Favorite Era for Toriyama Artwork?

[Wezenheim]

As Dragon Ball grew and evolved, so too did Akira Toriyama's approach to the story's artwork. Bearing this in mind, what point (or points) in the story featured your favorite take on the character designs? You can even cite his Dragon Ball work outside of the main series, like his Kanzenban covers or something.

There's still room for me to change my own opinion on this topic, as I'm currently re-reading the manga, but at the moment I think I really enjoy the approach taken in the Saiyan / Freeza arcs.

[spoiler][/spoiler]
[spoiler][/spoiler]

While maybe not the strongest in terms of action, I think this was an interesting point where Dragon Ball sort of combined a lot of the elements I liked about the earlier round designs and more angular stuff. The designs sport really well-defined facial features, like jawlines, but also the really satisfying way that Toriyama draws muscles. Oh, and the look of Super Saiyan in its first few appearances is still probably my favorite.

[spoiler][/spoiler]
[spoiler][/spoiler]

I actually think the Kanzenban cover artwork is some of my favorite stuff from Toriyama too, though. I can't quite put my finger on why, but there's something so charming about them. I have a soft spot for the 23rd Budokai Tenkaichi as well.

[KBABZ]

For some reason I've always had a bit of a fondness for the more angular style near the end of the series, but one of the limitations is that it doesn't help the facial expressions and only really works for the more angry and stressed parts of the story. Plus everyone seems to be drawn with a corner-of-the-lip sneer whenever their mouths are open, no matter what their actual emotion is.

The rounded style I associate a lot with Kid Goku, so it was always appreciated the artists in the anime who emphasized that so that Goku had round eyes rather than the more trapezoid-shaped ones from Z onward. I dunno, something about teen Goku having round eyes reminds me of Kid Goku, and that helps a lot in reminding me that they're the same character.

[Chuquita]

23rd Budoukai era Toriyama art is my favorite. It's got that roundness, but a more dynamic roundness that current Toriyama art can't recapture imo.

Second place is probably Kanzenban cover art Toriyama in which Gokû's hair always looks amazing, followed third by sketchy Buu arc Toriyama.

[Lord Beerus]

From the King Piccolo arc to the Saiyan arc.
[spoiler]


[/spoiler]
But especially in the Saiyan arc because it looks even better in colour:
[spoiler]
[/spoiler]

[KBABZ]

But especially in the Saiyan arc because it looks even better in colour:

Man I love those colour editions! IMO it's the best way to consume the manga because it adds a ton of life and depth to everything.

[floofychan333]

From the beginning of Dragon Ball to Garlic Jr is my favourite period. My favourite sub-period is the very earliest portion of this, as the art style reflected a clash of 80s cartoon with futuristic elements that was inexplicably Japanese. I can see a scene from the anime from then and just gush over all the effort that was put into each drawing by all the animators.

[AnzuMazaki]

From the King Piccolo arc to the Saiyan arc.
[spoiler]


[/spoiler]
But especially in the Saiyan arc because it looks even better in colour:
[spoiler]
[/spoiler]

I also have a soft spot for the Piccolo Daimaoh-Saiyan arc art style.
I also like the late Dr. Slump-Early Dragon Ball lineart as well as the Red Ribbon Army arc style.

I like to try and have that round and cartoony, yet detailed style in my DB fanart as opposed to the modern style and DBZ style.

[sintzu]

I agree with lord Beerus but I'd add the Freeza arc to the list as well. I'd say the worst era would be Buu's while in the anime Buu's era is the best.

In terms of his covers, I think the Kanzenban are the most consistant ones.

[Metalwario64]

I'd say the worst era would be Buu's while in the anime Buu's era is the best.

I definitely agree with this. The anime was fantastic looking in the Buu arc, but Toriyama was clearly burnt out at that point, and the drawings looked more rushed and simple than before. His best work in my eyes is the Daimao stuff through the Freeza arc. Cell was still good, but not quite as great as before.

[sintzu]

Toriyama was clearly burnt out at that point, and the drawings looked more rushed and simple than before.

His best work in my eyes is the Daimao stuff through the Freeza arc. Cell was still good, but not quite as great as before.

The fights were also really short and somewhat lacking which is understandable cause up to that point he'd been drawing none stop for 13 years between DB and Dr. Slump. I'm just happy he managed to get the story on point cause everything else could've (and was) improved by the studio.

He said that he didn't think he could top Freeza's fight so it's not surprising to see things go down a bit after such a tense arc.

[Cure Dragon 255]

From the beginning of Dragon Ball to Garlic Jr is my favourite period. My favourite sub-period is the very earliest portion of this, as the art style reflected a clash of 80s cartoon with futuristic elements that was inexplicably Japanese. I can see a scene from the anime from then and just gush over all the effort that was put into each drawing by all the animators.

Eh...isnt this all about Toriyama's art? Garlic Jr is an anime invention. To be fair I have never read the manga so I can only go by the anime as well.

[Michsi]

Definitely the Piccolo Daimao - Saiyan arc era. He has a better grasp of anatomy later on, but it was with his earlier style that had the characters were most expressive. Panel were also larger and detailed. You can really see how he was at the end of his patience in the final chapters of the Buu arc.

[Vijay]

Glad to see every era of Toriyama's drawings

Some comments on his Boo Arc work

His art style were easy to follow & had the rounded-ness, which was cute. 21st TB for instance

Boo Arc however, while is "matured" & frankly still a dream of even 21st century manga's, has super-short battle/fights

Toriyama tapped-out with his battle creativity way back in Namek/Frieza Arc. His last creatively drawn battle sequence was Base Goku vs Final Form Frieza (underwater Kamehameha, aerial kick, Frieza's No Hands Rule & Kaioken X 20 + Spirit Bomb sequence. Such a scale of grandness infused with Toriyama's creative artstyle.

But dats not to say I dislike Boo Arc fight. SSJ3 Goku vs Kid Boo was fantastic & dare say without TOEI's best animators working on DBZ Episode 279, 280 & 281 I'd say the anime has not made justice to their manga counterpart

[FubukiFoxx]

Late Dragon Ball (around the 22nd Tenkaichi Budōkai) to the end of the Frieza Saga were my favourites.
I'm sure this is an unpopular opinion, but I actually really like the style used in Super, too. When it's animated well, it's animated very well.

[emperior]

My favorite manga art style is from Saiyan arc to Freeza. The art was gorgeous! That is the look I associate with Dragon Ball.
I also love the 23rd Budokai Tenkaichi style a lot, and I’m not a fan of Manga Buu arc style, it’s clear that Toriyama was burning out when drawing it.

I also appreciate Toriyama’s new art style - his covers for the Kanzenban were amazing, and I like Tori’s designs for Super, and the few drawings he did for Toyotaro’s manga are excellent stuff.
I wish we could see more of Toriyama’s current style in a manga format, as it’s very clean - just look at Jaco.
And I may be in the minority, but I actually liked the art in Dragon Ball Minus.

[MR.Mark]

I'd say the worst era would be Buu's while in the anime Buu's era is the best.

I definitely agree with this. The anime was fantastic looking in the Buu arc, but Toriyama was clearly burnt out at that point, and the drawings looked more rushed and simple than before. His best work in my eyes is the Daimao stuff through the Freeza arc. Cell was still good, but not quite as great as before.

While I agree from an ART standpoint, the anime Buu arc had some nice drawings for sure. Animation however was mostly stiffer than some previous arcs.

[Cipher]

For action: Late Namek arc

I expect this to be a less popular choice, as it's where the shift into his angular style sets in in earnest, but I think the scale he manages to achieve in this portion of the story is tremendous; all the work put into pioneering a new visual language for the level of action he's been building toward comes to a head in Goku vs. Freeza, which despite hurdles like being largely aerial (how do you effectively communicate action with that?), and setbacks like a dull setting, still manages to be massively well-storyboarded and effective.

Overall: Actually his pre-Dragon Ball days, circa Slump and one-shots

While he managed to get better technically throughout his career, I love both the charm and detail Toriyama leaves his early manga with. They feature deceptively complex drawings, natural and effective storyboarding, and expressive and memorable characters. His behind-the-scenes pages in Dr. Slump depict him as someone who was usually reading fashion magazines and thinking about interesting robots, and, uh ... you can tell. Even in his goofiest series, the artwork is always creative and visually slick.

[TheBigBoy]

I like the Saiyan arc mostly. But that's also my favorite story arc and the first one I ever saw, so maybe I'm biased.

For whatever reason, I associate the Buu arc with characters having gigantic jawlines.

[floofychan333]

From the beginning of Dragon Ball to Garlic Jr is my favourite period. My favourite sub-period is the very earliest portion of this, as the art style reflected a clash of 80s cartoon with futuristic elements that was inexplicably Japanese. I can see a scene from the anime from then and just gush over all the effort that was put into each drawing by all the animators.

Eh...isnt this all about Toriyama's art? Garlic Jr is an anime invention. To be fair I have never read the manga so I can only go by the anime as well.

Well, Garlic Jr retains quite a bit of Toriyama's art style from Freeza.

[Soppa Saia People]

The earlier, rounder style. The angler stuff is fine in the Saiyan and Freeza arc, and then regresses a lot in Cell, and looks plain bad in Boo.