Piccolo (Dragon Ball Evolution)

Lord Piccolo (ピッコロ Pikkoro) is a villain in the 2009 film Dragonball Evolution, loosely based on the characters King Piccolo and Piccolo Jr. from Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball series. In the film, he is portrayed by James Marsters.

Appearance

In Dragonball Evolution, Lord Piccolo’s appearance is significantly different from his original manga and anime designs. He has green skin with a more muted, battle-worn look, and sharp, angular facial features that give him a sinister presence. His attire is dark and militaristic, with long robes that emphasize his role as an ancient, powerful figure. His face is also marked with prominent veins and scars, reflecting his years of imprisonment and his descent into darkness.

Personality

Lord Piccolo in the film is cold, ruthless, and driven by vengeance. Once a figure of good, he became embittered and violent after his imprisonment, fixating on his desire for revenge against humanity. He is single-minded in his quest to find the Dragon Balls, displaying little regard for the lives he disrupts or destroys. Unlike his manga counterpart, this version of Piccolo lacks the redeeming qualities that later define the character; he is portrayed as more of an unyielding force of destruction who has abandoned any past sense of honor or compassion.

Biography

In the film’s lore, Piccolo is an evil Namekian god who arrived on Earth with his ally, Oozaru, two thousand years ago. He attempted to conquer humanity but was defeated by seven mystics, who used the Mafūba technique to seal him in an urn. Now freed after 2000 years, Piccolo searches for the Dragon Balls, intending to use them to gain eternal youth.

After escaping imprisonment, Piccolo kills Goku’s adoptive grandfather, Gohan, and sends his accomplice, Mai, to collect the Dragon Balls. Eventually, Goku confronts Piccolo and defeats him with the Kamehameha attack. However, Piccolo survives and is later seen being nursed back to health by a woman he spared.

In an alternate storyline featured in the film’s video game, Piccolo is resurrected as "Neo Piccolo" and leads an assault on Toi-San Temple with his minions, the Fu-Lum. While Goku fights the Fu-Lum, Neo Piccolo battles Master Roshi. Goku ultimately defeats Neo Piccolo in a final showdown.

Powers and Statistics

Tier: 6-B

Powers and Abilities: Superhuman Physical Characteristics, Acrobatics, Immortality (Type 1), Self-Sustenance (Type 2), Aura, Energy Projection, Chi Manipulation, Martial Arts, Regeneration (Low), Telekinesis, Shockwaves Generation

Attack Potency: Country level (Destroyed a country with a ki blast in a vision)

Speed: At least Supersonic (Managed to keep up with Goku)

Lifting Strength: Unknown

Striking Strength: Country level

Durability: Country level (Survived a Kamehameha at point blank from Goku, which managed to overpower his largest blast)

Stamina: Superhuman

Range: Standard Melee Range. Hundreds of kilometers with ki blasts.

Standard Equipment: None notable

Intelligence: Average

Weaknesses: Very overconfident and tends to boast around while fighting.

Attacks and Techniques

Tier: 6-B

Powers and Abilities: Superhuman Physical Characteristics, Acrobatics, Immortality (Type 1), Self-Sustenance (Type 2), Aura, Energy Projection, Chi Manipulation, Martial Arts, Regeneration (Low), Telekinesis, Shockwaves Generation

Attack Potency: Country level (Destroyed a country with a ki blast in a vision)

Speed: At least Supersonic (Managed to keep up with Goku)

Lifting Strength: Unknown

Striking Strength: Country level

Durability: Country level (Survived a Kamehameha at point blank from Goku, which managed to overpower his largest blast)

Stamina: Superhuman

Range: Standard Melee Range. Hundreds of kilometers with ki blasts.

Standard Equipment: None notable

Intelligence: Average

Weaknesses: Very overconfident and tends to boast around while fighting.

Trivia

James Marsters, who portrayed Lord Piccolo in Dragonball Evolution, later voiced Zamasu and Future Zamasu in the Funimation dub of Dragon Ball Super. Interestingly, both characters share similar personality traits, as each harbors a deep-seated resentment toward humanity and a desire for destruction. Additionally, both Piccolo and Zamasu have connections to a villainous form of Goku: Lord Piccolo shares a history with Oozaru, Goku's transformed state, while Zamasu infamously uses Goku’s body as part of his "Goku Black" identity in an alternate timeline.