Future Trunks made waves and impactful acts throughout his first introduction back in Dragon Ball Z, and remains to this day many peoples' favorite character. Due to his inner struggles, as well as his captivating story and personality throughout the Androids/Cell Saga, Future Trunks solidified his presence in many people's eyes as a very important character to not only the concept of time travel in the Dragon Ball universe but also in Dragon Ball Xenoverse as a staple character. Nevertheless, Future Trunks doesn't stay long, and soon in the Majin Buu Saga we are introduced to Present Trunks, a younger more brash personality with a better life and family. However, many are willing to debate and argue that Future Trunks has a much better character arc and usefulness to the plot as opposed to Present Trunks. Is this true though? Does Dragon Ball benefit more from having Future Trunks or Present Trunks in its roster of characters?
Present Trunks as a character is not particularly disliked, and certainly not hated or disregarded as a useless character. Some might say that Present Trunks as a kid was a fun personality to witness, albeit not as complex or deep as Future Trunks due to the lack of a harsh life or tragedy. Present Trunks and Future Trunks couldn't be any more different even when they are both grown up, the only difference being that one has developed a more mature side to their personality and responsibility as earth's protector, and the other has a lax personality and somewhat of a spoiled lifestyle. But is this enough for a clear divide as to which character is better than the other? Perhaps the issue runs deeper than just likability or differences in personality, but also in connection and emotional resonance when comparing both the present and future versions of Trunks Briefs.
A Case For Present And Future
To begin the examination and making a fair assessment of both characters, it bears mentioning that both have valuable evidence to support each other's likability and emotional connection to the audience. Present Trunks may not have the same emotional resonance as Future Trunks, but he certainly is the happy result of a future in which the Androids and Cell were defeated, the young boy allowed to thrive and grow up with a relatively balanced family in Vegeta and Bulma as his parents. The Majin Buu Saga shows not only his rapid growth in strength thanks to achieving Super Saiyan at an early age, but also his tenacity to learn the fusion dance to contribute in the fight against Evil Buu. Finally, his connection with his father Vegeta is what sells a lot of the emotional growth that Vegeta underwent on his own after becoming Majin Vegeta.
But there is an equally grand case for Future Trunks as a character. Not only does he have the emotional growth and connection with Vegeta, albeit in his more ruthless years, after a year together in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber; Future Trunks' character arc is specifically tied to his desire for a better future with the help of Goku and Vegeta, but coupled with the fear and doubt that things may not ever change despite helping another past that isn't tied to his future directly. Even during those tumultuous times, knowing about Future Trunks' past life when Future Gohan was alive, up to his death and the resurgence of Trunks' Super Saiyan transformation allowed the fan audience to be able to connect and see the deep damaged character of Future Trunks.
Why The Future Prevails
Ultimately, when examining both cases for Future and Present Trunks; Future Trunks is the only one out of the two to have a consistently captivating character even during the Goku Black Arc as a character. While that arc may have had its own problems, many people find themselves invested much more in Future Trunks' arc and character due to the tragedy and struggles he has to face that put him up against so many opponents that change him to be a better fighter and warrior. Even his connection with Vegeta, albeit brief and perhaps not as long as say PResent Trunks, still holds a major point compared to the present when it comes to how Vegeta strove to become a better person and father despite his flaws when Future Trunks was on the verge of death at one point. His character proves to be just as engaging now as it was back in his first introduction.
Whereas the Present Trunks, while interesting and fun on his own, doesn't have nearly as many character defining moments that force the audience to see him in a different light. Present Trunks in a sense has remained too static and too simple for many audiences to immediately relate or even appreciate due to the spoiled attitude as well as different personality he has. Even so, there is an argument to be made that both versions of Trunks have value for different reasons, and many individuals might prefer one version over the other in an equally valid fashion. However, Dragon Ball has shown itself to be more capable of using Future Trunks in dramatic showdowns and events as opposed to Present Trunks, who up until recently in Dragon Ball Supergot his own arc alongside Goten. Future Trunks, and Dragon Ball Z in particular are undoubtedly the ones that gain the right to be the better when compared to Present Trunks.
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