Dragon Ball Z logo could have been 'different'

A year ago, the official "Dragon Ball" site surprised fans by sharing a valuable piece of history from the franchise: the original sketches of the "Dragon Ball Z" logos, drawn by Akira Toriyama himself. These carefully preserved designs show how the visual identity of one of the most iconic series of all time was initially conceived.

In the sketches, it can be seen that all the logos have a large "Z" as their main element, crossed by a stylized line, while the title uses robust and striking letters. Although the designs are similar to each other, there are some notable differences in the arrangement of the name in relation to the "Z". For example, one of the logos includes Shenron, whose face emerges from the title, an idea that was possibly dismissed by Toei Animation as being too childish for the tone they were looking for.

Finally, Toei opted for a more simplified design, inspired by the original "Dragon Ball" logo, but adopting the more "aggressive" typography proposed by Toriyama and adding a touch of red to the characteristic "Z". This final result is a clear example of how Toriyama's ideas influenced the final product, something that fans greatly appreciate.

The Dragon Ball Z title also has an interesting storyline. In an interview included in the "TV Son Gokuu Densetsu" guide, Toriyama explained that he chose the letter "Z" because it is the last letter in the alphabet, reflecting his desire to conclude the manga at that time. Toriyama joked that rumors that the lyrics came from the name of an energy supplement are false: "I just thought it would be nice to say 'this is it, folks.'"

However, as its original editor, Kazuhiko Torishima, revealed in an interview for Forbes, the name change was more strategic than it seems. With a new production team in the anime, the title "Dragon Ball Z" became an opportunity to revitalize the series, attract more advertising investment and give a fresh air to the franchise.

Interestingly, other titles were considered before settling on "Z", such as "Dragon Ball: Gohan's Big Adventure", "Dragon Ball 90′" and "Dragon Ball: The Boy Wonder". But, in the end, Toriyama's proposal prevailed, perfectly encapsulating the feeling of "final chapter" that he wanted to convey.

Source: ComicBook