Summary

• Toriyama's attention to detail in his artwork makes his characters and settings feel real and lived-in.
• Toyotarou ires Toriyama's ability to capture an entire world in a single image through extensive detail.
• Fans should take the time to appreciate Toriyama's artistry in Dragon Ball, which helped propel the series to its iconic status.

Dragon Ball is one of the most popular manga of all time, and Dragon Ball Super's artist, Toyotarou, had some insight into why he thinks it is that Akira Toriyama's artwork has drawn in fans from around the globe. Toyotarou had nothing but glowing words to say about his mentor, and they highlight a particular element of Toriyama's art that many may have underappreciated.

Toriyama's artwork is legendary, and he has worked on a vast array of projects besides Dragon Ball, from other manga like Dr. Slump to deg characters for video games like Dragon Quest. Yet, in all of these works of art he has produced over the years, there's a style to them that's distinctly Toriyama, making them immediately recognizable for anyone familiar with his work. Toriyama's art seems to resonate equally with fans around the world, and has for over 40 years.

So, what makes Toriyama's art so special, according to Toyotarou?

Toriyama's Attention to Detail Makes His Work Stand Out

Toriyama Fills In s With Extensive Detail

In an interview from the time of the release of Dragon Ball Super volume 1, as translated and maintained by Dragon Ball fan site Kanzenshuu, Toyotarou was asked what makes Toriyama's artwork appealing. He answered, "I’m not sure I can put it into words, but, well… His characters are perfectly stylized, and his objects are very detailed. With a single image, he paints a picture of an entire world… But words just can’t do it justice. There’s an indescribable sense of excitement that pulses through me whenever I read his work!"

Looking back at Toriyama's artwork, both in Dragon Ball and for other projects, it's easy to see that attention to detail that Toyotarou spoke of. In the of Goku's Great Ape transformation above, one can see just how much detail is crammed into the buildings that Goku is destroying; that page alone must have taken days to complete, but the end result was absolutely worth it, as it completely sells Goku's monstrous size and strength in this form. Even figures in the background are given attentive detail, as can be seen in some of the other works pictured above.

The details help to bring characters to life and make them feel real, and add a quality to backgrounds and settings that cause them to feel lived-in, such as with the rivets and attachment points in the cars and vehicles he often draws. Toriyama's characters are absolutely as stylish as Toyotarou says; his style is instantly recognizable from a certain attitude that many of his characters share, to the point where it might be possible to identify a Toriyama character just by looking at their eyes.

Toyotarou's assessment of Toriyama's artwork definitely comes from a place of iration, and proves that Toyotarou has spent a lot of time looking at Toriyama's art, absorbing every detail. Fans who are revisiting Toriyama's manga may want to slow down their reading a bit and take the time to enjoy the artwork in all its glory. Dragon Ball was blessed with some great art, and Toriyama's style and attention to detail no doubt helped propel it into the hit series it is today.