Exploring the Mystery: Why is Super Saiyan Hair in Dragon Ball Blonde?

Saiyans are key characters in the Dragon Ball series, with notable figures like Vegeta and Goku being part of this significant race known for their combat skills. One of their trademark abilities is their ability to transform into a giant ape, setting them apart from other characters in anime and manga series.

The Super Saiyan transformation caused a stir in the anime and manga community, as it brought the physical capabilities of Saiyans to unprecedented heights and could only be achieved by members of their race.

Dragon Ball: Understanding why Akira Toriyama chose the blonde/white color for Super Saiyans

One of the factors contributing to the excitement surrounding this transformation in the series is its visual appeal. In the original manga, characters had white hair due to the monochrome format, whereas in the anime, Super Saiyans were depicted with blonde hair. But what was the reason behind the creator's choice of this specific hair color? Let's delve into Akira Toriyama's decision.

Goku's Super Saiyan in the manga (Image via Shueisha/Akira Toriyama)

In the Dragon Ball manga series, the Saiyans are depicted with white-colored hair when they transform into their Super Saiyan form. Akira Toriyama chose white hair because it was easier to work with compared to jet-black coloring. At the time, Toriyama had only one assistant, who struggled with coloring the hair effectively. This led to frustration for Toriyama, prompting him to find more efficient ways to handle the coloring process for both himself and his assistant.

Akira Toriyama introduced a new form for Goku in the Dragon Ball series, taking advantage of the chance to simplify the drawing process for his panels. When the anime version was created, the character's hair was colored blonde to closely match the original source material.

Coloring Goku's hair was a huge challenge that led to a significant transformation in the series. Throughout the Dragon Ball series, Akira Toriyama removed certain elements to make the show easier to draw. In the earlier parts of the series, Saiyans from Universe 7 were depicted with tails, including Goku, until an episode where his tail was cut.

u/Ion_Spectre's comment on the indbz discussion mentioned the episode in which Puar transformed into a giant pair of scissors to cut off Goku's tail, making the artistic process easier for Toriyama. In an interview on Kanzenshuu, the mangaka confirmed that drawing Goku's tail was indeed a nuisance.

Toriyama's editor suggested adding a tail to Goku as a unique design element, though Toriyama found it troublesome and admitted it was a nuisance. These are just a few examples of the design and efficiency decisions made in the series.

Keep an eye out for more Dragon Ball anime and manga updates as 2023 unfolds.

Editor's P/S

As a long-time fan of the Dragon Ball series, I have always been fascinated by the iconic blonde hair of Super Saiyans. When I first saw Goku transform into a Super Saiyan, I was blown away by his new appearance. The blonde hair, combined with the golden aura and increased power, made him look like a completely different character.

I was also curious about the reason behind the choice of blonde hair for Super Saiyans. After reading the article, I learned that Akira Toriyama, the creator of Dragon Ball, chose blonde hair because it was easier to work with compared to jet-black coloring. This makes sense, as black hair would have been much more difficult to distinguish from the black outlines of the characters.