The official production of Dragon Ball has revealed a rare image stored in Akira Toriyama’s archives, dating back over 30 years, introducing the character Perfect Cell during its initial draft phase.
This draft features Perfect Cell before his final design was completed, showcasing some significant differences compared to what we see in the published manga and the animated series Dragon Ball Z.
Created by Akira Toriyama around 1992, this draft not only highlights the talent of the father of Dragon Ball but also hints at how Perfect Cell could have appeared if the author and the Dragon Ball team had kept the original design intact.
As observed, it includes a sketch showing the full-body appearance of Perfect Cell, along with various expressions ranging from emotionless neutrality to a sinister grin. Additionally, there are bright and dark versions of the “m” on Cell’s head.
However, the most striking differences lie between the initial draft and the final version that fans of the animated series are familiar with.
Cell’s wings are notably shorter, and some elements hint at the scale of the wings on his Cell Jr. counterparts. His tail appears similar to those of imperfect and semi-perfect forms.
It’s worth mentioning that the semi-perfect form of Cell is known to be Toriyama’s favorite character design. However, the author’s later decisions for the character veered towards a more streamlined design, and Toriyama ultimately settled on Perfect Cell’s final form, which is both elegant and formidable.
The official Dragon Ball website describes the illustration as follows:
“Although Cell in this draft looks quite similar to Perfect Cell from the animated series, his wings are shorter, and he still has a tail. Additionally, there are many other distinct facial expressions displayed, showcasing a strong attention to detail!”
Cell made his first appearance in 1992 in “The Mysterious Monster, Finally Appears!!”, chapter 361 of the entire manga (chapter 167 of Dragon Ball Z). He is a creation of the villainous Android 20, using “cellular absorption” with the DNA of the strongest warriors on the planet. Cell is known as the “perfect warrior,” possessing attributes from powerful characters like Goku and Vegeta. However, he was ultimately defeated by Gohan, with assistance from Vegeta, unleashing a final Kamehameha that obliterated him once and for all.
