Dragon Ball 10 Ways Android 17 Is Completely Different Between GT & Super

GT & Super follow two separate stories of the Dragon Ball franchise with noticeable differences in Android 17's character.

There are many anime series that have left undeniable marks on the medium, but Dragon Ball continues to be one of the most recognizable properties across the world. Dragon Ball has evolved in exciting ways since its debut and it’s found how to remain relevant as well as influence many of the changes within the shonen world.

Dragon Ball Z is followed by both Dragon Ball GT and the more recent Dragon Ball Super. Both of these anime bring back Dragon Ball Z’s underutilized Android 17, which comes as a major surprise in both cases, but there are some significant differences between these two takes on the character.

10 He’s The Product Of Two Scientists In Dragon Ball GT

One of the major differences between how Dragon Ball GT and Super approach the character is that Dragon Ball GT introduces a replicant, Hell Fighter 17, that combines with the regular Android 17. Hell Fighter 17 is made by Dr. Myuu, a deranged scientist that meets Dr. Gero while they’re both in hell. These scientists work together to put together this master plan that results in a rift between Earth and hell where many deceased fighters are unleashed. However, it also makes GT’s take on 17 the product of two evil masterminds.

9 He Has A Wife & Family In Dragon Ball Super

Dragon Ball Super is extremely satisfying with how it brings back some neglected Dragon Ball Z characters like Future Trunks and Android 17. Android 17’s return comes as a major surprise, but it’s an even larger shock in Dragon Ball Super since when he’s met, he now has a wife and kids. Android 17 appears to have taken a page out of Android 18’s book with a more domestic life. Android 17 explains that one of his children is biological, whereas the other two are adopted. It’s a nice and healthy existence for the character.

8 He Fuses & Becomes Super Android 17 In Dragon Ball GT

Android 17 inadvertently becomes one of Dragon Ball GT’s most dangerous antagonists and a serious challenge for Goku. Android 17 has become a recluse, but the artificial Hell Fighter 17 has been sent from hell to fuse with him to form an evil new creation.

The result, Super Android 17, is arguably the most dangerous Android that Goku has gone up against and a strong reminder of what a threat the Androids initially were. This fusion solidifies 17 as a villain, whereas Super takes the opposite approach with the character.

7 He’s A Park Ranger In Dragon Ball Super

Dragon Ball GT and Super both show that Android 17 has gone off the grid to some extent and chosen not to ruffle feathers after the events of Dragon Ball Z’s Cell Saga. The major difference here is that Dragon Ball Super details how 17 has been productive this time and become an important force at a wildlife resort where he maintains nature as a park ranger. 17 gets to keep the world safe here and he later trusts Goten and Trunks to keep the grounds safe, which in turn allows them to keep their skills sharp, too.

6 He Kills Important Characters In Dragon Ball GT

Dragon Ball Super positions Android 17 as a helpful ally and a character that’s even willing to sacrifice himself to protect others. This altruistic perspective is the complete reverse of Android 17’s ideology in Dragon Ball GT. Super Android 17 quickly shows that he’s not messing around when he attacks Goku’s closest family and friends, which includes the murder of Krillin. It’s a tragic moment and it shows that how even after Super Android 17 is defeated that the pain that he’s caused is still present.

5 He Atones For His Sins In Dragon Ball Super

The most basic difference between Android 17 in Dragon Ball Super and Dragon Ball GT is that he’s evil in one and not in the other, but it’s also much deeper than this oversimplification.

Dragon Ball Super’s Android 17 isn’t just a hero, but he goes out of his way to repair the relationships that he hurt in the past and properly prove to Universe 7 that he can be trusted. It’s deeply touching to see 17 work alongside characters like Piccolo and Goku and demonstrate how he’s fully redeemed and on a new path.

4 He Activates Goku’s Dragon Fist In Dragon Ball GT

The Dragon Ball series is full of powerful attacks, but some of them only get used once and are swiftly forgotten just due to the excess of superpowers that can be present. Dragon Ball Z’s Wrath of the Dragon film showcases a new ability for Goku, the Dragon Fist, which completely disappears afterward. The Dragon Fist makes a surprise return in Dragon Ball GT and it’s actually the finishing blow that Goku uses against Super Android 17. It’s possible that he never had to resort to such a maneuver until this encounter. It remains absent in Dragon Ball Super.

3 He’s Loyal To Android 18 In Dragon Ball Super

Dragon Ball Z introduces Androids 17 and 18 as a team and it’s a nice layer to these villains that there’s a level of affection between them. Dragon Ball Super resumes this relationship and throughout the Tournament of Power Android 17 often fights in tandem with 18 and they again prove why they work so well together. It could have been interesting to use Android 18 to break through to Super Android 17 in Dragon Ball GT, but instead, he just inflicts pain on her, including the death of her husband.

2 He Develops Different Abilities In Each Series

Android 17 is incredibly powerful in both Dragon Ball Super and Dragon Ball GT, but curiously, he’s given a unique set of abilities in each series that reflect his contrasting personalities. Dragon Ball GT’s Super Android 17 gains an energy absorption capability through his palms. He also has attacks like Hell Breaker, Shocking Death Ball, and Electro Eclipse Bomb, which are all absent in Dragon Ball Super. Another major change here is that Super Android 17 can remove his arm and use it as a machine gun, which is a maneuver named Hell’s Storm.

1 He Saves Universe 7 In Dragon Ball Super

A fundamental change between these two interpretations of Android 17 is that while Dragon Ball GT features the character’s attempts to ruin the Earth and incite panic, Dragon Ball Super instead turns him into the literal savior of the universe. Android 17 is the ultimate victor in the Tournament of Power, even lasting longer than Goku and Frieza. He has the ability to do whatever he wants with his Super Dragon Ball wish, but chooses to revive all of the lost universes, which is the ultimate reflection of his heroism and how far he’s come.