Dragon Ball Releases New Artwork For Super Saiyan 3 Goku, And It's Instantly Iconic

Published Aug 25, 2026, 9:00 PM EDT

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Out of all the wild transformations in Dragon Ball history, Super Saiyan 3 still hits differently. Part of what makes the form so special is just how rare it actually is. The form only appeared briefly during the Majin Buu saga before largely disappearing from Dragon Ball Super. That is exactly why the fandom was so hyped when Dragon Ball Daima finally brought back Super Saiyan 3 in a major way.

The return became even more iconic when Daima gave Vegeta his first Super Saiyan 3 transformation, officially putting his name on that ridiculously short list right alongside Goku and Gotenks. Now, newly surfaced character design sheets from the Dragon Ball Daima Blu-ray Box, drawn by veteran animator Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru, give fans an incredibly detailed look at adult Goku's glorious return to SSJ3.

After watching the heroes spend most of Daima stuck in their shrunken "Mini" bodies, seeing Goku restored to his fully grown form makes the transformation feel even more special. It also gives the classic Super Saiyan 3 design a chance to stand out in a way it has not for years.

Dragon Ball Restores The Old-School Edge Of Super Saiyan 3 With Sharp New Designs

Unlike modern forms that just swap out hair colors, Super Saiyan 3 completely changes the fighter's anatomy. The original '90s design was defined by raw bulk, knee-length hair, zero eyebrows, and a sharp brow ridge. Nakatsuru's new artwork shows how those familiar features were cleaned up for Goku's adult return without losing what made SSJ3 so recognizable in the first place.

The sharper facial features and huge hair give the form a slightly more modern edge while keeping that unmistakable old-school Dragon Ball feel. It is a small detail, but it shows just how much thought went into bringing one of Dragon Ball's most iconic transformations back in a modern version of Goku.

Dragon Ball · Character Profile Which Dragon Ball Character Are You? “Power comes in response to a need, not a desire.”

👊 Goku The Fighter

👑 Vegeta The Prince

🧘 Piccolo The Mentor

POWER UP →

01

A powerful new enemy appears. What’s your first reaction?

AThis is amazing! I can’t wait to fight them and see how strong they are! BI’ll defeat them myself. No one else is worthy of the challenge. CWe need a plan. Rushing in blindly is how people get killed.

NEXT →

02

How do you train for an upcoming battle?

AFind the strongest sparring partner I can and push myself past my limits every day BTrain alone in isolation — I don’t need anyone holding me back CMeditate, study the enemy’s weaknesses, and train the younger fighters so they’re ready too

NEXT →

03

Your team is losing a fight. What do you do?

AJump in front of everyone — I’ll take the hits so my friends can regroup BGet angry. I refuse to lose — my pride won’t allow it. I’ll surpass my limits right here. CFall back and coordinate — someone needs to think clearly while everyone else is panicking

NEXT →

04

A rival challenges you to a one-on-one fight. How do you respond?

AAbsolutely! Let’s go right now — no holding back! BFinally, a chance to prove I am the strongest. I accept — and I will crush you. CIf it serves a purpose, fine. But pointless fighting is a waste of energy.

NEXT →

05

An old enemy offers to join your side. What do you do?

AI don’t trust them — once an enemy, always an enemy. They’ll betray us. BSure! Everyone deserves a second chance. The more friends the better! CI’ll allow it, but I’m watching them closely. Trust is earned, not given.

NEXT →

06

What’s your biggest weakness?

AI’m too trusting and sometimes let enemies power up just for the thrill of the fight BMy pride — I’d rather die than accept help from someone else CI keep everyone at arm’s length — caring about people is a liability I struggle with

NEXT →

07

You sense a massive power level approaching Earth. What’s your move?

AFly straight toward it — I want to meet them first and see what they’re made of BPrepare myself — if this threat is real, I’ll be the one to destroy it CGather the fighters, assess the threat, and make sure the people I protect are safe first

NEXT →

08

What drives you more than anything?

AProtecting those who can’t protect themselves — someone has to be the responsible one BThe thrill of getting stronger — there’s always a new level to reach, a new challenge to find CProving my worth — I am the Prince of all Saiyans, and I will surpass everyone

REVEAL MY CHARACTER →

Power Level Scanned Your Dragon Ball Identity

👊

Goku

“I am the hope of the universe. I am the answer to all living things that cry out for peace.” You’re a pure-hearted warrior who lives for the thrill of the fight. Every challenge is an opportunity, every enemy a potential friend, and every defeat just fuel to come back stronger. People are drawn to your infectious optimism and unbreakable spirit, even when your naivety drives them crazy. You’d give your last Senzu Bean to a stranger and charge headfirst into a battle you can’t win — not because you’re reckless, but because you genuinely believe that pushing past your limits is the only way to grow. Like Goku, your greatest power isn’t your ki — it’s your ability to inspire everyone around you to be better.

Pure-Hearted Fearless Limitless Inspiring

👑

Vegeta

“I do not fear this new challenge. Rather like a true warrior, I will rise to meet it.” You carry yourself with the pride of royalty and the ferocity of a born warrior. Second place is not in your vocabulary, and you’d rather break your body than your spirit. People might call you arrogant, but beneath that iron exterior lies someone who has learned to fight not just for themselves, but for the people they’ve quietly grown to love. Your journey is one of evolution — from cold-blooded conqueror to Earth’s fiercest protector — and every scar you carry is proof that pride and love can coexist. Like Vegeta, you don’t just want to be the strongest — you need to earn it on your own terms.

Proud Relentless Fierce Evolving

🧘

Piccolo

“Sometimes, we have to look beyond what we want and do what’s best.” You’re the one everyone depends on when things fall apart — the calm center in the middle of chaos. While others charge in recklessly or let their ego do the talking, you see the bigger picture and make the hard calls that need making. You didn’t choose to care about people, but somewhere along the way it happened, and now you’d sacrifice everything for those you’ve taken under your wing. Stoic on the surface, deeply loyal underneath, you’re the mentor, the strategist, and the last line of defense all in one. Like Piccolo, your true strength is wisdom — and the courage to do what’s right even when no one is watching.

Wise Tactical Protective Stoic

↻ PLAY AGAIN

The biggest reason Goku has never relied on Super Saiyan 3 very often is its brutal stamina drain. Unlike his earlier forms, SSJ3 burns through ki at an absurd rate, making it incredibly difficult to maintain for long. That weakness is a big part of why the form was rarely seen after its debut in the Majin Buu saga. But with Dragon Ball Daima taking place after the Buu saga and before the events of Dragon Ball Super, that long-haired form remained Goku's strongest trump card.

Vegeta Shut Down 30 Years Of Theories With One Massive Transformation

But while Goku's return to SSJ3 was already a treat, Daima had an even bigger surprise waiting. For nearly three decades, fans have wondered why Vegeta never used the transformation, especially after Goku and Gotenks had already shown it off. There were plenty of theories, from Vegeta simply choosing another path to him never having the right training to unlock it. Daima finally put all of that speculation to rest by letting the Saiyan Prince transform on-screen.

Seeing Vegeta suddenly appear with SSJ3's long golden hair and heavy brow before taking the fight to King Gomah was the kind of moment Dragon Ball fans had been waiting years to see. It was not just another transformation for Vegeta. After decades of wondering whether he could ever reach that form, Daima finally gave fans the answer in the most straightforward way possible: Vegeta can go Super Saiyan 3, and he looks absolutely ridiculous doing it.

After being pushed aside for so long, it is genuinely nice to see Super Saiyan 3 getting this kind of attention again. Dragon Ball Daima already gave the form a major comeback, and these new designs show just how good it can still look when the artists are given room to make it the star.

• 

  Masako Nozawa

  Son Goku (mini) (voice)

• Koki Uchiyama

  Glorio (voice)

Dragon Ball Daima sees Goku and his allies inexplicably shrunk into miniature forms, prompting a journey to the Demon Realm. This animated adventure, part of the Dragon Ball franchise, explores their mission to solve the mystery and restore their original statures.