Colonel White

Did You Know?

• General Blue has special telekinetic abilities that allow him to paralyze others and control objects.
• Android 8's creator is revealed to be Doctor Frappe in the Dragon Ball anime.
• Doctor Gero implants his own brain into a replica of his body and calls himself .

Mercenary Tao {{anchor|Taopaipai}}

Mercenary Tao, known as General Tao in some English dubs, is an assassin the Red Ribbon Army hires to kill Goku. He is the younger sibling of Master Shen, the Crane Hermit who is Master Roshi’s longtime rival. Tao’s outfit is a pink gi he had made specially, with the kanji for “kill” on the front and “KILL YOU!” printed in English on the back. Using only his tongue, he kills General Blue.

He also takes Bora’s life with Bora’s own spear, the guardian of Korin Tower, and appears to finish off Goku. After this first victory, he collects most of Goku’s Dragon Balls, but Goku returns with new strength from Korin and challenges him again. Tao is caught in his own grenade’s blast and is presumed dead. Seeking revenge, Master Shen orders his students Tien Shinhan and Chiaotzu to harm and kill Goku and Master Roshi’s other pupils at the 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament.

Tao actually survived and, using money from past jobs, was rebuilt as a cyborg. He enters the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament backed by Master Shen, but Tien Shinhan, formerly his brother’s student, easily defeats him. In the anime, Tao appears in Dragon Ball Z filler episodes during its fifth season. Chikao Ōtsuka voices him in Japanese for Dragon Ball, and Yukimasa Kishino for Dragon Ball Z. Scott McNeil provides his voice in the Ocean dub, while Kent Williams, who also voices Dr. Gero, voices him in the Funimation dub.

Android 17

Android 17 is an artificial human built by Doctor Gero for the Red Ribbon Army. He and his sister, Android 18, were unleashed as a last-ditch effort to stop Goku’s friends, but 17 immediately betrayed and murdered Gero. The pair then hunted for Goku, but 17 was later captured and absorbed by Cell. He was revived alongside Cell’s other victims using the Dragon Balls.

By the time of Dragon Ball Super, 17 works as a forest ranger on a secluded island protecting rare animals. The series also reveals he is married with three children, two of whom are adopted. He joins Universe 7’s team for the Tournament of Power and ultimately wins the tournament for them. Using his wish on the Super Dragon Balls, he restores every universe that had been erased during the competition.

Akira Toriyama created 17 and 18 after his editor, Kazuhiko Torishima, disliked the earlier villains Android 19 and 20. A brief cameo by 17 during the Boo arc was originally meant for the character Lunch, who otherwise does not appear in the manga’s second half. In 2014, Toriyama revealed 17’s real name is Lapis. Shigeru Nakahara provides 17’s voice in all Japanese media. For the English Funimation dub, Chuck Huber voices him.

Android 16

Android 16 is a massive, entirely mechanical android built in the image of Gevo, Dr. Gero's son and a high-ranking Red Ribbon Army soldier who was killed by a bullet in an unspecified battle. Gero considered 16 a failure and kept him deactivated until Android 18 turned him back on and set him free. Unlike 17 and 18, 16 has a built-in system that can detect and follow power levels instantly. He does not enjoy fighting like his fellow androids do, and he strictly follows his programming: find and eliminate Goku.

Despite his intimidating size and metallic look, 16 is kind and gentle, much like Android 8. He cares about nature and humanity, and he sees Cell as a threat that will destroy both. While trying to shield 17 and 18 from Cell, 16 is severely damaged, but Bulma and her father fix him up. After repairs, he puts his mission to kill Goku on hold to help fight Cell.

Like the others, 16 was built with a self-destruct bomb, but it was taken out during his repair. This only comes to light when he tries to blow himself up to take out Cell, but Cell destroys him instead. His head and mind survive, but Cell crushes them, which finally pushes Gohan to transform into Super Saiyan 2, the strength needed to defeat Cell. In Japanese media, 16 is voiced by Hikaru Midorikawa; in the Ocean dub, by Scott McNeil; and in the Funimation dub, by Jeremy Inman.

Android 21

Android 21 first appeared as a key figure in the main story of the video game Dragon Ball FighterZ. She is introduced as a mysterious scientist aligned with the Red Ribbon Army, linked to a strange anomaly that drains the power of various Dragon Ball characters and spawns hostile clones of them. As players progress through the game’s narrative, her true backstory and nature are slowly uncovered, and she serves as the final boss in all three of the game’s story arcs.

Because she carries the genetic material of many powerful characters from the series—similar to Cell—Android 21 is an extremely strong Bio-Android, possessing superhuman strength, endurance, and speed. She has two distinct forms, each with its own personality. Her human form is benevolent, while her true form resembles Majin Buu, with pink skin and similar clothing, and a malevolent personality driven solely by a desire to consume all life. Android 21 can fly and generate energy beams using her ki. Like Buu, she can transform objects or living beings into confectionery or other sweet foods by shooting an energy beam at them, satisfying her insatiable hunger. She can also copy and mimic the abilities of other characters by stabbing them with an energy blade that projects from her hand.

Once the story mode is completed, Android 21 becomes a playable character available in all game modes. A second playable version, featuring her human design and lab coat, was added as downloadable content in February 2022.

Android 21 and the cloned enemies from Dragon Ball FighterZ appear in the animated opening credits of the Super Dragon Ball Heroes: World Mission update for the Dragon Ball Heroes digital card game, but they have not yet appeared in the promotional anime itself. She also appears in other video games, including Super Dragon Ball Heroes, Dragon Ball Z: Dokkan Battle, Dragon Ball Legends, Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2, and Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot.

The 2022 film Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero reveals that Android 21’s human base is Vomi, the wife of Dr. Gero and the mother of Gevo, who served as the model for Android 16’s design. Vomi is briefly seen during a media presentation by senior members of the reconstituted Red Ribbon Army as they try to recruit her surviving grandson, Dr. Hedo.