Funko POP: Goku w/ Nimbus (Dragon Ball)
Funny how, as much Dragon Ball stuff I have, this is the first time I've come across a regular Goku from the original Dragon Ball anime. This is definitely a POP that is special; it's not for my collection, but it is a gift. At any rate, let's go ahead and review this, shall we?
Yes, classic Bulma and classic Goku with Nimbus! What a small wave.
Super Saiyan, Super Saiyan God, Super Saiyan Blue, Ultra Instinct, Ultra Ego… giant ki blasts and ridiculous power levels. Dragon Ball has come a long way from its simpler roots. What started as an anime loosely inspired by Journey to the West featured a much younger Goku who didn’t rely on colored hair transformations. Instead, he depended on his martial arts skills and magical items to win battles. This POP captures that earlier era perfectly.
Dressed in his classic all-blue outfit, tail still intact, Power Pole in hand, and standing on the Flying Nimbus, this is a simple but well-sculpted figure. Funko mastered Goku’s signature hair a long time ago, so whether it’s young Goku or adult Goku, they know how to make it look right. I especially love the details on the Flying Nimbus — they sculpted it with enough texture and shape to really sell the cloud look. It’s a definitive representation of the days when Dragon Ball characters like Goku still dealt with Earth-based threats, before the scale exploded into cosmic proportions.
It's not a pose where Goku is openly rushing with the Flying Nimbus. It is Goku just casually standing on top of his magical cloud while holding his Power Staff. A simple enough pose with a lot of charm to it despite its simplicity.
The colors are accurate to how Goku looked during this period and carry some of that classic anime vibrancy, which is always nice. The paint apps on this copy are sharp and clean, so no real complaints here. Overall, we’re pretty pleased with how it turned out.
Hard to imagine that Goku was going to deviate from the Journey to the West storyline and transform into something else entirely.
Obviously, the transformations kept getting stronger and stronger, and we are far and away from the young Saiyan boy who wielded a staff and a flying cloud, looking for the Dragon Balls.
Remembering where Dragon Ball began is always a good feeling. While modern Dragon Ball Super might not always capture the same charm with its simpler storytelling and more grounded action, the early series had great moments and memorable character setups. Characters like Goku, Krillin, Yamcha, and Bulma were all a bit different back then — more adventurous, more grounded, and full of potential. This POP serves as a solid reminder of that classic era. It’s well-made, captures the core elements of young Goku, and does a great job of bringing back that nostalgic Dragon Ball feeling. I can definitely recommend this one for both longtime Dragon Ball fans and collectors.
Until Next Time!
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