Bulma's True Age in Dragon Ball Super: Debunking the "Younger Wish" Myth!
There's a persistent rumor circulating among Dragon Ball fans, particularly on social media shorts, claiming that Bulma wished to be younger, making her "actually 38" in Dragon Ball Super. This idea has gained significant traction, but it's time to set the record straight with the latest, most accurate information. While Bulma is known for her vanity, the truth about her age and any supposed youth-restoring wishes is far more nuanced than many believe.
Did Bulma Wish to Be Younger in Dragon Ball Super?
Let's tackle the core of the misconception head-on: in Dragon Ball Super's anime, Bulma never actually wishes to be younger. This is a crucial point often overlooked. Even during the events of Dragon Ball Super: Broly, she hasn't made such a wish. The idea likely stems from a humorous moment where Goku jokes that she "already has" wished to be younger, a typical playful jab at her character. It's important to differentiate between a character's dialogue and an actual event confirmed within the narrative.
Of course, we do see Bulma making cosmetic wishes later on, particularly in Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero. These wishes, however, are explicitly for appearance-related enhancements, like smoother skin or a more youthful look. They are not wishes to fundamentally alter her chronological age. Think about it: if you wish to look five years younger, does that change the year you were born? No, your birth year remains the same, and so does your actual age. Looking younger and being younger are two distinct things, especially when it comes to Dragon Ball's wish-granting mechanics.
The Origin of the "Bulma is 38" Mistake
So, if she didn't wish to be younger, where did the "Bulma is 38" idea come from? This specific age actually traces back to an interesting production detail: the original script for the movie Battle of Gods. In an earlier draft, the events of Battle of Gods were conceptualized to take place during Krillin and Android 18's wedding. If that had been the case, Bulma's age at that specific point in time would have been 38.
However, the final version of Battle of Gods shifted the timeline and context significantly. It appears that Bulma's age from that original, discarded script detail was inadvertently left in some production notes or early materials, leading to the misconception. It was clearly a mistake that didn't align with the revised timeline or her actual chronology within the series.
Don't Worry, You Can Still Pretend!
While the factual evidence from the Dragon Ball Super anime and movies confirms Bulma never wished to be younger and the "38" age was a script error, it's perfectly understandable why fans latched onto it. Bulma is a character known for her vanity, her desire to look her best, and perhaps even a little fibbing about her age. So, if you enjoy the headcanon that she's just being Bulma and lying about her age, or that she secretly found a way to maintain a youthful appearance, there's no harm in it!
The key takeaway is that the widely circulated notion of Bulma wishing to be younger to be "actually 38" in Dragon Ball Super is not supported by the anime or movie canon. It's a fun fan theory born from a production oversight and a misunderstanding of cosmetic wishes versus actual age alteration. Bulma remains the vibrant, intelligent, and sometimes vain scientist we all love, age and all!
