The
official Dragon Ball website has published a new installment
of the Toriyama Archives section, in which an unpublished
sketch of Majin Buu was revealed with more than 32 years old. The footage
shows how Akira Toriyama experimented with different shapes
before arriving at the final design of the villain.
The Buu
that could have been
On the
sketch page it can be seen that the bulky figure of the character was already
defined, but Toriyama also tried prototypes without antennas and even
with horns. The file is accompanied by the message: "A valuable sketch
showing the initial concepts for Majin Buu. Although its rounded shape was
already decided, Toriyama drew expressions and variations as they came to
mind."
Majin
Buu, an ever-changing villain
Majin Buu
debuted in the final arc of the original Dragon Ball manga and
quickly established himself as one of the most powerful enemies. With his
changing nature, the character went through multiple transformations: from his
childish and emphatic version, to his malevolent and stylized form, through
fusions and reabsorptions that altered his appearance and character. Finally,
thanks to Goku's wish, Buu was reincarnated as a kind
human: Uub.
A
complicated context
The
discovery of this material comes at a tense time for the franchise.
Currently, Shueisha is facing a lawsuit filed by Akio
Iyoku, Toriyama's right-hand man and former Dragon Ball editor,
who is seeking to obtain part of the rights to the work after the master's
death in 2024. The legal situation is keeping fans on tenterhooks and could
extend for years due to the complexity of publishing contracts.
Would you
have liked Majin Buu to keep those alternative designs or do
you prefer the classic look that ended up making its way to manga and anime? Tell
us about it on our Facebook page.
