Caterpi

Caterpi
キャタピー (Kyatapī)
English Name(s)	Caterpy
Name Pun	Caterpillar
Anime Debut	Dragon Ball Z Episode 196
Personal Data
Notable Skills	Martial artist

Caterpi is a minor fictional character in the Dragon Ball universe, introduced as one of the many fighters in the Afterlife Tournament that Son Goku encounters or observes in Age 767. Goku fought against him in the first round of the Afterlife Tournament, which takes place some time after his death in the battle against Perfect Cell. Caterpi was a fighter from the South Galaxy and died at some point prior to Age 767.

Caterpi first appears in episode 196 of the Dragon Ball Z television series, as scripted by Aya Matsui, which debuted 11 August 1993 on Fuji TV.

Biography

Caterpi's background is unknown. He lived in the South Galaxy and died sometime prior to Age 767. He was a powerful enough martial artist that he was granted his body in the Afterlife. He likely trained with South Kaiō and sought to receive training from Dai Kaiō himself. In Age 767, Caterpi fought in the first round of the Afterlife Tournament against Son Goku. After discovering that Goku was too strong, he began to transform into his final form. As that transformation takes 1,200 years, Goku was declared the victor by default.

Name

Characters introduced in the Afterlife Tournament largely appear to have names based on some sort of east/southeast Asian food dish, or have a name that is an on-the-nose play on their overall appearance. Caterpi's name is likely the latter, being a pun on "caterpillar" (キャタピラ kyatapira) in Japanese. He shares his pun with the Pokemon of the same name, although his appearance in Dragon Ball Z predates the releases of Pokemon Green and Red by six years.

Production

Due to the production schedule inherent in producing a weekly anime series based on a weekly comic, the writers of Dragon Ball Z interjected anime-only material both as a means of extending the runtime and to flesh out the Dragon Ball universe. Caterpi and the entire Afterlife Tournament arc was written to depict Son Goku's experience in the afterlife prior to the time-skip and the arrival of Boo.

Notable Skills

Caterpi is a formidable martial artist, but from the "peaceful" South Galaxy. He uses his numerous legs and incredible speed to trap Son Goku, but then tries to convince him to give up using a tickle attack. When that was unsuccessful, he began transforming into his final form — a process that would take 1,200 years. He would presumably be more powerful when he emerges, in approximately Age 1,967.

Performance

Caterpi is voiced by Yasuhiko Kawazu in his only appearance to date. Kawazu is known for playing small bit roles throughout the series, eventually becoming the primary voice for Mister Popo in Dragon Ball Kai and Dragon Ball Super.

Notable Appearances

• Dragon Ball Z Episode 196 - Caterpi's introduction and battle against Son Goku.