Bulma

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Bulma (布尔玛)
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Dragon Ball search party; Capsule Corporation; later an ally of Earth’s defenders
Occupation/Role	Inventor, mechanic, Dragon Radar operator, and expedition support
First Appearance	1

Background / History

First Dragon Ball journey

Bulma arrives at Mount Paozu while searching for the Dragon Balls, but Chen He stops her speeding car with one hand. Impressed by his strength, she hires him as her bodyguard in exchange for assistance collecting the Dragon Balls; Goku subsequently joins the group. 1

She travels with Chen He and Goku by motorcycle, operates the Dragon Radar, and initially insists that her pistol and bodyguard are enough to handle danger. Encounters with Oolong and other threats leave her increasingly reliant on Chen He’s protection. 2 3

At Fire Mountain, Bulma locates the group’s fifth Dragon Ball after Goku and Ox-King extinguish the flames. She later continues the search with Goku after Chen He temporarily leaves to train with Master Roshi. 4 5

Pilaf captures Bulma’s group and steals their Dragon Balls, but Chen He rescues her when Goku transforms into a Great Ape and destroys Pilaf Castle. 5 6

Red Ribbon Army and tournaments

After the first Dragon Ball wish, Bulma returns to West City with Yamcha and Puar, giving Chen He a miniature communication capsule and asking him not to become obsessed with fighting. 7

She repairs and upgrades the Dragon Radar after the World Martial Arts Tournament, later enhancing it with anti-interference capabilities and using it to trace the Red Ribbon Army’s headquarters through its electromagnetic shielding. 9 12 15

Although she worries about Chen He and Goku’s assault on the Red Ribbon Army, she provides intelligence and technical support from Capsule Corporation. The destruction Chen He causes during the operation leaves her deeply unsettled. 15 33

A year later, Bulma reunites with Chen He and Goku at the 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament. Though she attempts to greet Chen He casually, his suppressed power makes her instinctively afraid of him. 19

Gravity-training support

After witnessing Chen He’s weighted equipment and Goku’s determination to catch up, Bulma spends three days engineering a silver-gray gravity vest for Goku. Its adjustable gravity field can reach forty times Earth gravity, though she warns that its core will overload beyond that limit. 36

She repeatedly modifies the vest’s cooling system as Goku pushes it beyond safe limits. Bulma becomes frustrated by his recklessness but continues monitoring and supporting his training. 37 38 39 40

Namek mission

Following Kami’s death and the loss of Earth’s Dragon Balls, Bulma commits to restoring an ancient Namekian spaceship. She repairs it despite its age and alien construction, then helps build a modified ship incorporating Saiyan-pod technology. 45 46

The completed ship includes separate living quarters and a gravity system capable of stably reaching 300 times Earth gravity, allowing Goku and Chen He to train during their journey to Namek. 46

Appearance

Bulma is depicted as a fashionable young woman in civilian settings and a visibly exhausted engineer while working in Capsule Corporation’s laboratories. Her hair is described as purple during the first Dragon Ball journey and blue in later scenes. 2 15

• Wears goggles while driving her motorcycle. 2
• Appears in a fashionable short dress and high heels at the 22nd World Martial Arts Tournament. 19
• Uses work pants, goggles, welding tools, and often emerges covered in engine oil during intensive repairs. 36 46
• Carries a small pistol during the early Dragon Ball search. 2

Personality

Bulma is outspoken, competitive, and quick to complain when others endanger her vehicles, equipment, or laboratory. She takes pride in being able to solve technical problems that others consider impossible, especially when challenged by Chen He’s system-derived equipment. 2 36

Despite her bravado, she is visibly frightened by overwhelming violence and by Chen He’s emotional detachment. Her fear does not stop her from helping her companions: she works through exhaustion to upgrade the Dragon Radar, build Goku’s gravity vest, and repair the spacecraft needed for the Namek mission. 15 34 36 45 46

Her concern for Goku becomes especially clear during his gravity training. She recognizes that she cannot fully understand the martial artists’ drive for strength, yet continues improving her technology to keep him alive. 38 39 40

Abilities & Skills

Engineering and mechanical repair

Bulma can repair, modify, and construct advanced machinery under severe time pressure.

• Repairs the Dragon Radar after the martial arts tournament. 9
• Upgrades the radar with anti-interference functions and breaks through the Red Ribbon Army headquarters’ electromagnetic shielding. 12 15
• Repairs an ancient spaceship needed to reach Namek. 45 46
• Integrates Namekian spacecraft technology with components from Raditz’s Saiyan pod to create a 300×-gravity-capable ship. 46

Gravity-field technology

Bulma develops wearable gravity equipment for Goku after studying the principle behind Chen He’s weighted gear.

• Builds a silver-gray gravity vest with cooling vents and circuitry. 36
• The vest’s adjustable field reaches a maximum of forty times Earth gravity before its components risk melting. 36
• Repeatedly rebuilds and modifies its core and cooling system as Goku increases his training load. 38 41

Dragon Ball tracking

Bulma is the group’s primary Dragon Radar operator and continually improves its performance.

• Detects moving Dragon Ball signals during the first journey. 2
• Uses the radar to locate Fire Mountain’s Dragon Ball. 4
• Tracks Dragon Ball locations after they scatter following a wish. 9
• Provides Chen He with the radar when he resumes searching alone. 34

Equipment / Items

• Dragon Radar — A Dragon Ball locator that Bulma repairs and upgrades with anti-interference functionality. 2 9 12
• Capsule vehicles — Includes a motorcycle, Capsule camper, private plane, and hovercar used for travel and support. 2 7 33 45
• Gravity vest — A silver-gray wearable gravity generator built for Goku, rated to forty times Earth gravity. 36
• Modified Namek spacecraft — A ship she helps create with a 300× gravity-training system. 46
• Miniature communication capsule — Given to Chen He so the group can remain in contact. 7

Relationships

• Chen He — Initially hires him as a bodyguard during her Dragon Ball search; later supplies him with radar upgrades and battlefield intelligence, while remaining afraid of his coldness and destructive power. 1 15 19 34
• Son Goku — A long-standing companion whom she supports with vehicles, Dragon Ball tracking, and gravity-training technology; she worries intensely when he pushes his body too far. 1 36 40 45
• Yamcha — Travels with Bulma after the first Dragon Ball journey and later sends her intelligence concerning Mercenary Tao and the Red Ribbon Army. 7 12
• Krillin — Joins Bulma and the others in supporting the Namek mission; she works alongside him while preparing Goku and Chen He’s departure. 45 46
• Vegeta — Future Trunks identifies Bulma and Vegeta as his biological parents in his timeline. 61

Notable Quotes

“Besides, don't I have you as a ‘bodyguard’?” 2

“If that cold-hearted Chen He can use weighted gear, then what I make will definitely be more advanced than his!” 36

“As long as that spaceship's engine is still there, I can tear it apart and rebuild it whether it's some centuries-old antique or alien technology!” 45