5 Deep Meanings Behind The Viral "Goku And Vegeta In The Rain" Meme That Exploded In 2024

The "Goku and Vegeta in the Rain" image is one of the most unexpected and pervasive internet sensations to emerge from the *Dragon Ball* fandom in the last year. As of late 2025, this single piece of art—or more accurately, the subsequent redraw meme—has transcended the anime community, appearing across social media platforms with endless variations featuring characters from every corner of pop culture. This phenomenon is not merely a funny redraw challenge; it's a fascinating case study in how fan art can tap into deep, unresolved emotional themes from the original series, blending the iconic Saiyan rivalry with a powerful symbol of vulnerability. The initial viral piece, often credited to artist @diz_korall_DB, depicts the two Saiyan rivals standing side-by-side in a downpour. While one version shows Goku innocently trying to catch raindrops on his tongue and Vegeta looking stoic or dejected, the image's power lies in its quiet contrast. It forces viewers to confront the raw, shared humanity of two characters defined by their cosmic power struggles, a moment that—despite its fame—never actually happened this way in the canonical *Dragon Ball Z* or *Dragon Ball Super* anime.

The True Canonical Origin: Vegeta's Solitary Despair

To truly understand the depth of the "Goku and Vegeta in the Rain" meme, we must first look at the single, solitary scene that inspired it. The full fan art and meme is a fusion of two ideas, but its emotional core comes from one of the most pivotal character moments for the Prince of All Saiyans.

The Humiliation of Android 18

The iconic, canonical rain scene features only Vegeta, and it occurs during the tense and pivotal Android Saga of *Dragon Ball Z*. Specifically, it is a key moment following his devastating and humiliating defeat at the hands of Android 18. Vegeta, having just achieved the Super Saiyan transformation and believing himself to be the strongest warrior in the universe, was utterly shattered—both physically and psychologically—by a foe he deemed inferior. The rain scene, which appears around Episode 131 of *Dragon Ball Z* (or the corresponding episode in *Dragon Ball Kai*), is short but profoundly impactful. Vegeta is left alone on the battlefield, his pride completely broken. He stands motionless as a torrential downpour soaks his armor and hair. The rain is not just weather; it is an environmental metaphor for his internal state. * Character: Vegeta * Context: Immediately after his defeat by Android 18. * Emotional State: Shattered pride, self-doubt, rage, and helplessness. * Significance: It is the first time Vegeta’s absolute belief in Saiyan pride is fundamentally challenged, leading to a profound crisis of identity. The canonical scene is a moment of pure, raw vulnerability for Vegeta, a character who meticulously maintains an image of untouchable superiority. The rain acts as a veil, a natural element that washes away the blood and dirt, but cannot cleanse the stain of his defeat.

5 Deep Meanings Embedded in the Viral Fan Art

The viral fan art by @diz_korall_DB (also known as koralldiz) takes this canonical moment of solitary despair and introduces the one person who defines Vegeta's entire existence: Goku. By placing Kakarot (Goku) beside him, the fan art completely changes the emotional dynamic, creating a new layer of meaning that resonated deeply with the modern fandom.

1. The Shared Burden of Saiyan Rivalry

In the original scene, Vegeta’s despair is personal and isolating. By adding Goku, the fan art transforms it into a moment of shared experience. The rain becomes a symbol of the burden of Saiyan heritage and the endless cycle of struggle and training. Though they are rivals, they are the last two pure-blooded Saiyans, bound by a destiny of constant self-improvement and cosmic threats. The image suggests that even in his darkest moment, Vegeta is not truly alone; his rival, his equal, is standing in the same storm.

2. Goku's Unshakeable Innocence vs. Vegeta's Turmoil

A key feature of the most popular redraws is the contrast in their actions. Vegeta is typically shown with a stoic, brooding, or pained expression, reflecting the original scene’s emotional weight. Goku, however, is often depicted with a simple, almost childlike curiosity—eyes closed, head tilted, trying to catch a drop of rain on his tongue. This contrast perfectly encapsulates their core personalities: Vegeta is burdened by his Saiyan pride and the past, while Goku remains a simple, pure-hearted warrior focused only on the present and the next challenge. This juxtaposition is the primary source of the meme's emotional and comedic power.

3. The Cleansing and Rebirth Motif

In various mythologies and literature, rain often symbolizes cleansing, emotional release, and rebirth. For Vegeta, the original rain scene was a prelude to his eventual, grudging alliance with the Z Fighters and his slow path toward redemption and family life on Earth. The fan art, by placing them together, suggests a mutual cleansing. It’s a quiet pause before the next battle, a moment where the pressure of their rivalry is temporarily washed away, allowing them to exist simply as two warriors in the rain. This speaks to the enduring theme of character development that defines the entire *Dragon Ball* series.

4. The Universal Redraw Meme Culture

The simplicity and powerful composition of the fan art made it a perfect redraw meme template in 2024. The core elements—two distinct characters, one pensive/brooding, the other innocent/distracted, standing in a visually striking rain environment—are easily transferable. This is why the meme quickly spread, with artists substituting Goku and Vegeta with characters from *Jujutsu Kaisen*, *My Hero Academia*, *Star Wars*, and even historical figures. The meme’s virality is a testament to the universality of the *Dragon Ball* character archetypes: the serious rival and the goofy protagonist.

5. The Acknowledgment of Emotional Depth

The "Goku and Vegeta in the Rain" phenomenon is a collective fan acknowledgment of the emotional depth beneath the surface of *Dragon Ball*'s constant power scaling. The fandom latched onto it because it provides a quiet, non-verbal moment that the fast-paced, action-heavy anime rarely allows. It’s a moment of introspection that elevates the characters beyond their Super Saiyan forms and into relatable human (or Saiyan) vulnerability. It validates the idea that their relationship is more complex than just "good guy vs. rival," but is a foundational bond built on mutual respect and shared struggle.

Key Entities and LSI Keywords

The cultural conversation around this image is rich with specific entities and concepts that drive its popularity and topical authority. These elements connect the fan art directly back to the canonical *Dragon Ball* universe and the broader internet culture.

• Diz Korall DB: The X (formerly Twitter) artist whose original fan art sparked the entire 2023/2024 redraw meme phenomenon.
• Android 18: The character whose overwhelming power shattered Vegeta’s pride in the canonical scene, triggering his emotional breakdown in the rain.
• Saiyan Pride: The central psychological entity for Vegeta, which the original rain scene symbolically breaks and the fan art subtly begins to heal.
• Android Saga: The specific narrative arc in *Dragon Ball Z* where the original rain scene takes place.
• Redraw Meme: The internet culture mechanism that allowed the image to spread virally across multiple fandoms in 2024.
• Character Development: The overarching theme of both Goku's and Vegeta's journeys, summarized by their contrasting reactions to the rain.
• Emotional Dragon Ball Moments: The category of scenes, often quiet and non-action-oriented, that fans cherish for their psychological depth.

The enduring popularity of the "Goku and Vegeta in the Rain" meme proves that even decades after its debut, *Dragon Ball Z* continues to inspire new forms of media and new interpretations of its most iconic moments. It is a powerful reminder that sometimes, the most resonant scenes are not those featuring planet-shattering power, but those that capture a quiet, vulnerable moment between two warriors standing together against the storm.