The Super Saiyan 5 Myth: Why Goku's Fan-Favorite Form Still Haunts Dragon Ball Canon

For over two decades, the legendary Super Saiyan 5 (SSJ5) transformation has been the most persistent and captivating myth in the entire Dragon Ball fandom. Even as of December 2025, with new official transformations like Ultra Instinct and Ultra Ego dominating the narrative of Dragon Ball Super, the image of Goku with flowing white hair and white fur—a true successor to Super Saiyan 4—refuses to fade. This enduring popularity, fueled by nostalgia and a desire for a powerful, aesthetically pleasing new form, has kept the non-canonical Super Saiyan 5 at the forefront of fan discussions, constantly raising the question: Will it ever become official?

The form is an anomaly in the world of Dragon Ball: a fan-created entity so believable and popular that many still mistake it for a genuine, unreleased transformation from the franchise's creator, Akira Toriyama. Its story is a fascinating case study in how fan works can influence and even challenge official continuity, creating a parallel universe of power levels and character development that millions have embraced.

The True Origin and History of Super Saiyan 5

The story of Super Saiyan 5 is inextricably linked to the infamous fan-made series, Dragon Ball AF (DBAF). This transformation is not, and has never been, an official part of the Dragon Ball canon, which includes the original manga, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT, and the current Dragon Ball Super series.

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The David Montiel Franco Connection

The iconic design that everyone recognizes as Super Saiyan 5 originated in 1998. The image, which quickly went viral in the early days of the internet, was created by Spanish fan artist David Montiel Franco.

• The Artist: David Montiel Franco.
• Year Created: 1998.
• The Misconception: The drawing was widely circulated as Goku's next transformation after Super Saiyan 4 (SSJ4), and the "AF" in Dragon Ball AF was rumored to stand for "After Future" or "Alternate Future."
• The Reality: Franco later clarified that the character was not Goku, but his own original Saiyan character named Tablos, and the image was never intended to be an official SSJ5.

Despite the artist's clarification, the design—characterized by white or silver hair, a long flowing tail, and a white fur coat reminiscent of the SSJ4 form—was too compelling to be ignored. It became the visual blueprint for the entire Dragon Ball AF fan-fiction movement, which explored a darker, more powerful continuation of the Dragon Ball GT storyline. The concept filled a void for fans who wanted a direct, linear continuation of the traditional Super Saiyan line (SSJ1, SSJ2, SSJ3, SSJ4).

How Super Saiyan 5 Compares to Modern Canon Forms

In the modern era of Dragon Ball Super, the debate over SSJ5's power level has shifted from hypothetical fan-fiction scenarios to direct comparisons with canonical forms that share similar aesthetics or power concepts. The main contenders are Ultra Instinct (UI), Ultra Ego (UE), and Super Saiyan Blue Evolved (SSBE).

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Super Saiyan 5 vs. Ultra Instinct (UI)

This is the most popular comparison, largely due to the visual similarities. Ultra Instinct, in its Mastered form, gives Goku silver/white hair and a calm, powerful aura—a look that eerily mirrors the fan-made SSJ5.

• SSJ5 (Concept): Traditionally depicted as a brute-force multiplier, a direct successor to the raw power of SSJ4. It is often conceptualized as a massive boost in physical strength and Ki.
• Ultra Instinct (Canon): A technique rather than a pure transformation, Ultra Instinct allows the user's body to move and fight independently of conscious thought, granting unparalleled defensive and offensive capabilities. The white-haired Mastered Ultra Instinct (MUI) is the ultimate Saiyan-God form.
• The Debate: Some fan theories suggest SSJ5, if it were canon, would be significantly stronger than UI, representing a final, ultimate unlocking of raw Saiyan potential. Others argue that UI's divine nature and perfected fighting technique make it inherently superior.

The fact that Goku’s highest form, Mastered Ultra Instinct, has white hair has led many to believe that Toriyama and Toyotarou subtly acknowledged and canonized the SSJ5 concept's look, even if they changed the underlying power mechanism. This is a key reason the SSJ5 discussion remains relevant today.

Super Saiyan 5 vs. Super Saiyan Blue Evolved (SSBE)

While Super Saiyan Blue Evolved is Vegeta's unique path, it represents a continued evolution of the God Ki transformations. SSBE is a form of immense power, surpassing the standard Super Saiyan Blue (SSB) and rivaling Ultra Instinct Sign (MUI's precursor).

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• Aesthetic Difference: SSJ5 maintains the primal, fur-covered look of SSJ4, while SSBE is a sleek, divine evolution of SSJ Blue.
• Power Scaling: SSBE focuses on controlled, focused Ki output, whereas SSJ5 is often imagined as a primal, untamed surge. Fans who prefer the *Dragon Ball Z* and *GT* aesthetic often champion SSJ5 as a more satisfying visual and narrative progression than the God Ki forms.

The Future: Will Super Saiyan 5 Ever Be Canon?

In 2025, the possibility of Super Saiyan 5 becoming canon is a complex topic, heavily influenced by the direction of the new *Dragon Ball* series, including the recent *Dragon Ball Daima* announcements and the ongoing *Dragon Ball Super* manga.

The Argument for Canonization

The strongest argument for SSJ5’s eventual canonization lies in the concept of the "Primal" Saiyan line. *Dragon Ball Super* has largely ignored the SSJ4 line from *GT* in favor of the God Ki forms (SSG, SSB, UI). However, the immense fan love for SSJ4 and its aesthetic keeps the door open.

• SSJ4's Popularity: Super Saiyan 4 is a fan-favorite transformation, and its unique design—which combines the primal Great Ape (Oozaru) power with the Super Saiyan state—is a distinct contrast to the divine, sleek looks of SSJ Blue and Ultra Instinct.
• Bridging the Gap: SSJ5 could be introduced as a form that merges the raw power of the Primal Saiyan line (SSJ4) with the divine control of God Ki. This hypothetical fusion would create a truly unique and immensely powerful state that would satisfy both *GT* and *Super* fans.
• The White Hair Precedent: Since Mastered Ultra Instinct already uses the white/silver hair color, a canonical SSJ5 would likely need a different color or a more pronounced primal feature to distinguish itself, perhaps an even more exaggerated fur coat or a unique aura color.

The Entities Driving the Discussion

The enduring SSJ5 conversation is kept alive by a massive network of entities and concepts:

Characters: Goku, Vegeta, Gohan, Trunks, Goten, Broly, Frieza, Beerus, Whis, Jiren.

Transformations: Super Saiyan, Super Saiyan 2, Super Saiyan 3, Super Saiyan 4, Super Saiyan God (SSG), Super Saiyan Blue (SSB), Ultra Instinct (UI), Ultra Ego (UE), Mastered Ultra Instinct (MUI), Super Saiyan Blue Evolved (SSBE).

Series & Concepts: Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT, Dragon Ball Super, Dragon Ball Daima, Dragon Ball AF, God Ki, Ki Control, Primal Power, Oozaru, Fan Fiction, Akira Toriyama, Toyotarou, Shueisha.

Ultimately, Super Saiyan 5 remains a powerful symbol of fan passion. While it is currently non-canon, its iconic design and the desire for a true SSJ4 successor ensure that it will always be a part of the Dragon Ball legacy. The possibility of the franchise's creators eventually giving a nod to this fan-favorite form, perhaps through a new Saiyan path, is what keeps the dream alive for millions of fans worldwide.