Dragon Ball’s introductory Emperor Pilaf Saga is an exciting period where the shonen anime is still figuring out what it wants to be. There’s a certain magic to these early episodes where it feels like any new character could potentially become one of Goku’s greatest allies. “Oolong the Terrible,” Dragon Ball’s fourth episode, introduces an unusual antagonist who quickly enters Goku and Bulma’s good graces before everything is said and done.
“Oolong the Terrible” may not resemble what audiences now associate with a classic episode of the franchise, but it’s a crucial installment that pushes Goku and Bulma further along in their mission, brings a new friend into the fray, and further establishes just how outlandish this world can be. Dragon Ball Episode 4, “Oolong the Terrible” is an easy, breezy episode full of laughs from top to bottom.
Goku & Bulma Go Up Against A Shapeshifting Scamp
Oolong Helps Dragon Ball Embrace Its Sillier, Creative Impulses
The original Dragon Ball has worn its gag comedy influences on its sleeve since its first episode, but "Oolong the Terrible" lets loose and basically transforms into anime Looney Tunes for 24 minutes. "Oolong the Terrible" is glorious silliness, right from the moment that Bulma crashes her motorcycle in the episode's introduction and it only gets more chaotic with each passing minute. The whole episodic trope where Goku visits a village to help them solve their problem becomes one of the Dragon Ball anime's most prevalent storytelling devices early on and "Oolong the Terrible" is really the series' first example of this. It's such a success here that it's easy to see why the original anime consistently turns to this device. It's an opportunity for strong character work from both Goku and Bulma, while also functioning as an effective opportunity for wacky world-building.
Aru Village is hardly a special destination, but Dragon Ball still manages to give it a distinct personality through individuals like Sherman Priest, Grandma Paozu, and the trio of damsels in distress. It's also exciting to see Dragon Ball realize how rewarding it is to play Goku off of new characters, all of whom are always taken aback by this odd, enthusiastic boy who's perpetually ready to take on a new challenge. On the topic of ongoing Dragon Ball tropes, "Oolong the Terrible" is the series' first example of Goku encountering an antagonist who he's ultimately able to reason with and turn into an ally. In this case, this applies to the titular Oolong, a shapeshifting anthropomorphic pig who's as deluded as Pilaf. There's a simple enough story in "Oolong the Terrible" that doesn't necessarily push Goku and Bulma out of their comfort zones, but still succeeds in entertaining the audience.
Aru Village is reduced to a state of terror over Oolong kidnapping all of the village's daughters for his own nefarious purposes. Goku and Bulma are promised a Dragon Ball if they can get rid of Oolong and restore some sense of order to Aru Village. Goku's instincts might indicate that an epic battle lies ahead for him, but "Oolong the Terrible" avoids a true fight and instead resorts to an extended sequence of visual gags to sustain its storytelling. This is where the Looney Tunes mentality comes in, right down to Goku dressing up as a girl -- Pochawompa -- so that Oolong will be lured into crossing paths with him. It's hard not to picture Bugs Bunny slapping on some lipstick and a shawl in order to deceive his target. Similarly, the silly way Oolong learns that Goku is, in fact, a boy is economical and effective. Genuine dangers will no doubt lie ahead for Goku, but "Oolong the Terrible" really just wants to make its audience laugh for as long as possible.
Goku’s “Battle” With Oolong Chooses Foolishness Over Fisticuffs
A Slapstick Chase Sequence Becomes The Episode’s Centerpiece
Oolong's lecherous fantasy over why he wants a woman in his life puts Master Roshi's antics from the previous episode to shame. That being said, the episode's centerpiece involves Goku's prolonged chase sequence with Oolong. There's even a classic "He went that way!" moment of deception. "Oolong the Terrible" establishes that Oolong can only maintain his shapeshifting efforts for five minutes before they dissipate. This prompts Oolong to cycle through numerous metamorphoses while he's on the run from Goku. This in itself is a smart piece of lore that helps the episode showcase the extent of Oolong's powers and imagination, rather than him just sticking to a single transformation for the entire episode. Furthermore, Dragon Ball really gets creative when it comes to Oolong's shapeshifting in a way that accentuates the series' comedy and animation.
Oolong's initial ogre and monster transformations make sense as he tries to trick Goku into being afraid of him. However, the rest of these transformations -- such as a Spanish bull, a suave Frenchman, and a "ramen robot" -- aren't nearly as predictable. It's very satisfying to see Oolong's surprise and fear break through each of these disguises whenever his real personality sneaks out. Oolong spends the majority of this episode as other characters, yet the audience still gets an excellent sense of who he is and what he stands for by the end. Oolong also shifts into a number of airborne creatures, like a bat and a sentient rocket, which facilitate a playful skybound chase as Goku takes advantage of his recent Flying Nimbus acquisition.
This is a fun way to add something extra to this chase, but every scene on the Nimbus Cloud also becomes a new opportunity for Dragon Ball to show off its visual skills. Some of the most beautiful scenes in "Oolong the Terrible" are innocuous moments where Goku cruises on the Flying Nimbus and detailed visuals of mountains and rocky terrains are shown. Goku's Nimbus travel juxtaposed against Bulma's motorcycle transportation helps emphasize a sense of kinetic motion where the "camera" gets to move through areas in a more creative fashion than if they were just on foot.
A Calm Conclusion Makes Sure That Nobody Gets Offended
The Villain Becomes The Victim & The Heroes Acquire Another Dragon Ball
The gag comedy nature of "Oolong the Terrible" reaches its apex during its hilarious conclusion. Goku apprehends Oolong and forces him to return the three daughters that he's kidnapped, only for this to feel like a blessing to Oolong rather than a punishment. The brief look into Oolong's "prison" reveals a luxurious mansion where his hostages are living large. Oolong has apparently spoiled these three daughters and he's helpless to refuse their requests. They seemingly have better lives while in his prison than they previously did among their humble families. By the end, Oolong is literally begging the village to take their daughters back and he can't wait to get rid of them. He's the real hostage here rather than his actual victims.
This is hardly a revelatory twist, but it's still a comical beat that perfectly encapsulates "Oolong the Terrible's" sense of humor and the bad luck Oolong seems to invite. Goku catching Oolong would have been enough, so this extra touch really does feel special. It also helps de-fang Oolong's villainous nature and prove that he hasn't done anything reprehensible with these daughters, which would otherwise be a reasonable conclusion to reach. This finale helps remind audiences that Dragon Ball may tease some dark and surprising ideas, but it's not actually interested in going to these places. Its bark is most definitely worse than its bite -- just like it is with Oolong.
On the topic of uncomfortable villains, "Oolong the Terrible" is also the first Dragon Ball episode that doesn't feature any of the series' resident loose cannon, Pilaf. Pilaf has been a vital presence in Dragon Ball's first three episodes, but he's not missed here. "Oolong the Terrible" is a stronger episode for not splitting its time with Pilaf or shoehorning in some story for him and his gang. This also establishes that Pilaf doesn't have to be in every episode and that it's possible for Dragon Ball to tell a story that doesn't always cut away to its villain -- unlike something like Pokémon where a Team Rocket appearance is compulsory.
“Oolong the Terrible” may feel like a frivolous episode, but it confidently advances the series’ story by giving Goku and Bulma another Dragon Ball by its end. This brings their total up to five, which is honestly quite impressive for a series that’s only four episodes in at this point. There will be larger hurdles to cross in the coming episodes, but these early successes make it easier to follow Goku and Bulma on their journey and trust that bigger things are to come. Not all Dragon Ball episodes will end with Goku and Bulma having more than when they started, but this is the right approach for an installment that’s so preoccupied with silliness. Dragon Ball continues to pull its disparate threads together and paint a rich picture of its weird and wonderful world where shapeshifter pigs are not an anomaly, but instead par for the course. This grand adventure is only becoming more fun.
