Trunks (Japanese: トランクス, Hepburn: Torankusu) is a fictional character in the Dragon Ball manga series created by Akira Toriyama.

Trunks makes his debut appearance in chapter #331 "The Young Boy of Mystery", first published in Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine on July 2, 1991,[1] as an unidentified young man who traveled back in time to warn Son Goku and his allies of a deadly new enemy, the Androids of the Red Ribbon Army.

The present-timeline incarnation of Trunks is introduced as an infant during the story arc, which features the first appearance of the Red Ribbon Androids.

The producer at Toei Animation and the editorial department discussed that, perhaps, it would be better if they changed to a different voice actor for the child version.

[8][9] Trunks possesses several Saiyan abilities including superhuman strength, speed, reflexes, and energy blasts, which can be utilized by the use of ki.

[12] However, Trunks does not rely on this technique as his only conveyance as he can also be seen piloting various crafts manufactured by his family's company, including the time machine which allowed him to visit Goku in the past.

[15] Upon his return to the past, Trunks is able to attain Super Saiyan 2 and can now also use his father's signature techniques, such as the Galick Gun and Final Flash.

The present incarnation of Trunks is able to temporarily fuse with Goten to become the powerful being named Gotenks (ゴテンクス, Gotenkusu) through a technique called Fusion, which was taught to them by Goku.

[1] Here he is a mysterious seventeen year old capable of transforming into the Super Saiyan state, who appears and singlehandedly kills Frieza and his father, King Cold.

After Gohan's death, Trunks assumes the mantle of Earth's sole protector against the artificial humans for the next three years until Bulma finishes her time machine.

A few years later, Trunks is accosted by the Supreme Kai of Universe 7, whom he helps in defeating Babidi and Dabura in order to prevent the revival of Majin Buu.

[29][30] During the battle, both versions of Zamasu provoke Trunks into his Super Saiyan Rage form by telling him that his meddling in time is the cause of their actions.

[32] Eager to compete in the adult division, Trunks and Goten together impersonate another competitor, Mighty Mask (マイティマスク, Maiti Masuku) and are pitted against Android #18 and others in the Tenkaichi Budokai.

Upon the arrival of Majin Buu, Trunks is forced to train with Goten in the Room of Spirit and Time to become the fused warrior Gotenks.

[35] They have many strange encounters and meet many unusual characters including the robot named Giru, who would act as the gang's Dragon Radar.

Upon arriving on Giru's home world, the trio are hijacked by Dr. Myu's robots and Trunks is solidified in living metal for study.

The game Dragon Ball Z: Shin Budokai – Another Road centers around Trunks' battle with Majin Boo in his future timeline.

This version of Trunks plays a major role in the plot of Dragon Ball: Xenoverse, helping the player to correct changes in the Dragon Ball timeline caused by the manipulations of Towa and Mira and fights the player in the game's climax alongside the game's main antagonist Demigra after becoming possessed by him.

In the Dragon Ball and One Piece crossover manga Cross Epoch, Trunks is a member of Captain Vegeta's air pirate crew.

"[40] Similarly, Chris Shepard of Anime News Network also enjoyed the background story and felt that Trunks was an understandable character who "I was really able to get into and sympathize for during his battles.

[42] Trunks' final fight against the villain Zamasu from Dragon Ball Super earned praise by Sam Leach from Anime News Network.

Kusao noted that Trunks' first appearance had an incredible impact and left a great impression on him, referring to his fight with Frieza in which he easily defeated the strongest being in the universe.

[51] Similarly, Funimation voice actor Christopher Sabat stated that apart from Vegeta, Trunks is his favorite character from the series.

[52] In an interview, actor Masi Oka compared his Heroes character Hiro Nakamura to Trunks, as both are time travellers who carry swords.