Fusion (Dragon Ball)

Fusion from the anime Dragon Ball Z refers to any sequence in the series that merges two or more people into a single individual. Fusion is done in a variety of ways including the Fusion Dance, body and energy merging (i.e. Namekian Fusion), and Potara earring fusion. Fusion in these senses is similar to Karyogamy, the joining of two cell nuclei.

The art of fusion

Fusion dance

The Fusion Dance is a precise set of poses and movements that allows two individuals to join together. This particular method of fusion is not stable when it comes to personality. The personality of the fusion made this way may differ tremendously from the individuals who made it. It is strongly hinted that the Metamoru (a pun on metamorphosis; used as Metamorans in FUNimation's English reversioning of the series), who taught Goku the technique, put it into practice themselves. Both individuals must be roughly the same size and have the same current power at the time of fusion. If any mistakes are done during the dance (un-equal power, off-speed, off-angles, twitching, blinking, etc.), it will either work incorrectly (making a defective fused being who is overweight, slow, weak or skinny) or not work at all.

This fusion CREATES a new body that resembles both characters pre-fusion, but can have a dominant side both visually and/or in how they act. The product is GeneRally dressed in Metamoru-style clothing. This fusion style's limitations reside in its extreme use of energy and its lasting of exactly half an hour (actual time may vary depending on how much power is used during the time fused). There is no way to cancel or terminate a failed fusion before its entire duration is complete, and after a successful fusion is made, the people fusing must wait a full hour to perform the fusion again.

• Dance Steps:

1. Stand two places from each other, side to side. Hold your arms out so your arms point away from your partner, palms open and facing forwards.

2. While saying "Fuuuu..." shuffle your feet sideways towards your partner. You must take exactly three steps at this time. While doing so, swing your arms over your head so they end up pointing towards your partner.

3. Then, while saying "sion..." swing your arms across your body, turning them so your palm FACES the floor and closing your fists. At the same time, bring your outer leg up so it is at a right angle, with your shin facing your partner and your foot level with your knee.

4. Finally, shout "Ha!" and lean your torso over so it is slanted towards your partner. Bring your arms up over your head so they point "upwards" (in relation to you) with the index fingers out. Fully extend your outer leg. At this point your fingers should touch your partner's fingers. If both of you do this exactly right, the fusion will be successful.

Your partner must mirror these poses exactly, so it is important to practice to get the timing and movement speed in sync (note that when Goku and Vegeta fuse as SSJ4, that their tails are perfectly matched as well).

The Dance has been used to create:

• Gotenks - Goten and Trunks (Base, Super Saiyan, Super Saiyan 3)
• Gogeta - Goku and Vegeta (Super Saiyan, Super Saiyan 4)

Potara earring fusion

The Potara fusion earrings allow for a fusion that is similar to that from the Fusion Dance, but more powerful and permanent. Each individual puts an earring on the opposite ear than the other. This fusion creates a new body that resembles both characters pre-fusion, but can have a dominant side both visually and in attitude. The physical appearance of both individuals combine, including the clothing and hair. No requirements like the ones used in the Dance (identical power levels and physical build) are necessary for the earrings. Fused beings cannot fuse again while currently fused already. Potara Earring Fusion is a property of the Kaiôshin, and is used by the following:

• Rou Dai Kaiôshin + a Witch => (Permanent)
• East Kaioshin + Kibito => (Permanent)
• Goku+ Vegeta => Vegetto (Reversed by Buu)

Rou Dai Kaiōshin states that this is the "proper" way to fuse, implying that the Fusion Dance is inferior in its final product.

Yuugou

A special technique unique to the Namekians, it is more of an assimilation than a fusion, as one Namek absorbs the energy, strength, memories, and intelligence or thought pattern of another. Both participants must willingly consent to fuse in this manner and usually the pair agrees to the stronger of the two to serve their body as the host. The agreed host places his hand over the chest of the other and through unknown thoughts, a flash merges them. The effect of this fusion is permanent.

This technique was used twice in the series; in both cases Piccolo took the role of the absorber. The first time, Piccolo absorbed Nail, the last warrior-class Namekian, before fighting Freeza; the second time Piccolo absorbed Kami before fighting Imperfect Cell. In both incidences the new Piccolo was strong enough to match or possibly beat the current villain.

Absorption

Absorption is a bit different from Fusion, as it usually involves the consumption of an individual, as opposed to a sharing of power. This is done by Cell and Buu. Cell uses his scorpion-like tail to absorb a helpless victim, while Buu uses his flesh to do the job. A similar technique is used by Qi Xing Long to take control of a body and multiply its natural abilities for his own destructive use.

Metamorphosis

Very different to the Fusion Dance and Potara Earrings, one fighter molds himself into the other's body, making him stronger. This is performed by Uub and Buu to fight Bebi, Super 17 and Yi Xing Long.

Fusion names

In most cases of fusion, the two combined characters' names are themselves combined to create a new name for the single fused character.

Vegeta + Kakarotto = Vegetto
Vegeta + Goku (The failed Fusion)= Veku
Goku + Vegeta = Gogeta
Goten + Trunks = Gotenks

Goku mistakenly calls the merging of Piccolo and Kami "Kamiccolo", while Piccolo mistakenly calls the fusion of Goten and Trunks "Trunkten". The fusion of Kaioshin and Kibito is not given a new fusion name (and also does not speak with the traditional dual-voices in the anime); this character is called both "Kibitoshin" and "Kibito Kai" in official Japanese and American merchandise after the series' end.

Within the North American releases of the series, a major inconsistency is held with the name of Goku and Vegeta's Potara Earring Fusion, Vegetto. With both FUNimation's and Viz's logical localization of Kakarotto to Kakarot/Kakarrot, the emphasized tto syllable from the original Japanese spelling makes little sense to include in a localized fusion-character's name. FUNimation's original spelling of the name can be seen as Vegetto (in old merchandise such as the PlayStation video game Final Bout), and later standardized to Vegito; no attempt to explain the name is over-analyzed in the English dub's dialogue. On the other hand, to explain the origin of the name, Viz's translation of the manga renames the fused character Vegerot (pulling in their localization of Kakarrot).

Fused Warriors often tend to refer to their Fusees in third person (ex: Gogeta saying "I am neither Goku nor Vegeta, I am the instrument of your destruction!") possibly because they have their own personalities and consider themselves a completely different being. It could also be possible that Vegetto, since his personality appears to take after Vegeta's, thinks of Goku the same way Vegeta does. However, Vegetto obviousley retains feelings for both Goku and Vegeta's families.

Imaginary fusions

The Budokai series of video games features two imaginary ("What-If?") fusions. Cheesen (Tiencha in non-Japanese releases) is a dance fusion between Tenshinhan and Yamcha. In a brief scene in the bonus stage of Z World (based on another of Toriyama's works, Neko Majin Z) featured exclusively in the Japanese version of Budokai 2, Goku meets Tenshinhan and Yamcha (who then fuse together) on the gameplay board. Gotan is an earring fusion between Goku and Mr. Satan (known as Gokule in non-Japanese releases of the game, using Mr. Satan's name in the edited FUNimation reversioning, Hercule). Gotan is actually based upon a scene from the anime where Goku has to choose with whom to fuse with before Vegeta arrives (thus forming Vegetto, instead). The choices include Dende (which would form Denderotto) and Mr. Satan (which would form Gotan). A Piccolo-Goku fusion was made imaginary when Goku and Piccolo demonstrated the motions for fusion.

In Dragon Ball Z Budokai, there was one quick fusion in a "What-If?" Sequence, wherein Cell attempts to absorb Android 18, only to have Kuririn shove her out of the way. This results in a Cell who takes on the stature of a "Cell Jr." body with Kuririn's black and orange color scheme, Xiaolin forehead dots, and the Turtle school symbol across his back.

Budokai 2 also features imaginary absorptions for Super Buu. In the game, Buu can use his absorption technique as a normal attack capsule. If successful, Buu absorbs a random character, giving him a new appearance and some of that character's attacks. While he can use his canon absorptions of Gohan and Gotenks, he can also absorb Freeza (giving him Freeza's purple studs and Death Ball finisher), Cell (giving him Cell's black chest stud and green spots as well as the Genki Dama), Vegeta (giving him Vegeta's Buu Saga blue muscle shirt and Final Flash attack), and a two-for-one absorption of Tenshinhan and Yamcha (giving him Tenshinhan's Cell Saga green sash, Yamcha's scars, and both Tenshinhan's Volleyball Fist and Yamcha's Sōki-Dan attack). Buu never absorbed these characters in the original manga or anime.

In the game Jump Superstars, Piccolo uses the fusion dance to fuse with Dr. Mashirito, a villain from the manga Dr. Slump (also written by Akira Toriyama), in a "tag attack". This resulting character yells at his opponent to deal damage.

In 1995, Weekly Shonen Jump (issue #13) began a contest where fans were encouraged to come up with their own "dream fusions". To get fans started, Akira Toriyama drew a picture of a theoretical fusion of Piccolo and Kuririn. The result was a small warrior featuring Piccolo's ears and Kuririn's body structure. Written in the text is the explanation, "Piccolo + Kuririn?! Could his name be "PIRIRIN"?!".

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