Mr. Popo had a fairly notable role in the original Dragon Ball anime, even though he appears near the end of the series. He remains memorable in Dragon Ball Z as well, despite his character design being obviously VERY controversial by today’s standards. I try to look past that, because Mr. Popo is actually a kind and loyal being. In the fan parody Dragon Ball Z Abridged, however, he becomes my favorite character, portrayed as completely unhinged and hilariously sinister.

He plays an important role in training the Z Fighters to prepare for Nappa and Vegeta, alongside Kami. This mirrors what Kami once did for Goku when preparing him to face Piccolo. Dragon Ball often follows a recurring theme where Goku’s former masters teach his allies, and this pattern continues later with King Kai.

Although it is easy to forget, Mr. Popo also plays a key role in the Namek Saga. He helps Bulma, Gohan, and Krillin reach Namek in the first place by remembering that Kami arrived on Earth in a spaceship. He leads Bulma to the ship, which ultimately makes their journey possible.

From that point on, his role is essentially that of the attendant to Earth’s guardian for the rest of the series, later continuing even after Dende takes over the position. Mr. Popo’s power level is strangely inconsistent. At times, he appears capable of keeping up with Super Saiyan Trunks and Super Saiyan Goten, despite logic suggesting they should be far beyond his abilities. A similar moment happens in the original Dragon Ball, when he easily counters Goku shortly after Goku defeats King Piccolo.

During the Majin Buu Saga, Mr. Popo is unfortunately eaten by Super Buu. Before his death, he still manages to contribute by saving Dende, although the heroes ultimately rely on the Dragon Balls and plans that repeatedly fail before finally working out. Afterward, Mr. Popo is revived and continues serving as the attendant to Earth’s guardian for the remainder of the series.