You’ve probably seen the fan art. It’s everywhere. A massive, hulking Broly with that distinct, shimmering crimson hair and a divine aura that looks like it belongs on Goku or Vegeta. People call it Super Saiyan God Broly. But here is the thing: if you are looking for this form in the official Dragon Ball Super manga or the Broly movie, you aren't going to find it. It doesn't exist there.
Wait. Don’t close the tab yet.
While the "God" form for the Legendary Super Saiyan isn't part of the main series canon, it actually is an official design. It appeared in a place most Western fans usually overlook: Universal Studios Japan. Specifically, it debuted in a 4D cinematic experience titled Dragon Ball Z: The Real 4-D at Super Tenkaichi Budokai. This wasn't some random DeviantArt creation. This was a Toei-sanctioned, officially modeled version of the character that pushed the power scaling of the franchise into a weird, experimental territory.
Why Super Saiyan God Broly Isn't What You Think
Most fans assume that if Broly went "God," he’d just be a skinnier, red-haired version of his base self, similar to how Goku looked when he first fought Beerus. That's not what happened in the 4D attraction. In that specific story, Broly reaches a state often referred to as "God Broly" or Super Saiyan God Broly, but he keeps the massive, terrifying muscle mass of his Legendary state.
It’s an anomaly.
Usually, the God form (Saiyan God) is about refinement and internalizing ki. It’s sleek. Broly, being the "mutant" of the Saiyan race, seems to ignore those rules entirely. In the Universal Studios short, he is so powerful that Goku and Vegeta—even in their Blue forms—basically get tossed around like ragdolls. It actually takes a "God Fusion" between Goku and the audience (yes, really) to stop him. It’s wild. It’s non-canon. But it’s official enough that it fueled years of "what if" debates that still dominate forums today.
The design itself is fascinating because it blends the jagged, aggressive green-tinged hair of the 90s Broly with the fiery red palette of the Battle of Gods era. It represents a "what could have been" scenario if Broly had undergone the ritual instead of just tapping into the Great Ape power in human form, which is what we actually saw in the 2018 movie.
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The Power Scaling Nightmare
Let's talk numbers. Or, well, as close as we can get in a franchise where power levels became "maximum" decades ago.
If we look at the internal logic of the series, Broly’s standard "Full Power" Super Saiyan form (the green-haired one) was already enough to force a fusion into Gogeta. If you stack the God multiplier on top of Broly’s base potential, the math stops making sense. Honestly, it would break the story. In the 4D film, God Broly is portrayed as a multi-dimensional threat. He isn't just a guy who punches hard; he’s an entity that requires the Fourth Wall to be broken just to be defeated.
Some fans argue that Broly’s "Ikari" (Wrathful) state—the one where he has yellow eyes and brown hair—is actually his version of a "God-tier" power without the god ki. It’s essentially the power of the Oozaru (Great Ape) condensed into a human body. When you compare that to Super Saiyan God Broly, you’re looking at two different evolutionary paths for the character. One is primal. The other is divine.
The primal path is what Akira Toriyama chose for the modern version of the character. The divine path, the red-haired God form, remains a relic of Japanese theme park history and the Dragon Ball Heroes promotional anime.
Why Toriyama (and Toyotarou) Avoided the Red Hair
There’s a very practical reason we haven't seen the crimson locks on the "real" Broly. Contrast.
If everyone has red or blue hair, the visual identity of the fight gets muddy. By giving Broly the unique lime-green "Full Power" aura and the yellow-eyed "Ikari" state, the creators kept him feeling like an outsider. He is a "feral" Saiyan. Giving him the God form would make him just another member of the Z-Fighters' club, and that ruins his mystique.
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Plus, there is the lore issue. To become a Super Saiyan God, you usually need the ritual or intense training with an Angel like Whis. Broly hasn't done either. He’s just a guy who grew up on a desolate planet eating giant spider legs. Him suddenly manifesting God Ki without any training would have felt cheap, even by Dragon Ball standards.
Where Can You Actually See This Form Today?
If you are dying to play as or see more of this specific version, you have a few options, but they are all outside the "main" continuity:
- Dragon Ball Heroes: This is the gold mine for weird forms. God Broly has appeared in the card game and the promotional manga/anime segments associated with it. In this version, he’s often paired with other "Dark" variants of characters.
- Video Game Mods: The Xenoverse 2 and FighterZ modding communities have recreated the Universal Studios Japan model with incredible accuracy.
- The 4-D Cinematic Archives: You can find cam-rips and summaries of the 2017 Universal Studios Japan show online. It’s the only place where the form has a "narrative" role.
It is worth noting that Akira Toriyama, while he did the character designs for the DBS: Broly movie, didn't design the USJ God Broly. That was a Toei Animation production. That distinction is important for the "is it canon?" crowd. If Toriyama didn't ink it, it's generally considered a "side-story" or "alternate universe" concept.
The Misconception of "Legendary Super Saiyan God"
A lot of people get confused between the fan-term "Legendary Super Saiyan God" and the actual "Super Saiyan God" form. In the 4D movie, he is simply referred to as "God Broly." There isn't a separate, even higher tier that combines the two officially, though Dragon Ball Heroes comes close with "Super Saiyan 4 Full Power" and other mouthfuls.
Basically, if you see Broly with red hair, he’s in the God state. If he has green hair, he’s in his "Full Power" or "Legendary" state. They are different branches on the same crazy power tree.
What This Means for the Future of Dragon Ball Super
Broly is currently training on Beerus’ planet in the manga. He’s learning to control his temper. He’s sparring with Goku and Vegeta. This leads to the inevitable question: will he eventually get a God form?
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Probably not the red one.
The trend in the manga right now is unique paths. Goku has Ultra Instinct. Vegeta has Ultra Ego. Gohan has Beast. Piccolo has Orange. It would be a step backward for Broly to just copy Goku’s red or blue forms. Most experts and theorists believe Broly will eventually master his "Green" form or develop something entirely new that reflects his "Legendary" lineage.
So, while Super Saiyan God Broly is a cool piece of trivia and a killer design for a theme park attraction, it’s likely going to stay in the realm of "what-if" scenarios.
Actionable Insights for Dragon Ball Fans
If you want to stay on top of what's actually happening with Broly and avoid the "fake news" of fan-made God forms:
- Follow the Manga: The Dragon Ball Super manga (written by Toyotarou) is the current source of truth. If Broly gets a new form, it’ll happen there first.
- Check Character Titles in Games: In games like Dokkan Battle or Legends, pay attention to the specific names. "Super Saiyan Broly (Full Power)" is the canon heavy hitter. Anything with "God" in the name is going to be tagged as a Heroes or Special collaboration.
- Distinguish Between "Z" and "Super": Remember that there are two versions of Broly now. The "Z" Broly (the 90s villain) is the one usually used for the wilder, non-canon forms like God or SSJ4. The "Super" Broly (the 2018 version) is the one actually participating in the current story.
The takeaway? Enjoy the red hair for the spectacle it is. It’s a terrifyingly cool design that shows just how far the producers are willing to push the boundaries of Saiyan biology when they aren't tied down by the main plot. Just don't expect him to show up in the next movie looking like a cherry popsicle. He’s staying green for the foreseeable future.