Artificial Human No. 13
| Artificial Human No. 13 | |
|---|---|
| 人造人間１３号 (Jinzōningen jū san-gō) | |
 | |
| English Name(s) | Android 13 |
| Manga Debut | None[note 1] |
| Anime Debut | Dragon Ball Z Movie 7 |
| Japanese VA | Kazuyuki Sogabe |
| Funimation VA | Chuck Huber |
| Death | Early Summer, Age 767[note 2] |
| Classification | Artificial Human |
| Relationship Data | |
| Family |
Doctor Gero (creator) Other Artificial Human "siblings" including 8, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and Cell |
Artificial Human No. 13 is a fictional character in the Dragon Ball universe by Akira Toriyama. He is the primary antagonist of Dragon Ball Z Movie 7, a film written by Takao Koyama although based on a character design provided by Akira Toriyama. Much like Cell from the main continuity, Artificial Human No. 13 became more powerful by absorbing parts from Artificial Human No. 14 and No. 15. He was destroyed by Son Goku.
Biography
Main Timeline
In the main timeline of the series, Doctor Gero created and discarded a model called "Artificial Human No. 13", although details are scarce. Artificial Humans No. 13 through No. 15 were close to the final form, but had various flaws and were ultimately abandoned.[1] Shortly after being reactivated, No. 17 remarks that units prior to No. 16 appeared to have been discarded.[2].
Movie Timeline
In an alternate timeline presented in Dragon Ball Z Movie 7, No. 13 was an eternal-energy and fully robotic Artificial Human, similar in many respects to the main series's Artificial Human No. 16. His internal workings were designed to be compatible with those of No. 14 and No. 15, who were developed in adjacent pods. Although initially discarded, Doctor Gero's computer continued development on No. 13 as well as his counterparts. Nos. 14 and 15 were completed first and unleashed on Son Goku and his friends in the early summer of Age 767. A few hours later, No. 13 was completed and met up with the battle already in progress at the glacial belt.
Despite being the lower-numbered Artificial Human, No. 13 immediately took a leadership role to focus the fight on Son Goku, while his counterparts kept Future Trunks and Vegeta busy. No. 13 thrashed Goku in the air and underwater; he even nearly pinned him against a glacier with his S. S. Deadly Bomber attack. Once Goku and his friends transformed into Super Saiyans, the tables were turned and No. 14 and No. 15 were destroyed. Now fighting alone, No. 13 used a form of telekinesis to attract and absorb key parts of the other Artificial Humans into his body, allowing him to transform into an awesome new form: Merged No. 13. This new form was even able to overpower all three Super Saiyans and their friends. While Goku powered up a Genki-Dama, his friends fought to distract the Artificial Human. Once he had gathered enough power, Goku somehow absorbed the genki into himself and destroyed No. 13 in the resulting shockwave.
Name
Like all of his Artificial Humans, Doctor Gero gave No. 13 a name representing his place in the development timeline as the thirteenth unit. No explanation is provided as to why the lowest numbered Artificial Human of the three would be the leader or the most powerful. Toriyama's idea for numbered robots may have originated in Dr. Slump Chapter 67 with Dr. Mashirito and his numbered Caramel Man creations.[3] Like Doctor Gero, Mashirito's robots were also intended for world conquest.
Production
Akira Toriyama designed both No. 13's base and merged forms.[4] In his base form, No. 13 wears a vest and a Red Ribbon Army Trucker hat.[note 3] In his merged form, No. 13 loses the hat and vest and takes on a more monstrous appearance including large spiky hair. In the film, Merged No. 13's body turns blue and his hair turns red, however this color scheme may or may not have been intended by Toriyama's original black and white sketches.
Notable Skills
No. 13 is a capable fighter, able to match Cell-era Son Goku, Future Trunks, and Vegeta while in their base forms. Once transformed, he was able to trounce even Super Saiyan Son Goku, except for the distractions posed by Goku's friends. Even in his base form, No. 13 appears to have aspects of both of his counterparts: the 3D Scan Mode sensors of No. 15, as well as the raw power of No. 14. No. 13 also utilizes the S. S. Deadly Bomber attack, a controlled energy ball with a dark red center that is powerful enough to destroy a planet.
Once merged, he takes on a more animalistic attitude, nearly like a berserker. In this form, he is nearly invulnerable to all attacks. Goku's friends are able to exploit No. 13's berserker nature distract him long enough for Goku to gather the energy required to defeat him. [5] Like most characters of the era, he has the ability to fly and to fire a variety of energy attacks.
Performance
Kazuyuki Sogabe plays Artificial Human No. 13, one of several minor villains that he plays in the series. He is best known as the voice of Doctor Mu in Dragon Ball GT
Notable Appearances
- Dragon Ball Z Movie 7 - Artificial Human No. 13's introduction and only appearance to date.
Notes
- ↑ Dragon Ball Chapter 367's title page mentions Artificial Human No. 13, but he is not directly depicted.
- ↑ The events of Movie 7 do not take place in the established anime continuity.
- ↑ A "trucker hat", also known as a "gimme cap" as well as other names, are oversized baseball caps sold or given away at truck stops in the United States, especially during the 1970s.
References
- ↑ Toriyama, Akira. Dragon Ball Chapter 367: "The Reborn Piccolo vs No. 17". Weekly Shōnen Jump, 1992 #17. Japan: Shueisha, 31 March 1992.
- ↑ "Too Late to Do Anything?! The Ultimate Weapons to Kill Goku". Dragon Ball Z. Episode 134. Japan: Fuji TV, 01 April 1992.
- ↑ TODO: Cite Dr. Slump Chapter 67
- ↑ Dragon Ball Daizenshuu 6: Movies & TV Specials. Japan: Shueisha, 04 December 1995. ISBN 4-08-782756-9. (p. 185)
- ↑ Dragon Ball Daizenshuu 6: Movies & TV Specials. Japan: Shueisha, 04 December 1995. ISBN 4-08-782756-9. (p. 97)