Goku’s Super Saiyan transformation coerced by creative constraints on Akira Toriyama redefined Dragon Ball to a new level!

Dragon Ball series, be they Dragon Balls, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball Super, Dragon Ball GT, or Dragon Ball DAIMA, are something everyone loves. The maximum of the population is crazy about it. The Super Saiyan transformations are the highlights of the series. But did you know that the Super Saiyan transformation was an eureka moment for Toriyama.

Toriyama realized the limits of showcasing his character’s abilities, especially the strength without making it a martial arts anime. This roadblock gave way to the most acclaimed power-ups in the showbiz ever! After all, necessity is indeed the mother of invention!

The Super Saiyan was Born

Goku was required to showcase more of his power as the story grew. The iconic golden hair and piercing eyes introduced a shift in power, becoming the adrenaline to pump up the visuals for Goku’s fight with Frieza on Planet Namek.

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, Toriyama said once.

The transformation was a wonderful idea for Toriyama and his team, but Toriyama was skeptical about the character receiving a bad remark about his heroic nature.

The Limit Breaker Unleashed!

Toriyama had to deal with editorial feedback, which coerced the transformation look to be finalized.

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 Super Saiyan transformation brought an incredible quality metamorphosis within the show and its story. And the power’s definition was no longer bound by mortal flesh alone, but by the most ruthless race the universe has ever seen—The Saiyan race.

Born out of necessity, Super Saiyan’s transformation encapsulates Toriyama’s brilliance into unleashing a game-changer.

^{Pic Credits: Dragon Ball/Toei Animation}