It happened in Dragon Ball Super episode 60. Goku, being his typical, socially oblivious self, reacted with pure confusion to Future Trunks feeding a Senzu bean to Mai via mouth-to-mouth. Vegeta, standing right there, looked at Goku with a mix of genuine horror and deep-seated judgment. He asked the question we all wanted to ask: "Goku, have you never... kissed anyone?" Goku’s response was a flat "no," which led to the bombshell implication about the Vegeta and Bulma kiss—or lack thereof.
Wait. Did Akira Toriyama really mean that?
For decades, the Dragon Ball fandom has built entire shrines to the relationship between the Prince of all Saiyans and the world’s richest genius. We saw them go from "he’s a mass murderer staying in my guest room" to a married couple with two kids and a surprisingly stable domestic life. But that one scene in the Future Trunks saga threw a wrench into everything. It sparked a massive debate about whether we’ve ever actually seen a Vegeta and Bulma kiss on screen, and more importantly, what it says about Saiyan biology and Toriyama’s specific brand of humor.
The On-Screen Reality: Did We Actually See It?
If you're looking for a passionate, cinematic lip-lock between these two, you're going to be looking for a long time. It doesn't exist. Throughout Dragon Ball Z, their relationship happens almost entirely off-camera. One minute Bulma is dating Yamcha; the next, she’s holding a lavender-haired baby and Vegeta is training in 450x gravity, occasionally grunting in her general direction.
The closest we ever get to a Vegeta and Bulma kiss is usually played for laughs or happens just off-frame. In Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods (and the subsequent Super arc), we see Vegeta’s protective side explode. "My Bulma!" became the line heard 'round the world. He clearly loves her. He takes her on vacations. He stands by her during the birth of Bulla. But the actual act of kissing? It’s treated like a state secret.
Why? Because Toriyama was notoriously shy about drawing romance. He once admitted in an interview with Daizenshuu that he felt incredibly embarrassed drawing romantic scenes. He’d rather draw a planet exploding or a man turning into a giant monkey than two people sharing a tender moment. This explains why Goku and Chi-Chi’s most romantic moment is a headbutt or a brief peck on the cheek in the filler episodes of the original Dragon Ball. For Vegeta and Bulma, the romance is written in the subtext, the sacrifices, and the quiet moments of domesticity, rather than the physical displays of affection common in Western media.
The Goku Confusion and the Retcon Theory
Let’s go back to that Dragon Ball Super moment. When Vegeta realizes Goku hasn't kissed Chi-Chi, he's shocked. This implies two things. First, Vegeta definitely knows what kissing is. Second, he has almost certainly shared a Vegeta and Bulma kiss multiple times. He wouldn't find Goku’s lack of experience weird if he hadn't done it himself.
However, some fans argue that Goku might have been talking about the specific act of "mouth-to-mouth feeding" rather than kissing in general. But the dialogue in the Japanese original is pretty specific. Vegeta is genuinely baffled. This creates a hilarious contrast: the ruthless warrior who once tried to blow up Earth is more socially adjusted than the "hero" who saved it.
It’s a masterclass in character subversion. Vegeta, the man of tradition and pride, has embraced the human customs of his wife. He’s the one who understands the intimacy of a Vegeta and Bulma kiss, while Goku views his marriage as a very long training partnership that occasionally results in children.
Why the Lack of a Kiss Actually Makes the Couple Better
There is something to be said about the "show, don't tell" (or in this case, "don't show") approach to their relationship. We don't need to see them making out to know they are the most functional couple in the series.
- Vegeta stayed on Earth because of her.
- He abandoned his quest for immortality for a family.
- He refused to enter the Tournament of Power until his daughter was born.
- Bulma is the only person on Earth who can yell at him without dying.
Their bond is built on mutual respect and a weird, shared intensity. Bulma likes bad boys; Vegeta likes strong-willed women (a Saiyan trait, as Vegeta explains). A Vegeta and Bulma kiss on screen would almost feel... too normal? It might break the tension that makes their dynamic so compelling. They aren't a Disney couple. They are two prideful, high-achieving individuals who found a way to coexist.
The Cultural Context of Romance in Shonen
We have to look at the genre. Dragon Ball is a shonen manga. It’s for young boys. In the late 80s and 90s, when DBZ was peaking, romance was a secondary or even tertiary concern. The "romance" in Dragon Ball is usually a plot device to introduce new characters (like Trunks) or to give the heroes something to protect.
In Japan, public displays of affection (PDA) are generally more reserved than in the US or Europe. Even today, seeing a prominent "kiss scene" in a battle-focused shonen is relatively rare unless it’s the series finale. For the Vegeta and Bulma kiss to happen, it would need to serve a massive narrative purpose. Since their love is already established and unquestioned, the writers likely feel they don't "need" to show it.
Addressing the "Vegeta Is Too Proud" Myth
There’s a segment of the fandom that thinks Vegeta would find kissing "beneath" a Saiyan prince. This is objectively false based on his behavior in Dragon Ball Super. He has evolved. The Vegeta of the Buu Saga was willing to sacrifice his soul for his family. The Vegeta of Super is a man who takes his wife to resort hotels and wears pink shirts because she bought them.
The idea that he’s "too tough" for a Vegeta and Bulma kiss ignores 20 years of character development. He’s a tsundere—the classic "tough on the outside, soft on the inside" archetype. He’d probably complain the whole time about how "mortals have such inefficient ways of showing affection," but he’d still do it. Honestly, he probably enjoys it more than he’d ever admit to Kakarot.
What Fans Often Get Wrong
A common misconception is that the "first" Vegeta and Bulma kiss happened in some obscure OVA or movie. It didn't. There are plenty of fan-made animations and "lost episodes" floating around YouTube and TikTok that look incredibly convincing. Some of these use modern AI tools to mimic the Super art style, leading many younger fans to believe they missed a scene.
Always check the source. If it’s not in the 131 episodes of Super, the 291 episodes of Z, or the official movies, it’s headcanon.
Actionable Insights for the Dragon Ball Fan
If you're looking to dive deeper into the relationship that redefined anime power couples, or if you're writing your own analysis, keep these points in mind:
- Watch Episode 2 of Dragon Ball Super: This is the "Vegeta on vacation" episode. It’s the best look at their domestic life and provides all the subtext you need regarding their physical affection.
- Read the Manga Version of the Black Goku Arc: The dialogue regarding Goku’s "kissing" comment is slightly different and offers more nuance than the anime adaptation.
- Analyze the "My Bulma" Scene: Compare the Battle of Gods movie version to the TV series version. The subtle differences in Vegeta’s facial expressions show how the animators interpret his love for her.
- Look for the "Yo! Son Goku and His Friends Return!!" Special: It features some of the best "casual" interactions between the two families and showcases Vegeta and Bulma acting like a long-married couple.
The Vegeta and Bulma kiss remains the "Holy Grail" for shippers, but its absence is actually what makes the relationship so grounded. It’s not about the performative aspects of romance. It’s about the fact that the most arrogant man in the universe found someone who made him want to be better. Whether we see the kiss or not, the impact of their love is visible in every episode.
Focus on the character growth. The evolution from a cold-blooded killer to a man who gets flustered by his wife’s proximity is a much better story than any single kiss could ever be. If you’re tracking their relationship timeline, look for the moments of emotional vulnerability—those are the "kisses" that actually matter in the Dragon Ball universe.