Pilaf is a recurring antagonist in the Dragon Ball series. He is a small, blue imp-like creature who is the self-proclaimed Emperor Pilaf, seeking world domination. Pilaf is cunning but often comical, frequently failing in his schemes due to his incompetence and the antics of his henchmen Shu and Mai. In the original Dragon Ball, he plays a key role by gathering the Dragon Balls and accidentally releasing Goku's Oozaru form, setting important events in motion for the series.