Dr. Brief

Dr. Brief (ブリーフ博士) is an elderly, brilliant and eccentric scientist.

He is the founder of Capsule Corporation, including the father of Tights and Bulma. He is also the maternal grandfather of Trunks and Bra. Dr. Brief is also one of the smartest and richest men in the world. He lives in West City with his wife Mrs. Brief. Most importantly, he is also the father-in-law of Vegeta.

Background

Dr. Brief graduated from the West City College department of science and engineering. He completed his doctorate in the department of science and engineering graduate program at that same college. His major was physical science. He established Capsule Corporation after his invention of the revolutionary item, the Dynocaps Capsule. Until Dragon Ball GT, he is the representative director and president of his company. His hobby is collecting dirty magazines, despite being the most successful individual of the 700's.

Personality

Dr. Brief is easy-going and friendly. He rarely leaves his home, even if it means almost certain death; in the Majin Buu Saga, he and his wife, Mrs. Brief, refuse to leave their pets even after Capsule Corporation has been specifically targeted for destruction. This is probably due to the fact that they know they can always be wished back with the Dragon Balls. He can often be found tinkering on a number of complicated gadgets while surrounded by his beloved pets. His favorite pet is a small black cat named Scratch (or Tama, in Japanese), which usually is perched on his shoulder. In the early Dragon Ball series, Dr. Brief was depicted as a little bit of a pervert when Bulma tried a capsule and dirty magazines were in the contents, with Bulma being very angered with her father for this, and Goku, not realizing what the magazines actually were, pitied the girls because he thought they were too poor to even afford clothes.

Appearance

He is a short, stocky man. His hair is very similar to that of his daughter, but is gray/blue instead of green. He also has a large gray mustache. He dons a white lab coat with a blue undershirt, and black pants. He is almost always seen smoking a cigarette, and wears large glasses.

Dragon Ball (Anime)

His role in Dragon Ball is very minimal, but in Dragon Ball Z, he receives ample appearances. In Dragon Ball, Bulma introduces Goku to her father, who at first confuses Goku as Bulma's boyfriend, which frustrates her. He then repairs the scooter of the police officer who showed up.

Dragon Ball Z (Anime)

Frieza arc

He modifies and improves the Nameless Namek's spaceship in order to help Krillin and Gohan gather the Namekian Dragon Balls to revive their friends who fell at the hands of Nappa. He also makes Son Goku a spaceship for his travel to planet Namek, modeled after Kami's ship and the Attack Ball of Goku's arrival on Earth. After Frieza was defeated, Vegeta demands that Dr. Brief make him a Gravity Room that can produce 300 times the Earth's normal gravity in order to surpass Goku in strength.

Cell Games arc

A few years later, he and Bulma restore Android 16, who was badly damaged by Semi-Perfect Cell before the Cell Games, showing off their technical know-how. Usually Dr. Brief is seen with a cigarette in his mouth (which had been edited out in the early dub). As Bulma's father, his knack for hi-tech wizardry passed on to her.

Dragon Ball Super (Anime)

Battle of Gods arc

Dr. Brief attends Bulma's birthday party with Mrs. Brief.

Universe 6 arc

he is featured as a background character as he and her wife travel with the others to support Beerus's team in the tournament.

Future Trunks arc

He is seen working in his lab while Pilaf watches him.

Dragon Ball GT (Anime)

In Dragon Ball GT, Trunks reluctantly takes his place as the President of Capsule Corporation, suggesting that he has either passed away or finally retired. However, it seems likely that he and his wife have passed on, as neither are shown nor mentioned throughout the rest of the series.

Video Games

Dr. Brief is a supporting character in the following video games:

Dragon Ball Origins 2
Dragon Ball Z Attack of the Saiyans
Dragon Ball Z Bakuretsu Impact (assist character)
Dragon Ball Z Budokai 2
Dragon Ball Z Buu's Fury
Dragon Ball Z Gaiden Shin Saiyajin Zetsumetsu Keikaku - Chikyu-Hen
Dragon Ball Z Harukanaru Densetsu
Dragon Ball Z Tenkaichi Tag Team
Dragon Ball Z The Legacy of Goku II
Dragon Ball Z 2 Super Battle
Dragon Ball Z Super Butoden 2

Quotes

the Ox King

Scratch

Android 16

Knownable Relatives

Mrs. Brief (Wife)
Tights (1st Daughter)
Bulma (2nd Daughter)
Vegeta (Son in law)
Future Trunks (Grandson Future timeline)
Trunks (Grandson)
Bra (Granddaughter)
Bulma Leigh (Descendant)
Vegeta Jr. (Descendant)

Trivia

In Future Trunks timeline, it is revealed by Future Bulma that he had passed away sometime before Age 780. However, it is unknown what his cause of death was, he could have been killed when the Androids destroyed West City or from natural causes. Future Trunks briefly alludes to Future Dr. Brief when privately thanking his grandfather for his watch while locating the point where Goku would land and guiding the Z Fighters to it.
Like his wife, Dr. Brief's appearance from Dragon Ball to Dragon Ball Z does not change.
Unlike his wife who looks young, Dr. Brief retains an old appearance throughout the series. Even in Dragon Ball, he is never shown with other than gray hair. According to his birthdate, he is about fifty at the time of his debut, and well over seventy later during his last appearance, which would explain his passing later on, as he would be ninety in Dragon Ball GT.
It is speculated that Trunks's purple hair is inherited from him because Bulma's hair was originally purple. The two also share a very similar hairstyle, and during the Buu Saga, Bulma also shares a similar hairstyle to them.
Unlike most characters that first appeared in Dragon Ball, his importance is larger in Dragon Ball Z. Examples include remaking the old damaged spacepod that Goku was found in as an Infant, and fixing up Android 16.

Voice Actors

Japanese : Joji Yanami (Dragon Ball – Present)
English : Chris Forbis (Dragon Ball – Dragon Ball Z), Mark Stoddard (Dragon Ball Z Kai/DBZ Movie 14)

all information on Dr. Brief came from http://dragonball.wikia.com/wiki/Dr._Brief