Could it be that Toriyama forgot to put a tail on Goten and Trunks?
Both Goten and Trunks from Dragon Ball have mixed blood. His parents, Goku and Vegeta, are Saiyans to the last of their being. And, on the other hand, his mothers, Chi-chi and Bulma, are totally human. This mixture turns them into half Saiyans and half humans.. So it is that the first half of their heritage has given them many advantages over mere humans, such as superior strength and the ability to become Super Saiyans. However, there’s one Saiyan trait that seems to elude these two characters: their monkey tails..
Despite being half Saiyan, neither Goten nor Trunks have shown any signs of ever growing up or ever having a Saiyan tail. Neither has Bulla. This is rather strange, as Gohan, Goku’s other son, is also a Saiyan hybrid and definitely had a tail. To explain this apparent anomaly in both, the fan community has proposed various explanations for it and even the Word of God.
Possible explanations for an apparent anomaly in Goten and Trunks
The first theory is that Goten and Trunks had their tails cut off.. This could have been done for multiple reasons. The first one is that this would help them integrate better as earthling beings. Even also it could have been done so that they would not run the risk of turning into Great Apes when they saw the full moon. This last explanation makes a lot of sense, especially since in the past it was used for Gohan and, later, for Broly. Be that as it may, losing the tail certainly seems like the best option for them.
Another possible answer was Akira Toriyama, the mangaka who created Dragon Ball. When asked about the subject in an interview, explained that Saiyan tails are a recessive trait. This would explain how Gohan can have a tail, but Goten doesn’t anymore. It would also explain why other Saiyan hybrids like Pan and Bulla also don’t have a tail. However, not all fans are satisfied with what Toriyama has commented, so they are still looking for more answers that satisfy this curiosity.
It is likely that Toriyama has forgotten this trait
On the other hand, many fans believe that Toriyama just forgot about Saiyan tails over time. The author is known for improvising much of the original Dragon Ball series. Although he was certainly able to keep his narrative intact, there are definitely indications that he forgot things everywhere. He has even stated that he forgot all about Super Saiyan 2. It wouldn’t be surprising to find out in the future that hybrid Saiyan tails were among the things Toriyama left unfinished.
In fact, Toriyama’s theory of oblivion is reinforced by the time that has passed since Toriyama had to draw a hybrid Saiyan with a tail. The last time he had to draw them this way was when Gohan turned into a Great Ape and fought Vegeta. After that, the next hybrid he took on the role was Future Trunks. So if Toriyama had remembered that hybrids could have tails, he quite possibly would have given Trunks one at this point.
However, there is also the possibility that the tails of the Saiyans in general were always destined to disappear with the passage of time. Most living Saiyans in canon have either had their tails removed, or supposedly never had one. The only exceptions to this rule are Paragus and Tarble, but even they don’t have much to do here; one is dead and the other hasn’t been seen in the series since 2008. If the tails trait was ever intended to be reintroduced, it would have been with the saiyans of Universe 6, though they are specifically said to have evolved their tails. Truth be told, all of these missed opportunities make it hard to imagine when, or even if, the Saiyan’s tails will show up again in the main Dragon Ball series.
As for Goten and Trunks, they probably won’t be seen with tails for quite some time either. Whether they’ve been removed or never existed, fans seem content that they’re both going through the world without them. Furthermore, we could no longer imagine them in this way.
Related topics: dragon ball
Sign up for Disney + for 8.99 euros and without permanence