[Weekly ☆ Character Showcase #41: Android 8 from the Red Ribbon Army Arc!]

NEWS

15.02.2022

Weekly ☆ Character Showcase #41: Android 8 from the Red Ribbon Army Arc!

Android 8 - Red Ribbon Army Arc -

The Weekly ☆ Character Showcase is an article series where we introduce one character from the Dragon Ball universe each week.
This week, we're meeting a robot with a super-tough exterior and equally gentle heart called Android 8!

Story

Android 8 is a robot who was created by the Red Ribbon Army.
However, despite the efforts of his creators, he actually turned out to be kind of heart and prefer peace to conflict.
He was equipped with an explosive device and locked away in a cell between the 4th and top floors of Muscle Tower to use in case of an emergency.

(Tale 63)

The ninja Sergeant Murasaki releases him and commands him to eliminate Goku when his own efforts prove ineffective, but Android 8 refuses to follow his orders due to his gentle nature.
Angered by the Android's insubordination, Murasaki threatens to detonate the bomb installed inside his body should he refuse to cooperate! Luckily, Goku steps in and stops the ninja in time, and Android 8 and the young Saiyan end up becoming friends.

(Tale 63)

Together, they manage to escape from the Muscle Tower's maze thanks to Android 8's guidance and finally reach the top floor. There was one last hiccup for the pair, however, as General White was waiting to drop them through a trap door that leads to the 5th floor, wherein lurked the monster Buyon!
All of Goku's attacks are deflected off Buyon's bouncy body, and so he opens up a hole in the wall to let in the frigid outside air and freeze it solid! After that, it only took Goku one well-placed strike to shatter the monster before jumping into Android 8's coat to keep warm—the Android having no problems with the cold thanks to his robust mechanical form!
With Buyon out of their hair, the two then climbed back up to the top floor to face General White.

(Tale 65)

During their scuffle, General White takes a cheap shot at Goku's back with his Hyper-Gun, an act of cowardice that sends Android 8 into a fury!
General White shoots him in the leg, but even that isn't enough to stop the Android in his tracks, and with his extreme power, he takes out the general with a single, tremendous punch!

(Tale 66)

Together, Android 8 and Goku save the mayor of Jingle Village, who had been taken hostage by General White, and make their way back to Suno's house.
In the end, it turns out that Android 8 had actually found the Two-Star Dragon Ball that the Red Ribbon Army was searching for in the area and hidden it in his coat to protect the people of Jingle Village!
Moved by Android 8's kindness, the mayor invites him to stay and live with them as a fellow Jingle Villager, and the rest is history!

(Tale 66)

First Appearance

"Dragon Ball" Tale 62

Trivia

Android 8's nickname is 'Hatchan'!

"Android 8" was a little too much mechanical mumbo-jumbo for the young and unworldly Goku, so he decided to shorten it down to Hatchan instead!
Android 8 himself seemed to take a liking to the name too.