Dragon Ball Super: Broly - Characters & Cast

Initially, Broly's motivation is simply to obey his father, Paragus. He fights because he is commanded to, his rage being a product of his conditioning and the pain of the battle. His deeper, underlying motivation is a desire for connection and peace, as seen in his friendship with Ba and his later bond with Cheelai and Lemo.

Broly begins as a victim of circumstance, exiled due to his innate power and raised as a tool for revenge by his abusive father. He is socially naive and gentle by nature, but prone to uncontrollable rage when forced to fight. Through his interactions with Cheelai and Lemo, he experiences kindness for the first time. The battle with Goku and Vegeta forces his power to grow exponentially, but also pushes him into a berserker state. By the end, saved from destruction and freed from his father's influence, he is set on a path towards self-control and potential friendship with Goku, completing his arc from a weapon to a person with a future.

Goku's primary motivation is to test his limits and fight powerful opponents. However, this is always tempered by his desire to protect the Earth and his friends. When he realizes Broly is not inherently evil, his motivation evolves to wanting to help a fellow Saiyan control his incredible power.

Goku's arc in the film is one of reaffirming his identity and extending his compassionate worldview. The film revisits his origins, emphasizing his parents' love in sending him to Earth. Throughout the fight with Broly, Goku recognizes that Broly is not truly evil but is being manipulated. Instead of seeking to destroy his powerful new foe, Goku's goal shifts to wanting to stop him and, ultimately, to connect with him. He ends the film by offering friendship and training, not only acknowledging Broly's power but also embracing his own Saiyan heritage by telling Broly to call him 'Kakarot'.

Vegeta is motivated by his desire to be the strongest and to protect his family. He is deeply proud of his Saiyan heritage, which fuels his initial confrontation with Broly. His ultimate motivation becomes the pragmatic need to defeat a threat that is beyond his individual capabilities, leading to the fusion with Goku.

Vegeta's arc is one of confronting his past and accepting cooperation. The film opens with his own history, being a proud prince whose destiny is intertwined with Broly's exile by his father. He initially faces Broly with his typical Saiyan pride and arrogance. However, Broly's overwhelming power forces Vegeta to swallow his pride and, for the first time in canonical history, willingly perform the Fusion Dance with Goku to become Gogeta. This act signifies a significant step in his character development, prioritizing survival and victory over his personal rivalry.

Frieza is motivated by a combination of revenge against Goku for his past defeats and a general lust for power and control. His immediate goal is to use the Dragon Balls for a selfish wish, but he quickly pivots to using Broly as a weapon to eliminate his Saiyan nemeses.

Frieza does not have a significant arc of development in this film; rather, he serves as the primary catalyst for the conflict. He manipulates Broly and Paragus, using their desire for revenge to finally get his own against Goku and Vegeta. His actions are driven by petty desires, such as wishing for a slight increase in height. He demonstrates his classic cruelty by murdering Paragus simply to trigger Broly's Super Saiyan transformation. He ends the film beaten but alive, his hatred for the Saiyans only intensified.