Mai

Mai debuts alongside Emperor Pilaf and Shu in the very first saga of Dragon Ball, where the trio attempts to collect the Dragon Balls to wish for world domination. As Pilaf's most capable subordinate, Mai handles reconnaissance, weapons, and tactical planning while Pilaf obsesses over his grand schemes. The Pilaf Gang repeatedly clashes with Goku and his friends throughout the original series, always failing in increasingly comedic fashion.

In Dragon Ball Super, the Pilaf Gang accidentally wishes themselves into children using the Dragon Balls. This de-aging transforms Mai's role in the story entirely. She befriends Trunks, Vegeta's young son, and the two develop a sweet, age-appropriate relationship. In the Future Trunks timeline, an adult Mai leads the human resistance against Goku Black and Zamasu, proving herself a courageous fighter and strategist despite having no superhuman abilities. Her bravery and resourcefulness in the face of divine-level threats make her one of the most admirable ordinary humans in the series.

Mai's evolution from a comedic villain's henchwoman to a genuine resistance leader is one of the more surprising character arcs in Dragon Ball. In the Future Trunks timeline, she commands a group of surviving humans, organizing guerrilla operations against opponents who could destroy the planet with a gesture. Her willingness to fight alongside Trunks despite the overwhelming power gap speaks to her determination and courage.

In the main timeline, Mai's relationship with young Trunks adds a lighthearted romantic subplot that the series rarely explores. The irony of a chronologically middle-aged woman trapped in a child's body developing feelings for an actual child is played mostly for gentle humor. Mai bridges the gap between Dragon Ball's comedic origins and its later, more serious tone, serving as a living reminder that the Pilaf Gang, for all their bumbling, are part of the story's foundation.