A veteran character from the original Dragon Ball, Mai returned as a child in Dragon Ball Super. Here’s how that happened, and how old she really is.

Dragon Ball Super is the most recent entry in the venerable Dragon Ball franchise, with the manga and anime continuing the story of Son Goku and his allies. Nevertheless, some parts of the series’ story reach all the back to the original Dragon Ball. This has seen Emperor Pilaf’s former flunky Mai become Trunks’ love interest, though some fans wonder how old Mai is in Dragon Ball Super.

In truth, Mai is an adult much older than Trunks, but this doesn’t explain why Mai is a kid in Dragon Ball Super. Mai’s age is a little more difficult to pin down, especially considering how the timeline works in Dragon Ball Super. Determining Mai’s real age will require an understanding of the series’ events, and where Mai from Dragon Ball Super falls in with them.

Mai’s Role in Dragon Ball

Debuting in the initial chapters of the Dragon Ball manga and anime, Dragon Ball Super‘s Mai began as a far different character. Apparently, she and the humanoid dog Shu followed a wanted ad to become the minions of the diminutive Emperor Pilaf. Joining him on his quest for power (and the wish-granting Dragon Balls), Mai was essentially the brains of the group. Nevertheless, they were constantly portrayed as bumbling and rarely had any major victories.

Mai remained a frequent foe in Dragon Ball, especially when it came to the anime. She and her allies even played the patsy for the revived King Piccolo, but the demonic Namekian quickly turned on him when he no longer had need of their foolish services. Even at their most serious, Mai and her compatriots were never major threats in Dragon Ball, showcasing the series’ initially goofy tone.

Dragon Ball Z Portrayed Mai Mostly In Flashbacks

For the most part, Emperor Pilar, Shu and Mai in Dragon Ball Z are only seen in the series’ flashbacks. These hearken back to the events of Dragon Ball and the time of Goku’s youth. Their adventures during this time were mostly offscreen, and an otherwise unseen use of the Dragon Balls explains when the Pilaf Gang wished to be young again.

At one point before the onslaught of the Androids, Mai and her allies found the Dragon Balls and used them to wish for their youth to be restored. Unfortunately, it had the unintended effect of the trio being reduced to mere children instead of being in their prime as intended. This is the explanation for why Pilaf is a kid again in Dragon Ball Super.

Mai Was Very Old In Dragon Ball GT

Before the Dragon Ball Super manga and anime were produced, the anime series Dragon Ball GT was the only sequel to Dragon Ball Z. At the beginning of this series, Mai and the Pilaf Gang are now old and fairly decrepit, being far from their more spry selves from Dragon Ball. Seeking power once more, they search for the mysterious Black Star Dragon Balls.

Unfortunately, their wish for global dominance is accidentally put on hold when they encounter the still relatively young Goku. Pilaf angrily wishes for his opponent to be turned into a child by Shenron, inadvertently causing that wish to come true. Several episodes later, the wizened and wrinkly Pilaf Gang are ironically saved by Super Saiyan 4 Goku.

How Old Is Mai in the Dragon Ball Universe?

Dragon Ball Super: How Future Mai Led The Resistance Against Goku Black

Mai’s first given age comes from the movie Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods. Before the events of this film, the Pilaf Gang used the Dragon Balls to restore their youth, but they were made too young, and turned into children. Despite that, when asked about her age, Mai thoughtlessly answers “41 in March.” Because Battle of the Gods takes place in 778, roughly four years after the Buu Saga (Age 774), Mai’s presumed year of birth is 737.

What’s peculiar about Mai’s age is that it’s around the same age as Goku. At this point in Dragon Ball continuity, Goku was presumed to have also been born in Age 737. Despite that, by the time they meet in Age 749, Goku looks no older than 12, which adds up, while Mai looks no younger than the teen Bulma. It’s possible Mai lied about her age, and that she’s actually a little older than she cares to admit.

How Dragon Ball Super Further Complicates Mai’s Age

Dragon Ball Super makes this question even more difficult to answer. Unlike Battle of the Gods, Dragon Ball Super begins mere months after the Buu Saga. While Mai’s comment about being in her forties doesn’t make it into the anime, if it holds true at this point, then her being older than Goku (who should still only be 37 in Age 774) is more believable. In any case, it’s safe to assume that, chronologically, Mai is either in her late thirties or early forties by this point. As for Mai’s age as a “child,” she’s probably close to Trunks’ age, if not a little older.

When she’s introduced at this age, Mai is shown to be a little taller than the boy. That changes by Future Trunks’ time, but that’s more likely due to the difference in how boys and girls develop. If this is true, then Mai should be at least 12 by Age 778. This is further backed by a bonus chapter of the DBS manga from 2016. There, Pilaf Gang is shown wishing to be younger around the time Trunks was a baby. They are reverted to babies by the wish. Assuming this part of the anime and manga continuity line up, it proves that Trunks and Mai are around the same age.

Mai and Trunks Are Cute and Marketable, No Matter Their Ages

It’s worth noting that, despite their physical ages, neither Trunks nor Mai looks any older, despite entire years going by. Trunks has looked like he was 8 years old since Age 774. That makes sense in that year, because he actually was 8. However, by the time of the Tournament of Power (Age 780), he should be at least 14. Even History of Trunks, which also took place in Age 780, knew to make Future Trunks look older based on his apparent age. Regardless, Trunks and Mai remain cute and marketable for DBS.

Whatever the cause of Trunks and Mai’s lasting youth, they should be assumed to be around the same age following Mai’s regression. She starts off in what should be her early forties, but regresses to around 8-12 years old due to the wish on the Dragon Balls. This holds true whether Trunks and Dragon Ball Super‘s Mai met in Age 774 or Age 778. That doesn’t explain why they still look 8 to 12 years old by Age 780, but that’s how it is.

Mai also becomes a love interest of Future Trunks in his dark, ravaged timeline. That version of the character was much different from the Mai in Dragon Ball, being a kinder and more selfless person. She’s a staunch comrade-in-arms with Future Trunks, putting her ally’s safety over her own. This makes everyone around the two believe that they’re a couple, even if this fact embarrasses Future Trunks. The more recent stories in the Dragon Ball Super manga such as the tales involving the newest models of Androids have her attending school with Trunks, and with their romance now seemingly officially, Dragon Ball Super Mai’s transformation from villain to hero is complete.