Bulma

Creation and design

Bulma is loosely based on Tang Sanzang from the Chinese classic Journey to the West. Toriyama introduced Bulma and Goku as the first pair of characters, stating that he subsequently introduced other characters in pairs because interactions allowed him to explain characters and their relationships without excessive narration. He noted that without Bulma, Goku as a child would be a character who said nothing. Toriyama's editor at the time, Kazuhiko Torishima, wanted Bulma and Goku to form a romantic relationship.

Bulma's appearance is less consistent than other characters; she frequently changes her hairstyle and clothing due to being fashion-conscious. Her hair is usually fuchsia, though in the first chapter and the anime it is turquoise. Toriyama explained that her first hairstyle change indicated a three-year time skip and because he personally liked girls with short hair. She sometimes wears clothing with her name or the Capsule Corporation logo.

Her name "Buruma" is the Japanese pronunciation of "bloomer," a type of gym shorts. Her family members are all named after underclothing: Dr. Brief, Trunks, and Bra. Her mother is unnamed in the original series, referred to only as "Bulma's Mother"; in 2004 Toriyama suggested the name Panchy, a pun on panties, while the video game Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot revealed her name as Bikini. Toriyama stated that Bulma's family has a laissez-faire attitude, but Bulma has complete control.

Bulma was voiced by Hiromi Tsuru in all Japanese media until her death in November 2017; she auditioned for the part and found Bulma easy to play because the character is down-to-earth. In February 2018, Aya Hisakawa became the new voice actress.

Appearances

Bulma is introduced as a teenage inventor of the Dragon Radar, which she uses to search for the Dragon Balls, hoping to wish for the perfect boyfriend. She encounters Goku, who possesses the four-star Dragon Ball inherited from his adoptive father Grandpa Son Gohan. Goku initially refuses to give it up, but Bulma convinces him to loan it in exchange for taking him on her travels, and they team up to find the remaining balls. During the search, they meet Master Roshi, Oolong, Yamcha, and Pu'ar; Bulma becomes attracted to Yamcha and eventually begins a romantic relationship with him.

Five years later, Goku's elder brother Raditz arrives on Earth. During the battle against Vegeta and Nappa, Yamcha, Tien Shinhan, Chiaotzu, and Piccolo are killed, rendering the Dragon Balls useless. Bulma volunteers to travel to Namek to use the Namekian Dragon Balls to revive them. She repairs Kami's old spaceship with her father's help and flies to Namek with Krillin and Son Gohan.

After Goku defeats Frieza, the slain fighters are revived by Porunga. Vegeta returns to Earth and stays with Bulma and her family. Years before the Androids arrive, Bulma ends her relationship with Yamcha and begins one with Vegeta, leading to the birth of their son Trunks. She uses Dr. Gero's stolen blueprints to build a detonator to destroy the Androids, but Krillin breaks it after developing feelings for Android 18. With her father's help, Bulma later repairs Android 16 before the Tournament of Martial Arts.