Dragon Ball: Rare Old Drawings by Toriyama Unveiled

New and previously unseen drawings by Akira Toriyama have recently been revealed by one of his close friends. These sketches, which had remained hidden in drawers, offer a glimpse into the creative process of the creator of Dragon Ball Z.

The Legacy of Akira Toriyama

Akira Toriyama’s drawings are true treasures. Throughout his life, the creator of Dragon Ball and Dr. Slump dedicated countless hours in his studio, constantly nurturing his works. This tireless artist left behind a multitude of sketches and drawings stored away in his cabinets.

Since his passing, these drawings have gained significant value. This summer, archives unearthed from the depths of Toriyama’s belongings were published on the official Dragon Ball Z website. Among these was a conceptual sketch of Goku, originally released in January 1990, which has since been removed from the site. The illustration depicts an adult Son Goku holding the famous staff of Master Roshi. Although this sketch was never used, it raises questions about the arc it was intended for.

There was also a preliminary draft of the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai, shared on the official Dragon Ball website, which revealed the brackets for the preliminary rounds along with the designs of several characters. In April, the very first drawing by the mangaka was discovered in a small noodle restaurant in Nagoya that he used to frequent. This sketch of a young Son Goku proudly adorns the walls of the restaurant’s owner, who took the time to share the story behind this beautiful encounter.

An Unpublished Sketch of Dr. Slump and Dragon Ball

Tributes to the mangaka continue to pour in. Just last week, the founder of Studio Nue, a Japanese animation studio, took to X to publish new sketches by Toriyama. Haruka Takachiho revealed an entire page featuring a woman riding a futuristic scooter. She is also depicted in another sketch, in profile. This character is likely Polly Buckets, as noted by Takachiho—a character appearing in both Dragon Ball and Dr. Slump. In the manga, she is seen in Penguin Village, wielding an Uzi.

“This is another version of Toriyama that has been published for the first time. It contains a ‘1’ to indicate they are on the same page. On the back is another drawing of Polly Buckets. This can be a valuable resource for understanding the creative process.”

In a personal anecdote, the founder of Studio Nue revealed that he obtained these unpublished manuscripts directly from Toriyama himself. “He had them stacked up to his waist at home and told me, ‘You can take as many as you want,’ but I hesitated to take a few, and this one was among them.” Takachiho then expressed his desire to donate these rare sketches to a museum. Coincidentally, Nagoya, the artist’s hometown, has proposed creating a museum dedicated to Akira Toriyama.