Artificial Human No. 16

Directory: Characters → Villains → DBZ villains Directory: Characters → Z Warriors

"You two made too much noise. You scared the birds away."
— "No Match for the Androids"

Artificial Human No. 16 (人造 人間 16号, Jinzō Ningen Jūroku-Gō; FUNimation "Android No. 16") made his debut in "Goku's Assassin", the 120th episode of Dragon Ball Z. He made his first manga appearance in "#17, #18... #16?", the 350th chapter of the Dragon Ball manga. Dr. Gero's sixteenth creation, No. 16 was initially designed to serve Gero's vendetta against Goku, who overthrew the Red Ribbon Army as a child, but was later deemed unfit for activation, possibly as a result of malfunctioning in the same vein as Android 8.

Android 16 bears many qualities unique to his Artificial Human series, which spans between models 16 through 18. He is the only model of the three to be entirely synthetic, which until the development of No. 17 and No. 18 was the norm for Gero's projects. This fact is unprecedented to No. 17, who was previously under the impression that "Dr. Gero [did not have] the technology to create an android from nothing," and wonders "[why he] went back to cybernetics" (when in actuality No. 17 and No. 18 are the first 'cybernetic-fitted human' androids to be seen in the Dragon Ball franchise). Having not been created from a human base might explain why Android 16 is the strongest of his series, as he has virtually no human attributes to hinder him (even 18 is quick to acknowledge that No. 16 is "fundamentally different from [she and 17]"). He is also the tallest android of both his series and the production line as a whole, towering at over double the height of Android 18.

Biography

No. 16 clearly showing his love for nature.

A profile view depicting portions of the inside of No. 16's head.

An x-ray view depicting portions of the inside of No. 16's head.

No. 16 is the penultimate android designed by Dr. Gero to be created exclusively from synthetic technology (although in each alternate timeline he is the last to be created by this method, as Android 19 only exists in the series' mainstream timeline). No. 16's programming has yet to be completed, and as such Gero opts not to activate him in fear that "[he might destroy androids 17 and 18]." In "Goku's Assassin", Dr. Gero even goes as far as to dub No. 16 a prototype. No. 16's most significant malfunction from Gero's perspective was likely his inherently peaceful behavior, often interacting with nature rather than comply with Gero's orders, making him similar to Android 8. Although he was still committed in fulfilling his mission on destroying Goku. In due course there was some truth to Dr. Gero's prediction, as his serene outlook drove him to attempt to destroy Cell, in an effort to eliminate the serious threat Cell posed to peace on Earth. He is also the only character that addresses that No. 17 and No. 18 are not very evil.

Each timeline alternate to the mainstream one evidences the fact that No. 16 was not meant to be activated, as upon Future Trunks' second visit from the future he fails to recognize No. 16. This could possibly be due to No. 16's peaceful nature (he could have either been destroyed by both of them or left them because they have hurt the planet or because Goku was killed by the heart virus.) Although, his production might have been stopped because of Goku's death. In the mainstream timeline, No. 18's curiosity in No. 16 leads her to activate the giant, and the discrepancies with Gero who severely forbids her from doing so lead No. 17 to kill him. Future Trunks attempts to destroy the androids with a barrage of ki blasts before the activation of No. 16, however this has no effect on the trio and thus No. 16 is triggered. The trio proceed to travel in search of Goku, whom they have been programmed to kill.

When Super Saiyan Vegeta intercepts the trio, No. 17 and No. 18 implore No. 16 to step in and fight, interested to see him in action (their main purpose for activating him in the first place). No. 16 however refuses to fight him, thus prompting No. 18 to volunteer. When Future Trunks, Krillin, Piccolo and Tien Shinhan arrive as Vegeta's reinforcement, No. 17 hopefully takes the opportunity to ask if No. 16 will join the fight, though as he initially assumed No. 16 once again opts not to. At the conclusion of the encounter, which has rendered everyone incapacitated besides Krillin who is spared so that he may see the others healed by Senzu Beans, it is revealed that 16 has been more intent on observing nearby birds, saddened that they flew away because of the noise made by the battle scene, than to take part in the fight.

In an early encounter with Imperfect Cell, No. 16 manages to rip his tail off, hoping to prevent him from using it to absorb No. 17 and No. 18. It is not until Imperfect Cell manages to grow his tail back that No. 16 realizes the desperation of the struggle, and resorts to using arguably his most powerful technique, Hell's Flash. Doing so he immobilizes Cell and removes halves of each of his arms, tucking them beneath his armpits and revealing cannons within the remaining limbs of his arms. These cannons take a brief moment to charge before igniting a giant explosion that literally created holes and marks around the island. Imperfect Cell withstands the onslaught however, and is able to sneak upon No. 17, devouring him via his tail and signifying his transformation to Semi-Perfect Cell, granting him extended power and speed. In his Semi-Perfect form, Cell is able to take full headshots from Android 16, and remain completely undaunted. He then blasts No. 16, disfiguring his head and leaving him in critical condition.

No. 16 being eliminated by Cell, thus triggering Gohan's rage.

During the fight between Ascended Super Saiyan Vegeta and Semi-Perfect Cell, Cell successfully absorbs No. 18, achieving the form of Perfect Cell, and leading him to leave the scene shortly after. Following Cell's departure after defeating both Vegeta and Ultra Super Saiyan Future Trunks, Krillin takes Android 16 to the Capsule Corporation for Bulma to repair. During these repairs, Bulma discovers a bomb implanted within No. 16, possibly intended by Dr. Gero to be used against Goku. Not wanting to take any chances, Bulma removes this bomb from No. 16's body.

Later during the Cell Games, No. 16 sneaks behind Perfect Cell, distracted by his attacks on Gohan, with the intention of detonating upon him, unaware that Bulma removed the bomb while she repaired him. Once No. 16 realizes that his self-destruct capability has been disabled, Cell escapes his hold and blasts the android into pieces, though his head remains intact, convincing Mr. Satan to throw him to Gohan in an effort to encourage the young warrior to release his anger and defend the Earth. Afterward, Cell steps on No. 16's head without hesitation, ending the existence of the peaceful android, and enrages Gohan to the extent that he ascends to the Super Saiyan 2 transformation.

Though it is debatable that he may have been revived by Shenron because of a wish that restored both the lives of all of Cell's victims and the damage caused during the Cell Games, this is the last appearance of Android 16 in Dragon Ball Z.

Android 16 eventually appeared on Dragon Ball GT's final episode in a series of flashbacks.

Special abilities

• Blasters Fire!, a technique where No. 16 lifts his opponent and tosses them to the ground. He then removes halves of each of his arms arm, tucking them beneath his armpits and revealing cannons within the remaining limbs of his arms. These cannons take a brief moment to charge before igniting a giant explosion from which hundreds of small beams are shown sprouting from the crater, possibly to avoid escape. No. 16 uses Hell's Flash against Imperfect Cell, attempting to kill him before he can absorb No. 17 and No. 18.
• Hell's Beam, is another version of the Hell's Flash and one of No. 16's ultimates in Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit.
• Power Measurement, a scouter embedded within the android's eyes (sensors) that uses Power Measurement (パワー 計測, Pawā Keisoku) to detect energy level and location. Unlike the regular scouters, however, it does not explode upon encountering too high a power level (as far as it is shown in the series). Alternatively, it could be that the power sensors that Gero built simply have a much higher threshold for power sensing, not necessarily that their measurements cannot hit a limit.
• Bionic Punisher, a synthetic form of the Eye Laser.
• Energy Attack, the most basic form of energy wave used by androids.
• Explosive Wave, No. 16 used this attack in the Budokai Tenkaichi series in Dragon Ball: Raging Blast.
• Eye Beam, No. 16 used this attack against Cell.
• Flight, the ability to fly without the use of Ki.
• Rocket Punch, a technique where No. 16 launches one of his arms at his opponent in the manner of a rocket.
• Originally intended to be used against Goku, a self destruct device implanted within No. 16 can incite arguably his most powerful technique. In an act of suicide, No. 16 sneaks behind his opponent, grabbing them and then detonating the bomb inside his chest. No. 16 tries using the self destruct device against Perfect Cell, but fails due to the unforeseen removal of the bomb by Bulma and her father, Dr. Briefs, who were dead surprised to find that such a powerful bomb had been embedded inside.
• Machine Impact, a rush attack that No. 16 used against Cell.
• Pump Up - a power up move that No. 16 used in Dragon Ball: Raging Blast.

Voice actors

• Japanese dub: Hikaru Midorikawa
• Ocean Group dub: Scott McNeil
• FUNimation dub: Jeremy Inman
• Portuguese dub: Vítor Rocha
• Italian dub: Pietro Ubaldi
• Brazilian dub: Luiz Laffey

Trivia

• Like Metallitron previously was, No. 16 is a reference to The Terminator in several ways. He is a mechanical, but human-looking machine designed from the blueprints up for one specific mission (in this case, killing Goku). He even bears a resemblance, both in appearance and in voice, to Arnold Schwarzenegger, minus hairstyle and height differences. Even the situation where both join the "good guys" is similar, as they are subdued through battle (though in No. 16's case, the damage was dealt by Cell), taken to the base of the resistance and Capsule Corp, and then repaired and somewhat reprogrammed. As with the T3 Terminator who, after being recruited to help John Connor, he is aware of his original mission (with the Terminator in question actually having succeeded), but chooses not to pursue it, though we cannot assume this was due to Bulma's reprogramming with certainty.
• There is some degree of inconsistency regarding No. 16's power level. In his first appearance, Dr. Gero warns that No. 16 is unfit for activation and may cause serious harm, No. 17 then analyzes No. 16's power level and proclaims that he is superior over No. 16. However, when No. 16 confronts Imperfect Cell, who is occupied with beating No. 17 before absorbing him, he states that he has the same power level as Cell, and proceeds to fight evenly with him before nearly defeating the menace with a powerful Hell's Flash, which would then place him much stronger than 17. (In the manga, it is said that No. 17 and No. 18 do not have the ability to analyze power levels like other entirely mechanical androids. No. 17 only claims that he is more powerful than 16 out of his own belief that "I should have a much higher power rating," hubris reflected in multiple quotes of his where he claims to be the strongest Android ever built.)
• No. 16's appearance is somewhat similar to that of Recoome after his hair was burnt. Bido of Bojack's Galaxy Soldiers also bears a strong hairstyle resemblance to 16.
• The death of No. 16 is very similar to the death of No. 20. Both of them are beheaded by a fellow android (Cell and Android 17, respectively) who then crushes the head underneath their foot.
• In Future Trunk's timeline, No. 16 is never seen. This could be because in the alternate timeline, he either doesn't exist or he simply was just never activated (with the latter making more sense, seeing as it's very doubtful that Dr. Gero would make No. 1 through No. 15, skip No. 16, and then continue on with No. 17 through No. 20 and put his own brain into 20's body). In addition, it is possible that since #17 and #18 are seen blowing up the laboratory in the History of Trunks TV Special, he was destroyed in the timeline (having no chance to defend himself). This, however, is not shown for certain in the manga.
• The anime adds a plot hole when Bulma and her father are reading through his memory banks. One of the images included is a scene of Super Saiyan Goku on Namek, despite it being said that Gero did not follow Goku on Namek, so No. 16 should have no information on either Super Saiyan abilities or anything that happened on Namek.
• No. 16 lasts 50 episodes (134-184), which is as long as Cell (141-191).