Trunks

A swordsman from a ruined future who defies fate to protect the timeline.

Trunks is a fictional character from Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball manga, appearing as the half-Saiyan, half-human son of Vegeta and Bulma. He exists in two distinct incarnations: Future Trunks, who debuted in chapter #331 on July 2, 1991, as a time-traveling warrior warning Goku of the Androids; and Present Trunks, introduced as an infant in chapter #337. The Future incarnation is celebrated for his unique role in saving the timeline, while the Present version grows from a background character into a major figure across Dragon Ball Z, Super, GT, and various films.

Quick Facts

Series

Dragon Ball

Creator

Akira Toriyama

First

Dragon Ball chapter #331 The Young Boy of Mystery, 2 July 1991 (Weekly Shōnen Jump 1991)

Species

Saiyan/human hybrid

Voice

Japanese:
Takeshi Kusao
Tsubasa Yonaga (Mini; Dragon Ball Daima)
English:
See Voice actors

Lore & Background

Future Trunks originates from a timeline where Goku succumbed to a heart virus and the Red Ribbon Androids #17 and #18 decimated humanity. Living with Bulma and secretly training with his master Gohan, he awakened his Super Saiyan transformation in rage and sadness on finding Gohan's body. In this new timeline, he attends school and competes in the 25th Tenkaichi Budokai at age eight, defeating Goten despite both cheating. Later, he aided the Supreme Kai against Babidi and Dabura, eventually confronting Goku Black and Zamasu in a desperate battle that ended with the destruction of his timeline by Zeno.

Reader's Guide

Trunks is defined by his dual existence: the grim survivor of Future Trunks and the playful child of Present Trunks. Both possess superhuman strength, speed, and reflexes, utilizing ki blasts and flight via Bukū-jutsu. Future Trunks relies on a longsword and signature moves like the Burning Attack and Super Buster Cannon, and later gains a form named Super Saiyan Rage when Goku Black and Zamasu blame him for his time traveling. Present Trunks is famous for fusing with Goten to become Gotenks, granting them access to humorous attacks like the Galactic Donut and Super Ghost Kamikaze Attack, as well as the difficult-to-maintain Super Saiyan 3 form.

Voice acting varies by timeline and language; Takeshi Kusao voices both versions in Japanese (except mini Trunks in Daima voiced by Tsubasa Yonaga), while Eric Vale handles adult/teen roles in English, with Laura Bailey and Alexis Tipton voicing the child versions at different times.

Did You Know?

Future Trunks achieved the Super Saiyan transformation in his early teens, while Present Trunks was shown to have the ability at age eight.
The infant cries for Present Trunks were provided by Hiromi Tsuru in an uncredited role because the creators feared changing voice actors would sound strange if the character grew up.
Trunks' time machine was destroyed by Goku Black, leaving him stuck in the present era until Bulma rebuilt a new one.