Are 17 and 18 Really Androids?

To answer the question directly, Androids 17 and 18 are not really androids in the strict sense, but rather cyborgs, as they are half-human and half-machine, created by the evil scientist Dr. Gero. The term “android” is actually a mistranslation from the original Japanese version, where they are referred to as “Jinzoningen”, meaning “artificial human”.

Introduction to Androids 17 and 18

Definition and Creation

The confusion surrounding the terms android and cyborg often leads to misunderstandings about the nature of Androids 17 and 18. These characters, introduced in the Dragon Ball series, are the result of Dr. Gero’s experiments, aiming to create powerful artificial beings. However, their creation process involved transforming human beings into cyborgs by integrating mechanical components into their bodies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are 17 and 18 Androids or Cyborgs?

1. Q: Are 17 and 18 really androids? A: No, they are cyborgs, as they were once human and were remodeled with cybernetic enhancements by Dr. Gero.

Origin and Names

2. Q: What were Android 17 and 18’s names before they became cyborgs? A: Before their transformation, Android 17 and 18 were known as Lapis and Lazuli, respectively.

Capabilities and Strength

3. Q: What makes Androids 17 and 18 so strong? A: Their strength comes from being real people who were modified, not just full machines, and from their perpetual energy reactors, giving them infinite stamina.

Relationship and Family

4. Q: Is Android 18 still an android after marrying Krillin? A: Android 18 remains a cyborg, and her marriage to Krillin and ability to conceive a child are possible because Dr. Gero left her with enough human functionality.

5. Q: Did Krillin wish for Android 18 to become human? A: Krillin asked Shenron to turn Androids 17 and 18 into humans, but Shenron denied the wish, stating it was beyond his power.

Human Functionality and Reproduction

6. Q: How did Android 18 become pregnant with Krillin’s child? A: As a cyborg with retained human functionality, Android 18 was capable of getting pregnant and did so with Krillin.

7. Q: Can Android 18 love or feel emotions like humans do? A: Android 18‘s ability to fall in love with Krillin and her actions throughout the series demonstrate that she is capable of emotions and human-like feelings.

Strength Comparisons

8. Q: Why isn’t Android 18 as strong as Android 17? A: Android 18 has put less time and effort into her training compared to Android 17, preferring to focus on her family life with Krillin and their daughter.

9. Q: Who is the strongest android in the Dragon Ball series? A: According to rankings, the strongest android or cyborg characters vary, but Cell Max is often considered the most powerful, followed by characters like Gamma 1 and 2, and then Android 21.

Personal Relationships

10. Q: Does Android 18 love Goku? A: Android 18 does not have romantic feelings for Goku; instead, she often shows disapproval or frustration with his actions, viewing him as an idiot.

11. Q: Why did Krillin marry Android 18? A: Krillin married Android 18 because she fell deeply in love with him, admiring his actions and determined personality.

Character Traits and Abilities

12. Q: Why does Krillin have six dots on his head? A: The six dots, known as jieba, are moxibustion burns on Krillin’s forehead, a reference to the Shaolin monks’ practices.

13. Q: Can Krillin destroy a planet? A: By the end of the Freeza arc, Krillin had surpassed Saiyan arc Vegeta in power, who could destroy an Earth-sized planet, indicating Krillin could easily do the same.

Human vs. Saiyan

14. Q: Is Krillin a Saiyan? A: No, Krillin is human and does not have the ability to transform into a Super Saiyan like Saiyans do.

Legacy and Family Life

15. Q: Is Krillin’s daughter an android? A: No, Marron, Krillin’s daughter with Android 18, is a normal human girl, not an android or cyborg, and has been shown to possess some strength and resilience.