The Red Ribbon Army (レッドリボン軍, Reddo Ribon Gun) is a fictional antagonistic faction featured in Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball anime and manga series.

Commentators noted that the Red Ribbon Army arc, in which the group is presented as the first legitimate threat to Goku, represented a shift to a darker tone for the series, as well as a notable example of antiquated or politically incorrect attitudes towards real world stereotypes and tropes in Japanese anime.

Some of the group's individual members, including the Red Ribbon Androids who appear as recurring villains in the franchise, have left a lasting impression in popular culture and specifically received commentary by media outlets.

[3][4] Blue's Japanese voice actor, Toshio Furukawa claimed said it was a difficult role to play due to the character's sexuality.

[10] Goku's protracted struggle with the Red Ribbon Army begins when he resumes his search for his Grandfather's Dragon Ball following the conclusion of a martial arts tournament he participated in.

93][9] The Red Ribbon Army occasionally recruits hired help to further their objectives, such as the assassin Mercenary Tao, and the anime-exclusive thief Husky (ハスキー, Hasukī).

95, 96] Following the downfall of the organization, Doctor Gero continues his research and development work on his line of Android operatives to seek revenge against Goku.

One of the Red Ribbon Army's leaders and seemingly its most powerful member, Blue has special telekinetic abilities that allow him to paralyze other individuals and can also be used to control objects.[ch.

85] He murders General Blue with only his tongue, slew Bora the guardian of Korin Tower[broken anchor] with his own spear, and seemingly kills Goku.[ch.

168] He enters the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament with the support of Master Shen, but is easily defeated by his brother's former student Tien Shinhan.[ch.

Android 8 is seen towards the end of the original manga series, giving energy for Goku's Genki-Dama to destroy Majin Buu.[ch.

[12] Gero later flees back to his laboratory and release Androids 17 and 18 in order to fend off Goku's associates, but 17 turns on his creator and murders him following a brief altercation.[ch.

[15] Akira Toriyama came up with 17 and 18 after his editor at the time, Kazuhiko Torishima, expressed his displeasure with Androids 19 and 20 as the intended arc villains shortly after their debut.

"Artificial Human #16") is a large fully mechanical android modeled after Gero's son Gevo (ゲボ, Gebo), a high-ranking soldier in the Red Ribbon Army who died from an enemy bullet in an undisclosed battle.

362][25][26] Unlike his Android companions, 16 does not take pleasure in fighting others, and is fully committed to follow his programmed orders: to search for and kill Goku.

"Artificial Human #21") is a character originally introduced within the main story mode of the video game Dragon Ball FighterZ.

As she possesses the genetic material of various powerful characters in the series much like Cell, Android 21 is depicted as a very formidable Bio-Android with superhuman strength, endurance, and speed.

Like Buu, Android 21 is capable of transforming objects or living things by shooting an energy beam at the target, typically rendering them as confectionery or other sweet foods to feed her ravenous hunger.

Vomi is briefly sighted during a media presentation by senior members of the reconstituted Red Ribbon Army as they attempt to recruit her surviving grandson, Dr. Hedo.

Following the deaths of Doctor Gero and Cell, a new reincarnation of the Red Ribbon Army is formed, eager to seek revenge once more on Goku, whom unbeknownst to them is offworld.

He secretly plots, alongside his assistant Carmine and Doctor Hedo, to seek revenge upon Goku and his loved ones for annihilating his father's organization, under the claim that Capsule Corporation hosts evil aliens.

Several key members of the Red Ribbon Army appear in the alternate-retelling film Dragon Ball: The Path to Power, where they are presented with different character designs.

In the film Dragon Ball: Mystical Adventure, General Blue and Sergeant Metallic appear as soldiers in Emperor Chiaotzu's army; the former is murdered by Mercenary Tao in the same manner as the original source material.

Sergeant Major Purple and General Blue appear in the 1990s remake of the Dr. Slump anime, where they attempt to claim the Dragon Balls from Goku and Arale Norimaki.

Manga artist Masashi Kishimoto contributed a sketch featuring the Pirate Robot, a minor character from the General Blue Saga arc.

He found the Red Ribbon Army to be effective villains, as it was first time Goku has faced "real bad guys", as opposed to "goofy Team Rocket-esque wannabes" like the Pilaf Gang.

[2] Kimlinger noted that the complete defeat of the Red Ribbon Army would have major implications for the franchise's narrative, as it sets the stage for the Android Saga storyline in Dragon Ball Z.

In his view, some of the antiquated writing and character design for the Red Ribbon Army is "less of a light form of entertainment, and more a throwback '80s cultural artifact"; Smith formed the view that while the series never loses its anthropological or historical interest, storylines like the Red Ribbon Army arc may be challenging for viewers to "just turn your brain off and enjoy it straight".

[42] Android 16 is considered to be the franchise's best villain by Brandon Zachary, who described the character in an article for Comic Book Resources (CBR) as a tragic figure who brings a somber side to the Dragon Ball universe.

[48] Both Anthony Gramuglia, writing for CBR, and Aimee Hart considered the homophobic characterization of General Blue to be deeply problematic.