Freeza (フリーザ Furīza?), spelled Frieza in Funimation's English anime dub, is a fictional character in the Dragon Ball manga series created by Akira Toriyama. Freeza makes his debut in chapter #247 Dark Clouds Swirl Over Planet Namek (暗雲うずまくナメック星 An'un Uzumaku Namekkusei?) first published in Weekly Shōnen Jump on November 6, 1989.
Despite not appearing until the manga's second half, Freeza is widely considered to be the most iconic antagonist from the series due to effectively serving as the catalyst of many of the events depicted in the story, such as Goku's arrival on Earth, the Saiyans landing on Earth, and subsequently the main characters going to planet Namek. At the time of his introduction, he is revered as the most powerful being in the entire universe, though is later outclassed by future villains Cell and Majin Boo. He is also directly responsible for the apparent murder of Bardock, the genocide of the Saiyan race, and the second death of Kuririn, arguably making him Goku's most personal and significant enemy.
Abilities
Freeza is first seen moving at superhuman speeds and flying unaided in volume 9. He also appears to have quick reflexes. He is also highly resistant to all but the hardest of physical blows. Additionally, Freeza possesses extreme superhuman strength, along with energy production and projectilization. He has demonstrated being able to destroy planets with relative ease, and has also been shown capable of surviving in the vacuum of space. Freeza also possesses telekinesis, being able to lift opponents without touching them and cause them to explode.
Although in other media such as video games, several techniques are added to his arsenal, the techniques that Freeza uses in Toriyama's manga and its anime adaptation are Death Beam (デスビーム Desu Bīmu), a sharp piercing beam from his finger, Death Ball (デスボール Desu Bōru), a large energy sphere he used to destroy planet Namek, and 100% Death Ball (100%デスボール 100 Pāsento Desu Bōru), its name being revealed in the video games.
Forms and transformations
Freeza's power, including his enhanced strength, became so great over time, that his body could not comfortably contain it, and a series of physical transformations were developed that limit his actual strength. While changing shape from his "first-form", each alteration builds on the previous. In all, Freeza demonstrated three transformed states, each with increasing power (some larger than others and each resulting in different physical attributes).
First form
In his weakest form, Freeza is a relatively short humanoid with a large chestnut-shaped skull and two horns. He also has a tail with a spiked end, as well as having three talon-like toes. Freeza wears the same upper-body armor and shorts that many of his subordinates (including the Saiyans) are shown to wear, and while traveling, often gives the appearance of weakness by exclusively using his hoverchair for transportation, leaving his henchmen to do his "dirty work". Though frail in comparison with his succeeding forms, Freeza still boasts sufficient force to destroy planets, stating during his battle with the Namekian fighter Nail that his power level is 530,000. While shifting to his next stage, Freeza breaks his battle-jacket, revealing a natural white armor covering his chest and shoulders.
Second form
His second form is similar to his father, much larger, both in height and muscle mass, Freeza claiming to have at least doubled his power to 1,000,000 in this state. He also grows longer horns, which now instead of protruding sideways from his head curve sharply upwards into near right angles.
Third form
Freeza's third form is again more brutish, with an extremely elongated skull (like an Alien). His facial features contort and change, with his nose melding into his mouth to form a crude beak. His original horns recede and are now white in color, erupting in pairs along the length of his head. His tail tip, which had been cut off by Kuririn, did not regenerate and he now has a slight hunch. Although his tail was surprisingly not regenerated, the rest of his wounds disappeared as if nothing ever touched him.
Final Form
Drastically differing from his previous transformations, in his final, true form Freeza instead regresses, becoming shorter and less bulky. His previous form shatters, causing his horns and spikes to disappear with his physique becoming entirely streamlined. The lines of color and stripes present on Freeza before completely disappear; his skin is now a pure, solid white with purple sections on his head, shoulders, forearms, chest and shins. All injuries taken in other forms are healed. This is the form that allows him to release his full potential. He later powered up to 50% full power in order to easily beat Goku, in which he did. He was powerful enough at this phase to survive Goku's Genki-Dama with few scratches, besides a damaged tail.
Freeza is also able to attain 100% power, his muscle mass becoming engorged compared to his previously sleek frame. This is the peak of Freeza's natural potential, and the maximum amount of power his body can output. However, to obtain this power his body is subjected to a muscle strain, which slowly lowers his energy, and slowing him down until he can't compete with Goku anymore. This transformation is therefore not suitable for prolonged combat, and then Freeza had tried to finish the fight as quickly as possible destroying the planet Namek and hitting Goku with his best shots.
Mecha Freeza
Due to Namek's huge explosion, what remained of the still-living Frieza was salvaged and rebuilt with cybernetic enhancements by scientists under the order of King Cold, this form is referred to as Mecha Freeza (メカフリーザ) in video games. The whole of the lower half of his body and right side of his face are replaced, as is his left arm from the shoulder down, with scarring and metal accoutrements covering what little was left of his organic self. These enhancements allowed him to exceed the limits of power imposed by his fully organic form, and it is stated that he was more powerful than ever. Even though it is implied that this would make him a good opponent for a well-trained Super Saiyan, his full power in this form is never shown, since Trunks catches him by surprise and blows him up.
Despite not appearing until the manga's second half, Freeza is widely considered to be the most iconic antagonist from the series due to effectively serving as the catalyst of many of the events depicted in the story, such as Goku's arrival on Earth, the Saiyans landing on Earth, and subsequently the main characters going to planet Namek. At the time of his introduction, he is revered as the most powerful being in the entire universe, though is later outclassed by future villains Cell and Majin Boo. He is also directly responsible for the apparent murder of Bardock, the genocide of the Saiyan race, and the second death of Kuririn, arguably making him Goku's most personal and significant enemy.
Abilities
Freeza is first seen moving at superhuman speeds and flying unaided in volume 9. He also appears to have quick reflexes. He is also highly resistant to all but the hardest of physical blows. Additionally, Freeza possesses extreme superhuman strength, along with energy production and projectilization. He has demonstrated being able to destroy planets with relative ease, and has also been shown capable of surviving in the vacuum of space. Freeza also possesses telekinesis, being able to lift opponents without touching them and cause them to explode.
Although in other media such as video games, several techniques are added to his arsenal, the techniques that Freeza uses in Toriyama's manga and its anime adaptation are Death Beam (デスビーム Desu Bīmu), a sharp piercing beam from his finger, Death Ball (デスボール Desu Bōru), a large energy sphere he used to destroy planet Namek, and 100% Death Ball (100%デスボール 100 Pāsento Desu Bōru), its name being revealed in the video games.
Forms and transformations
Freeza's power, including his enhanced strength, became so great over time, that his body could not comfortably contain it, and a series of physical transformations were developed that limit his actual strength. While changing shape from his "first-form", each alteration builds on the previous. In all, Freeza demonstrated three transformed states, each with increasing power (some larger than others and each resulting in different physical attributes).
First form
In his weakest form, Freeza is a relatively short humanoid with a large chestnut-shaped skull and two horns. He also has a tail with a spiked end, as well as having three talon-like toes. Freeza wears the same upper-body armor and shorts that many of his subordinates (including the Saiyans) are shown to wear, and while traveling, often gives the appearance of weakness by exclusively using his hoverchair for transportation, leaving his henchmen to do his "dirty work". Though frail in comparison with his succeeding forms, Freeza still boasts sufficient force to destroy planets, stating during his battle with the Namekian fighter Nail that his power level is 530,000. While shifting to his next stage, Freeza breaks his battle-jacket, revealing a natural white armor covering his chest and shoulders.
Second form
His second form is similar to his father, much larger, both in height and muscle mass, Freeza claiming to have at least doubled his power to 1,000,000 in this state. He also grows longer horns, which now instead of protruding sideways from his head curve sharply upwards into near right angles.
Third form
Freeza's third form is again more brutish, with an extremely elongated skull (like an Alien). His facial features contort and change, with his nose melding into his mouth to form a crude beak. His original horns recede and are now white in color, erupting in pairs along the length of his head. His tail tip, which had been cut off by Kuririn, did not regenerate and he now has a slight hunch. Although his tail was surprisingly not regenerated, the rest of his wounds disappeared as if nothing ever touched him.
Final Form
Drastically differing from his previous transformations, in his final, true form Freeza instead regresses, becoming shorter and less bulky. His previous form shatters, causing his horns and spikes to disappear with his physique becoming entirely streamlined. The lines of color and stripes present on Freeza before completely disappear; his skin is now a pure, solid white with purple sections on his head, shoulders, forearms, chest and shins. All injuries taken in other forms are healed. This is the form that allows him to release his full potential. He later powered up to 50% full power in order to easily beat Goku, in which he did. He was powerful enough at this phase to survive Goku's Genki-Dama with few scratches, besides a damaged tail.
Freeza is also able to attain 100% power, his muscle mass becoming engorged compared to his previously sleek frame. This is the peak of Freeza's natural potential, and the maximum amount of power his body can output. However, to obtain this power his body is subjected to a muscle strain, which slowly lowers his energy, and slowing him down until he can't compete with Goku anymore. This transformation is therefore not suitable for prolonged combat, and then Freeza had tried to finish the fight as quickly as possible destroying the planet Namek and hitting Goku with his best shots.
Mecha Freeza
Due to Namek's huge explosion, what remained of the still-living Frieza was salvaged and rebuilt with cybernetic enhancements by scientists under the order of King Cold, this form is referred to as Mecha Freeza (メカフリーザ) in video games. The whole of the lower half of his body and right side of his face are replaced, as is his left arm from the shoulder down, with scarring and metal accoutrements covering what little was left of his organic self. These enhancements allowed him to exceed the limits of power imposed by his fully organic form, and it is stated that he was more powerful than ever. Even though it is implied that this would make him a good opponent for a well-trained Super Saiyan, his full power in this form is never shown, since Trunks catches him by surprise and blows him up.