There are few character designs in anime as famous as ones from Dragon Ball. Akira Toriyama’s series began as a like any other shonen title before it underwent an unprecedented time-jumps. When the manga returned, fans of Dragon Ball were introduced to an adult version of Son Goku, and the character only grew from there. By the time Dragon Ball Z adapted Toriyama’s work into an anime, Goku’s look was known around the world, and the Super Saiyan aesthetic was popularized. Whenever Goku powered up, fans watched as the cheerful warrior hulked out with gravity-defying blonde hair and blue eyes. However, the look was not accepted by everyone.

For some fans, Dragon Ball Z‘s depiction of the Super Saiyan state was a problematic one. Various groups accused the series of promoting Aryan values since the look closely associated blonde hair and blue eyes with inhuman power. Of course, the claims proved to be unfounded, but audiences were left to wonder why the Super Saiyan state drastically altered a fighter’s appearance.

Apparently, the reason is a simple one. Making Goku’s hair blonde was just easier to draw.

Previously, Toriyama has been asked about Goku’s physical changes over the year, and the creator was asked directly about the Super Saiyan form. It was there Toriyama admitted he gave Goku light hair because inking the hero’s hair black took a long time.

“I gave him blonde hair so that it wouldn’t be as much work for my assistant. He spent a lot of time blacking in Goku’s hair, and I had to erase over it. It was a real pain…” Toriyama explained.

As for Goku’s other changes, his eyes do change when he goes Super Saiyan. Toriyama said he based the new look off a familiar icon. “His eyes from right after he transforms for the first time and looks up at Freeza… I based those off of Bruce Lee. Since that look of his where he glares right at you is paralyzing! That’s what I wanted to do in the Freeza arc… Once Goku gave that look, as far as I was concerned the story arc was over,” he said.

This month, Dragon Ball Super‘s story arc kicked off the ‘Universal Survival’ saga. You can check out the brief synopsis for it below:

“At Goku’s request, the Omni-Kings’ “Tournament of Power” martial arts tournament between universes now begins! …But this also proves to be the beginning of universal destruction. What awaits the victors of this tournament, and the vanquished…?! How will these intense team battles between the elites of each universe turn out…?!”

As for the saga’s start date, the new arc premiered on February 5, 2017. The “Universal Survival” saga is part of the recent simulcast agreement that sites like Crunchyroll and Funimation have scored. Dragon Ball Super airs on Crunchyroll Saturdays at 7:15 p.m. CST. Toonami will begin airing the English dub on Adult Swim Saturdays at 11:30 p.m.

[HT] Kanzenshuu

Dragon Ball SuperSunday at on Fuji Television Network

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