Chop Chai
| Chop Chai | |
|---|---|
| チャプチャイ (Chapuchai) | |
 | |
| English Name(s) | Chapuchai |
| Name Pun | Indonesian stir-fried noodles |
| Anime Debut | Dragon Ball Z Episode 196 |
| Japanese VA | Kazunari Tanaka |
| Personal Data | |
| Notable Skills | Martial artist |
| Relationship Data | |
| Family | Six clones |
Chop Chai is a minor fictional character in the Dragon Ball universe by Akira Toriyama. Son Goku first encountered him in the Afterlife Tournament, where he lost a match against Olivu. Chop Chai was a fighter from the East Galaxy and died at some point prior to Age 767.
Biography
Chop Chai's background is unknown. He lived in the East 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 East Kaiō and sought to receive training from Dai Kaiō himself. In Age 767, Chop Chai fought in the first round of the Afterlife Tournament against Olivu. During the battle, he appeared to use an afterimage technique, but he created multiple clones instead. These clones remained even after the battle and were subsequently seen training with East Kaiō.[1]
Name
Chop Chai is named after an Indonesian fried noodle dish called Chapuchai (チャプチャイ) in Japanese or cap cai in Indonesian. Many Afterlife Tournament characters are named for foods, with Migoren and Sarte both being similarly named after Indonesian dishes.
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. Chop Chai 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
Chop Chai is a formidable martial artist from the East Galaxy. He has both incredible speed as well as the ability to somehow create clones of himself. Unlike a normal after image, these clones do not disappear after the match.
Performance
Chop Chai is voiced by Kazunari Tanaka. Tanaka is known for playing many small roles until Dragon Ball GT where he took on the recurring character of Dan Para.
Notable Appearances
- Dragon Ball Z Episode 196 - Chop Chai's introduction and battle against Olivu.
Notes
References
- ↑ "I'm the Best in the Afterlife!! The Great Assembly of Past Heroes". Dragon Ball Z. Episode 196. Japan: Fuji TV, 11 August 1993.