From King Piccolo to Kid Buu, this series features many symbolic characters, making viewers curious about what will happen next. However, no character has been able to connect with Kakarot, except for one in Dragon Ball Super.
Akira Toriyama’s Inspiration Behind the Most Iconic Character in Dragon Ball Super
The character we are referring to is Goku Black, the most iconic character contributing to the storyline in Dragon Ball Super. Specifically, Zamasu—who has overshadowed Kakarot by utilizing the Super Saiyan transformation. However, having a similar appearance does not necessarily dictate this character’s symbolic essence.
However, the very essence of Goku Black, fueled by Zamasu’s immense pressure and power over Kakarot, has made him a beloved character among fans. Yet, you might be surprised to learn how Akira Toriyama found inspiration for this character.
In a recent interview with the legendary mangaka, Toyotaro-san and Toriyama-Sensei discussed various aspects related to the Future Trunks arc.
Toyotaro-san elaborated during the Future Trunks arc that the characters had a “huge impact” on the plot, making the story more engaging and increasing its notoriety. The creator also reflected on the sources of inspiration that led to the creation of this symbolic character. Akira Toriyama specifically mentioned drawing inspiration from “False Ultra Man” or “False Kamen Rider,” wanting to create an anti-hero for the storyline.
“I want it to be something I only attempt once. Something that resonates with the vibe of False Ultra Man or False Kamen Rider. Yes! I wanted to make a ‘Son Goku clone’ (laughs),” the creator stated.
Toyotaro-san added: “Goku Black is a cool name” and the mangaka continued to elaborate: “Well, it sounds like Kamen Rider Black (laughs).” However, this character is unique and symbolic, as he has almost completely replicated Kakarot’s abilities.
Toyotaro-San Enhances the Future Trunks Saga by Altering Zamasu’s Character
In another part of the interview, the interviewer asked Toyotaro-san whether he decided to implement any changes to the initial draft of the Future Trunks Saga shared by Toriyama-Sensei. The creator replied that there were some modifications made because Zamasu was not as strong a character as portrayed in the anime.
Toyotaro-san stated: “Zamasu, in reality, is not a strong character like in the original draft I received from Toriyama-sensei. Although his abilities are strong, they only become truly powerful when he reaches the second form of Super Saiyan Blue, which is quite sufficient to confront him. This is why, in the initial draft, the ‘weakness’ of his character and the ‘time limit of the Potara earrings’ were turned into a key element. Goku and Vegeta took turns battling him.”
Despite Zamasu’s formidable nature and Super Saiyan Rosé state, only two SSJ Blues could truly confront him effectively. To differentiate this aspect, Toyotaro has made adjustments and implemented changes in the arc to balance the battles.
He revealed: “Goku and Vegeta didn’t combine in the original draft. The traits of their characters made any combination impossible after the Majin Buu arc. However, I wanted to align with the expectations of the audience… And thus, I created a scenario where they could work together even when they didn’t want to, leaving no other choice outside of collaboration.”
