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IntroductionAkira Toriyama - Character Designs
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Akira Toriyama | Dragonballs | Important
Numbers | RR Army Ranks | Sightings
Akira Toriyama - Character Designs
About | Character
Deisgns | Character Revelations | Formation
of Dragonball | Other Works
Sub Nav: Dragonball | Dragonball Z
| Goku
| Dragonball:
Character Designs That Almost
Were |
| Below is a collection
of concept designs ha Toriyama went through before finally settling
on the Dragonball character designs we see today. |
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First Version |
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Toriyama's first designs were based heavily on the Chinese legend
"Journey to the West." The monkey-like character heavily
resembles his Chinese counterpart, as does Oolong's early incarnation.
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Second Version |
As Toriyama mentions on one of his comics, he
nearly gave Son Goku a sailor boy look as pictured here. I can only
imagine the Sailor Moon jokes Dragonball fans would be hearing today
if Toriyama hadn't found the design uninteresting.
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[From left to right; Pinchi, Goku, Yamu Cha, Puu Aru, Uu Lon] |
Third Version |
Though a bit unrefined, Toriyama's third concept
designs were fairly close to their final forms. Pinchi seems to
be a cross between Bulma's looks and Lunch's bad-ass style of dress.
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| Dragonball
Z: Character Designs That Almost
Were |
| These sketches
left over from the desk of Akira Toriyama reveal just how different
some of Dragonball Z's most beloved characters could have been. |
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Cell |
From the looks of these concept sketches, the
infamous Cell could have ended up with a very human appearance on
one extreme or a very demon-like appearance on the other. One sketch
even resembles an ultra-buff Baata, while others are Gurudo, Coola,
Furiza, and even Namek look-alikes.
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Kaio-sama |
| Not too many sketches are left over from this
jolly god's creation. There isn't too much variation here either.
As you can see, Kaio-sama could have ended up looking like a Japanese
sumo wrestler or in a more American "Chinese-stereotype"
form. |
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Mr. Popo |
| What can I say here... Needless to say, Mr.
Popo could have come out looking world's different than he did.
For instance, we could be watching a fish-like creature running
through the bowels of heaven with Kami, or we could have seen a
weathered old man chasing Goten and Trunks around heaven. |
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Mr. Satan
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Well, all I can say is this — be glad we
didn't end up with a Jessie Ventura look-alike as Mr. Satan (though
I can just see a new line of Ventura/Nappa/Mr. Satan jokes).
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Super Saiya-jin 3 Goku
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Yikes! It's Neanderthal Goku! Quite an imposing
figure indeed. I am glad that Akira lengthened the SSj3 hair in
its final incarnation, which makes for a more dramatic transformation.
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Teenage Gohan |
| Held in the hearts of some of Dragonball's female
fans as the sexiest character, Teenage Gohan could have become the
ultimate chick repellent! Just one look at Boy Scout Gohan would
send most girls (*cough*Meri*couch*) running to the loving embrace
of Trunks. |
| Goku:
Toriyama's Reflections |
| Akira Toriyama
personally reveals his dilemma over Goku's design, and how it almost
want astray. |
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- Translation by Eric Phan. Intended for use on Planet
Namek only.
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Discliamer
*This site is NOT trying to infringe on any copyrights. It is merely a fan site. The rights to Dragonball Z belong to Akira Toriyama, TOEI Animation, Bird Studios, Shonen Jump, and FUNimation.*
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