind him, so Shuu presses a button that causes a wall to fall in front of Goku. They push more buttons as they retreat, bringing down several walls, but Goku easily breaks through all of them. The spaceship emerges from the sand, with Goku hanging on to the ship's outside walls. Pilaf orders Mai to escape at full speed, but they are surrounded by hundreds of fighter jets. The jets attack, destroying the spaceship, and Goku calls for Kinto-Un, barely managing to escape the blast. The Gang escapes on parachutes, Dragon Ball still in hand Mai thinks they will be hidden by the smoke, but they land in the middle of Silver's troops. Pilaf hands over the Six-Star Ball to Silver.

Fortuneteller Crone Arc

The Pilaf Gang's Mercedes Benz R107 560SL.

Goku has gathered six of the Dragon Balls, and as he fights his Grandpa Gohan at Fortuneteller Crone's palace, the Pilaf Gang watches him using advanced satellite surveillance. (In the anime, Pilaf tries out their new mech suits.) They have finally learned Goku's weakness: his tail! They have one Dragon Ball shut up in a case that shields it from Bulma's Dragon Radar, and now they can take the other six from Goku. (In the anime, Mai realizes that Goku is fighting to get the Fortuneteller Crone to tell him where their Dragon Ball is, but Pilaf thinks she is a phony, and even if she is not, they have fancy new mech suits and they know Goku's weakness.) They get in their car and drive toward his location. Meanwhile, Grandpa Gohan has ripped off Goku's tail. As recompense, he yields the fight to Goku, and the Fortuneteller Crone grants Goku his divination. She shows Goku the Pilaf Mercedes, which is only 200 kilometers away, and closing in on them quickly.

Goku is impatient to get going, but Yamcha thinks the car will be hard to find. The Fortuneteller Crone reassures him that not many cars drive in this area. Bulma still does not understand why the ball is not showing up on her radar, but Goku calls Kinto-Un and tells Upa to hold on to the Dragon Balls for him. Goku hops on Kinto-Un and takes off, and Yamcha wonders who could be inside that car. Meanwhile, Pilaf coaches the team on the plan: they have to grab his tail quickly. Finally, Pilaf's wish of world domination will become reality! Shuu asks him what he plans to do once he gains it, and Pilaf struggles to come up with anything before angrily telling Shuu it is a secret.

Goku finds the car and drops down to land on its roof. He leans over the windshield and asks the Gang if he can have their Dragon Ball. Then he wonders if he has seen them before. The Gang definitely recognizes him, though, and they panic; Mai loses control of the car and comes to a halt off the road. Pilaf cannot understand how Goku has found them, since their Dragon Ball cannot be located with a radar. (Pilaf's confusion remains in the anime, even though Mai has already explained it.) Goku remembers them now; they tried to kill him! Mai asks Pilaf what they should do; their plan to ambush him has been foiled. Pilaf tells her to calm down; this is perfect; they can take care of him and then grab the rest of the Dragon Balls.

Goku tells them to come out, so they step out of the car. (In the anime, Mai puts the car in a capsule; in the manga, it is simply not seen again.) Pilaf congratulates Goku on finding their Dragon Ball. Goku knows they are going to try to do something bad again, so he demands that they hand it over. Pilaf says they are only collecting them, just like he is. He offers to give it to Goku if he can beat them in a fight, but if they win, he has to hand over all six of his Dragon Balls. Goku wants to know how they know he has six of them, and Pilaf says it is because he is a genius. In any case, Goku is happy to fight for it. (In the anime, Pilaf makes him pinky swear.) The Pilaf Gang sets off their capsules and jumps into their mech suits.

The Pilaf Machines merge.

Pilaf asks Goku if he is terrified by their Pilaf Machines, but Goku is nonplussed. Pilaf continues to boast about their power, but Goku is ready to fight. Pilaf tries again to impress upon Goku how terrified he should be, but that just makes Goku more excited to fight. Pilaf orders Mai to attack; Mai thinks Pilaf should be the one to go first. Pilaf says she should have faith in the machines. As they argue, Goku gets impatient and kicks Pilaf into a rock. In the anime, his kick fails to make an impact, so he picks up a rock and throws it at Pilaf instead. That also does nothing, so Goku is impressed by how strong they are. Pilaf picks Goku up with a robotic arm and throws him into a rock. He is surprised when Goku is still alive, and he orders Shuu to finish him off. Shuu aims laser beams at Goku, but he cannot him him. Goku attacks Pilaf with his Nyoi-bō and knocks him into a rock (bringing us back to where the manga left off).

Goku says they are not that strong after all. (This line is omitted in the anime, where he had already said the opposite.) Pilaf realizes it is time for the tail-grabbing plan. They prepare to attack, and Shuu realizes that his tail is not visible. Goku must have hidden it inside his pants. Pilaf asks Goku for a time-out while they decide what to do. When they finally decide, they apologize for making him wait, and then they surround him. Pilaf points a finger to distract him, Mai grabs him, and Shuu torches him to burn off his pants. Pilaf goes to grab his tail, but there is no tail. Meanwhile, Goku is unimpressed with Mai's strength and begins to push her mech arms apart. Mai urges Pilaf to hurry and grab Goku's tail; this kid is strong. Pilaf tells them that his tail is gone!

The Pilaf Machines fire a torpedo in "Ostrich Mode".

Goku breaks free, and he is mad as hell about his pants. Pilaf asks him what happened to his tail, and Goku tells them it fell off. Mai asks what they should do now, and Pilaf says they have no choice but to overwhelm him with brute strength. Goku is tired of talking; he tells them he is going to attack. Pilaf rallies the Gang to join combine. Mai's mech forms the torso, Shuu forms the legs, and Pilaf is the head. Goku is not scared at all. He starts charging up a Kamehameha, and Pilaf wonders what he is saying. He does not wonder long; soon enough, the blast hits them, severing one of Mai's arms. Goku is amused and tells them that his Kamehameha was just a weak one.

Mai informs Pilaf that Unit #2 is completely disabled, so he commands her to abandon it and convert to "Ostrich" Mode. She puts her Pilaf Machine in its capsule and jumps on top of Shuu's mech, while Pilaf attaches to Shuu at the end of a long "neck". Then Shuu runs away, with Pilaf in tow. Goku runs after them, catching up quickly, so Pilaf commands Shuu to launch the missile. A torpedo with a shark face is launched from the Ostrich's bum. Goku catches it, and tosses it right back at them. Goku approaches the wreckage and tells them to give him the Dragon Ball. Pilaf hands it over, but Goku needs one more thing: Shuu's clothes. They fit perfectly; Shuu covers himself in embarrassment as Goku bids them farewell. In the anime, Mai asks Pilaf what they will do now, and Shuu suggests that maybe they should forget about the Dragon Balls. Pilaf tells him to shut up.

Demon King Piccolo Arc

Frustrated with always being outmatched by Goku, the Pilaf Gang decides to release Demon King Piccolo from the rice cooker he was sealed in by Mutaito's Mafūba technique. The Turtle Hermit had buried the rice cooker on the ocean floor, but the Gang retrieved it, releasing Piccolo and telling him all about the Dragon Balls. Pilaf thinks that Piccolo will wish for world domination, but he does not need the Dragon Balls for that; he plans to wish for eternal youth. Pilaf reminds Piccolo of all the trouble they went to finding the rice cooker, providing him with a ship, telling him about the Dragon Balls and the Tenka'ichi Budōkai. Piccolo does not take the hint, so Pilaf asks if he would be willing to bestow half the world upon them. Piccolo is not moved, so Pilaf assures him that they would settle with a third or a fourth. Piccolo tells them he will think about it, and begins to fantasize about killing martial artists like the one who sealed him away.

Tambourine returns to the ship, handing over the Four-Star Ball, relaying that it was where the Gang said it would be. Pilaf reminds the Demon King of their usefulness, and they help Tambourine paste the profiles of the martial artists to the walls. Tambourine is surprised that Kuririn was a martial artist, since he was so weak; he tells Piccolo that he already killed that one, wadding up the paper. Mai finds Goku's profile and calls it to the attention of Pilaf; no wonder he was so strong. He has entered the Tenka'ichi Budōkai twice and placed second both times. Tambourine says he already killed that one, too, and the Gang is shocked. Tambourine does not think much of Goku's strength, either, and tells Piccolo he does not have much to worry about in this era. The Demon King is happy to hear the news, but he is not going to take any chances; he tells Tambourine to proceed as planned. The Pilaf Gang begins to wonder if they have made a mistake.

Piccolo tells Tambourine to dedicate himself to the task of hunting down the martial artists; he will create another warrior to hunt down the Dragon Balls. Shuu wonders if he is going to do that thing again; Pilaf seems nauseated. Piano warns Piccolo that creating another warrior will accelerate his aging process, but Piccolo is not worried. The Pilaf Gang cringes as Piccolo spits up an egg; he gives this child the form of a dragon and calls it Cymbal. He asks Cymbal if he understands the task of finding the Dragon Balls; Cymbal does, so Piccolo asks the Pilaf Gang for the location of the next ball. Pilaf locates the closest one on the globe, and Cymbal departs for it while Tambourine goes after Namu. Shuu does not think that Piccolo feels any debt of gratitude to them, but Pilaf reassures him.

When Cymbal is killed by Yajirobe, Piccolo feels his death, and the Pilaf Gang becomes nervous. They try to reassure Piccolo that there must be some mistake, but he demands to know how Cymbal died, then. He calls in Tambourine, who has just defeated Giran, his sixth kill. Piccolo gives Tambourine the location of his death and tells him to be careful, even though he is several times stronger than Cymbal. Pilaf finds it strange that Piccolo is talking to himself, but Mai tells him it is telepathy. When Piccolo feels the death of Tambourine, Pilaf says there sure are some unknown powers out there, and Mai fearfully wonders if maybe Godzilla is real. Piccolo orders them to pilot the ship to the spot where Cymbal and Tambourine were killed.

On the way, Pilaf notices that someone else is gathering the Dragon Balls; four of them are together in one location. Piccolo is not concerned; these people have saved them the trouble of collecting them. They arrive, and Mai announces this to Piccolo, but Shuu tells her that she made the announcement on the outside speakers. She makes the announcement again on the inside speakers, but she has already alerted Goku and Yajirobe, the latter of whom gives his Dragon Ball to Goku and runs away. Pilaf cannot believe that it was Goku who killed Tambourine and Cymbal. Piccolo asks who this Goku is, and Pilaf tells him that Goku has always interfered when they tried to gather the Dragon Balls before. Pilaf warns Piccolo that though Goku looks puny, he is quite strong, but Piccolo still cannot believe his children were killed by this child. He descends to the battlefield.

Goku attacks and Piccolo seems to be having trouble. The Pilaf Gang wants to retreat, but Piano tells them to have more faith in the Demon King. Piccolo removes his cloak and easily gains the upper hand. He then defeats Goku and takes the One-Star Ball, leaving Goku for dead. Pilaf cannot believe he is so powerful, and Shuu thinks it is especially impressive for such an old guy. Pilaf asks if he will be even stronger when he wishes for eternal youth, and Piano tells him that his power now is nothing compared to what it will be then.

Dragon Ball GT

The Pilaf Gang in their new mech suits.

As Pilaf and the Gang head to God's Temple, their combined mech's computer warns them that there is an intense battle power reading coming from the Heavenly Realm. Pilaf says he knows but he will not allow anything to deter him. They will complete their mission. As it turns out, Goku and Oob are training inside a special room that Dende built for the purpose, but the room does not appear to be up to the task. Pilaf peeks in through a window, then they use suction grips to climb onto the Temple surface. Just then, Goku's blast bursts through the Temple surface and sends them flying inside the Temple, separating their combination.

Mai is concerned for Pilaf, but he is fine. After decades of research and suffering and a bit of luck, he has finally discovered that the Ultimate Dragon Balls are here in the Heavenly Realm! He will never give up until they are his. Just then, another blast sends them flying again. Goku and Oob have finished training. Inside the Temple, Pilaf finds the Ultimate Dragon Balls, covered in dust. Mai asks if they are really Dragon Balls, so Pilaf polishes a bit of the One-Star Ball to show her. Shuu wonders why these have black stars, when the other Dragon Balls had red stars. Pilaf says that is not the only thing that is different about these balls. They were created by the previous God before he split with Demon King Piccolo, and before his power was divided in half. They gather the balls together to make their wish outside on the Temple surface.

Super Saiyan 4 Goku rescues the Pilaf Gang before the Earth explodes.

Shuu tearfully rejoices that they will finally be able to achieve world domination after all these years, but Mai is worried they will be interrupted yet again before they can make their wish. Pilaf decides to get on with it. He summons Ultimate Shenlong just as Goku is walking outside. Goku asks what they are doing there, and then he recognizes them. Pilaf does not recognize him, so Shuu tells him this is Son Goku. Pilaf asks, the Goku who is always ruining their plans? Mai confirms that it is the very same Goku, and he seems to be even stronger now. Goku seems happy to see them, and asks again what they are doing here. Pilaf says they are just taking care of a small task, but Goku wants to know more; he just saw a weird light coming out of here. Pilaf panics and orders Mai and Shuu to attack. They fire torpedoes at him, but he catches them, just as he did the last time they met. Goku surmises they are going to do something bad, as usual. Pilaf wishes that Goku was a little kid again, so they could stomp him. Ultimate Shenlong grants this wish and departs. Pilaf cannot believe his dreams of world domination have been foiled again.

Worse, Kaiō tells Goku that when the Ultimate Dragon Balls are used, they scatter across the universe, and if they are not gathered together again within a year, the planet they were used on will be destroyed. Goku, Pan, and Trunks manage to gather them all, but two weeks before the time is up, Baby uses them to wish for a New Planet Tsufru, so Earth is going to be destroyed anyway. Goku finds the Pilaf Gang and teleports them off the planet, though they do not seem to want to go.

Dragon Ball Super

Flashback to Pilaf wishing for youth for the Pilaf Gang in Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods.

Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods and Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F' predated Dragon Ball Super, but their stories were retold in its first two arcs, and they are wholly part of the Super-era lore. In Dragon Ball GT, which is set five years following the epilogue of Dragon Ball Z, the Gang had become very old. In Battle of Gods, which takes place chronologically more than ten years before GT begins, the Gang are in the bodies of small children, making a clean break with GT continuity. When Akira Toriyama decided to use the Pilaf Gang in Battle of Gods, he realized that they would be getting a little old, so he decided to make them younger. He also decided to develop Mai as a love interest for Trunks.

Mai mentions in the film that Pilaf had previously wished for youth. This is accompanied by a brief flashback of Pilaf making the wish, but they did not say when the wish was made. Some fans were left with the impression that the wish had been made somewhat recently, so when Future Mai was introduced in the Future Trunks Arc of Dragon Ball Super, they were confused as to how the same wish could have been made in a timeline where the Dragon Balls had been extinct since the death of Piccolo during the initial battle with the artificial humans.

Toyotarō elaborated on the story in a bonus chapter of the Dragon Ball Super manga, revealing that the wish predated the death of Piccolo, which also explained why Pilaf did not know that Shenlong could grant more than one wish in Resurrection 'F'. The bonus chapter that debuted in the attendee booklet for Jump Victory Carnival 2016, more than a month after the first episode of the Future Trunks arc debuted on Fuji TV. The comic was reprinted in Dragon Ball Super Volume 2.

Was the Pilaf gang appearing again also something you were particular about, Sensei? They had become children, though….
Yeah, about that. (laughs) Originally, they were just going to be petty thieves. But since we were going to have the entire cast, I thought [it wouldn’t be great if] some unknown characters just suddenly showed up. So I made them into the Pilaf Gang. But you know, thinking long and hard about it after making that decision, they were all getting pretty old. (laughs)
Mai says she’s 41 years old. (laughs)
So I came up the idea that if I made them younger, they’d be just right.
They stirred things up in an unexpected role. I was honestly surprised at that romantic development!
Ah! Well, anyway, that’s the Pilaf gang for you. If they were to keep on appearing as villains, they’d just be easily defeated. So I figured, “maybe if I inject a little romance, the later developments will come more easily~”. (laughs) I hardly ever draw romance.
— Akira Toriyama

41 years old is not quite right for Mai's age, but the chronological setting of the movie was changed; it was originally supposed to be set at Kuririn and No. 18's wedding, where 41 would be about right for Mai's age. See Mai for a more detailed analysis of her age.

Battle of Gods

The Pilaf Gang does not appear in this arc of the Dragon Ball Super manga.

Film

The Pilaf Gang accidentally opens a boat capsule in the "Uncut" version of Battle of Gods.

There are two versions of the film Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods, and the "Uncut" version released on home video has additional scenes of the Pilaf Gang. The story is also told differently in Dragon Ball Super.

In the film, as Beerus acquaints himself with the guests at Bulma's birthday party, the Pilaf Gang searches Capsule Corporation for the Dragon Balls. They are all in the bodies of small children. In the uncut version of the film, after they are seen in silhouette through the Capsule Corp. window, they are searching room by room when they accidentally open a capsule with a boat in it. In the theater version of the film, after they are seen in the window it goes directly to the scene where Pilaf pulls a Dragon Radar out of his pocket and confirms that the Dragon Balls are all together nearby.

Pilaf tells the others that this time, he plans to wish for money. Shuu is surprised, and Mai wonders why he is not going to wish for world domination, but Pilaf thinks money should come first. They cannot even get part-time work in these bodies. Mai reminds him that he was the one who wished for them to be younger (she does not say when the wish was made). Pilaf explains that there is no point dominating the world if they are old and on the edge of death, but Mai thinks they are too young. Shuu is happy; his life is measured in dog years. Pilaf tells them to get on with it and find the Dragon Balls, and if they cannot do that, at least grab anything that looks valuable. Mai and Shuu salute, and the search continues.

Pilaf admires the second prize for the bingo tournament at Bulma's birthday party in Battle of Gods.

Mai notices a door with a sign that reads "Bingo Tournament Prizes". Inside the room, there is a capsule, an airplane, a pipe organ, a very large diamond, and assorted hams for participation prizes. Pilaf is overcome with distaste for these people's opulence, and he starts spray-painting graffiti on the airplane and the hams. (In the uncut version, Shuu searches the plane and Mai checks out the organ.) Pilaf wonders if the Dragon Balls are inside the castle when Shuu calls his attention to the hams. Pilaf's mouth waters as he tells Shuu to grab a few of them. Mai finds the diamond, noticing that it is the second place prize. They realize that the first prize must be something truly amazing, and sure enough, first prize is the collected Dragon Balls. They celebrate finding them so easily, and Shuu urges Pilaf to make their wish immediately, but Pilaf thinks he is stupid, and Mai reminds him that if they call Shenlong in this room, the ceiling will collapse on top of them.

Just then, Trunks opens the door and asks what they are doing in there. Mai tells him they are friends with the boy who lives there, but this confuses Trunks. They are his friends? Pilaf asks if he is the boy who lives there, and Trunks is surprised that the "monkey" talks. Pilaf is outraged; he is not a monkey; he is the Great King Pilaf! Mai reminds Pilaf that they are there to rob the place and it might not be a good idea to tell them his name. Meanwhile, Trunks calls Goten over to come look at the funny monkey. Shuu tells Trunks to be quiet, or he might get hurt, but then Goten enters the doorway, and the Gang is paralyzed. His distinctive hair is very familiar! (In the uncut version, his naive eyes are also very familiar!) They panic and run out of the room.

Mai looks back at Trunks as she runs away in Battle of Gods.

As they run down the hallway, Mai hangs behind. She regretfully reaches in her pocket and pulls out the giant diamond, handing it over to Trunks. Then she runs away again. She looks back at Trunks in slow motion before rounding the corner, yelling at Pilaf to wait for her. Goten thinks the monkey and the dog were strange, and he asks Trunks who that pretty girl was who gave him the diamond. Trunks brags to Goten that she was his girlfriend, and Goten is amazed. He asks if they are going out, and Trunks says yes; they have even held hands. Goten is in awe.

In the "Uncut" version of Battle of Gods, Mai and Pilaf are left speechless when Shuu tells them that the diamond was worth more than ten billion Zenni.

Outside, the Gang pauses to catch their breath against the building. Pilaf cannot believe that boy is here; Shuu is surprised that he is still a child, too. Pilaf says it is all his fault that they did not get the Dragon Balls, again, but Mai laughs and proudly presents the Four-Star Ball, which she managed to steal, using the diamond as a distraction. Pilaf points out that they cannot get their wish granted with just one ball, but Mai thinks they can hold it as a ransom and demand one million Zenni for it.

In the "Uncut" version of the film, Shuu points out that the diamond was probably worth more than ten billion Zenni. Pilaf and Mai are speechless for a long, uncomfortable moment, but then Pilaf tells Shuu that such a huge amount of money would just cause more stress. Mai wants to know if Shuu will wash their pants if they get nervous and wet them, but Pilaf thinks that joke is crude, so Mai apologizes. Then Pilaf notices Goten standing some distance away. He seems to be talking about them to Bulma, so they freak out again and back up against the wall. (This scene is omitted in the theater version of the movie.)

Mai contemplates holding hands with Trunks in Battle of Gods.

Bulma asks Trunks if that girl over there is really his girlfriend, and tells him to call her over there. Trunks panics, but then he flies over to Mai. Pilaf is impressed that he flew, but Trunks tells him nevermind that, and explains his situation to Mai. He lied to his friend and told him that she was his girlfriend (ガールフレンド gārufurendo). Pilaf thinks Trunks is talking about him, and he blushes. Trunks irritably tells him, "Not you!" Shuu then thinks Trunks was talking about him, but Trunks does not know why. He points at Mai; obviously he was talking about the girl (女の子 onna no ko). Mai tells him she cannot imagine herself with a little boy like him, but Trunks points out she is a little girl, so what is the problem? She realizes he has her, and when he asks her to pretend to be his girlfriend, she asks him what she would have to do. Trunks suggests they hold hands, and stuff, and Mai is embarrassed; she cannot believe today's children are so depraved. Trunks tells them they can help themselves to the food and join in the bingo tournament, so Pilaf and Shuu are determined that Mai should take one for the team. Mai tells Pilaf that, even though he is a child, she does not know if she can hold hands with a boy on the same day that she met him. Pilaf thinks she is more than old enough for this sort of activity, but Mai tells him that there are some things one should just not say. Pilaf encourages her to do it for the food, and the bingo tournament. Mai realizes that bingo could be their path to the Dragon Balls.

At that moment, Pilaf realizes that he recognizes Bulma, but he does not know where from. After a bit of thought, he remembers: she is the blue-haired girl from back then! Shuu agrees, it is her! And she is talking with that kid... Pilaf has a bad feeling about this whole situation, but Trunks tells them it is time to go join the party. As the Gang eats, Bulma asks Mai how old she is, and Mai says she is 41. Bulma is shocked, but Pilaf laughs and admonishes Mai not to tease the grown-ups like that.

The Pilaf Gang tries to hold Trunks hostage in Battle of Gods.

A little later, Bulma comes out on stage to announce the prizes for the bingo tournament. The airplane and the castle are nice, but the main attraction is the first prize: all seven Dragon Balls! The Gang realizes they are in trouble, and indeed, Yamcha soon notices that there are only six balls there, and then everyone sees it: the Four-Star Ball is missing! The Gang tries to stealthily sneak away, but Trunks calls after them, asking Mai if he can at least have her cell phone number. Gohan looks in their direction. Mai tells Trunks with annoyance that she does not own anything that fancy. She tries to run away with the Gang, but Trunks catches her arm, and the Dragon Ball drops out of her coat. Pilaf yells at her, calling her an idiot, and he chases after the ball. He catches it, and realizes he is trapped. Everyone is watching them now. Shuu tells him it is his fault for yelling out. Mai declares that there is little choice left. She breaks free of Trunks's grasp and pulls out a gun, while Shuu unsheathes his sword. Mai grabs Trunks in a half-nelson and points the gun at his head, while Shuu threatens him with the sword.

Mai urges Pilaf to take charge of the scene, so he demands they hand over one million Zenni, or the boy is dead! The partygoers are speechless, so Pilaf says that 100,000 Zenni would suffice. Everyone laughs. Mai asks them what is so funny; she is really going to kill Trunks! Beerus finds their reaction to this scene to be unacceptable and decides they need some discipline, but Vegeta assures him that it is just a game; that girl is his son's girlfriend, after all. Trunks blushes and tries to get Mai's attention; she tells him no talking, but he protests that her chest is touching him, and she is embarrassed. Then Gohan, his face flushed with alcohol, announces that this side show looks fun; he will play along. He transforms into Great Saiyaman and informs the Pilaf Gang, while doing his trademark poses, that he will not tolerate villains. Yamcha, Kuririn, and Oolong cheer him on.

Mai shoots all of her bullets at Gohan in Battle of Gods.

Gohan approaches them and tells them to shoot at him. Mai thinks he is crazy, and Pilaf warns him to stay back, but Gohan assures Mai that it is okay to shoot at him to liven things up. He recommends that she empty her entire clip at him at once. Mai is bewildered, but Trunks tells her that Gohan can just deflect the bullets. Gohan warns her to keep it simple and aim at his face, not his feet or anything like that. He backs up a short distance and shouts at the villains to bring it on. Mai lets go of Trunks, saying that Gohan asked for it; she takes aim and shoots all of her bullets at Gohan. He deflects them with one finger and boasts that they cannot challenge the power of the Great Saiyaman. Kuririn is embarrassed; Gohan does not get drunk often.

Gohan is astonished that these children had a real gun; he thought it was a toy. He admonishes them for carrying such dangerous things; if it had been anyone else, this situation could have gotten serious. Videl cries out; apparently one of the bullets Gohan deflected has hit her in the leg. Chi-Chi berates him and tells him not to drink any more. (In the "Uncut" version, Pilaf wonders if they are dreaming; Shuu says he thought they were dreaming before, but it was all real. Mai asks Trunks if he can deflect bullets too, and he says that of course he can; did Mai not know that when she started the "act"? Trunks criticizes Shuu's performance; he should have come slashing at him with the blade. Shuu apologizes, and then Trunks criticizes Pilaf's intensity. All in all, the act could have gone a lot better. Pilaf assures him they will try harder next time.)

Trunks and Mai / sitting in a tree /
H-O-L-D-I-N-G (hands).

One of the bullets also hits Beerus in the forehead; he is unharmed, but peeved. To prevent Beerus from destroying the Earth, Vegeta performs a song and dance. Bulma chastises the Gang for playing with the Dragon Ball; it is not a toy. She takes the Four-Star Ball and thanks them for their little skit. When Beerus starts fighting Majin Boo, the Pilaf Gang faints. Trunks catches Mai, and in the "Uncut" version, he calls for Goten to grab Pilaf and Shuu and help him carry them to safety. Once they come to, Trunks and Goten decide to join the fight as Gotenks. (The theater version picks up with their fusion.) When Goku arrives and summons Shenlong, the Pilaf Gang is nowhere to be seen. When the rest of the gang jumps in a spaceship to follow the fight, they do not join. After the fight is over, Bulma restarts her birthday party. Pilaf and Shuu are seen eating while Trunks and Mai hold hands in a palm tree.

Anime

In the Dragon Ball Super anime's version of events, Bulma's birthday party is held on a cruise ship. Trunks shows off the prizes to Goten, who is very impressed when Trunks reveals the grand prize: the Dragon Balls!

The Pilaf Gang searches for treasure on a small island in Dragon Ball Super Episode 4.

Meanwhile, the Pilaf Gang are hungry and destitute. Pilaf is trying to catch a fish while Mai and Shuu search for treasure on a small island not far from where Bulma's cruise ship is sailing. Mai blames Pilaf for their plight, and Shuu complains that he has only had grass to eat for three days. Mai does not believe there is any treasure on this island, but Pilaf insists it should be where the map says. Mai wads up the map, saying that it is cheap and not to be trusted; Pilaf's boat is cheap too, and the engine has died. They cannot even get back to harbor. Shuu fears that he will die on this island, but Pilaf tells them to stop complaining and get to looking for the treasure. Mai angrily digs holes, while a frightened Pilaf wishes he had some monjayaki to eat. Even the fish are disrespecting the Great King Pilaf; he cannot even catch a small one.

Back on the ship, the cloaking device protecting the Dragon Balls opens up as Trunks and Goten look on in awe. The Dragon Radar in Pilaf's pocket suddenly starts beeping; he pulls it out, and sees that all of the Dragon Balls are together. Even more exciting, the balls are headed in their direction! The ship's foghorn blows, and Pilaf looks up. He cannot believe his luck! Just then, his fishing pole starts dancing; Mai tells him he has caught a fish, so he tries to reel it in and drops the Dragon Radar in the ocean. Then the line snaps and he loses the fish too, but Pilaf tells them it is alright; they need not concern themselves with small fry anymore; he has found all seven Dragon Balls! He pulls the radar out of the water and laughs uproariously when he sees the Dragon Balls again.

The Pilaf Gang runs from a shark in Dragon Ball Super Episode 4.

Trunks tells Goten he has to put the Dragon Balls away, so he puts them back in their cloaked dome. While Pilaf laughs, the signal on the Dragon Radar dies. Pilaf shows the radar to Mai and Shuu, but there is nothing there; they think he is having delusions from hunger. Mai cannot believe he let that fish get away, but Pilaf insists he really did see the Dragon Balls. Shuu suggests that maybe the radar broke when it fell in the water, but Pilaf says it is waterproof, and he definitely saw them. They get in their boat and head for the cruise ship; Pilaf bails water out of the boat while Mai and Shuu row. Mai says she cannot row any more, and Shuu complains that he is hungry, but Pilaf insists that the Dragon Balls are on that ship; they have to catch it! While he stops to talk, the ship fills dangerously with water. He yells at them to row, and goes back to bailing out water. Mai starts crying, and Shuu says they cannot do it anymore. Pilaf tells them to stop crying and move to the prow of the ship; once they get the Dragon Balls, they can do anything. But Mai still does not believe the Dragon Balls are really there. Their boat suddenly capsizes, and then they see a shark headed toward them. They freak out and swim toward the ship, trying to climb up the side.

The Pilaf Gang drools as caterers walk past with food in Dragon Ball Super Episode 4.

Suddenly Trunks calls out to them, asking what they are doing down there as he tosses rope ladders over the side of the ship. Goten waves at them and tells them to climb up. On the deck, they wring out their clothes and thank the boys for inviting them up. Goten asks what they were doing down there. Pilaf laughs, and begins to tell Goten they were after the Dra— [ドラ(ゴンボール)], but Mai and Shuu stop him before he spills the beans, and he changes to "drama" (ドラマ). They were shooting a drama. Trunks asks where his camera is. Pilaf tries to think of an explanation, but just then, the scent of food wafts in the Gang's direction and they are all overcome with thoughts of food. Their stomachs growl in chorus. Trunks invites them to have some food at his mother's birthday party; there are several booths set up. Mai and Shuu are ecstatic, but Pilaf admonishes them not to accept charity; he is the Great King Pilaf. Mai says she will do as he says. Trunks and Goten seem disappointed, but they go back to the party and leave the Gang on the deck. As they sit and watch the caterers walk past with delicious-looking food, Pilaf tells Mai and Shuu they are too obedient. They should defy him for once, and share the spoils.

Pilaf gets his first taste of the food at Bulma's birthday party in Dragon Ball Super Episode 4.

Just then, Trunks and Goten arrive with heaping plates of food. Pilaf concedes defeat and takes a bite which overcomes him with rapturous joy. He tells Mai and Shuu to have some too. They thank him and dig in, while Trunks and Goten hold the plates, sharing a laugh and a smile. Eventually, they make a picnic in the grass on the outskirts of the party and eat even more food. When they are full, they rest against each other. Pilaf is at peace. Mai says she had forgotten what it felt like to be full. Shuu thinks that taking over the world seems like a lot of hassle right now, and Pilaf sleepily agrees. Then he realizes what he has said and jumps up yelling. World domination is the Pilaf Gang's reason for being and they will never give up! The Dragon Balls are on this ship...but the radar still shows nothing. Mai tells Pilaf to help them pack up the leftovers.

After the fighting starts, the Gang hightails it off the ship on a lifeboat. Pilaf complains that Mai and Shuu are not rowing fast enough, and Shuu says they are doing their best; he could switch with one of them. Pilaf tells them to stop whining, and Mai cannot believe he said this to them. Shuu sighs and regrets the feast they left behind. Pilaf asks what he means, and then realizes they forgot to being the leftovers. Mai reminds him that he was the one who rushed them, and Shuu points out they were barely able to find a boat in the rubbish. Pilaf says that is neither here nor there; they are terrible subordinates. Mai thinks they should go back to the ship; the Dragon Balls are definitely there. Pilaf wonders why she believes him now, but Shuu says that either way, there is sure to be treasure on the ship. Pilaf tells them to be quiet; he does not want to get caught up in a fight between monsters.

The Gang spots Shenlong in Dragon Ball Super Episode 9.

When Goku arrives and calls Shenlong, Pilaf thinks a storm is coming; he tells Mai and Shuu to row faster, but Mai spots Shenlong in the sky and tells Pilaf to look. He sees Shenlong and is momentarily happy to see that he was right about the Dragon Balls, and then he yells at Shuu and Mai for not believing him. He orders them to row them back to the ship. When Goku and the others begin the ritual to turn him into a Super Saiyan God, the Gang notices the golden clouds gathering, and then their ship is caught in a whirlpool created by the gathering energy.

The Gang takes a nap in Dragon Ball Super Episode 10.

After Goku and Beerus begin fighting, the Gang appears on the ship again. They peek around a corner and see that the party has broken up, and the Dragon Balls are not there, either. Pilaf wishes they had left behind some food, and then he starts to cry uncontrollably. Mai and Shuu comfort him, and then Whis appears to let them know that he has ordered some more food, if they would like to join him. Pilaf wavers, looks at his henchmen guiltily, and then enthusiastically accepts Whis's offer. Mai and Shuu embrace Pilaf happily, and Whis laughs at the scene. At a shaded table, Mai pops some sushi in her mouth and Pilaf thanks Whis for taking them somewhere quiet to eat. Whis says he understands how they feel; Beerus is being childish. Whis watches the fight with a smile while the Gang eats. The fight is heating up when they lay down in the grass for a nap. Pilaf jerks awake once, looks around, and then goes back to sleep. They sleep through the universe-threatening shockwaves caused by Goku and Beerus. When the fight is over, they are seen on the lifeboat again. Mai and Shuu are content with the good food they had, but Pilaf declares that he will not rest until he has the Dragon Balls! They row away into the sunset.

There is no romance between Mai and Trunks in the Dragon Ball Super version of Battle of Gods.

Resurrection 'F'

The Pilaf Gang does not appear in this arc of the Dragon Ball Super manga.

Film

Sorbet and Tagoma spy on the Pilaf Gang in Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F'.

Freeza's old soldier Sorbet has been spying on Earth and has discovered that Bulma is not the only one who knows how to find the Dragon Balls. Since they cannot find New Namek, Sorbet decides to travel to Earth with Tagoma to wish for the resurrection of Freeza. On the surveillance screen, Tagoma sees that the Pilaf Gang has already gathered six balls. Sorbet tells Tagoma they must hurry before they find the last ball. On Earth, Pilaf uses the Dragon Radar to guide them to the last ball, which is on the ocean floor. Pilaf advises Sorbet that the ball is directly below them, but the ocean is very deep here. Tagoma dives to retrieve the ball, and the Gang momentarily excuses themselves. Pilaf blames Mai for not finding the last ball quickly enough, while Mai seems to think that Pilaf gave into them too easily. Pilaf instructs Mai and Shuu to attack them with gun and katana. Shuu tells Pilaf he should fight too; Pilaf thinks he is supposed to be the brains, but he agrees to join. With Pilaf wielding a stick, they try to sneak up on Sorbet, but he disarms Mai and Shuu easily with his laser-firing ring. (He does not bother with Pilaf's stick.) Sorbet warns them not to take him lightly because he is small, so they all bow and apologize.

Pilaf presents Sorbet and Tagoma with one of Freeza's eyes on Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F'.

Tagoma returns with the final Dragon Ball, and the Gang accompanies Sorbet to dry land. Before summoning Shenlong, Pilaf asks Sorbet for assurances that they will not be killed afterward, but Sorbet says not to worry; he might have a use for them later. Sorbet notices that they do not seem to believe him. Mai tells him defiantly that she has a boyfriend named Trunks, and Pilaf summons Shenlong. Sorbet wishes for Freeza to be resurrected. Shenlong tells him that Freeza's body was cut to pieces, so resurrecting him might not do any good, but Tagoma is certain that their regeneration equipment is up to the task, so Sorbet repeats his demand to Shenlong, who thinks he is rude. Sorbet repeats the wish nicely, so Shenlong grants his wish and asks for the second wish. Sorbet did not know that he could make a second wish, and while he is trying to decide whether to bring back Great King Cold, Shuu asks Shenlong for one million Zenni. Shenlong drops the money in front of Shuu, and the Gang celebrates as Shenlong departs. Sorbet is angry and wants to take revenge, but Tagoma urges him to hurry before the Saiyans come. They begin gathering the pieces of Freeza's body for preservation, and when they are finished, Pilaf presents them with a piece they missed: one of Freeza's eyes. Sorbet compliments their work and assures them he will be back with Freeza and his army. Pilaf congratulates Shuu on his wish, but Mai complains that he should have asked for more money. Shuu says he just thought that would be enough for them to eat well for some time, so Pilaf says they should go get some Mongolian barbecue. Mai wants some pudding too.

Anime

Sorbet shows the Pilaf Gang to Tagoma and Shisami on his surveillance camera in Dragon Ball Super Episode 19.

The anime version of events goes much the same, with minor variations. Sorbet cannot find New Namek, so he decides it will be worth the risk to go to Earth. Bulma is not the only one who can find the Dragon Balls; he shows the Pilaf Gang to Tagoma and Shisami on the surveillance camera. To avoid detection, Sorbet travels to Earth alone with Tagoma. The Pilaf Gang has just found the One-Star Ball in a cave, and now they have all seven! They take a moment to think about all of the hardships they have faced to reach this goal: they crossed seas, scaled mountains, and did battle with beasts. The world will finally belong to Great King Pilaf! Just then, Sorbet and Tagoma enter the cave and demand they hand over the Dragon Balls. Mai draws her gun and Shuu draws his sword, but Sorbet fires his ring gun past Pilaf's head, destroying the wall behind him, and the Gang is cowed. Sorbet says he will put them to work for him.

The Pilaf Gang, wearing special mining gear, finds the One-Star Ball in a cave in Dragon Ball Super Episode 19.

They take the Dragon Balls outside and Pilaf laments this last-minute disruption of their plans. Mai wanst to refuse, but Pilaf and Shuu convince her that these guys are dangerous. Pilaf reluctantly summons Shenlong. He tells Sorbet to go ahead and make his wish, but asks him to promise not to kill them later. Sorbet tells him he might have a use for them yet, and then he asks Shenlong to resurrect Freeza. Shenlong advises him that Freeza will be in pieces, and Tagoma tells Sorbet their regeneration tech can handle it. Sorbet demands Shenlong resurrect Freeza; Shenlong tells Sorbet he is rude; Sorbet asks nicely, and the pieces of Freeza fall, with an eye falling near the Pilaf Gang. Shenlong asks for their next two wishes, and Sorbet is taken aback; Shenlong explains that if one wish requires too much energy, he can only grant one more wish. Pilaf says he did not know that. Sorbet wonders if he should resurrect Great King Cold, but Shuu asks for one million Zenni, and Mai asks for the best ice cream in the world. Shenlong drops these things in front of them, telling Mai that the dry ice is a freebie.

The Pilaf Gang finds Freeza's eye in Dragon Ball Super Episode 19.

With all the wishes granted, Shenlong bids them farewell. Sorbet is angry at the Gang, but Tagoma encourages him to hurry before the Saiyans get there. As they finish packing up Freeza's parts, Pilaf presents them with an eye that they forgot. Sorbet promises to return with Freeza and his army. Mai asks Pilaf who Freeza is; he does not know, but he does not think it sounds good. He suggests they build a spaceship and go to another planet. Shuu doubts whether they can manage that, but Pilaf says it will be easy with the money Shuu got, congratulating him on the wish. Mai says he should have asked for more money, like a hundred million Zenni, but Shuu wants to know why she wished for ice cream; once it melts, it is gone. Mai says she has been waiting patiently for ice cream all this time. Pilaf is just sad that he did not get to make a wish. Shuu reminds him that at least they can eat good for a while with his money, and Mai offers to share the world's greatest ice cream. Pilaf declares that they will eat this fancy ice cream and then go fill their stomachs. They discuss what to eat after ice cream and decide on Mongolian barbecue.

There is no romance between Mai and Trunks in the Dragon Ball Super version of Resurrection 'F'.

God of Destruction Champa Arc

The Pilaf Gang does not appear in this arc of the Dragon Ball Super anime, but this arc marks their first appearance in the Dragon Ball Super manga.

The Pilaf Gang graces the dust jacket of Dragon Ball Super Volume 2. The whiteboard reads "Jump Comics". The paper held by Mai reads "future" (みらい mirai, usually written with kanji: 未来).

The arc began in the manga with the publication of Dragon Ball Super Chapter 5, in stores on 19 October 2015. The arc did not begin in the anime until Dragon Ball Super Episode 28 aired on 24 January 2016. Dragon Ball Super Chapter 10, which begins with Frost taking his final form against Super Saiyan Goku and ends with Vegeta challenging Frost, was in stores on 19 March 2016. Vegeta goes on to defeat Frost in Dragon Ball Super Episode 35, which aired on 20 March 2016. From that point, the anime continued to be ahead of the manga until the anime ended with Dragon Ball Super Episode 131.

Manga

The Pilaf Gang appears on the Cube escorting the Universe 7 fighters and their guests to the God of Destruction Invitational Tournament. They overhear Beerus and Bulma discussing the Super Dragon Balls. Mai asks Pilaf what they are talking about, and Shuu wants to know what is so "super" about them. Are they that big? Pilaf thinks they might be as big as watermelons. Then they notice Goku standing nearby, and they get scared. When they arrive at the Nameless Planet and see the Super Dragon Balls, Mai remarks to Pilaf that they are way bigger than watermelons.

Pilaf is seen roughhousing with Trunks before the tournament begins, while Mai and Shuu appear to be distressed. When Goku takes his turn and everyone cheers him on, the Gang can be seen reacting in fear again. After this, they are occasionally seen in the stands as observers, but Toyotarō mostly focuses on the reactions of the close friends and family of the participants.

Future Trunks Arc

Bonus Chapter

Shenlong makes the Gang into babies just before the death of Piccolo in Future Trunks's timeline.

This bonus chapter debuted in the attendee booklet for Jump Victory Carnival 2016 and was reprinted in Dragon Ball Super Volume 2. It explains how the Pilaf Gang were able to wish for youth in a timeline where the Dragon Balls had been extinct since the death of Piccolo.

In Future Trunks's timeline, everyone is busy battling the artificial humans when Gohan decides he needs to use the Dragon Balls to save the Earth before Piccolo dies too. When Bulma picks him up, he notices that the Dragon Balls have already been gathered by someone. Then the sky goes dark. Before Bulma and Gohan can get there, Pilaf wishes for Shenlong to make them "way waaaay" younger. Shuu wonders if maybe they should not be using the Dragon Balls for something frivolous when he is hearing reports "monsters" near South City, but Shenlong grants the wish, making all of them into babies. Then Gohan and Bulma arrive, but at that moment, Piccolo dies and Shenlong fades away. Gohan grieves for Piccolo as the Gang scrambles away, and on the way out, Mai looks at baby Trunks, who is riding on his mother's back. Trunks looks at her too. This is their first encounter.

The battle with the artificial humans did not go the same way in the main timeline of the story, but since Mai appears to be around the same age as Trunks, and Pilaf did not know Shenlong could grant two wishes in Resurrection 'F', the wish should have been made around the same time, before Piccolo merged with God.