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TheDragon Ballseries is one of the greatest anime of all time. Perhaps the most iconic and memorable part of the series is the Super Saiyan transformation. Akira Toriyama, the creator ofDragon Ball, faced unique challenges while designing this pivotal power-up for Goku. Despite what many fans think, this transformation wasn’t initially planned—it came as a eureka moment.
When designing the transformation, author Toriyama felt there were limits to showcasing power through raw strength alone. He did not wantDragon Ballto be just another martial arts anime; the villains in the work were well-crafted with exceptional backstories and had powers surpassing human limits. Even with attacks like ‘Kamehameha,’ there was a block to the writer’s imagination.
From a human to a superhuman, let us delve into why and how legendary author Toriyama decided to create one of the most iconic power-ups in anime history.
The Birth of Super Saiyan: A Creative Necessity
Goku’s opponents were increasing both in power and number. His brutal strength was no longer able to keep up; it wouldn’t make sense to have the same blood and flesh mortal grow multiple times through different means.
Goku needed a massive leap in power, and not in the Journey to the West-style power-up thatToriyamastarted the series with. The author decided to change his form entirely. The iconic golden hair and piercing eyes signaled a dramatic shift, resembling a villain more than a righteous protagonist. This helped in enhancing the visual impact of Goku’s fight against Frieza.
Toriyama said-
When I came up with the idea of the Super Saiyan, it was in order to show that Goku had gained a massive power-up all at once
The golden hair of the Saiyan transformation was both a symbolic and practical choice—it signified Goku’s transformation while reducing the inking workload for Toriyama and his team; the new form also removed the‘dumb’ perception of Goku. Necessity is indeed the mother of invention.
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Toriyama expressed a lot of doubt and hesitation about the design, worrying whether the villainous undertones of Goku’s transformed expression might clash with his heroic nature. However, the transformation’s association with fury justified its seemingly scary and stern appearance.
The Super Saiyan Transformation Was a Limit Breaker
Toriyama also dealt with editorial feedback, which was what led to the formation of the transformation trope. TheSuper Saiyan transformationcontinues to shine even today in franchises likeDragon Ball DAIMA.
My editor would say, for instance, “I don’t like this”, and in those circumstances, I’d change it. Before long, “they should transform” became the norm.
The introduction of fusion later on in the series emerged as a creative workaround for surpassing the limits of the Super Saiyan. This concept was sparked by a casual conversation with fellow mangaka Masakazu Katsura, and it added yet another memorable element to the series.
Through the transformation of Goku into a Super Saiyan, the world and all of its heroes and villains took on a qualitative transformation. The powers were no longer defined by mortal flesh but by the bloodline of the intergalactic warrior race of Saiyans.
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The Super Saiyan transformation, born out of necessity, encapsulates Toriyama’s genius for turning obstacles into opportunities. TheDragon Ballmovieshave different takes regarding this that even left Toriyama speechless.
Chandra Shekhar
Anime Writer
Articles Published :856
Chandra Shekhar is an Anime Writer at FandomWire with over 800 published articles under his belt. A law student by training but a storyteller at heart, he blends his sharp analysis with a deep love for all things anime. From the old-school Yu Yu Hakusho to the eldritch horrors of Lord of the Mysteries, his knowledge spans decades and genres. When he’s not writing, he’s likely buried in webnovels, silently hoping his favorite ones get the anime adaptation they deserve.
