Saibaman are forever tied to that meme-worthy, crater-filling moment that cemented Yamcha as the poster child for embarrassing anime deaths. These guys have been a weird yet iconic part of Dragon Ball since their debut in DBZ, and now Dragon Ball Daima has gone ahead and flipped their backstory on its head once more.
For those who’ve been following the franchise closely, this isn’t exactly new. Toriyama’s been tweaking their lore for decades. But if you’re here for the details, buckle up, because we’re diving deep in this one.
Saibaman first appeared in Dragon Ball Z during the Saiyan Saga as cannon fodder for the Z-Fighters to show off their newly acquired strength. What made them stand out wasn’t just their grotesque, plant-like design, but also their unsettling “grow from the ground” introduction. They weren’t just aliens. They were weird, disposable, plant aliens.
Their utility in the story was straightforward: they were strong enough to give the lower-tier characters like Yamcha a fight (rip Yamcha, we know what happened), but ultimately just a stepping stone to Vegeta and Nappa. But even then, their mysterious origins left fans intrigued.
Toriyama-sensei has never been shy about retconning Dragon Ball lore to fit new narratives, and the Saibaman are no exception. Let’s break down how their backstory has evolved over time.
The Saiyan Scientist Era: Originally, Saibaman were described as artificial beings created by a Saiyan scientist. This fit well with the Saiyans’ reputation as a warrior race, suggesting they developed Saibaman as a biological weapon for interplanetary conquest.
The Alien-Plant Lifeform Era: Later, Toriyama decided to pivot. Saibaman were reimagined as alien lifeforms that evolved naturally on a specific planet. They were discovered and later modified by the Saiyans to make them more useful in fights. This explanation leaned into their plant-like design and helped establish them as more than just a Saiyan invention.
Back to Artificial Creations: At some point, the “scientific creation” origin made a comeback, with an added twist: the Saibaman we see in Dragon Ball Z were upgraded versions of earlier models. This created some continuity issues, but let’s be honest, continuity has never been Dragon Ball’s strong suit.
Toriyama’s 2018 Interview: In a 2018 interview, Toriyama threw fans another curveball. He described Saibaman as a lifeform discovered on a “certain planet” and noted that extracting them from their roots was an incredibly delicate process. This explanation gave them a more grounded (pun intended) origin and set up their ties to nature.
New Origin in Dragon Ball Daima: Dragon Ball Daima has added a new layer to the Saibaman lore, tying them to Marba, a new witch character who’s also responsible for creating Majin Buu.
Also Read: Dragon Ball’s New Majin Buu (Majin Kuu) Strangely Resembles Both Golden Frieza and Pikkon
Dragon Ball Daima episode 9 reveals that Saibaman are from Demon World just like Majin Buu. Marba reveals that the Saibaman originate from seeds, which she uses in her experiments. This implies that their existence starts with raw, natural materials—seeds that hold the potential to grow into the plant-alien hybrids we recognize.
Marba used Saibaman seeds while creating the new warrior, Majin Kuu, implying she had a significant role in their propagation. She even mentions selling these seeds to outsiders. But now their amount have grow thin and Witch Marba only had 1 of the seeds left.
The Saibaman have come a long way from being Yamcha’s executioners. With Dragon Ball Daima, they’re no longer just disposable minions. They’re part of a larger story that connects the Saiyans, the Demon Realm, and even Majin Buu.
