Bulma

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Bulma (布玛)
Alias(es)	“Human Woman” — Ribut's initial term for a human female 6
Species/Race	Human 6
Gender	Female
Age	16 at her first meeting with the Son brothers 1
Affiliation	Capsule Corp; the Dragon Ball search party 2 121
Occupation/Role	Inventor, engineer, Dragon Radar operator, and technological supporter of Son Gohan's training 9 118
Status	Alive; continues developing inventions at Capsule Corp 259
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Background / History

Bulma arrives at the Son brothers' home while searching for the Dragon Balls. After spotting their Dragon Ball, she privately plans to deceive the brothers into joining her expedition so she can use their strength as protection. Her plan is immediately noticed by Son Gohan. 1

Once she reveals her Dragon Radar and the two Dragon Balls already in her possession, Bulma proposes that she, Son Gohan, and Sun Wukong search together. Her original wish is to find a “perfect boyfriend,” while the brothers seek to use Shenron to revive their grandfather. 2

Her travels expose her to Ribut, Saiyan history, extraterrestrial life, and the Battle Scanner recovered from the brothers' spaceship. Though initially frightened by Ribut and alarmed by Gohan's revelations about the Saiyans, she ultimately accepts both the dragon and the brothers as companions. 6 7 8

Appearance

Bulma is introduced as a sixteen-year-old girl. In a later description, she is noted for her arched brows, large eyes, delicate nose, cherry-red mouth, slender waist, and shapely hips. 1 124

• Described as a striking beauty beside the newly grown Son Gohan. 124
• Often carries Capsule Corp's Hoi-Poi Capsules and technical equipment. 7 9
• Her appearance and femininity are the source of Ribut's awkward “Human Woman” designation. 6

Personality

Bulma is bold, calculating, and highly self-assured. At the beginning of the Dragon Ball search, she is willing to manipulate the Son brothers for their Dragon Ball and protection; when challenged about her technical ability, she proudly states that she has already taught herself an entire graduate electrical-engineering curriculum. 1 9

She is also adventurous and intensely curious. Learning that Gohan and Goku are aliens initially shakes her worldview, but she quickly becomes fascinated by the larger universe and the possibility of riding Ribut through the sky. 6 7

Despite her temper, Bulma is compassionate and loyal. She worries over those in danger, confronts Master Roshi when he behaves disrespectfully, and repeatedly supports Gohan through difficult training and battles. 20 31 117 153

Her affection for Gohan can make her jealous and possessive, particularly when Xiao Wu appears close to him or when she mistakenly believes he is shopping for someone else. 41 75 137

Abilities & Skills

Engineering and Electronics

Bulma is an exceptional inventor with advanced knowledge of electronics, robotics, computing, and alien technology.

• Identified the Battle Scanner's hidden listening and positioning module by detecting its unusual magnetic emissions. 9
• Disassembled, disabled, and reassembled the scanner despite its unfamiliar extraterrestrial construction. 9
• Restored a damaged Namekian spaceship to operational condition after days of repair and replacement work. 112
• Built a supercomputer to digitize, sort, and analyze martial-arts manuals acquired through Dragon Ball wishes. 118
• Studies biology and Bio-Energy Cell Theory to better support Gohan's Saiyan training. 118
• Continues redesigning the Battle Scanner, whose earlier model risks exploding when it reads a power level beyond roughly 20,000. 156

Dragon Ball Navigation

Bulma is the group's primary Dragon Ball finder through her Dragon Radar.

• Uses the Dragon Radar to lead the original search party toward the remaining Dragon Balls. 2 32
• Locates a Dragon Ball buried beneath Pilaf's castle complex. 37
• Finds the final Dragon Ball after a year of searching with Gohan. 148

Field Technology and Logistics

Bulma applies Capsule Corp technology to solve practical problems during travel and construction.

• Produces a fully equipped workbench from a Hoi-Poi Capsule to design a saddle for riding Ribut. 7
• Uses infrastructure robots to build a mountaintop training facility within several days. 109
• Programs a robot to pilot a plane while she rests during a flight. 114

Combat Ability

Bulma is not a frontline martial artist.

• Her Battle Power is measured at 2, which embarrasses her when compared with Gohan, Goku, and Ribut. 10
• She studies Ki and training theory under Master Roshi so she can better contribute to Gohan's cultivation, but this does not grant her significant combat strength. 118

Technology and Equipment

• Dragon Radar — Tracks the locations of Dragon Balls. 2
• Hoi-Poi Capsules — Used to carry workbenches, robots, equipment, and other large objects in compact form. 7 109
• Modified Battle Scanner — Repaired and improved by Bulma; used to measure Battle Power and later redesigned to exceed its original limitations. 9 156
• Supercomputer — Organizes and analyzes Dragon Ball wish manuals for Gohan's cultivation research. 118
• Infrastructure Robots — Automated construction units used to establish a mountain training site. 109
• Namekian Spaceship — Repaired by Bulma from a wreck into a functioning spacecraft. 112

Relationships

• Son Gohan — Her Dragon Ball-search companion, boyfriend, and later husband. Bulma realizes her feelings for him after learning more about Saiyan growth; their relationship becomes mutual, and they later have a daughter together. 21 40 121 153 156
• Sun Wuya — Her daughter with Son Gohan. Bulma remains close to Wuya even while working in her laboratory. 156 167
• Sun Wukong — Fellow Dragon Ball seeker and Gohan's brother. Bulma teases him over his innocence and Battle Power, but travels with him throughout the original quest. 2 10 33
• Ribut — Initially frightens Bulma, but becomes a companion after formally apologizing to her. Her enthusiasm for riding him inspires her saddle design. 6 7
• Dr. Brief and Bikini — Her parents and the heads of her home at Capsule Corp. Bulma is frustrated when they show greater interest in Gohan and his research contributions than in her return home. 121
• Xiao Wu — A companion whose closeness with Gohan triggers Bulma's jealousy. 41 75
• Little Piccolo — A student of Gohan whom Bulma assists by playing the role of a scientist associated with “Patriarch Bodhi.” 109 112

Story Role / Major Arcs

Dragon Ball Search

Bulma initiates the novel's first Dragon Ball expedition, bringing the Dragon Radar, two Dragon Balls, and the goal of making a wish. She becomes part of the trio with Son Gohan and Sun Wukong, using her technology to track the remaining balls. 1 2

After the group gathers the Dragon Balls, Bulma relinquishes her own wish so that Goku can wish for his grandfather's revival. 37

Kame Island and Gohan's Partner

Bulma travels with Gohan and the others to Kame Island, where her relationship with Gohan deepens. She encourages the group after the Dragon Ball wish and later accepts Gohan's feelings. 40 51

Scientific Support for Martial Arts

As Gohan's ambitions and threats facing Earth escalate, Bulma shifts from Dragon Ball navigator to indispensable technical partner. She creates training facilities, repairs alien spacecraft, organizes martial-arts knowledge, and develops technology specifically to aid Gohan's cultivation. 109 112 117 118

Family and Interstellar Travel

Bulma becomes Gohan's wife and the mother of Sun Wuya. During the campaign against Turles, Gohan leaves Bulma and Wuya on Namek under the Grand Elder's protection while he leads the pursuit. 153 156 167

Alternate-World Bulma

Gohan later encounters a distinct Bulma from another world, whose life has been devastated by the loss of her companions. After Cell is eliminated in that world, he gives her Dr. Gero's research documents to help rebuild civilization and advance Time Machine research. 202 207

Notable Quotes

“Although I'm young, I've already self-studied the entire graduate curriculum for electrical engineering!” 9

“Don't kill me! I haven't even dated anyone yet!” 8

“My husband is the best!” 121

Trivia

• Ribut calls Bulma “Human Woman” because his dragon culture uses “female dragon” as its equivalent term. 6
• Bulma considers Gohan's Giant Ape transformation “quite cute” despite its destructive appearance. 36
• Her first reaction to learning her Battle Power is only 2 is embarrassment, followed by irritation at Goku's teasing. 10