How old are they? A Dragon Ball detailed Chronology
I’ve often noticed people don’t know exactly how old are the characters during the sagas and that they’ve troubles evaluating the duration between events like the death of Freeza and the appearance of the androids.
The age topic gets even more complicated when Mirai Trunks is concerned since it involves an alternate timeline with a different chronology from the regular Dragon Ball universe.
Therefore I calculated Gohan, Mirai Gohan, Trunks and Mirai Trunks ages at various key points of the Dragon Ball chronology. The calculus are accurate and based on exact dates given in the very official “Dragon Ball’s dictionary” which has been approved by Akira Toriyama himself. And after telling you how old they are, I’ll share with you a detailed chronology of the Dragon Ball key events.
A) The Characters ages :
Before starting I’d like to correct a mistaken yet popular belief : Dragon Ball Z IS NOT Dragon Ball’s sequel but a marketing idea of the anime producer. The truth is they split the manga Dragon Ball in two anime. The anime Dragon Ball covers tome 1 to 15 while the anime Dragon Ball Z covers the remaining tomes (i.e Tome 16 to 42).
1) Mirai Gohan and Mirai Trunks :
- When Goku dies in 764, Mirai Gohan is 7 years old and Mirai Trunks isn’t born yet.
- When Mirai Trunks was born in 766, Mirai Gohan is 9 years old, so there’s a 9 years gap between them.
- The androids appears in 767 killing everyone, Mirai Gohan is 10 years old and Mirai Trunks is 1 years old.
- Mirai Gohan dies in 780 he was 23 years old and Mirai Trunks was 14 years old.
- Mirai Trunks takes the time machine in 784 he’s 18 years old.
- Mirai Trunks returns to his timeline and defeats the androids in 785 he’s 20 years old (since he spent two years in the Room of Spirit and Time).
- Mirai Trunks defeats Cell in 788 , he’s 23 years old.
2) Gohan and Mirai Trunks :
- Gohan was born on May 757. One year after Goku’s wedding.
- 12th October 761, Radditz kidnaps Gohan. Gohan is 4 years old.
- 3rd November 762, Vegeta and Nappa land on Earth. Gohan is 5 years old.
- August 764 Mirai Trunks kills Freeza. Mirai Trunks is 18 and Gohan is 7 years old.
- 766 Birth of Trunks. Gohan is 9 years old.
- 12th May 767 Androids 19 & 20 appears and Mirai Trunks returns. Gohan is 10 years old and Mirai Trunks is still 18 years old.
- 16th May 767 Mirai Trunks and Vegeta exit from the Hyperbolic Room. Gohan is still 10 years old but Mirai Trunks is now 19 years old.
- 17th May 767 Gohan and Goku exit from the Hyperbolic Room. Mirai Trunks is still 19 years old but Gohan is now 11 years old.
- 20th May 767 Mirai Trunks exits again from the Hyperbolic Room. Gohan is still 11 years old but Mirai Trunks is now 20 years old.
- 28th March 774 Gohan goes to Orange Star’s Highschool, he’s now 18 years old.
- Birth of Pan in 779, Gohan is 23 years old.
- End of DBZ in 784. Gohan is 28 years old.
3) Gohan and Trunks :
- 766 Birth of Trunks. Gohan is 9 years old.
- 28th March 774 Gohan goes to Orange Star’s Highschool. Gohan is 18 years old and Trunks is 8 years old.
- 8th May 774 Goten and Trunks enters the Hyperbolic Room. Gohan is 18 years old and Trunks is now 9 years old.
- Birth of Pan in 779, Gohan is 23 years old and Trunks is 14 years old
- End of DBZ in 784. Gohan is 28 years old and Trunks is 19 years old.
B) Detailed Chronology :
Considering we have two different chronology (One for the main timeline and one for the Mirai timeline), I’ll use three different colors.
- Black is for the chronology which is common to both timelines
- Green is for the main timeline where the Z warriors survived.
- Violet is for the Mirai Timeline where Mirai Trunks is the sole surviving warrior.
-4237 : Garlick Junior’s ancester left planet Makyo and landed on Earth.
-238 : A Saiyajin’s legend talk about the coming Super Saiyajins defined as blood thirsty and great destroyers.
250 : Uranai Baba (Master Roshi’s elder sister) starts her foretelling business
430 : Birth of Master Roshi.
448 : 18 years old Roshi is trained by Mutaïto.
459 : Birth of Tao Paï Paï (Tenshinhan’s master).
461 : Garlick’s father defies Kami and is defeated. The old Kami retires in favour of a Namek one. The new Kami separates himself of his evil side which leads to Piccolo Daimao’s birth (it’s Piccolo’s dad).
550 : The Saiyajins land on Planet Plant and colonize it under the name of Planet Vegitisei.
650 : 7th may First World Art Martial Tournament : Winner Master Roshi.
658 : Birth of Son Gohan (Goku’s adoptive grandfather).
715 : Birth of Pilaf (First Goku’s arch nemesis).
731 : Alliance Treaty between Planet Vegitisei and Freeza. Wedding of Vegeta No Ouji (Vegeta’s father).
732 : Birth of Prince Vegeta.
733 : Birth of Bulma, Yamucha, and Tenshinhan. 8 May : Crowning of a new Earth king.
736 : Birth of Krillin.
737 : Birth of Kakkaroto (Goku). Freeza kills Vegeta’s father and Bardock (Goku’s father) and breaks the saiyajin’s rebellion by destroying planet Vegitisei. Birth of Chichi.
738 : One year old Goku falls from a cliff and got serious head injury, resulting in loss memory and reject of his saiyajin’s instincts.
740 : Birth of Oolong. Krillin becomes monk at the Oorin’s temple.
747 : Yamucha meets Puar.
749 :
- Bulma goes to highschool, and finds a dragon ball in Capsule Corp’s attic.
- 1st September Bulma meets Goku.
- 2nd September They meet Master Roshi.
- 5th September Goku defeats Oolong.
- 6th September Goku meets Yamucha and defeats him. They’re all kidnapped by Pilaf who’s stealing their dragon balls. Oolong manages to wish for panties before Pilaf could say his wish. It’s the full moon and Goku turns Oozaru. Yamucha cuts Goku’s tail.
- 10th September Goku and Krillin start training under Master Roshi’s guidance.
750 :
- End of the training with Master Roshi.
- 6th May Beginning of the 27th art martial tournament : Winner Master Roshi under the name of Jackie Choun (Toriyama is a great fan of Jackie Chan by the way). Beginning of the fight against the Red Ribbon Army.
- 8th May Goku meets android 8 (who’s looking like Frankenstein’s creature) and help to free him from his creator.
- 9th May Goku is defeated by Tao Paï Paï.
- 10th May Goku climbs on Karine’s tower and trains during three day with master Karine.
- 12th May Goku defeats Tao Paï Paï and destroys the remaining of the Red Ribbon army.
753 :
- Goku meets Tenshihan and Tchiaotzu.
- 5th May Beginning of the 28th tournament.
- 8th may Tenshihan wins the tournament. Pilaf frees Piccolo Daimao.
- 9th May Krillin and Master Roshi are killed by Piccolo Daimao. Piccolo Daimao gets the eternal youth from Shenron before killing him.
- 11th May Goku defeats Piccolo Daimao who’s laying an egg before dying. In this egg is his heir (who’s having all his powers and eternal youth) Piccolo Majunia.
- 12th May Goku accepts to train with Kami and Mr. Poppo for 3 years in exchange of the ressurection of Shenron.
756 :
- May 29th tournament. Goku defeats Piccolo and finally wins the tournament for the first time. During the tournament Goku get engaged with Chichi.
- 8th May Goku’s wedding (talk about a short engagement period)
757 : May Birth of Gohan (sorry people Goku didn’t marry Chichi because she was pregnant…)
761 :
- Unknown date, Goku fights against Garlick Junior because they kidnapped Gohan. Gohan traps Garlick Jr in the Dead Zone
- 12th October Radditz (Goku’s brother) attacks the earth. First death of Goku. Gohan is trained by Piccolo.
762 :
- Mars Yamucha, Krillin, Tenshinhan, Tchiaozu and Yajirobe start training with Kami.
- 29th April Goku finally reaches North’s Kaio’s planet.
- 2nd November Goku is ressurected.
- 3rd November Vegeta and Nappa land on Earth. Yamucha, Tchiaozu and Tenshinhan are killed. Piccolo dies while trying to protect Gohan from Nappa deadly Ki blast. Goku is defeated by Vegeta but Yajirobe cuts his tails. Goku transmits the genki dama’s energy to Krillin who uses it against Vegeta. Gohan turns Oozaru , and Vegeta uses his remaining forces to cut Gohan’s tails. Goku begs Krillin to let Vegeta escape.
- 4th November Krillin, Goku and Gohan are at the Western Capital’s hospital.
- 9th November Bulma finishes the reparations of Kami’s spaceship and leaves Earth for Namek with Gohan and Krillin.
- 18th December they land on Namek at the same time than Vegeta.
- 24th December Goku lands on Namek, Piccolo is ressurected by Porunga (the namek’s dragon), Krillin and Vegeta are killed by Freeza, Goku turns Super Saiyajin and kills Freeza. Destruction of Planet Namek.
763 :
- 3rd May Resurrection of Krillin and Yamucha by Porunga.
- 9th September Tenshihan and Tchiaozu are resurrected and the Namekians left Earth to found New Namek.
- October Planet Makyo is coming near Earth, increasing Garlick Junior’s powers and allowing him to escape the Dead Zone. Garlick Jr is once again trapped by Gohan.
- Unknown date, arrival of Cell in egg form inside of the Time Machine.
764 :
- August Goku comes back to Earth.
- Mirai Trunks kills Freeza and King Cold (Freeza’s daddy) and give a medicine to cure Goku’s heart disease (that Goku inherited from his mother). Beginning of a three years training period for all the Z senshis.
- Goku kills Freeza.
766 : Birth of Trunks. Goku dies shortly after from heart disease.
767 :
- 7th May 30th tournament : Winner Mr. Satan.
- 12th May Appearance of androids 19 & 20. Goku is ill during the fight. Vegeta kills android 19. Android 20 (dr. Gero himself) frees androids 17 & 18. Android 17 kills Dr. Gero before freeing android 16. Android 18 defeats Vegeta. Piccolo merges with Kami to beat the androids.
- 12th May Appearance of androids 17 & 18. In a couple of weeks they kill Vegeta, Tenshinhan, Tchiaozu, Yamucha, Piccolo and Krillin. Mirai Gohan is the sole survivor.
- 15th May Goku is healed by Mirai Trunks’s medicine, Mirai Trunks and Vegeta enter the Room of Spirit and Time.
- 16th May Cell finishes his mutation, Goku and Gohan enter the Room of Spirit and time.
- 17th May Piccolo enters the Room of Spirit and time.
- 18th May Vegeta enters the Room of Spirit and time.
- 19th May Mirai Trunks enters the Room of Spirit and time.
- 26th May Goku dies for the second time. Gohan reaches Super Saiyajin 2 and kills Cell.
- 27th May Goku’s funeral, Mirai Trunks left for the future.
- Around December Birth of Goten.
770 : Wedding of Krillin and android 18.
771 : Birth of Marron (Krillin’s daughter).
773 : Kibbito and Kaioshin land on earth to search Buu.
774 :
- 28 Mars. Gohan goes to Orange Star’s Highschool.
- 7th April Gohan becomes Satan City’s protector under the name and ridiculous disguise of Great Saiyaman.
- 8th April Videl figures out that Gohan is the great saiyaman.
- 9th April Gohan teaches Videl how to fly.
- 20th April Videl finally manages to fly properly.
- 7th May Goku resurrects for one day (all dead people can resurrect once for only one day with Uranai Baba’s help) to participate to the 31st tournament. Apparition of Buu. Vegeta sacrifices himself to defeat Buu but fails. Goku reaches Super Saiyajin 3 and teaches Goten and Trunks the fusion dance. Gohan frees the kaïo’s doyen from the Zeta sword in exchange the kaïo’s doyen frees all the hidden powers of Gohan allowing him to surpass SSJ3 without even turning SSJ (it’s called Mystic form).
- 8th May Buu absorbs Piccolo, Gotenks and Gohan. Vegeta is forced to fusion with Goku to form Vegito (Gogeta japanese version). Goku finally defeats Buu with a giant genki dama and comes back living with his family.
779 : Birth of Pan (Gohan and Videl’s daughter)
780 :
- Birth of Bra (Vegeta and Bulma’s daughter)
- Death of Mirai Gohan killed by Androids 17 & 18.
784 :
- 32th tournament, Goku meets Uub (Buu’s human reincarnation) and decides to train him, leaving his family behind and therefore ending the Dragon Ball manga.
- The time machine is completed and loaded. Mirai Trunks travels back to year 764 to change the past.
785 : Mirai Trunks comes back from his time travel. Being now powerful enough he kills Androids 17 & 18, bringing back peace in this timeline.
788: Cell tries to kill Mirai Trunks to steal his time machine. But Mirai Trunks is too powerful for him and aware of his plans. Cell dies, there’s no threats left in Mirai Trunks timeline.
Dragon Ball Great Travel or Dragon Ball Grand Tour (both are allowed) starts ten years after the end of Dragon Ball Z which would set it around year 794 (Gohan being 38 years old and Trunks being 29 years old). This isn’t covered by the current chronology simply because it’s not Toriyama who wrote it. Iff he had, SSJ4 Goku wouldn’t look like the result of a fusion between Goku and the Pink Panther nor would he had allowed Vegeta’s awful new haircut…. And if it wasn’t enough Toriyama said he’ll never draw a manga about DBGT.
I hope you found this article and chronology helpful.
By Failure To Launch, August 28, 2009 @ 8:06 am
Very interesting, if it’s all accurate. I just wonder: You say Trunks wasn’t born when Goku died of the heart virus in Mirai Trunks’s timeline. If this is so, why, in the TV special, History of Trunks, is he a baby, sobbing outside Gohan’s house in the very beginning When Goku dies?
By Lord Truhan, August 28, 2009 @ 8:41 am
It is accurate. I took it from the Dragon Ball Dictionnary. But you’re right I did mess up a bit with the date of Goku’s death. He dies in 766. Thanks for pointing that out. I’m going to fix it right away.