Broly’s return was one ofDragon Ball Super’s greatest developments, allowing the series to re-work one of its fan-favorite characters and officially grant him canon status. Though the two versions ofDragon Ball’s most dangerous Saiyan are rather different in terms of personality and backstory,their appearances are somewhat similar. Both increase in size dramatically once they begin transforming, and when Super Saiyan is reached, both of their pupils disappear and their hair turns a shade of green.
However, it wasn’t always meant to be that way.Dragon Ball Super: Brolyfeatured animation and character design by Naohiro Shintani, who has since become a beloved figure in theDragon Ballcommunity since the film’s release. His softer art style and designs were a smash hit with fans who wanted something a bit different from whatDragon Ball Superpreviously offered, and as it turns out, Broly’s most recognizable form was a creation of Shintani’s, rather than Akira Toriyama’s.
Broly’s Full Power Form Was Originally Not in the Plans
Dragon Ball Super: Broly’s Animation Supervisor Designed Broly’s Full Power Form
According to an interview with Shintanifeatured in the Japanese program forDragon Ball Super: Broly, Akira Toriyama had one rule in place regarding the returning Saiyan:he couldn’t be overly macho. When referencing Broly’s original design, this would have been quite the change. The old Broly had been the series' number one fan-favorite meathead, and to depart from that image might have been too great a change for the fan base to stomach. And in this case, Shintani agreed.
He stated, “The only designs I received were up to him wearing his armor, and it gave off a much different impression than the Broly of the past,” before continuing, “Personally, I had a very strong image of Broly based on the previous movies,so I created my own design for him at Full Power from scratch.” The towering, monstrous Broly is far and away his most iconic design, and Shintani understood that fact. Like so many other fans, he “just had the urge to see him lose his shirt and run wild at the end.”
Broly’s Addition to the Canon Opens Up Major Possibilities Going Forward
Broly Has Become Part of Dragon Ball Super’s Main Team
ThoughDragon Ball Super’s mangahas been on hiatussince the passing of Akira Toriyama,its final chapters before the break featured Broly in a major role. Training on Beerus' planet, Goku and Vegeta struggled to find a way for the Saiyan to control his enraged Super Saiyan form, and it wasn’t until Gohan arrived and showed off his Beast transformation was Broly able to keep himself under control. The impending face-off against Black Frieza will likely feature not only Broly,but also Gohan, two fan-favorites who would do well in the spotlight together.
Why Is Broly’s Base Form So Strong? Dragon Ball Has an Answer
Broly’s base form instinctively draws upon the power of the Great Ape, but his lack of emotional regulation leads to an uncontrollable berserk state.
Broly’s return to canon status has been a dream come true for fans ofDragon Ball, and though he isn’t the same Broly of old, he was able to retain his iconic transformationthanks to the work of Naohiro Shintani. It’s uncertain whenDragon Ball Super’s manga will return, though when it does, the fan-favorite Saiyan will be back and fighting on the side of good. Akira Toriyama’s passing has left questions regarding the future of the franchise, but fans can look forward to more Broly in whatever comes next.
Dragon Ball Super
Cast
Dragon Ball Super is an anime series set after Majin Buu’s defeat. It follows Son Goku, now a radish farmer, as peace prevails until Beerus, the God of Destruction, appears. Seeking to challenge a legendary warrior, the series revisits events from two Dragon Ball Z films before exploring alternate universes.
