Bardock , Burdock in Viz Media's English manga translation, is a fictional character from the Dragon Ball media franchise. Created by Toei Animation based on series protagonist Goku's visual design by franchise creator Akira Toriyama, he first appears in the animated television special Dragon Ball Z: Bardock - The Father of Goku as its morally ambiguous protagonist. Bardock has few overall manga and anime appearances within the series, though he plays a pivotal part as Goku's father in setting up the backstory of his son, originally known by the name Kakarot, as one of the last survivors of the Saiyan genocide by the intergalactic tyrant Frieza.
