Android 13

Overview

Android 13 is the primary antagonist in the anime film Dragon Ball Z: Super Android 13!. Created by the former Red Ribbon Army scientist Dr. Gero and completed by his supercomputer after his death, he is the leader and the strongest among the trio of Androids 13, 14, and 15. Devoted strictly to his creator's ultimate directive, his single purpose is the assassination of Son Goku.

Appearance

In his base form, Android 13 resembles an ordinary human and wears clothing and a hat marked with the Red Ribbon Army emblem. Upon absorbing his fallen comrades to become Fused Android 13, his physical appearance dramatically changes into a towering giant over three meters tall with blue skin, heavily bulging muscles, blank white eyes without eyebrows, and spiky orange hair.

Personality

Unlike his companions, Android 13 is highly articulate and talkative. He exhibits firm loyalty to Dr. Gero's vision, steadfastly focused on killing Son Goku while demonstrating ruthless aggression toward anyone who interferes. After transforming into his fused state, he loses almost all rationality and ceases to speak. In various game depictions, his attitude toward Dr. Gero ranges from polite deference to outright rebellion against his orders.

Abilities

Android 13 can fire a homing red energy sphere known as the S.S. Deadly Bomber from his hands, a technique he claims possesses enough power to destroy half of the Earth. By absorbing the computer chips and power reactors of the defeated Androids 14 and 15, he transforms into Fused Android 13. In this state, he gains vast physical strength and invulnerability, enabling him to withstand powerful attacks without flinching.

Background

Though stated to have been scrapped prior to completion in the original series line, Android 13 awakens in a northern glacier and pursues Son Goku. After Androids 14 and 15 are defeated in combat, he absorbs their components to achieve his fused form and overpowers the Z Fighters. His rampage comes to an end when a Spirit Bomb-empowered Son Goku punches through his torso, causing him to explode as his creator's supercomputer shuts down.

Relationships

Android 13 is intensely driven to fulfill the imperative assigned by his creator, Dr. Gero, to eliminate Son Goku. He fights alongside Android 14 and Android 15, ultimately absorbing their remnants to power himself up. Due to his ability to absorb other androids for power, Cell considers him a prototype leading toward the ultimate lifeform, and the two clash over who gets to destroy Son Goku in certain game scenarios.

Trivia

The designation 13 was selected based on the number's traditional association with bad luck, filling in an unused number from the original series' lore. Conceptually and within promotional materials, his absorption-based power-up mechanism has been highlighted as a design precursor to the development of Cell.