Summary
Goku shows off his modern and stylish look in an excellent new fanart, departing from his iconic Gi for a change. Despite the new look, Goku's signature orange Gi remains the most iconic representation of his character. DBSKAKERU1's fanart pays homage to Toriyama's work by recreating Goku in a more comfortable outfit inspired by his voice actress.
It's rare Dragon ballGoku's main character will be wearing a different outfit than his iconic Gi. In a stunning fanart published by talented artist DBSKAKERU1 on X, Goku leaves behind his workout equipment to prove that he can look stylish too. The work introduces Goku wearing a modern and quite fashionable jacket with the Capsule Corp logo. on the sleeves and the words Dragon Ball Z are stitched on the back.
The jacket appears to be inspired by the one used by Goku's voice actress, the beloved Mazako Nowaza., who used a similar outfit in the upcoming Dragon Ball Daima announcement. DBSKAKERU1 makes sure to maintain a style similar to that of the esteemed Akira Toriyama, the original creator of Goku, creating a wonderful and modern tribute to the late mangaka.
Goku is a secret fashionista
Dragon Ball is produced by Toei Animation, the original series was created by Akira Toriyama
Over the years, Toriyama has portrayed Goku in many different modern looks. The most prominent example comes from Dragon Ball Z's Cell Saga, in which Goku wears a normal jacket and pants. The Saiyan hero is also seen wearing a Hawaiian shirt in a filler episode where he tries to learn how to drive. These are by far the most famous examples of Goku not wearing his iconic Gi, as they take place during one of the most famous Sagas in the series.
However, this is not the first time Goku has been seen in casual clothes. Toriyama is famous for portraying his characters in casual clothes on manga covers.. Goku has worn many different styles, from tailored suits to sweaters. DBSKAKERU1's work perfectly encapsulates the nature of Toriyama's work, as it showcases Goku in a stylish outfit that matches the rest of the clothes Goku has worn in the past. The fact that the fanart was inspired by Nowaza herself makes it that much more meaningful.
Goku's gi remains his most iconic look
No matter how it's re-imagined, Goku's best appearance remains his most recognizable
While it's true that seeing Goku in normal clothes was a welcome yet surprising thing, there's no doubt that his signature orange Gi is his most important outfit. Kakarot's training outfit is not only iconic but also the essence of Goku's character. The first iteration of this outfit was a gift from his grandfather, Gohan, who took care of him for many years and taught him to fight with honor. Gi later became a symbol of his dedication and hard work as a student of world-famous Master Roshi.
The importance of Goku's gi extends far beyond the Dragon Ball world, as many other manga creators have depicted their characters wearing similar outfits as a tribute to Toriyama's work. DBSKAKERU1's fanart is still a great piece of work that shows Goku in a new light, giving the Saiyan a more relaxed and modern look. Both the artist and Toriyama's vision for the character is impressive and deserves to be celebrated.
Super Dragon Ball available to stream on Crunchyrol.