What Is 'Yamcha's Death Pose'? The 'Dragon Ball Z' Meme Featured In 'Superman' 2025 Explained

Before the Family Guy Death Pose became a meme sensation, there was Yamcha from Dragon Ball Z, lying lifeless in a crater after a Saibaman's self-destructive attack.

Yamcha's signature "death pose" has become one of Dragon Ball Z's most recognizable motifs, which is ironic, considering the fact that Yamcha is also one of the show's most universally mocked characters.

Now, in December 2024, Yamcha's death is back in meme discourse after the trailer for James Gunn's upcoming Superman film showed the superhero lying bruised and battered on his side, a direct reference to Yamcha's death pose. Here's a brief history of how the meme holds up several decades after it first aired.

Where Does The 'Yamcha Death Pose' Come From?

Yamcha's untimely death in the Saiyan DBZ saga first aired in Japan way back in 1989, but only arrived to English audiences after the episode was dubbed over in 2005. Yamcha was always a comic relief character in the show; despite his considerable skills as a fighter, Yamcha was always presented as a comic relief personality known for his ability to bounce back from any defeat with typical "Yamcha" flair.

This is why his death at the hands of a Saibamen Bomb was such a somber moment for the characters in the show, if not for fans of the show. Yamcha's death had widespread repercussions in the overall DBZ plot, but viewers knew his overconfident attitude toward fighting was always set to lead him down a dangerous path.

How Did Yamcha's Death Pose Become An Iconic Anime Symbol?

Yamcha's death pose came to be the symbol of death or defeat in anime and pop culture, appearing in numerous parodies and legitimate cartoons over the past few decades. Cartoons and anime across the globe have made references to the iconic pose, from Naruto to The Amazing World of Gumbal.

Dragon Ball references in different Anime/Cartoon[ A Thread 🧵🪡 ]The Legendary Yamcha Pose pic.twitter.com/4BsTU8Iqva

— Xaviax (@xa_viax) March 9, 2024

How Is Yamcha's Death Pose Portrayed In Meme Culture?

Yamcha's death pose and the tag "ヤムチャしやがって…" or "You were Yamcha," first emerged in early 2009 as a derivative of the colloquial Japanese expression "無茶しやがって…" ("you were reckless.") The pose and the phrase appeared on the Japanese video-sharing site Nico Nico Douga in the late 2010s as a meme used to joke about someone trying to do an absurdly impossible task.

It wasn't long before the frame made its way to the Japanese illustrators' community Pixiv, which spawned a large volume of parody fanart and illustrations depicting various people and characters in Yamcha's signature crater.

What's Up With Superman Doing The Yamcha Pose In James Gunn's 2025 Film?

The trailer for James Gunn's upcoming Superman film dropped in December 2024, with fans poring over and analyzing each scene. Some eagle-eyed viewers were quick to note that one frame in the trailer shows Superman lying on his side in a fetal position, not unlike Yamcha's signature death pose.

The scene marks the lasting impact that Yamcha has had on pop culture in spite of his very meme-worthy reputation among DBZ fans. Here's to hoping that Superman's pose doesn't spell the same end for him as it did for Yamcha.

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For the full history of Yamcha's Death Pose, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.