Dragon Ball is renowned for its thrilling battles and a memorable cast of characters whose unique personalities make them seem real and alive. However, it’s less recognized for its structured plot or profound narrative themes. Yet, it’s important to note that these aspects may be subtly present beneath the surface. Akira Toriyama often demonstrates brilliant ideas that suggest careful planning, as evidenced by his most iconic villain, Frieza.
Akira Toriyama, the creator of Dragon Ball, is well-known for penning his renowned weekly manga series mostly spontaneously with very little prior planning. This improvised writing approach contributes to the awe-inspiring impact of some of Toriyama’s unexpected plot twists and authentic character development. It’s amazing that despite his dislike for planning, there are instances in the storyline that show he had a clear vision of where the narrative was going well ahead of time. One such instance, frequently overlooked, hints at Frieza’s upcoming arc even before his debut in the story.
Bulma Hinted At Frieza in Dragon Ball Z Before Anyone Else Did
Frieza’s Name Pun is Used as a Subtle Piece of Foreshadowing in the Lead-Up to the Namek Saga
In Chapter 50 of Dragon Ball Z titled “The Mysterious Spaceship,” Bulma makes a hint about something significant, though it’s presented as a humorous moment. Before the Namek Saga begins, Bulma learns from Mr. Popo about Kami’s old spacecraft. Curious to see if it can really fly, Popo takes Bulma to where the ship originally landed, which is quite an inhospitable location. As they approach Kami’s spacecraft, Bulma is puzzled by the incredibly cold winds in the Yunzabit Highlands.
In her excitement, Bulma exclaims, “What’s going on here?! It’s like a massive freezer!!!” Given Bulma’s feisty nature, complaining about the cold wouldn’t typically raise eyebrows. However, in this particular chapter, Bulma’s comment about a “freezer” seems unusually apt. This is the beginning of the Namek Saga, where Frieza serves as the main antagonist. Moreover, although Frieza isn’t directly named until two chapters later, her mention feels somewhat prophetic.
In Chapter 52 of the Dragon Ball Z comic book, titled “The Return of Vegeta”, we find Vegeta on a distant planet known as Planet Frieza. This is the initial instance where the name Frieza appears in the comic, although it doesn’t directly relate to his character at this point. The fact that Bulma makes a humorous reference to a “freezer” just two chapters before the introduction of one of the most iconic shonen manga villains ever, Frieza, seems too obvious to be mere coincidence.
Looking back, that reference might have been too obscure for readers to grasp at first. However, upon re-reading it, Toriyama’s hidden joke becomes clearer. It seems like he crafted this jest as a private joke between him, his assistants, and editors, confident that the audience would only understand it if they revisited the work. Such intricacies add depth to the work, making it more than just beautiful artwork and endearing characters. Even devoted fans often find subtle new details hidden within its pages on subsequent reads.
Vegeta and Krillin Prove Toriyama Wasn’t as Bad At Planning as He Seemed
Toriyama Used Vegeta to Set Up Namek Early in the Saiyan Saga
It’s widely acknowledged that Toriyama didn’t extensively pre-plan many parts of the Dragon Ball manga. However, Bulma’s recurring “freezer” joke suggests that his creative process was more intricate than mere improvisation. At times, it’s evident he had a general idea of where the story was headed, even if just a few chapters in advance. The narrative wasn’t entirely unstructured. In reality, he may have planned certain aspects of the story even further down the line.
One notable sign of the progression beyond time during the Saiyan Saga is marked by two surprising characters: Krillin and Vegeta. Towards the end of the Saiyan Saga, it’s Krillin who leads the Z Fighters towards Planet Namek. Although it seemed inevitable that the group would venture into space due to the various alien races introduced during the Saiyan Saga, it was really Krillin who set the narrative on course for its next significant storyline.
In Dragon Ball Z’s Chapter 48 titled “The Bittersweet End”, Krillin proposes to the Z Fighters a trip to the mystical planet Namek. Addressing Bulma, he hints about a potential chance of reviving their fallen comrades – Yamcha, Tien, Piccolo, and Chiaotzu. He cautiously speculates, “I don’t want to raise your expectations too soon, but I believe there might… possibly… be a way to resurrect them.” This plot twist was foreshadowed as far back as Dragon Ball Z Chapter 20, when Nappa and Vegeta first revealed Piccolo’s identity as a Namekian. The introduction of Kami and Piccolo as extraterrestrial beings paved the way for the Z Fighters to eventually journey to this distant celestial body at some point in the series.
Initially, it was I who proposed venturing to Planet Namek in search of the Dragon Balls. As Goku neared the battlefield, Vegeta instructed Nappa to eliminate Piccolo, Gohan, and Krillin before Goku could intervene, as he believed their presence might complicate matters with Kakarot. At first, Nappa hesitated to harm Piccolo, fearing they would be unable to without him. To assuage these concerns, Vegeta pointed out that encountering a Namekian who could create Dragon Balls suggested the potential for even greater rewards on Planet Namek. In Vegeta’s own words, “A brief rampage on Namek would serve as an excellent way to relax after Earth’s destruction.
Akira Toriyama’s Rare Case of Planning Led to DBZ’s Most Memorable Moment
Dragon Ball Wouldn’t Have Been as Great Without Toriyama’s Unique Writing Methodology
During the Saiyan Saga, Vegeta’s dialogue hints at Akira Toriyama having a clear vision of the future direction of the Dragon Ball storyline. Contrary to popular belief that Toriyama never planned ahead in Dragon Ball, it’s worth noting that he wasn’t entirely against pre-planning, though it was unusual for him. While Toriyama often improvised his story as he went along, using his intuition as a guide, this doesn’t imply that he didn’t consider where his narrative might lead next.
It’s interesting to note that one of the most highly regarded storylines in shonen manga, known as the Frieza Saga, was a plot that Akira Toriyama had already planned out extensively from the start. This included the surprising revelation that Goku is a Saiyan, which was hinted at throughout the narrative to eventually lead up to this cosmic adventure. In essence, the rest of the Saiyan Saga served as an opportunity for Toriyama to gradually develop the details while simultaneously creating another one of his masterpieces in the process.
Bulma’s brief hint hints at a deeper truth – Akira Toriyama may not have been as spontaneous as some fans and critics believe when it comes to creating the Dragon Ball series. While it’s true that Goku’s Saiyan identity was revealed later in the story, and Frieza wasn’t initially planned, these unconventional choices make the plot twists even more surprising since Toriyama himself didn’t know about them ahead of time. This subtle joke used to foreshadow Frieza’s arrival offers a glimpse into the intricate creative process that produced one of the most iconic shonen battle manga ever made.
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2025-04-27 01:09