Summary
The Androids are easily some of the most beloved villains inDragon Ball Z. The Android Saga, also called the Cell Saga, remains perhaps the most popular arc of the series. Between the cold-hearted youngsters Androids 17 and 18, and the charismatic and magnanimous Perfect Cell, theZ Fighters faced deadly rivals that truly tested them. But among the Androids, one of them was the complete opposite of the others, Android 16.
16 was taciturn, quiet, and, most importantly, kind. 16cared little about fighting the Z Fighters, he only cared about killing Goku, but only because this was his hard programming. However, there’s a tragic reason for 16’s personality and Dr Gero’s reluctance to activate him. How are Dr Gero, the creator of the Androids, and Android 16 connected?
The Androids' True Nature
Cruelty Behind the Machine
Contrary to popular belief, Androids 17 and 18 are not actually…androids. In Japanese, they are called “Jinzoningen”, which means “artificial human”. 17 and 18 are not fully mechanical, but in reality, they are cyborgs. 17 and 18 were originally two teenage siblings named Lapiz and Lazuli. They were kidnapped by Dr Gero and forcefully turned into cyborgs with perpetual energy systems, the ability to use Ki, and a bomb in their chest that ensured their obedience. This is why 17 and 18 deeply hated Dr Gero, they remember their previous lives and what the scientist did to them. This also explains how the two were able to have children with their respective spouses in later arcs ofDragon Ball Z.
But what about 16? Android 16, unlike the other two, is fully mechanical. He is a true Android. 16 was created similarly to 19, a fully mechanical warrior who simply followed orders. But 16 was considered a failure by Gero due to him not having any desire to fight, no malice. 16 only followed his prime directive: eliminate Goku. But besides this, 16 didn’t care about fighting anyone else, he was content with admiring nature and animals, he wasn’t the killing machine Gero wanted him to be.
Cell, on the other hand, is a bio-android. Cell is made of techno-organic matter, which results in his insect-like biology but with the ability to absorb 17 and 18 to evolve. Cell is Gero’s masterpiece, the definitive artificial being of destruction he needed to destroyGoku and the Z Fighters.
Android 16: A Tragic Face
The Reason Behind it All
Dr Gero was originally a top scientist working for the Red Ribbon Army. Goku battled the organization when he was a child,alongside the defeat of Emperor Pilaf and King Piccolo. The Red Ribbon Army’s defeat was one of the ways Goku saved the world at a young age. Gero had a wife named Vomi, who also worked as a scientist in the Red Ribbon Army, and a son named Gevo. A tall, muscular, and redheaded young man. He was a soldier in the Red Ribbon Army. He fell in battle against an enemy army. Years later, Dr Gero created an extremely powerful Android, and while his peaceful demeanor was stated to be a failure, in truth he was purposely made to be non-aggressive to keep him away from danger. This Android was designated: 16.
Protect the life I loved. You have the strength. My scanners sensed it. Just let it go
16’s true identity is of Gero’s late son. 16 was modeled to be physically identical to Gevo, and far more powerful than any of the other Androids. It is unknown whether Gevo also adored nature and animals or if that is a trait unique to 16. And there’s Gero’s late wife, Vomi. In the fighting gameDragon Ball FighterZ,a brand new female character was designed by Akira Toriyama to be added to the game: Android 21. 21 is modeled after Vomi, just like 16 is modeled after Gevo. The two strongest Androids Dr Gero created were modeled after his late wife and son.
It is believed by some fans that Gokumay have been involved in the deaths of Vomi and Gevo. Although it hasn’t been confirmed, either Vomi or Gevo, or both, may have died when Goku destroyed the Red Ribbon Army bases. Which would give Dr Gero’s obsession with enacting revenge on him another layer. Gero may hate Goku for more than simply destroying his organization, but also because he killed his wife and son.
Dragon Ball
Goku, a young, powerful boy with a tail, spends his days hunting and living off the land. His life changes when he meets Bulma, a teen genius on a quest to collect seven magical Dragon Balls that summon a dragon capable of granting any wish. Together, they set off on an adventure filled with powerful martial arts battles, formidable foes, and unlikely alliances.
