The process of character design in any work of art typically involves various stages and a collaborative effort from a large team. Ultimately, the goal is to create a final product that embodies the essence of the characters. Akira Toriyama, despite being a genius in the world of manga and anime, has also gone through all the stages of development for the numerous warriors we encounter in Dragon Ball Z.
Japanese mangaka often have many people around them to help refine their characters. As a result, Toriyama himself has created various iterations of each warrior, allowing everyone to choose the best version for their needs.
In recent years, these designs by Akira Toriyama have been published. The original sketches revealing his creative process for the characters have surfaced, giving us a glimpse into how the entire universe of Dragon Ball might have appeared if different versions were considered during development.
Gohan and Little Samurai
The original sketches of Gohan reveal numerous alternate versions of Goku’s son. One particularly notable version stands out as it is inspired by a famous 1959 film.
Akira Toriyama conceptualized Gohan as the main character of Little Samurai.
Released in December 1959, this animated film was directed by Akira Daikuhara and Taiji Yabushita. The plot follows a young boy named Saske, who, after losing to a master named Yakusha, decides to embark on a quest to learn the art of combat under the guidance of a Japanese master, avenging the death of his mentor.
Ultimately, the character design didn’t align perfectly with Gohan. It seems Akira Toriyama was inclined to create a distinct aesthetic, one that would allow Gohan to transform into the strongest warrior of his era, as we know the creator of Dragon Ball often wished to convey the role of a nurturing father to Goku’s son.
