Pseudo Super Saiyan

Pseudo Super Saiyan
Son Goku transforms into the Pseudo Super Saiyan form
疑似超サイヤ人 Giji Sūpā Saiyajin
Debut	Dragon Ball Z Movie 4
First Character	Son Goku

Pseudo Super Saiyan is a transformation exclusive to Son Goku which debuts in the fourth Dragon Ball Z theatrical film. The form is notable for not being directly named as such in the film itself (only receiving a name in later supplemental material), debatably only being used the one time in the one film with very few ancillary appearances, and debuting a mere 10 days before the actual Super Saiyan transformation in the manga.

Name

The name "Pseudo Super Saiyan" appends the term 疑似 (giji) — meaning "pseudo" or "false" — ahead of the standard "Super Saiyan" transformation name of 超サイヤ人 (sūpā saiyajin).

Production

Super Saiyan Concept

Following the death of Kuririn, Goku transforms into a Super Saiyan for the first time on Planet Namek in chapter 317 of the Dragon Ball manga.

The idea of a "Super Saiyan" is first referenced in chapter 204 of the Dragon Ball manga, with Vegeta and Nappa discussing the strength exhibited by a Saiyan/human hybrid. Nappa refers to this as a "Super Saiyan" (at the time with "super" written out as スーパー rather than the later 超 with furigana indicating the English "super" pronunciation). Vegeta makes little reaction to this phrase other than dismissing the idea of producing beings stronger than themselves.

The possibility of a character becoming a "Super Saiyan" of legend is first introduced once the characters reach Planet Namek, with the Namekian Elder wondering if the one to defeat such a genius member of the dragon clan was actually a "Super Saiyan", and in particular with Vegeta watching Goku's incredible growth and overpowering of the Ginyu Special Force, all the meanwhile reflecting on what he believed to just have been a legend of a "Super Saiyan" appearing once every one thousand years. From this point forward, the idea of one being able to transform into or inherently becoming a "Super Saiyan" is regularly mentioned (more often by Vegeta than any one else).

Following a failed attempt at defeating Freeza with a Genki-Dama, the injury of Piccolo, the death of Kuririn, and the threat against Gohan, Goku finally transforms, sporting golden hair standing on end. Gohan believes this truly is a Super Saiyan, and even Freeza begins to admit this may be true.

Film Production

Contemporary with the original manga's serialization, the Dragon Ball franchise had two movies shown each year — in spring and summer — at Toei Animation events (generally held during school breaks), the stories for which would be intentionally separate from the manga or television series' direct, at-that-time continuity. It would take about three months' time from the planning stage until the completion of a single movie's scenario.

The fourth Dragon Ball Z theatrical film — titled "Super Saiyan Son Goku" (超サイヤ人だ孫悟空 Sūpā Saiya-jin da Son Gokū) — debuted 09 March 1991 at that year's spring Toei Anime Fair. Ten days later, the "real" Super Saiyan transformation appeared in chapter 317 of the Dragon Ball manga in the 1991 No. 15 issue of Weekly Shōnen Jump released 19 March 1991.

Design

Akira Toriyama provided the idea of having Goku's hair stand up in his "Pseudo Super Saiyan" form.

Appearances

Dragon Ball Z Movie 4

Son Goku in Pseudo Super Saiyan battling Slug

Slug approaches Goku, who appears to be at his limit, following a drawn-out battle. As Slug goes in for the final blow, Goku suddenly catches his fist, and with eyes whited out, his hand stands on end surrounded by a reddish hue. Seemingly unaware of his actions, Goku screams and begins a return assault on Slug, repeatedly punching and kicking him down and into buildings. Goku pauses in mid-air as Slug rips one of his arms off, which Goku seems to acknowledge as his pupils return. As Slug's arm regrows, Goku falls out of whatever state he had been in.

During Goku's assault, Kaiō remarks on this possibly being the power of a Super Saiyan:

What's this? How can Goku have this kind of power left in him? Unless this could be the power of a Super Saiyan?!
— Kaiō, Dragon Ball Z Movie 4

Dragon Ball Z: Dokkan Battle

Goku briefly appears in Pseudo Super Saiyan during a cutscene in a 2018 story event — named with the respective movie title of 超サイヤ人だ孫悟空 in the Japanese version, and simply "Lord Slug" in the international version — in the mobile game Dragon Ball Z: Dokkan Battle.

Dragon Ball Super Card Game

Son Goku, Smashing Limits card for the Dragon Ball Super Card Game

Though not specifically named as such, Goku appears in Pseudo Super Saiyan on the Dragon Ball Super Card Game card DB3-078 C (titled "Son Goku, Smashing Limits"), released in November 2020 as part of the "DRAFT BOX 06 -Giant Force-" set.

Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO

Goku in Pseudo Super Saiyan from a Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO promotional trailer

In a "Producer Letter & Release Date Showcase" video supporting the video game Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO (and specifically its "SUPER LIMIT-BREAKING NEO" paid downloadable content page) released on YouTube on 23 July 2026, Pseudo Super Saiyan was revealed as a playable form for Son Goku in a video showcase of him battling Slug in-game.

The game's official website, though not going so far as to specifically name it, clarifies it as a costume for "Son Goku: Z - Early" and that with this costume, Goku's Ultimate Blast changes to Legend Strike (レジェンドストライク Rejendo Sutoraiku).

The game's DLC pack is set for a 30 July 2026 worldwide release.

Supplemental Documentation

Japanese

Pseudo Super Saiyan labeled and named in Daizenshuu #7's "Special Attack Dictionary"

The original theatrical pamphlet/brochure from the respective film's Spring 1991 Toei Anime Fair premiere makes no particular mention or celebration about Goku's transformation; instead, a throwaway line next to one small screenshot simply notes Goku's "super speed":

左手が使えなくなったスラッグに、悟空は超スピードで迫る!!

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With Slug unable to use his left hand, Goku approaches him at super speed!!

In the story overview for the film in Daizenshuu #6 ("Movies & TV Specials"), the synopsis notes that Goku's "Super Saiyan power" had "awakened" (or "manifested"):

その時、悟空から金色のオーラが！超サイヤ人パワーが発現したのだ。一転して悟空がスラッグを圧倒。

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At that moment, a golden aura erupted from Goku! His Super Saiyan power had awakened. Goku suddenly gained the upper hand against Slug.

The "Special Attack Dictionary" of Daizenshuu #7 (the "Dragon Ball Large Encyclopedia") notes the Pseudo Super Saiyan form by name (as 疑似超サイヤ人) and describes Goku's attributes while in this form:

Pseudo Super Saiyan
A state that Goku transformed into in the movie "Super Saiyan Son Goku." It's similar to Super Saiyan in that the entire body is wrapped in an aura, but the hair is not completely golden. Also, his eyes become white, as if he had lost consciousness. It looks as if Goku's anger at being cornered by his enemy Slug overran and made him like a Super Saiyan.

Later in the same book, the "Particulars Dictionary" expands on Pseudo Super Saiyan perhaps being a preliminary stage or stepping stone to the proper transformation, and that it was original author Akira Toriyama's idea for its hair to stand on end:

擬似超サイヤ人の設定 『超サイヤ人だ孫悟空』で悟空が見せた変身。超サイヤ人の前段階らしい。原作に超サイヤ人が登場していなかったため、このような描写になった。悟空の髪の毛が逆立つ点は、原作者のアイデアだ。

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The concept of "Pseudo Super Saiyan" is a transformation that Goku showed in [the film] "Super Saiyan Son Goku." It appears to be a preliminary stage leading up to Super Saiyan. Since Super Saiyan had not yet appeared in the original manga, this is how it was depicted. The detail of Goku's hair standing on end was the original author's idea.

In the film's story overview within the "Dragon Box: The Movies" booklet (released in 2006), similar statements are made about a golden aura and it being an incomplete transformation:

この劇中で、悟空は黄金のオーラに包まれるが、これは完全な超サイヤ人化ではなく、一時的なもののようだ。このことから本作品は、ベジ ータとの闘い後、ナメック星でフリーザとの 戦闘より前のエピソードと思われる。

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In this film, Goku is enveloped in a golden aura, but this appears to be temporary and not a complete Super Saiyan transformation. Therefore, this film is likely set after Goku's fight with Vegeta and before his battle with Freeza on Planet Namek.

English

"SS Goku" noted as a chapter break on FUNimation's Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug DVD released in 2001

While the form is not directly named in the English dub of the film (with dubbed "King Kai" making a statement about the Super Saiyan of legend), FUNimation's respective break for this scene of the film on their original 2001 DVD release of the film labels this particular section as "SS Goku" alongside the other chapter stops.

External Links

TBD