Will We Ever See the Great Apes Again in DragonBall?
Exploring the legacy and potential return of the Oozaru form
The Great Apes, or Oozaru, have been an iconic yet often overlooked part of Dragon Ball history. These massive transformations played a crucial role in Saiyan lore, serving as a foundation of their power and their ability to conquer planets under Frieza’s rule. But as Dragon Ball has evolved, the Oozaru form has faded into the background, only making brief appearances like in the Granolah the Survivor arc. This makes me wonder if we’ll ever see the Great Apes return in a meaningful way or if their time in Dragon Ball history is officially over. Let’s take a look at their past, importance, and the possibility of their future.
The Great Apes in DragonBall History
The Oozaru transformation was first introduced in Dragon Ball when Goku unknowingly turned into a giant ape during a full moon. This form was later revealed to be a natural ability of Saiyans, allowing them to amplify their power tenfold at the cost of losing control and reasoning.
In Dragon Ball Z, the Great Ape form was further explored with Vegeta’s transformation during his battle with Goku, as well as in flashbacks showing the Saiyans conquering planets. Bardock’s crew and the destruction of Planet Vegeta reinforced how crucial this form was to the Saiyan race and their role in Frieza’s empire. Even Baby Vegeta’s Golden Oozaru transformation in Dragon Ball GT showed how this form could be used as a stepping stone toward even greater power.
As the series introduced Super Saiyan transformations, the Great Ape started to fade into obscurity. With new power-ups like Super Saiyan God and Ultra Instinct taking over, Dragon Ball seemed to move away from the primal aspects of Saiyan power.
The Oozaru’s Brief Return in the Granolah Arc
One of the most recent nods to the Great Apes came in the Granolah the Survivor arc of Dragon Ball Super. Granolah, a survivor of the Saiyan invasion of his home planet, held deep resentment toward the Saiyans, particularly because of their Oozaru form. Flashbacks showed the apes in action, reminding fans of their destructive nature and how essential they were to Frieza’s empire.
While these moments were brief, they were a clear reminder of how significant the Oozaru were in shaping the history of the Saiyans. But does this mean the transformation still has relevance, or was it just a nostalgic callback?
Is the Arc of the Great Apes Officially Over?
As DragonBall continues to evolve, the franchise has shifted its focus toward divine and multiversal powers instead of primal transformations. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean the Oozaru form is completely outdated.
There’s still potential for a modern take on the Great Apes. With the introduction of newer Saiyan characters like Broly, the story could explore how the primal nature of the Oozaru might still play a role in their development. Could Broly, whose power is already linked to his uncontrollable rage, tap into a refined or evolved version of the Oozaru’s strength? Could a villain emerge who forces Saiyans to revert to their original form as part of a larger plan?
Another possibility is revisiting the Great Apes in a historical or lore-driven storyline. We’ve seen glimpses of ancient Saiyan history before, and a story that explores the origins of the Oozaru and how Saiyan power evolved over time could be a great addition to Dragon Ball Super or future projects.
Could the Oozaru Form Make a Comeback?
If the Great Apes were to return, it would have to be in a way that makes sense within Dragon Ball’s current power scale. One idea is that instead of being an uncontrollable transformation, certain Saiyans could learn to master and refine the Oozaru’s raw power without needing a full moon. This could be an untapped power path—an alternative to traditional Super Saiyan forms that brings Saiyans closer to their origins.
Bringing the Oozaru back could also be an opportunity to give more screen time to characters who haven’t developed much. Imagine a scenario where Saiyans without godly Ki, like Goten and Trunks, discover a way to tap into this ancient power to keep up with Goku and Vegeta’s divine transformations. That could be an interesting twist that brings the Oozaru back into relevance.
Final Thoughts: Will We See the Great Apes Again?
The Great Apes were once a defining part of the Saiyans, and while they’ve been sidelined for years, their significance hasn’t been forgotten. It’s unlikely that we’ll see them return as a dominant transformation in battles, but there’s still a chance they could make a meaningful comeback—whether through Saiyan history, a unique new power path, or an unexpected twist in a future arc.
As a Dragon Ball fan, I’d love to see the Oozaru form get the respect it deserves. Whether it’s in an intense battle or an exploration of Saiyan history, there’s still plenty of potential left in this legendary transformation. What do you think? Is the era of the Great Apes over, or will we see them again in Dragon Ball’s future?
I think the oozaru form has the potential to make a comeback I would love if Goten and trunks get a new type of version of the form but if they do get the form I would want Vegeta to be their mentor in teaching them how to control the form because Vegeta is the only one left alive that knows how to control the form so it would be a nice twist to see Vegeta train the the present version of his son and Goku's son and also Vegeta could give us some new lore about the form that we've never heard before hopefully this form makes a comeback