Bulma

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Bulma (布玛)
Gender	Female
Occupation / Role	Dragon Ball seeker; designer and builder of Gravity Rooms
First Appearance	Chapter 2 2

Background / History

Dragon Ball expedition

Bulma leaves her home in West City to search for the Dragon Balls using her Dragon Ball Radar. Her first encounter with Sun Wukong occurs when his arrival distracts her and causes her car to crash into a tree. She tries—and fails twice—to ride the Flying Nimbus after claiming to have a pure heart. She gives Wukong the damaged car but keeps the backpack containing her Dragon Ball. 2

After learning that Wukong possesses two Dragon Balls, Bulma negotiates a partnership: he will help find the remaining Dragon Balls, while she provides food and shelter and promises to build him a Gravity Chamber. She travels by Hoi-Poi Capsule motorcycle and provides portable lodging during the journey. 3

Bulma and Wukong gather all seven Dragon Balls after encounters with Oolong, Yamcha, the Ox-King, Pilaf, and others. Rather than use Shenron’s wish for herself, Bulma requests a Gravity Chamber for Wukong as thanks for his help. 5 7 8

Technical support and later Dragon Ball searches

After the wished Gravity Chamber proves limited to ten times gravity, Bulma studies and upgrades it to one hundred times gravity in three days. Although she warns Wukong that the training could be life-threatening, she agrees to support his training. 11

During the Red Ribbon Army conflict, Bulma follows the war news and worries about Wukong while he is away training. When he returns after two years, she explains the danger on Earth and asks him to protect her. 13 14

Bulma later helps Android 8 after learning that the Red Ribbon Army implanted a bomb in his body. Working with Dr. Brief, she successfully removes it. 20

She designs a 100-times Gravity Room for Krillin with assistance from Pilaf’s group, and later builds a separate Gravity Room for Piccolo’s training. 25 26 49

Bulma eventually uses the Dragon Balls to make herself four years younger after Wukong retrieves all seven for her. 37

Relationship with Sun Wukong

Bulma’s interest in Wukong grows gradually. She is attracted to the adult appearance he assumes with the Transformation Technique and later openly offers to become his girlfriend if he can defeat the Red Ribbon Army as effortlessly as he claims. 15 16

Her affection turns into open rivalry when Chi-Chi arrives in West City. Bulma and Chi-Chi compete for Wukong’s attention through arguments, a tug-of-war, and a cooking contest. After driving Wukong away with their pressure, Bulma recognizes her mistake and apologizes. 33 34 35 36

Wukong agrees to become Bulma’s boyfriend after asking whether they should try dating. They go on dates together, and Bulma later introduces him as her boyfriend to her sister Tights. 39 40

After further conflict involving Chi-Chi, Bulma agrees to stop fighting with her. Her relationship with Wukong subsequently stabilizes, and the two marry in a ceremony attended by friends and family. Bulma later becomes the mother of Son Gomen. 44 48

Appearance

Bulma is introduced as a beautiful young woman with long blue-green hair, blue-purple eyes, and a delicate oval face. At her first meeting with Wukong, she wears a pink dress while driving through the mountains. 2

• Long blue-green hair 2
• Blue-purple eyes 2
• Frequently uses stylish clothing and Hoi-Poi Capsule vehicles. 3 20
• Wears a white wedding dress at her marriage ceremony with Sun Wukong. 48

Personality

Bulma is confident, outspoken, and quick to challenge Wukong when he teases her. Her failed attempt to ride the Flying Nimbus embarrasses her, but she quickly adapts by negotiating for Wukong’s help with the Dragon Balls instead. 2 3

She is resourceful and generous: she provides shelter and supplies during the Dragon Ball search, uses Shenron’s wish to obtain Wukong’s Gravity Chamber, and pays a 520,000 zeni restaurant bill after the World Martial Arts Tournament. 3 8 10

Bulma can be possessive and competitive over Wukong, especially around Chi-Chi. However, she ultimately acknowledges that forcing him to choose between them was wrong and seeks reconciliation. 33 34 35 44

Abilities & Skills

Engineering and Gravity Room construction

Bulma is capable of studying, modifying, and constructing advanced gravity-training facilities.

• Upgraded Wukong’s Gravity Chamber from ten times to one hundred times gravity. 11
• Drew the plans and oversaw construction of Krillin’s 100-times Gravity Room. 25 26
• Built a separate Gravity Room for Piccolo when his training needs differed from Wukong’s. 49
• Initially needed time to study the Shenron-created Gravity Chamber because she had not built the original device herself. 11

Mechanical and medical assistance

Bulma can work with advanced artificial-human technology.

• Identified Dr. Gero as a renowned scientist after meeting Android 8. 19
• Removed the bomb implanted in Android 8 with Dr. Brief’s assistance. 20

Dragon Ball research and divination

Bulma is an experienced Dragon Ball hunter who relies on technological tracking and later learns to use magical divination tools.

• Uses a Dragon Ball Radar to locate and track Dragon Balls. 2 16
• Notices when the radar displays only six Dragon Balls rather than the expected seven. 16
• Learns to operate Wukong’s crystal ball after a year of guidance. 42

Equipment / Items

• Dragon Ball Radar — Tracks nearby Dragon Balls and guides her searches. 2 16
• Hoi-Poi Capsules — Stores vehicles, a portable house, supplies, and other large items in capsule form. 3
• Capsule vehicles — Includes a motorcycle, flying car, and convertible used during travel and outings. 3 20
• Crystal ball — A divination tool she learns to use under Wukong’s guidance. 42

Relationships

• Sun Wukong — Dragon Ball-search partner, later boyfriend and husband. Bulma supports his training through Gravity Room upgrades and eventually marries him. 3 11 39 48
• Chi-Chi — Romantic rival for Wukong’s affection. Their jealousy leads to repeated conflicts before they agree to stop fighting. 33 34 35 44
• Dr. Brief — Her father and technical collaborator; assists Bulma in removing Android 8’s bomb. 8 20
• Mrs. Brief — Her mother, who repeatedly observes and comments on Bulma’s relationship with Wukong. 8 35
• Tights — Her older sister, whom Bulma reunites with on Volcano Planet. 40
• Android 8 — Wukong’s ally and a beneficiary of Bulma’s help when she removes the bomb inside him. 19 20
• Krillin — Wukong’s junior brother; Bulma builds a Gravity Room to support his training. 25 26
• Master Roshi — Bulma dislikes him after his inappropriate request at Fried Bread Mountain. 7 8

Notable Quotes

“Like is just like!” 39

Trivia

• Bulma fails to ride the Flying Nimbus twice after insisting that she has a pure heart. 2
• She pays 520,000 zeni for Wukong, Krillin, and Master Roshi’s meal after the 21st World Martial Arts Tournament. 10
• Wukong returns 500,000 zeni of his tournament prize to Bulma the following day. 11
• Her wish to become four years younger is motivated in part by her concern over being older than Wukong. 37