Meet Nathan Johnson. In January 2027, he will become the Attorney General of Texas. But if you grew up watching Cartoon Network in the late 90s and early 2000s, you might know him better than you think. Nathan Johnson reported that he composed the musical scores for 67 episodes and five movies of the iconic anime series “Dragon Ball Z.”
This isn’t just a quirky footnote; it’s the story of a man whose career has been defined by unexpected turns. Last Wednesday, Nov. 3, Johnson defeated Republican Mayes Middleton to win the state’s top legal office. Johnson’s election marks the first time a Democrat has won the Texas attorney general position since 1994, a year when Dan Morales was successfully reelected.
A Life Composed of Physics, Law, and Anime
How does one get from composing music for “stuff blowing up” in “Dragon Ball Z” to writing Texas law? The path is as unconventional as it is impressive. Johnson, born in Fort Worth, holds a B.S. in physics from the University of Arizona (1990) and a law degree from the University of Texas (1993). He worked as a commercial litigation attorney before his political career began in earnest when he unseated a Republican incumbent in 2018 to take a seat in the Texas Senate, flipping a district Republicans had controlled for over three decades.
His legislative record is formidable. Over four sessions, Johnson authored approximately 433 bills, with more than 130 of them becoming law, according to his campaign. His work has focused on critical infrastructure, such as helping secure $2 billion in funding for backup power systems at water treatment plants and nursing homes. But it’s his earlier creative life that has captured the public imagination.
Texas’ New Attorney General Nathan Johnson Is a Former ‘Dragon Ball Z’ Composerhttps://t.co/PfWl6v0jxg
At that moment, I had a one-year-old on my lap, and I recall him sitting there while explosions were happening on screen. He’d say, ‘Oh, Daddy Goku!’ He thought it was incredibly awesome. It provided me with a creative channel and a cultural tie that few individuals have had the chance to experience.
That’s Johnson, recounting his time composing music for ‘Dragon Ball Z’ in an interview with Texas Sen. Taylor Rehmet, as reported by Variety.
The “wall to wall” scores he wrote include films like “Dragon Ball Z: The World’s Strongest,” “Dragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might,” and “Dragon Ball Z: Wrath of the Dragon.” The anime, which premiered in Japan in 1989 and was syndicated in the U.S. from 1998 to 2008, was more than just a show; it was a cultural touchstone.
Its celebrity fans include Kendrick Lamar, Steve Aoki, and Bad Bunny, cementing its place in the zeitgeist of a generation.
A New Direction for the Attorney General’s Office
Now, with a decisive victory, Johnson is poised to bring that same blend of passion and pragmatism to the Attorney General’s office. Throughout his campaign, he promised a “back-to-basics approach,” moving away from what he described as partisan political battles to refocus on the office’s core responsibilities. CBS News reports that Johnson told Texas political reporter Jack Fink, “The Attorney General’s Office is intended to be one of the most powerful, benevolent agencies that the framers ever created.”
His priorities are clear: consumer protection, fighting corruption, and enforcing child support obligations. This is a stark contrast to the outgoing administration of Republican Ken Paxton, who lost his bid for the U.S. Senate to Democrat James Talarico. While Paxton’s tenure was often defined by high-profile legal and political fights, Johnson has signaled a desire for a different kind of leadership.
He has also been unequivocal about his willingness to act as a check on federal power. “I’m not running for this office just so I can be fighting all the time,” Johnson told CBS News, but he added he would be willing to sue the Trump administration if he believes it is violating the law or overstepping its authority in Texas.
Nathan Johnson was just elected attorney general of Texas as a Democrat, but before entering politics, he composed music for the anime series “Dragon Ball Z.” “If you grew up watching ‘Dragon Ball Z,’ you might know me better than you think: I composed the musical scores for 67… pic.twitter.com/6M9FoCQkay”
Of course, any discussion of Texas politics is incomplete without acknowledging the other side. The debate is less about Johnson’s qualifications—his legislative record and legal expertise are widely acknowledged—and more about the fundamental philosophy of the office itself.
As Nathan Johnson prepares to assume his new role in January, his unique background offers a fascinating lens through which to view this moment of political change. He is a man who understands the language of power, whether it’s the legal statutes passed in Austin or the soaring musical themes of a Saiyan’s transformation. For the people of Texas, the question now is whether that unique perspective will translate into a new era of governance defined by both principle and pragmatism.
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