Beerus, the God of Destruction, resembles a Sphynx cat—an Egyptian breed known for its lack of fur—complete with large, pointed ears that give it a unique charm.
In a 2013 interview featured in V-Jump, Akira Toriyama revealed some intriguing secrets about the character of Beerus. When asked if any characters were inspired by real-life individuals, the author admitted that Beerus was inspired by his own pet cat, a Cornish Rex, along with certain traits associated with ancient Egyptian cats. Therefore, visually, Beerus does not differ much from a cat, characterized by its large ears, distinct fur patterns, and an elegant demeanor.
The story behind Beerus is quite fascinating. Imagine a 14-year-old cat that, despite suffering from a serious illness, still manages to perform acrobatic feats. Toriyama humorously noted that the cat could be described as “a breed that is somewhat out of the ordinary.” And from this cat, Beerus, the God of Destruction, was born!
Toriyama shared: “Beerus, the God of Destruction, is based on my 14-year-old cat that is currently living with me. It is known as a Cornish Rex. This breed is quite rare. I am currently in a stage of mourning, as the cat, despite being seriously ill and my vet’s insistence that it may not live much longer, has been quite resilient. My vet even suggested that it could be a type of illness that is unique to this breed.”
Beerus has a personality that is both strong-willed and whimsical, reminiscent of a typical cat. This deity loves food and exhibits many characteristic traits of feline nature. Notably, Toriyama also mentioned that the design of Korin, another cat-like character, was inspired by his previous cat, Koge. This is why Korin often appears to be dozing off.
Additionally, the Dragon Ball series has deep roots in Asian cultural references. The entire storyline is inspired by “Journey to the West,” a classic literary work from Chinese literature. Even the main character, Goku, is named after Sun Wukong (the Monkey King) from “Journey to the West.” Other characters like Bulma, Oolong, and Yamcha also draw inspiration from this literary masterpiece.
