Goku's Skin Colour

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Thanos
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Goku's Skin Colour

Post by Thanos » Tue Aug 04, 2009 3:18 pm

Why does Goku's skin get darker as time goes on?

Goku during the Freeza Saga (very pale):
Image

Goku at the end of the Boo Saga (a bit darker):
Image

Goku at the end of DBZ (a bit darker still):
Image

Goku in GT (noticeably darker):
Image

Goku in the Goku Jr. Special (practically black):
Image


Ever since I had finished DBZ and DBGT, this has always been in the back of my mind: Why is Goku's skin gradually darker as the series progresses? By the Goku Jr. Special, it's very clear that he is obviously meant to be darker, and that it isn't just some subtle ink changes... you can definitely tell he's way darker than Goku Jr.

Could it have something to do with age? I've noticed that Vegeta's skin seemed to become darker as time went on. But Goku even had really dark skin when he was turned back into a kid at the beginning of GT, and it's obvious he isn't meant to age by the Goku Jr. Special, yet he's practically African.


To your knowledge, has this ever been addressed?
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Post by Saiyan-Professor » Tue Aug 04, 2009 3:26 pm

Since he was hanging out with Uub for 5 years on a tropical island, he received a permanent tan. On the other hand, maybe he became Indian by Osmosis. :)
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Post by Thanos » Tue Aug 04, 2009 3:29 pm

Saiyan-Professor wrote:Since he was hanging out with Uub for 5 years on a tropical island, he received a permanent tan. On the other hand, maybe he became Indian by Osmosis. :)
Is that canon? Because that sounds pretty reasonable. Although, that doesn't explain why Goku is practically Indian by the Goku Jr. Special..
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Post by DragonBalllKaiHD » Tue Aug 04, 2009 3:30 pm

It's freakin' GT which explains all. DBZ just had various color artists which is why Goku's skin color is a bit different every time. But his skin is pale in general.
Last edited by DragonBalllKaiHD on Sun Aug 09, 2009 1:29 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Post by Amigo Ten » Tue Aug 04, 2009 3:33 pm

He was randomly tanned for a single chapter in the manga, for what it's worth. No idea why.

http://i25.tinypic.com/2w1y0sp.png
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Post by Bura » Tue Aug 04, 2009 3:53 pm

Saiyan-Professor wrote:Since he was hanging out with Uub for 5 years on a tropical island, he received a permanent tan. On the other hand, maybe he became Indian by Osmosis. :)
Pretty interesting fact though, his tan disappears when he turns SSJ4.
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Post by DragonBalllKaiHD » Tue Aug 04, 2009 4:01 pm

The skin can't just magically change its tone. Talk about Toei's typical plotholes.
Last edited by DragonBalllKaiHD on Sun Aug 09, 2009 1:29 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Post by Rocketman » Tue Aug 04, 2009 4:13 pm

It's a side effect of all the injections he got to develop those tits.
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Post by the_abberration » Tue Aug 04, 2009 4:21 pm

Goku suffers from "Revitiligo". That's the opposite of what Micheal Jackson (may he rest in peace) had.
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Post by DragonBalllKaiHD » Tue Aug 04, 2009 4:24 pm

the_abberration wrote:Goku suffers from "Revitiligo". That's the opposite of what Micheal Jackson (may he rest in peace) had.
Revitilgo is...?
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Post by Rory » Tue Aug 04, 2009 4:28 pm

God that GT special picture is hideous
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Post by the_abberration » Tue Aug 04, 2009 4:34 pm

DragonBalllKaiHD wrote:
the_abberration wrote:Goku suffers from "Revitiligo". That's the opposite of what Micheal Jackson (may he rest in peace) had.
Revitilgo is...?
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Post by Saiyan-Professor » Tue Aug 04, 2009 4:49 pm

Thanos wrote:
Saiyan-Professor wrote:Since he was hanging out with Uub for 5 years on a tropical island, he received a permanent tan. On the other hand, maybe he became Indian by Osmosis. :)
Is that canon? Because that sounds pretty reasonable. Although, that doesn't explain why Goku is practically Indian by the Goku Jr. Special..
No. I was just throwing something out there but I think the whole tan theory is as closest one can get to a reasonable explanation.
the_abberration wrote:
DragonBalllKaiHD wrote:
the_abberration wrote:Goku suffers from "Revitiligo". That's the opposite of what Micheal Jackson (may he rest in peace) had.
Revitilgo is...?
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Post by Hujio » Tue Aug 04, 2009 5:42 pm

Amigo Ten wrote:He was randomly tanned for a single chapter in the manga, for what it's worth. No idea why.

http://i25.tinypic.com/2w1y0sp.png
Man, what filters did you use to clean-up that scan? It doesn't look horrible, but it doesn't look great. You really brightened up the colors and there are a lot of ghosting rings around the edges due to whatever filters you used.
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Post by Amigo Ten » Tue Aug 04, 2009 5:53 pm

The colours just come from leveling so that the black is actually black rather than a dark grey. The rings I can get rid of but it actually ends up looking worse overall.
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Post by Pain » Tue Aug 04, 2009 6:05 pm

Is there really a problem with Son being "Practically Black"? The color change was obviously done for a reason. Bardock's skin was somewhat dark, as well. Maybe it's genetic. Maybe his mom was a dark-skinned Saiya-Jin?
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Post by B » Tue Aug 04, 2009 6:38 pm

I think it has more to do with those craptastic images than his skin actually darkening throughout Z.

GT, I dunno, it's GT. The tan theory works for me.
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Post by Captain Awesome » Tue Aug 04, 2009 7:38 pm

Hujio wrote:
Amigo Ten wrote:He was randomly tanned for a single chapter in the manga, for what it's worth. No idea why.

http://i25.tinypic.com/2w1y0sp.png
Man, what filters did you use to clean-up that scan? It doesn't look horrible, but it doesn't look great. You really brightened up the colors and there are a lot of ghosting rings around the edges due to whatever filters you used.
If I remember correctly in the chat, someone linked me to a fan "project" that consisted of taking scans of the Kanzenban and running them through a Photoshop filter to make them look "better" :roll:.
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Post by Kid Trunks » Tue Aug 04, 2009 7:44 pm

He doesn't look at all tanned in those Buu Saga pictures to me.

As for GT, I think the tan is just meant to be a part of his sort of new character design for the series: New outfit, new physique, warmer skin tone.
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Post by Thanos » Tue Aug 04, 2009 7:52 pm

Rory wrote:God that GT special picture is hideous
Yeah... Goku looks like he's had plastic surgery. He should just look like normal old Goku. Why did the GT animators fuck it up?! You're not supposed to change Goku... anyone but Goku. :(
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