Hello! I’m KENTA, a Japanese manga enthusiast. Today, I will delve into the intricate timelines and parallel universes that appear in the Cell Saga of Dragon Ball. In this saga, the arrival of Trunks from the future reveals the existence of multiple timelines and parallel universes. This setting is often used in side stories and other media, but how many worlds are there, and what exactly happened in each? Many fans might not have a perfect grasp of it. So, let’s thoroughly explore the timelines touched upon in the Cell Saga. Stay with me until the end!
From Trunks’ Arrival to the Appearance of Cell in the Main Timeline
Let’s first review the flow of events in the main timeline, from Trunks’ arrival to the appearance of Cell. This period begins after the showdown with Frieza, when Goku lands on the planet Yardrat and eventually returns to Earth. Krillin and the others eagerly await his return. However, Frieza, who was not completely defeated, attacks Earth three hours earlier than expected, accompanied by his father. In this desperate situation, Trunks appears and defeats them both. Shortly after, Goku returns to Earth after a year.
・In a conversation with Trunks, the following information is revealed:
・In three years, two androids will appear and annihilate all the warriors except for Trunks. Goku will be unable to fight due to a heart disease.
Based on this information, Trunks gives Goku a special medicine and promises to meet again in three years, temporarily parting ways. As Trunks predicted, Goku does indeed develop heart disease but is saved by the special medicine. Following this, the battle against the androids begins, and the tide turns with Vegeta’s awakening. However, Trunks, who has returned from the future, is shocked to find that “these are not the androids I know.”
The Future World from Which Trunks Came
Next, let’s look at the future world from which Trunks came. In this world, Goku dies from heart disease, and the two androids annihilate all the warriors. It is a future of despair. Although time travel eventually brings peace, the journey to get there is a living hell.
In this world, Trunks’ actions have a significant impact. The fact that Trunks comes from the future is an irregular event, and without intervention, the Dragon Ball world would normally head towards destruction, presenting a thought-provoking scenario.
The Future World Where Cell Arrived
Now, let’s analyze the future world where Cell arrived. From Cell’s statements, we learn the following:
・The computer continued to operate automatically, and Cell was completed 24 years later. ・Trunks traveled to the past, trained, and returned to defeat the androids. ・Trunks was attacked and killed by Cell, who then stole the time machine. In this world, Trunks successfully defeats the androids but loses his life to Cell. As a result, Trunks, the sole survivor, dies, leaving Bulma with a heartbreaking level of despair.
The Newly Created Timeline
Finally, let’s discuss the newly created timeline. In this timeline, Trunks goes to the past and finds clues to stop the androids, leading to a peaceful resolution. Goku and Vegeta survive in this world, resulting in a happier ending than the main timeline. However, even in this world, future threats remain, and true peace is not fully achieved.
Conclusion
In this article, we explored four timelines and their events in the Cell Saga of Dragon Ball. While Dragon Ball is primarily known for its battle scenes, organizing the timelines and parallel universes reveals the depth of its well-crafted settings. Each timeline carries its own drama and tragedy, highlighting the profound nature of the series. We will continue to analyze Dragon Ball, so please share your thoughts and requests.
In this analysis blog, we delved into the four timelines and their events in the Cell Saga of Dragon Ball. At MangaZamurai, we publish analysis articles about Japanese manga for audiences around the world. Be sure to check out our other articles and rediscover the charm of Japanese manga!