Nikochan-seijin

The Nikochan-seijin are small aliens whose body shape is, to put it diplomatically, reminiscent of a human posterior. They have tiny limbs, antennae, and expressive faces, but their overall silhouette is unmistakably designed for laughs. This is pure Toriyama humor at work: creating an alien race whose very appearance is a visual gag.

They originate from a planet whose name also plays on crude humor, consistent with the comedic sensibilities of Dr. Slump, the gag manga where they first appeared. Their technology is genuine, as they possess functioning spacecraft capable of interstellar travel, but their competence as a species is deliberately undermined for comedic effect.

The Nikochan-seijin's claim to fame is their spectacularly failed attempt at conquering Earth. In Dr. Slump, the Nikochan King and his servant arrive on Earth with dreams of galactic domination, only to be repeatedly humiliated by Arale and the residents of Penguin Village. Their military ambitions crash against the brick wall of Arale's incomprehensible strength and the general chaos of Toriyama's original manga world.

Their Dragon Ball appearances occur during the crossover episodes where Goku visits Penguin Village. These brief cameos maintain their role as comic relief aliens, completely out of their depth in a universe where even children can shatter mountains.

The Nikochan-seijin hold a special place in Toriyama's body of work as some of the earliest alien characters he ever created. They predate the Saiyans, the Namekians, and Frieza's empire by years, appearing in Dr. Slump well before Dragon Ball was conceived. In that sense, they represent Toriyama's original vision of extraterrestrial life: absurd, harmless, and played entirely for laughs.

Their continued appearance in Dragon Ball crossover material is a nod to that creative history. The Nikochan King remains a recognizable figure among fans of Toriyama's broader work, even if his species will never threaten anyone more dangerous than a houseplant.