In the Dragon Ball saga, Dodoria is one of the tyrant Frieza's most dangerous henchmen. He is even presented as an important warrior, tasked with cold-bloodedly executing anyone who might stand in the tyrant's way. From his place in the expanded universe to his role in the series and Toriyama's work, here's a look back at 8 facts you (maybe) didn't know about Dodoria.
#9 Akira Toriyama hesitated for a long time before determining Dodoria's look (canon)
The visual design of Dodoria was the result of extensive thought on the part of Akira Toriyama. In the original manga, Dodoria is depicted as a massive pink-skinned alien with spikes on his head and arms. He wears a blue version of Frieza's typical minion battle armor with brown shoulder pads and a green scouter. However, this appearance has undergone several notable variations. In the anime adaptation, Dodoria has four fingers and a thumb, unlike his three fingers in the manga.
Additionally, Toriyama revisited his appearance during the Kanzenban edition release between 2002 and 2004. In this remastered version, Dodoria appears with golden skin, contrasting with the original pink hue. This change highlights Toriyama's hesitation to permanently freeze the character's appearance, demonstrating his evolving and experimental approach to design in his work, but also reminding us that Misokatsun, a supporting character in Dragon Ball Z: The Ice Robot, seems to have inspired the character. When Cold relinquished control of his empire to his son, the army was renamed the "Freeza Force," and Dodoria continued his service as a general, tasked with the most brutal missions. In Dragon Ball Super: Broly, according to Toyotarou's interpretation, Dodoria is responsible for the assassination of the Saiyan named Tora and his squad, after Leek contacted them for their return to Planet Vegeta. Tora, also known as Toma, was a Saiyan member of the Bardock Squad, an elite group serving under Freeza's banner. This execution is reminiscent of that of the Bardock squad in Bardock: Father of Goku, where Dodoria was sent to eliminate possible survivors of the planned genocide of the Saiyans.
#7 Dodoria is part of a very specific population (Canon)
Long perceived as an isolated character, Dodoria actually belongs to a very distinct extraterrestrial population, now better identified thanks to the extended universe of Dragon Ball. First represented through recolored enemies in games like Gekishin Freeza and Super Saiya Densetsu, this species gains momentum with Dragon Ball Fusions We discover Caluppa, Sirami and Tartar, more slender members sharing Dodoria's physical traits: thick skin, imposing build, spikes on the body. These warriors were integrated into the Cold Force even before King Cold relinquished control to Frieza. The canon universe confirms their existence via an escaped prisoner seen in Dragon Ball Super. Dodoria, one of Frieza's two main generals along with Zarbon, is thus the best-known representative of this species, which has long remained in the background, but is now firmly anchored in the lore of the saga.
#6 The people of Dodoria did not choose to serve Frieza (Canon)
The population from which the cruel Dodoria came never had the choice to join Frieza's army. Like many other peoples in the Dragon Ball universe, their planet was subjugated by force, and its inhabitants were enlisted willingly or by force into the gigantic intergalactic army led first by King Cold, then by his son Frieza. While Dodoria seems to carry out his master's orders with cruel zeal, he nevertheless remains descended from an enslaved population. His people are made up of large humanoid creatures bristling with spikes, and other representatives such as Caluppa, Sirami, and Tartar have appeared in Dragon Ball Fusions. More refined than Dodoria, they demonstrate the diversity of this people. One of their members even escaped from the Galactic Patrol prison in Dragon Ball Super. Their presence in the Frieza Force therefore illustrates a brutal reality: behind each of the tyrant's soldiers lies a conquered people.
#5 Dodoria served Cooler (Extended Universe)
In Dragon Ball Z: Supersonic Warriors 2, Dodoria reappears in a new storyline from the Extended Universe. In In this alternate timeline, Cooler returns to Earth in his Meta-Cooler form thanks to the Big Gete Star. After defeating Goku and Vegeta, he uses the Dragon Balls to resurrect Dodoria, Zarbon, and the Ginyu Force. Dodoria then becomes Cooler's informant, tasked with alerting him whenever an enemy appears. His recurring line "We have a problem" even becomes a running gag in the game, and the other characters mock him when he says it. Alongside Zarbon, he battles the cyborgs 17, 18, and 20, and later Cell in his semi-perfect form. Finally, the ultimate honor: when Cell reaches his perfect form, Cooler convinces Dodoria and Zarbon to participate in a Battle Pose alongside the prestigious Ginyu Commando.
#4 Dodoria has his own special commando (extended universe)
In the Dragon Ball extended universe, Dodoria enjoys a rare privilege: he commands his own elite unit, Team Dodoria. This status is exceptional, as only Frieza and Cooler also have a personal commando, proof of Dodoria's high rank in the army hierarchy. galactic (or his incompetence to fend for himself, eh…). However, this commando only appears in non-canon works, notably in Bardock: The Father of Goku and several video games like Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2, Legends or Kakarot.
Composed of four members, this team includes a purple-skinned soldier from the population of Appule, a green fish humanoid, a red-crested frog creature and a horned captain. All are sent alongside Dodoria to Planet Meat to execute Bardock's squad. They also represent a real challenge for Goku's father and his cronies. After an intense fight, Bardock eliminates almost the entire unit before being violently neutralized by Dodoria himself. Later, different versions of this team appear in the Tournament of Time, sometimes even composed of Saiyans like Borgos or Shugesh. Although non-canonical and often (too) forgotten, Team Dodoria is a true curiosity of the lore.
#3 Dodoria has become a source of inspiration (making of)
While Dodoria is the result of extensive research by Akira Toriyama, the foundations of his appearance date back much earlier in the mangaka's work. Characters like Tambour, Piccolo's son, already possess certain traits that herald Dodoria: imposing musculature, monstrous features, and obvious cruelty. Once Dodoria was created, his unique appearance would have a lasting influence on the Dragon Ball universe. The teams working on the spin-off films were heavily inspired by him.
Indeed, from then on, in addition to the appearance of many characters from the same population as Dodoria, we meet many characters who strongly resemble him. In Dragon Ball Z: The Menace of Namek, Dorodabo—by his name, his build, and his role—clearly evokes Dodoria. Later, Abo and Kado, two elite soldiers of Frieza's army, merge to form Aka, whose design once again recalls Dodoria's physical characteristics. This character has thus become a major visual reference, inspiring a whole line of massive and formidable warriors in the saga.
#2 Dodoria was killed by another Saiyan than Vegeta (Expanded Universe)
In the main universe of Dragon Ball Z, Dodoria is infamous for having exterminated Bardock's squad, which included the valiant Tora. The latter, Bardock's faithful companion, tragically dies of his injuries after an ambush on Planet Meat. But in the expanded universe of Dragon Ball Legends, timelines intersect and offer some warriors a second chance. Throughout the alternate versions, Tora faces Dodoria several times, without ever managing to defeat him... until a pivotal moment in the Tournament of Time.
Propelled into the 780 era, Tora and his former companions face a new version of Dodoria, from a future where the Saiyans are reduced to historical relics. During an attack on their base, Dodoria wipes out almost the entire team. But this time, it's different. As Dodoria prepares to kill Fasha and Tora, Bardock intervenes in time. Dodoria reveals that Frieza is already on his way, convinced their defeat is inevitable. It is then that Tora, overcome with rage, finally kills Dodoria with his own hands. In this alternative future, it is therefore not Vegeta, but Tora who finally avenges the Bardock squad, thus closing a loop in the shared history of these two characters. during the Super Space-Time Tournament, an interdimensional battle royale organized by the goddess Aeos. On this occasion, he fights alongside Team Frieza, including Zarbon, Mecha Frieza, and Tagoma. Their opponent: the formidable Space Mercenaries, servants of the galactic pirate Bojack. In the official manga of the tournament, Dodoria faces Bido, one of the most powerful warriors of the enemy group, in a forest where flying is forbidden, making the battles more tactical and brutal. Surprisingly, Dodoria wins, the Space Mercenaries are eliminated, and their reality is erased. This fight proves, in passing, that Dodoria remains a formidable soldier, and we understand all the better his privileged status within Frieza's empire.
And if you want to discover even more about the universe of, you can find our files on Frieza first and second parts, King Cold, Zarbon or even the Ginyu Special Forces.
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