Bulma Brief

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"Somebody help me! I'm too young and pretty to die!"
— Bulma Brief in "Plans for Departure"

Bulma Brief (ブルマ ブリーフ, Buruma Burii; FUNimation "Bulma Briefs", Viz "Bulma"; Literally meaning "Bloomers Briefs") is a scientist, the daughter of Capsule Corporation's founder, Doctor Brief, and Son Goku's first friend. She is the ex-girlfriend of Yamucha and later becomes the wife of Vegeta. With him, she later has a son named Trunks and daughter named Bra. She has lived in Metro West all of her life.

Aside from Goku, Bulma is the single longest-running character in the entire Dragon Ball franchise. She is introduced in the first manga chapter and first anime episode and lasts until the final chapter of the manga and final episode of Dragon Ball GT, maintaining a prominent role and being the most significant female character in the series.

Creation and concept

Toriyama's early draft depicting Bulma as a Western girl.

Toriyama's second draft of Bulma and Goku.

Bulma in the third draft under the name "Pinchi".

Like her family, Bulma's name is a pun on an undergarment – Bloomers in this case. While Bulma is referred to only by her given name during the series, English translations seem to imply that Brief is her family name, and by proxy, her full name may be Bulma Brief (this is actually close to what she calls herself in Dragonball: Evolution).

Like Goku, Bulma is originally a parody of a character from Journey to the West. She is adapted from Xuanzang, the monk and main protagonist of the novel. Like in the original novel, she leads the band of five consisting of herself, Goku, Oolong, Yamucha, and Puar (each an adaptation of a Journey to the West character) is search of the Dragon Balls. Bulma being a female follows the tradition in Chinese opera where the role of Xuanzang is usually performed by a female actor.

Her personality is based off of the princess in Akira Toriyama's one-shot Dragon Boy and her appearance is from Plamo from another one of Toriyama's one-shots named The Adventure of Tongpoo.

In Toriyama's first draft of Dragon Ball, Bulma's design was significantly different as she had the appearance of a Western girl. In the second draft, Bulma had the braided ponytail that she had in her first appearance but looked older and had a differently-styled dress. The third draft gave her the name of Pinchi and had the exact same design as the final draft, but her clothes consisted of tight black pants with a shirt that had her shoulders exposed.

Appearance

Bulma before going into the desert.

Bulma during the Tenshinhan Saga.

Bulma during the early part of the Saiyan Saga.

Throughout the entire series, Bulma has changed her appearance more than any other character, going through a total of 17 different hairstyles. One notable trait about her hair is that in the original manga it is purple (similar to Dr. Brief and Trunks), but in the anime it is turquoise. Many of the clothes she is seen wearing often bear her name or the Capsule Corporation logo on it.

In her initial appearance, she had her hair in a braided ponytail with a red ribbon and wore a pink skirt and shirt with her name on it with blue sneakers and purple socks. Due to wetting her pants after being captured by a Pterodactyl, her clothes were quickly changed to a pair of boots, gray pants, and a blue jacket with a white tanktop underneath with her hair unchanged. When she was staying the night in her Capsule House, she wore a pink nightgown with one side of her hair in a pigtail and added a pair of pink socks and blue sneakers to it when she was forced to take Kame to the beach. After coming back from the beach, Bulma was briefly seen in a white shirt and pants with brown shoes and gloves when attempting to ride Goku's Kinto Un.

When dealing with Oolong in Aru Village, Bulma was seen in one of her more consistent appearances with her hair down and wearing a pair of brown short shorts, red and white shoes, pink socks, a red jacket with a white shirt underneath, and a red hat with her name on it. After losing her Hoi Poi Capsules in a river, she was forced to wear a Bunny Costume after her previous outfit got too dirty for her to wear. She wore the Bunny Costume until she got a pair of gypsy-style clothes at Rabbit Gang's Town. The gypsy clothes consisted of her hair in a ponytail while wearing white pants, a white shoulderless top with a small blue jacket, red sandals, and gold armlets. She wears this outfit until she gets back to Metro West.

When she attended the 21st Tenkaichi Tournament, she wore a red tank top that had her name on it, a white shirt underneath, orange skirt, yellow socks, and purple shoes. Her hair is also in a ponytail with a red bow on her head.

During this time, Bulma met back with Goku in West City when he was being targeted by the Red Ribbon Army. She wore a red shirt that left her shoulders exposed, orange short shorts, and pink shoes with purple socks while having her hair in a side ponytail. When she was with Kuririn being pursued by Blue in the Pirate Cave, she left behind her short shorts, shoes, and socks to swim and was just in her red shirt and red panties. After getting back to Kame House after the incident, she was seen wearing an outfit which was identical to the one worn before, but everything being pink. She wears this outfit all the way until the end of the Fortuneteller Baba Saga.

After the 3 year time skip, Bulma had her hair cut shorter and wore an opened up orange sweatshirt, a red shirt underneath, white skirt, orange socks, and blue shoes with orange laces at the 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament. She wore this same outfit minus the orange sweatshirt for part of the King Piccolo Saga. In the later half, she switched to a blue shirt and skirt. After Piccolo Damiamo's defeat, Bulma was seen wearing a white and blue-stripped shirt with an orange skirt.

After another 3 year time skip during the Piccolo Jr. Saga, she wore a blue dress with white belt that had a pouch to the side. She also wore white boots with yellow socks and had her hair at shoulder length as well as wearing red lipstick.

After the 5 year gap when Dragon Ball Z begins, Bulma had her hair cut short again and wore white shorts, blue socks, blue and orange shoes, and a blue shirt that left her shoulders exposed underneath an open white coat. After the year had passed in the middle of the Saiyan Saga, Bulma wore a blue shirt with a white collar and white edges on the sleeves as well as matching blue shorts with the edges on the bottom. Her hair was also back to a ponytail with a red bow.

After the battle against the Saiyans was over, Bulma wore a white shirt that had Capsule Corporation written on it and a pair of tight red jeans with her hair all the way down and no longer than before. While on the Namekian Spaceship during the trip to the planet Namek, Bulma had her hair cut to shoulder length again and wore only her grey bra and panties. While on Namek, she wore a black jumpsuit with a yellow tunic over it and a pair of orange boots plus a red hair band.

Personality

Bulma is unable to ride the Kinto Un as her heart is apparently impure.

Bulma's tantrums when stranded in the desert.

An example of Bulma's attempts at using her sex appeal.

Bulma has a temperamental personality while being very tomboyish and girly at the same time. While known for her extreme intellect, she is also considerably spoiled and vain. Bulma is shown to typically believe that she is one of the most beautiful girls ever and uses it as an excuse for her selfish behavior. Bulma's selfishness prevents her from being able to ride the Kinto Un. Despite her temperament, she often displays friendliness and helpfulness towards others. As she gets more mature, she focuses on becoming a great scientist and helps out by creating and fixing inventions that help the Z Warriors.

While being the most helpless of the whole group of protagonists, she often gets put in the position of being the damsel in distress. While in stressful conditions, she becomes frightened easily and gets angry toward everyone including her allies. Bulma also tends to have a great deal of concern over her hygiene, complaining when circumstances prevent her from taking a bath or replenishing her beauty supplies even when her hygiene is the least of her worries, for example being stranded in the wilderness.

Bulma enjoys strawberrys, attractive boys, and bubble baths. She tends to approach major situations rationally and often makes crucial decisions on her own. She tends to be very persistent in achieving her goals. While dealing in certain social dilemmas, Bulma sometimes uses her sex appeal to get what she wants. Though she shows a strong annoyance towards perverted men, she herself gets infatuated towards any attractive guy she sees. During her marriage with Vegeta, she tends to have a unanimous relationship with him despite their quarrelsome natures.

Biography

Dragon Ball

Search for the Dragon Balls

Main article: Emperor Pilaf Saga

"I want a bath, I need air conditioning, I don't want to be stranded in the desert without a boyfriend or my dynocaps anymore"
— Bulma while walking in the desert

Bulma seeing the signal of Goku's Dragon Ball on the Dragon Radar.

Bulma explaining the Dragon Balls to Goku.

Bulma lifting her dress for Turtle Hermit in exchange for a Dragon Ball.

Bulma being having to wear a bunny costume.

Bulma happy to see Yamucha.

At age 16, she found the Two-Star Ball in her basement. She created the Dragon Radar to find the other Dragon Balls so she could wish for a lifetime supply of strawberries, but later decided she wanted to wish for the perfect boyfriend instead. She began her quest for the other Dragon Balls during her summer vacation, and after a couple of days she found the Five-Star Ball in a cave.

Nine days later, she went to Mount Paozu to find the next one when she accidentally hit a young boy named Goku with her car. Bulma was the first girl Goku had ever seen and only one of two Humans he had ever seen, the other being his guardian, Grandpa Son Gohan, who had died. After Goku took Bulma to his house, she found out that he had the Four-Star Ball. After failing to seduce Goku for the Dragon Ball, she decided to become traveling partners with him to which he agreed.

Later that night when camping in a Capsule House in Skull Valley, Bulma ends up introducing Goku to several elements that he was deprived of in his isolation such as technology, ing and even the anatomy of women (by accident). The next morning, Goku decided to help Kame back to the ocean beach. Bulma unhappily agreed because she did not want to be left alone and defenseless. When they got him to the beach they met Turtle Hermit, who gave Goku the Kinto Un for bringing him back. Bulma, who saw Turtle Hermit's Dragon Ball, got it from him in exchange for showing him her panties (which she did not know were not on at the time because Goku had removed them earlier that morning when was asleep). When they two continue the journey, Bulma tried to use the Kinto Un, but was rejected since she was not pure-hearted.

Three days later, Bulma and Goku ended up in Aru Village which was under rule of a shapeshifter named Oolong who kidnapped the young daughters of the villagers. Bulma was given the six star Dragon Ball by an old lady in the village for coming up with a plan to have Goku defeat Oolong. Bulma forced Oolong to come with them on their journey since his shapeshifting ability can come in handy. The journey became hard for when they reached the Diablo Desert and lost her Hoi Poi Capsules after traveling through a river on a boat just before. While in the desert, she met Yamucha and developed a crush on him. After spending the night in Oolong's House-Wagon, she had to wear a Bunny Costume because it was the only clean clothes around that she could wear. Two days later, the Dragon Ball Gang arrived at Fire Mountain to find the next Dragon Ball and Gyumao found them. Bulma and Oolong almost got killed by Gyumao, but were saved when he found out that Goku knew Turtle Hermit. Bulma got the Seven-Star Ball when Goku and Gyumao daughter, Chichi, retrieved Turtle Hermit to put out the flames on Fire Mountain but unfortunately for her, Bulma had let Turtle Hermit touch her breasts in return. Bulma had Oolong take her place in her shape, but Bulma got angry when he went overboard and exposed her breasts to him as well.

While on their way to the final Dragon Ball, they end up getting supplies at a town. While their Bulma is mistaken for a member of the Rabbit Mob because she is still wearing the Bunny Suit Oolong gave her. After getting new clothes, she is not feared by the townsfolk anymore. After Goku defeated two members of the mob, they called their boss Monster Carrot, who turns Bulma into a carrot. Goku got help from Yamcha and Puar (who have been secretly following them the whole time) to defeat Monster Carrot and have Bulma turned back into a human. They gang got back on track to their last Dragon Ball which was under possession of Pilaf who has the desire to use them to rule the world. Bulma and the others had to get a ride from Yamcha and Puar to Castle Pilaf since they had their previous car destroyed by Pilaf's minion Shu and five of their Dragon Balls stolen by him. While in Castle Pilaf, the Dragon Ball Gang was trapped in a room where Pilaf was able to steal the last ball from them that Goku had on. Oolong was able to save the world by stopping Pilaf from making his wish but the Dragon Ball Gang was put into a cell to be fried the next morning. Bulma and the others were able to escape when Goku looked at the full moon and became a Great Ape and broke them out. The next morning Bulma becomes disappointed that she didn't get her wish but then decides to hook up with Yamcha and head to back to her home in Metro West.

Attending the 21st World Tournament

Main article: Tournament Saga

Bulma, Oolong, and Puar cheering at the 21st World Martial Arts Tournament.

After preventing Pilaf from taking over the world, Bulma, Yamcha, Oolong and Puar decide to return to West City while Goku goes to train with Master Roshi. On their way back their Airplane crashes into a jungle where they are forced to walk. While back at West City, Bulma and Yamcha start to date. She cheers Yamcha on while watching him defeat an entire dojo of fighters to train for the upcoming World Martial Arts Tournament. During the time Bulma decides to go visit Goku at Roshi's Island but found that the house was moved to a different location. Bulma becomes mad when Yamcha leaves West City to train in the wild. A month later, When coming home from grocery shopping, Bulma almost gets run over by a truck but is saved when Yamcha returns and saves her. Bulma becomes disappointed at him for being gone for so long and not contacting her, Afterwards she takes Yamcha to her house and gets him cleaned up.

When Bulma arrives at Papaya Island to watch the Tournament, She meets back up with Goku and Master Roshi while they were signing up. During the Elimination Rounds, Bulma used Oolong to help her get a good view into the room so she can watch Yamcha fight. When the Tournament started she got a front row seat. While Goku did excellent job in the Tournament, Bulma proudly took credit for being the one to discover him. After Goku lost the final round against Jackie Chun (who was really Master Roshi in disguise) Bulma and the rest of the gang ate dinner and began to leave back home but she was unfortunately stranded in the desert again when Yamcha's car broke down and was caught in a sand storm bringing them back to the World Tournament Arena where they started.

The Red Ribbon Army conflict

Main article: Red Ribbon Army Saga Main article: General Blue Saga Main article: Commander Red Saga

Bulma and the others in Dream Land.

Bulma running away from two Red Ribbon Army Soldiers.

Bulma trying to charm Blue.

Bulma with the diamond she got from the cave.

Bulma, Turtle Hermit, and Lunch waiting for Yamucha to pick them up.

Bulma returns to West City and continues going to school at the Senior High School. She begins to dislike Yamcha due to his popularity with other women. Goku meets back up with her in front of her house at Capsule Corporation one day when she ditched school and came home early. Goku came to have Bulma repair the Dragon Radar that got broken while traveling. Feeling bored with life at West City, she decides to join Goku and collect the Dragon Balls once more. She made a new device the Micro Band so she can shrink and travel with him in his shirt while he is on the Flying Nimbus. Just before leaving Bulma decides to show Goku around the city. While traveling through the city Goku and Bulma come across Yamcha, Oolong and Puar on who decide to come along with them to Dream Land. At Dream Land, Bulma decides to be moody the whole time because of her fight with Yamcha and walk around by herself. When she decides that she wanted to apologize to Yamcha she see's Yamcha holding another women who is the theif Hasky. After Goku defeated Hasky, Bulma officially breaks up with Yamcha and travels with Goku to find the Dragon Balls.

Bulma and Goku end up flying to an island that is right near the location of a Dragon Ball that is located in the ocean. When Bulma finds out that she didn't have a submarine capsule on her, Goku goes off to find the ball underwater by himself leaving Bulma on the island. Bulma wanders the island not knowing that it was a base for the Red Ribbon Army. While wandering the island she comes across two soldiers who were attracted to her. Since they were on an island in the middle of nowhere the two soldiers wanted to take advantage of her but Bulma ran from them. The two soldiers got angry and begin to get in their planes and shoot at Bulma but just in time Goku came by and defeated the soldiers. Seeing that the ball was really deep underwater, they went to Kame House to see Master Roshi and got one in exchange for her Micro Band. When they began to go off into the ocean Krillin decided to come along and help them.

While searching in the ocean they were chased by the submarine of Blue into the Pirate Cave that was the site of some hidden treasure. While sneaking through the cave they came across a trap that shot arrows by touching any of the black dots that were littered all over the hallway. Goku and Krillin were able to jump over all of them but Bulma had to hang upside down on to Goku's Power Pole as it slowly brought her through the hall. While continuing through the cave Bulma ran away from a Pirate Robot that Goku and Krillin fought. During the fight Bulma and Krillin left and went ahead of Goku who decided to stay and fight the robot. At the end of the hall they had no choice but to strip to their underwear and swim the rest of the way. When Bulma and Krillin found a room filled with the treasure they encountered General Blue. Bulma stayed and watched Krillin fight against General Blue. Just as Krillin was losing Goku caught up and took him on. When Blue released his Telekinesis on Goku, Bulma tried to seduce General Blue with her body but it failed because General Blue is not interested in women. After Goku was able to defeat General Blue, Bulma and Krillin went to escape the cave as it was crumbling and Goku went to quickly find the Dragon Ball. Bulma drives an ancient submarine out of the Pirate Cave once Goku got the Dragon Ball.

When they got back to the surface, Bulma shows Krillin and Goku that she hid a diamond from the treasure in her underpants while they were still in their. Bulma uses the diamond to pay Roshi back for not returning his submarine but Launch reverted to her bad form and stole it. General Blue shows up at Kame House and has everybody tied up using his Telekinesis while he takes the Dragon Balls and escapes leaveing a bomb behind to kill them. Launch returned just in time to save them by untying Goku and so he can throw the bomb and catch up to General Blue. At that point Bulma decides to end traveling with Goku and stay at Kame House for the time being.

While Goku was out continuing his quest for his Dragon Ball, Bulma took the Micro Band back from Roshi since he was using it for perverted reasons. While Goku was training at the top of Korin Tower he looked through one of the water jugs and saw Bulma and Krillin cooking at Roshi's house where she accidentally burned her finger on the stove. Another time Goku looked through the Jug she was seen teaching Roshi, Launch and Krillin how to do aerobics. While she was Roshi's house she was using what little resources he had laying around to make a Scouting Plane and another Dragon Radar to track Goku down. When Bulma launched the scouting plane she saw that Goku was heading to the Red Ribbon Army Headquarters to get their Dragon Balls. Bulma decided to make a phone using spare parts around the house so she can call Yamcha and have him take everyone to Goku. When everyone gets to the Red Ribbon Army Base to meet Goku, they are late only to find the Goku easily beat all of them.

Fortuneteller Baba's Challenge

Main article: Fortuneteller Baba Saga

Bulma and Kuririn during the Fortuneteller Baba Saga.

Bulma fixes the Dragon Radar confused that it doesn't pick up the trace of the last Dragon Ball. While Bulma decided to stay behind while Goku, Yamcha, Krillin and Puar go to meet Master Roshi's sister Fortuneteller Baba to help them locate the ball but Bulma and Roshi end up getting dragged to Fortuneteller Baba's Palace by Goku as part of a plan Krillin has. Since Yamcha is a fighting an invisible man named See-Through, Krillin has Bulma face Roshi and then her shirt gets pulled off exposing her bare breasts to Roshi having his nose-bleed onto the invisible man revealing him to Yamcha for him to easily defeat. Afterwards, Bulma gets mad over Krillin pulling her shirt down and hits him.

Bulma meets Upa and spectates the rest of the fights in the Devil's Toilet against Bandages the Mummy and Spike the Devil Man. When Goku finishes the final fight outside against his Grandpa Gohan, Bulma tells him about what Goku acomplished when he's been dead. After Goku finished getting the Dragon Balls, Bulma had to promise Master Roshi that she would stay at Kame House if he would train Yamcha. While everyone was preparing for the World Martial Arts Tournament, Bulma saw pictures of Master Roshi when he was young and learned of InoShikaCho which she had a nightmare of Goku being slaughtered by.

Attending the 22nd Tenkaichi Tournament

Main article: Tien Shinhan Saga

Bulma arrives with everybody else at Papaya Island by plane. While waiting for Goku to arrive, they meet Muten Roshi's rival, Master Shen the Crane Hermit, who brought along with students Tenshinhan and Chiaotzu. During the tournament, Yamcha got his leg broken by Tien in the first match and helped him at the hospital. While staying at the hotel she shared a room with Launch. As a spectator in the tournament she seemed to hit Oolong a lot (mostly on accident) and also argued with Master Shen on many occasions. Bulma is also shown to be a fan of Pamput and even debated to cheer for him instead of Goku.

Piccolo Daimao's Resurrection

Main article: King Piccolo Saga

Bulma's part in the King Piccolo Saga began to emphasize her role as a scientist. She lends the Dragon Radar to the early Z Warriors so that they might locate the Dragon Balls before King Piccolo, however the protagonists' efforts are in vain when King Piccolo is successful in summoning Shenron, and the menacing Namekian is granted eternal youth. Bulma stores the lifeless bodies of Krillin, Chiaotzu and Master Roshi, all victims of King Piccolo and his deformed son Tambourine, to later be revived by Shenron, along with every other undeserving victim of King Piccolo's campaign.

Attending the 23rd Tenkaichi Tournament

Main article: Piccolo Jr. Saga

Bulma attending the 23rd Tenkaichi Tournament with Turtle Hermit, Puar, Oolong, and Lunch.

Three years later, Bulma was once again a spectator at the 23rd Tenkaichi Tournament, where she reunited with Goku, as well as the other friends she made during Dragon Ball.

Dragon Ball Z

Saiyan Attack

Bulma, Oolong, Chichi, Roshi, and Ox-King watching the battle on Baba's Crystal Ball.

After five years of peace, in the Vegeta Saga, Goku's brother, Raditz, arrives on Earth to investigate why Goku, revealed to be a Saiyan named Kakarot by birthright, failed to exterminate the population of Earth as a child. After Raditz's defeat at the co-operative hands of Goku and Piccolo, Bulma is able to repair and modify the warrior's scouter device so that it may display a person's power level in Earthly figures, rather than Saiyan ones. A year later, the two saiyans ariive on earth. Bulma watch's the battle on TV as yamcha is killed by one of the saibman. Fortuneteller baba's arrives and they watch the battle on her crystal ball. Bulma is at age 28 at the time.

Misadventures on Namek

Popo showing Bulma the Namekian Spaceship.

Bulma, Gohan, and Krillin passing time until they reach Planet Namek.

Bulma, Kuririn, and Gohan after arriving on Planet Namek.

Bulma receiving message that Goku is coming

Bulma showing attraction towards Zarbon.

Bulma's struggle against Blueberry and Raspberry.

Bulma's short-lived body switch with Ginyu.

Bulma along with everyone else watching Polunga's summon after Freeza's defeat.

After many of Earth's finest defenders, including Piccolo (and by extension, Kami and the Dragon Balls), are lost in the battle against the Saiyans Nappa and Vegeta, Bulma attempts to get a trip to Kami and Piccolo's homeplanet, Namek in hopes of retrieving the Namekian Dragon Balls to revive Piccolo (whose restoration would also revive Kami and the Dragon Balls of Earth). Bulma tries to use the remote to Nappa's spaceship which was left behind but accidentally self destructs the ship instead. Mr. Popo then assists Bulma by taking her with him on his Magic Carpet to help indentify a large contraption in Yunzabit Heights as a spacecraft, particularly the craft used by Kami to escape Namek centuries earlier. After seeing that the ship was fast enough to travel to Jupiter within minutes, she has the ship repaired and modified at Capsule Corporation with the help of her father. During the preparation, Mr. Popo taught Bulma some of the Namekian language in order to help use the ship. Namek Saga joined by Krillin and Gohan, Bulma uses the spaceship to travel to Namek.

En route to Namek, Bulma was captain of the Namekian Spaceship where she spent the next 34 days sitting around in only her underwear. During this time in filler, the group is intercepted by a platoon of orphans certain that Bulma, Krillin and Gohan are henchmen of the space tyrant called Frieza. They are later tricked into making a crashlanding on a fake Namek, where after a complex plot by the aliens Zaacro and Raiti, the group is almost left stranded.

Upon reaching Namek, their troubles only multiply when Banan and Sūi, two of Frieza's henchmen, deliberately damage the group's spaceship during an investigation, rendering them unable to leave the planet. Bulma leaves the Dragon Radar in the care of Krillin and Gohan, who begin their search for the Dragon Balls.

During the two's departure, Bulma sets up camp in a Capsule House hidden inside of a cave. While relaxing in a bath, she recieves a radio transition from her father that Goku is on his way to Namek. After telling Gohan and Krillin of the news of Goku coming, she meets the child namek Dende which they befriended.

She is soon plagued by numerous misdeeds while on Namek when she is caught in the middle of a devastating confrontation between Vegeta and Zarbon, one Frieza's top henchman. She quickly admires Zarbon's appearance prior to the gruesome revelation of his second form, which scared her. She also witnesses Zarbon's demise as Vegeta obtains the Dragon Ball from them.

After she is left out in the open to keep guard of the four star Namek Dragon Ball. After it accidentally falls into the ocean, she uses her capsule submarine to go underwater and get the Dragon Ball back from the Giant Crab and its babies. After getting it back on land, she is threatened and kidnapped by two more soldiers of Freeza, Blueberry and Raspberry.

She later briefly has her body snatched by Ginyu, leaving her soul trapped inside the body of the Namekian Frog Ginyu had mistakenly snatched during his conflict with Vegeta. She later regains her body when Gohan interferes with Captain Ginyu's body change attempt towards Piccolo by throwing Bulma's frog body between Ginyu and Piccolo. Afterwards, she is knocked back by one of the blasts from Frieza and Goku's battle along with Ginyu, and is eventually knocked back even further by the aftershock of the Spirit Bomb. Bulma, still feeling sore towards Ginyu for tricking her, has Ginyu try to scout ahead for her friends. After Ginyu reports back, she then notices the aura on a nearby island resulting from Goku's transformation into the Super Saiyan. Bulma attempts to restart the ship when preparing to leave for Earth, and tries to stop Gohan from trying to sacrifice himself to stop Frieza from escaping the dying planet.

After a wish made to Porunga, the Eternal Dragon of Namek, transports to Earth all living beings on Planet Namek except for Goku and Freeza, Bulma allows Vegeta and the Nameks to take shelter at Capsule Corporation for a year, until the Z Fighters could be revived and a new planet, suitable for the Nameks, could be found. She even offered Vegeta to stay at her home, which he does.

Under control of the Black Water Mist

Bulma under the influence of the Black Water Mist.

In the filler Garlic Jr. Saga of Dragon Ball Z, Bulma attends Master Roshi's party and quickly develops a grudge for Krillin's beloved but frustrating girlfriend, Maron, as Maron relentlessly advances on Yamcha even in Bulma's presence, and often calls Bulma an old lady. She inhales the coat of Black Water Mist that Garlic Jr. lays across the Earth, which degrades her into one of Garlic Jr.'s thoughtless and violent mindslaves. Like the other possessed residents of Earth, Bulma is eventually reverted to normal when Mr. Popo and Kami spread the Sacred Water through Kami's Lookout's seven air currents of the world.

Motherhood and further inventions

‎

Bulma during the Trunks Saga.

Bulma and Baby Trunks during the Androids Saga.

A year later, after Future Trunks mysteriously arrives and slays Freeza and his father, King Cold, Bulma is at first under the impression that the boy is an employee of Capsule Corporation, due to the logo on his jacket. The only two people who are made aware that he is actually the future son of Bulma and Vegeta are Goku, who is told this by Future Trunks, and Piccolo, whose powerful Namek ears inadvertently hear the confession. Still, Piccolo explains to the Z Fighters and friends the boy's story of the androids and that he is a legitimate visitor of the future.

Three years later, at the age of 33, Bulma gives birth to a baby boy named Trunks, and with the return of Future Trunks not long after, the fact that he is the same person as her child slowly becomes clear to everyone including Vegeta, who assumes that having his blood is why Future Trunks could become a Super Saiyan at such a young age. Krillin blueprints for Android 17 confiscated by Future Trunks and Krillin during the Imperfect Cell Saga, Bulma develops a remote device that can be used to deactivate androids 17 and 18, but Krillin chooses to destroy it because he has come to have feelings for 18. Bulma goes to Kami's lookout to give the Z Fighters the third-party model of Saiyan Armor she developed to help in their training for the Cell Games. After Android 16 is damaged while trying to prevent Cell from absorbing 18, he is repaired by Bulma and her father. During the repair, the unconfident pair decide to remove 16's bomb, which proves to be a poor move as 16 later attempts to use the bomb against Cell, but does not realize until he is in combat with his opponent that he has no trump card. After Super Perfect Cell is defeated by Super Saiyan 2 Gohan, Bulma is seen at Capsule Corp. with the others, saying her farewells to Future Trunks.

Alternate timeline

Main article: Future Bulma

In the Alternate Timeline, Bulma is one of the few that survives the onslaught of Androids 17 and 18 where she lives on the location of the former Capsule Corporation only living with her son Trunks who she sends back to the past using a Time Machine.

Death and revival

Bulma during the Majin Buu arc.

Bulma with Vegeta, Bra, and Trunks at the end of the DBZ series.

Seven years later, in the Great Saiyaman Saga, Bulma designs a disguise Gohan can use while fighting crime as the protector of Satan City, the Great Saiyaman. When it is announced that the deceased Goku will be returning to Earth for a day, she is 40 years old. Bulma attends the 25th World Martial Arts Tournament, although she spends most of the tournament arguing with Chi-Chi over whose husband and son is better. After the Tournament she goes with the group to look for the dragon balls. She later takes shelter from Majin Buu on Kami's Lookout with the rest of the group. A day later Super Buu finds everyone at the tower and allows them to live for a short time. While on the lookout Super buu used his Human Extinction Attack to kill all the people on earth except for the people on the Lookout.

When Super Buu escapes from the Hyperbolic Time Chamber during his fight with Gotenks, Bulma, along with the others, is transformed into chocolate and consumed by the monster. In the afterlife, Bulma goes to Heaven where she gossips with Chi-Chi, Videl and Dabura until the battle ends. Afterward, she is revived by the Dragon Balls along with her family and friends, and gives her energy to Goku to create the Spirit Bomb used to eliminate Kid Buu once and for all. Bulma later hosts a party at her home capsule corp. 10 years later, Bulma and Vegeta have a second child a daughter named Bulla. She attends the 28th World Tournament with her family and friends at the end of the Dragon Ball Z series.

Dragon Ball GT

Search for the Black Star Dragon Balls

Bulma in Dragon Ball GT.

Years later, in Dragon Ball GT, Bulma helped to prepare the space ship for Goku, Trunks, and Goten to go in to space to look for the Black Star Dragon Balls, she is 60 years old.

The parasite Tuffle, Baby

A Baby-possessed Bulma

Bulma and the majority of the Earth's population, becomes possessed by Baby, and organizes most of his operations, such as the mass-migration of Earth's residents to the restored Planet Vegeta (renamed "Tuffle Planet"), and creating the Blutz Wave Amplifier used to help Super Baby Vegeta transform into a Golden Great Ape. However, the Sacred Water hidden in Dende 's Lookout is used to free her and the rest of Earth from Baby's enslavement. She is seen having a party at her home capsule corp.

The ultimate android, Super 17

Some months later, Bulma is seen having dinner at Chichi's house with Bulla, Goku, Pan, Gohan, and Videl. Trunks later comes injured by Android 17. There is a hole that leads from Hell to Earth. They watch on TV resurrected villains destroying the cities. After Super 17 is defeated by Goku and Android 18 Bulma tells Goku that the planet is out of balance.

The Evil Dragons

Bulma helped Vegeta achieve Super Saiyan 4 in the Shadow Dragons saga in order to help defeat Omega Shenron. She is last seen saying her final farewell to Goku and continues to live the remainder of her life with Vegeta, Trunks and Bulla, before meeting an unknown fate. Bulma is seen in a few of the flashbacks in the final scene of the Dragon Ball GT series.

Films

Bulma in The World's Strongest.

Bulma in Plan to Eradicate the Super Saiyans.

Bulma in Dragonball: Evolution.

Bulma has been depicted in all three of the live-action adaptions of Dragon Ball. In the first two films her appearance has no relative resemblance to her manga and anime incarnations, but she plays the same role in the story. In the first live action film which was named Dragon Ball: Ssawora Son Goku, Igyeora Son Goku and released during 1990 in South Korea, Bulma was portrayed by Lee Ju-Hee. In the second film which was from china and made in 1991, The Magic Begins, she is called Seetoe and portrayed by Jeannie Tse. Her third portrayal is in Dragonball: Evolution, where she is played by Emmy Rossum. Rossum describes her portrayal of Bulma as, "pretty bad-ass, but still quirky and fun, and kind of ridiculous in the way she is in the anime."

In this alternate retelling, Bulma meets Goku in the same way as the anime and manga but instead they go after King Gurumes after they steal Goku's four star Dragon Ball. Bulma who still has her Dragon Balls travels with Goku where they meet Penny who was chased by Oolong. Once teaming up with Oolong, they all travel to Master Roshi's Island where they meet Master Roshi himself. Bulma requests Roshi for his Dragon Ball but Bulma then has to have Oolong turn into her and show him her breasts for it. After recieving the Dragon Ball, She has them stolen by small robots working for King Gurumes. Afterwords, Bulma and everyone else goes to the Land of Gurumes to try to get them back. Bulma throws the last Dragon Ball into King Gurumes's mouth to summon Shenron causing him to explode and return to his normal state after Penny wished for her land to become peaceful again. In the end Bulma is disappointed that she doesn't have a boyfriend but then realizes Yamcha is around and they decide to hook up.

• Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone
• Dragon Ball Z: The World's Strongest
• Dragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might
• Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug
• Dragon Ball Z: Broly: The Legendary Super Saiyan
• Dragon Ball: Plan to Eradicate Super Saiyans
• Dragon Ball Z: Bojack Unbound
• Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn
• Dragon Ball Z: Wrath of the Dragon
• Dragon Ball: Yo! Son Goku and His Friends Return!!
• Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods

Video games

Bulma in Dragon Ball: Origins.

Bulma appears in a number of cinematics in Dragon Ball video games such as Advanced Adventure, Dragon Ball Z: Budokai and Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3. In Budokai 2, Bulma appears in the game's Skill Shop mode where she sells various capsules to the player. Her outfit in this mode varies based on how many capsules the player has collected.

In Budokai Tenkaichi, Bulma appears in the Options Mode, explaining how the various game settings function. In Budokai Tenkaichi 2 she appears in the Data Center to explaining custom characters, and in Practice Mode, along with a pink shirt-wearing Vegeta. Once unlocked, she also appears wearing the desert outfit she adorned in the Dragon Ball anime. In Budokai Tenkaichi 3, Bulma again hosts the Data Center.

Bulma is a "Help Koma" in Jump Ultimate Stars, where she in exchange for collected coins, she rewards the Battle Koma she is attached to with additional SP.

There is a rumor surrounding Budokai 3 that Bulma is playable, due to the fact that she is seen in the 11th stage of Training Mode, where she explains how to use capsules during a duel. She hardly moves, but it remains evident that a full 3D model of Bulma exists in the game. Also in the bonus DVD packaged with the special edition of the game, Tiffany Vollmer can be seen recording combat voicework for Bulma. There is some truth to this rumor however, as using cheat methods, Bulma can be played in Budokai 3, but has no techniques, nor can she be designated skills. Nevertheless, Bulma made her first playable appearance in a Dragon Ball video game spin-off in Origins, and will again be playable in Dragonball the Movie.

Cross Epoch

Main article: Cross Epoch

Bulma as a space pirate in Cross Epoch.

In the manga crossover story of Dragon Ball and One Piece called Cross Epoch, Bulma is partnered up with One Piece's Nami where they are space pirates. In the story, Bulma is shown to be an older sister-like figure to Nami due to her calling Bulma Nee-san (which is generally means older sister). Bulma and Nami are both seen again later at the party shown at the end of the story.

Abilities

Although Bulma's physical strength is that of a regular human, she possesses an almost superhuman intellect and uses it to create a bounty of useful inventions in her quest for the Dragon Balls. Many of these creations are so complex that experts and scientists have not been able to understand them.

Though she does not possess the ability to manipulate Ki herself, she has been able (according to an anime filler scene where Ginyu possessed her body) to sense the power levels of other fighters, something even Vegeta couldn't do in the beginning of the series. However, this is most likely a temporary skill obtained from Captain Ginyu. From time to time, her strength has been exaggerated for comedic purposes, much like Chi Chi, even to the point where she is able to perform feats of strength normally thought to be impossible for Bulma.

Voice actresses

• Japanese dub: Hiromi Tsuru
• Ocean Group dub: Lalainia Lindbjerg (DB 1995 dub (ep. 1-13), DBZ Seasons 1-2, DBZ Movies 1-3), Maggie Blue O'Hara (DB Movie 1; DBZ Seasons 4-6); Jane Perry (DBZ Seasons 7-9)
• FUNimation dub: Tiffany Vollmer (Most media), Leslie Alexander (DB Movie 2 only), and Monica Rial (Dragon Ball Z Kai)
• Blue Water dub: Leda Davies (DB), Kristin Nowosad (DBGT)
• Harmony Gold dub: Wendee Lee (Movie 3)
• Latin American dub: Rocío Garcel (until the Cell Saga), Mónica Manjarrez (Buu Saga onwards)
• German dub: Katja Liebing (Dragonball), Claudia Urbschat (DBZ, DBGT)
• Portuguese dub: Cristina Cavalinhos
• Spanish dub: Nonia de la Gala
• Italian dub: Emanuela Pacotto
• Indonesian dub: Diah Sekartaji

Trivia

Bulma's hair is shown blonde in a power level list from V Jump.

• Bulma is the most recurring female character in the Dragon Ball series.
• Bulma is the source for most of Dragon Ball's examples of fan service, as she can be seen either partially or completely exposed in a sexual manner in numerous situations, most of which take place during Dragon Ball.
• Bulma's hair was originally purple which would make more sense as to why Trunks' hair is purple. However, in the V-Jump power level list her hair is yellow (see near top right).
• Bulma's brassiere measurement at the beginning of Dragon Ball is 34C.
• In the manga and the 10th anniversary anime movie, Bulma has purple hair. In the anime, it was changed to light blue.
• Bulma has been turned into food twice in her life: a carrot in Dragon Ball and candy in Dragon Ball Z.
• She loves strawberries.
• Bulma was a smoker at one point. She is seen smoking in the manga and in the uncut version of Dragon Ball Z. She can be seen later smoking again at some points during Dragon Ball Z, such as the time during the Great Saiyaman Saga when Son Gohan asks her to make him a suit.
• Bulma looks older at the end of the Dragon Ball Z series than she does in Dragon Ball Z: The History of Trunks. This is odd because technically the alternate version of Bulma seen in The History of Trunks is actually three years older than the mainstream timeline Bulma. This could be due to the fact that in the main timeline, Bulma has another child, Bra Brief, which may make her appear older.
• Kuririn accidently calls Bulma by the name Bloomer, the garment of which she is named after, in "Kame House is Discovered!!".

Gallery

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  Bulma in early Dragon Ball.

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  Bulma's gypsy outfit

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  Bulma at the 21st Tenkaichi Tournament.

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  Bulma wearing her red tank top and orange shorts.

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  Bulma yelling at Kuririn after he scares her.

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  Bulma during the Piccolo Jr. Saga.

See also

• Bulma Brief gallery