“5 Chilling Facts About Androids and Cell’s Evolution in Dragon Ball Z”

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Author’s Note

Around this point in Dragon Ball Z, everything changed.

The enemies weren’t just bad guys—they were nightmares.

Seeing Cell absorb 17 and 18 was shocking… it wasn’t a typical “punch-kick” battle anymore.

It was psychological horror, especially with how calm and cold Cell was.

From this moment on, power began to feel… unknowable.

What even is strength?

🤖 1. Androids 17 and 18 Were Originally Human

Although we call them “androids,” No. 17 and No. 18 were once regular human twins named Lapis and Lazuli, before being turned into cyborgs by Dr. Gero.

This makes their transformation by Cell even more tragic—especially since they never chose this path.

🧬 2. Cell’s Power Comes from Saiyans, Frieza… and Piccolo

Cell is a bio-android, created using the DNA of powerful fighters: Goku, Vegeta, Piccolo, Frieza, and King Cold.

This makes him a perfect hybrid of strength, regeneration, and tactical intelligence—designed to surpass all of them.

😱 3. The Absorption Scene Was Censored in Some Countries

The scenes where Cell absorbs 17 and 18 were so disturbing that they were heavily edited or cut in early Western TV broadcasts.

The sound effects, facial expressions, and body horror elements pushed the limits of shonen manga at the time.

🌀 4. 17 Was Absorbed First—But 18 Was Key to Perfection

Cell needs to absorb both androids to reach his Perfect Form, but 18’s absorption was deliberately delayed to build suspense.

Her fear, desperation, and eventual fate added emotional weight that elevated the story beyond just fighting.

🔥 5. This Arc Introduced the Idea of “Beyond Super Saiyan”

Up until this point, Super Saiyan was the ultimate form—but with Cell’s rising threat, characters started to push further.

This led to Gohan’s Super Saiyan 2 transformation, and the idea that raw power wasn’t enough—emotion and control mattered too.