The legendary super saiyan 5 form that never happened in Dragon Ball
Ever since Super Saiyan was first introduced in Dragon Ball Z, the Dragon Ball franchise has been famous for its powerful and flashy transformations.
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From Super Saiyan to Ultra Instinct, each evolution has upped the ante in Goku's largest, most glorious battles yet.
One evolution that fans were clamoring to see never truly existed — Super Saiyan 5.
While Super Saiyan 5 was never actually adopted into the official series, it has gone down in internet history due to a convincing fan art design that went viral across the web in the late-90s. For years, Dragon Ball fans across the globe assumed it was a tangible, future addition to the Dragon Ball narrative.
Join us as we explore how Super Saiyan 5 went on to become the most legendary Dragon Ball rumor of all time and why it's still discussed by fans to this day.
What is super saiyan 5?
The Legendary Transformation That Never Was
Super Saiyan 5 had long been assumed to be the next progression in Goku's transformation following Super Saiyan 4, which was featured in Dragon Ball GT. Though GT was never officially sanctioned by Dragon Ball's original creator, Akira Toriyama, it was a time that still provided fans with plenty of thrilling news to geek out over.
Even after GT began airing, a black-and-white fan-drawn illustration of a new transformation in particular began circulating online. It featured Goku with long, flowing silver locks, luminous eyes and a crazed appearance, a dramatic and fearsome transformation. The picture was so convincing that fans thought it was actual concept art for a completely new show.
The reality couldn't have been more opposed.
The truth behind the super saiyan 5 hoax
How an Anime-Inspired Fan Drawing Outfoxed Millions
The widely circulated Super Saiyan 5 image Truth be told, that legendary Super Saiyan 5 pic was really fan art, made by Spanish artist David Montiel Franco way back in 1998.
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When he sprung that character to life at the tender age of 17, his name wasn't Goku, but Tablos. The illustration ended up being featured in a Spanish video game magazine named Hobby Consolas.
Because the art was so close to their likeness to canon Dragon Ball characters and designs, many fans were totally and utterly duped. Fake screenshots, episode guides, and even posters started making the rounds online, all stating that Super Saiyan 5 was real and came from a new anime named Dragon Ball AF.
What is Dragon Ball AF?
The Little Ho-Jo that Could— The Bogus Sequel That Turned Into a Mondo Myth
The 'AF' in Dragon Ball AF was never meant to be explained. Other fans assumed it meant After Future or Alternative Future. Looking closely though, rumors started circulating that this was going to be a *sequel* to GT, with characters like Gohan and Vegeta receiving powerful new forms along with Goten.
Another production material teaser from a fan production group, Studio Tomita, inspired some beautifully crafted fan art that was so convincing, folks assumed they were the new animation production studio working on the series.
Except, once again, it was entirely fan-made.
How fans kept super saiyan 5 Alive
Fan manga is not just a testament to dedication, but to the incredible power of community.
Even after the jig was up, the fascination with Super Saiyan 5 continued. Rather, it did the opposite – it led to works such as Dragon Ball AF created by fans, such as Toyble, who many know today as the same artist who officially draws Dragon Ball Super's manga — Toyotarou.
This inspired other creators, such as Young Jiji, to produce popular AF-themed manga that would further the adventures of Goku, Vegeta, and their children.
These tales included tremendous new levels of power, imaginative fresh foes, and naturally, the mythical Super Saiyan 5 transformation.
Their status as fan works didn't disqualify them from reaching audiences around the world and creating a legacy synonymous with the source material. Unofficial doesn't mean untested, untried, or of poor quality.
Super saiyan 5's legacy in the Dragon Ball universe
The Fan Revolution That Wouldn't Die
While Dragon Ball Super may have formally moved the franchise forward with new transformations like Super Saiyan Blue and Ultra Instinct, Super Saiyan 5 remains near and dear to many fans' hearts.
It stands for the incredible power of imagination and how fans can create a culture with their admiration and creativity to expand a franchise. Even today, most Dragon Ball fans vividly recall the first time they saw the silver-haired Goku and fell for the hoax.
Super Saiyan 5 might have been a hoax, but it turned into a legend — and it's testimony to the fact that fan communities are stronger than any one official work.
Where to watch Dragon Ball
If you've been itching to get into the saga of Dragon Ball or just want to check out these official transformations, you can stream Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT, and Dragon Ball Super on Crunchyroll, Funimation, or Hulu.
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