Dragon Quest

A note about this article's content: This article is about a topic that is tangentially related to Akira Toriyama and/or Dragon Ball. As such, it may appear to give otherwise undue importance or priority in its writing toward one or more of those subjects. For a more comprehensive view on this subject matter, we encourage you to explore the article's links to other authoritative, holistic sources.

Dragon Quest
"Dragon Quest" 35th Anniversary Logo
ドラゴンクエスト Doragon Kuesuto Dragon Quest (prev. "Dragon Warrior")
Debut Game
Title	Dragon Quest
Release Date	27 May 1986 (JP)
Platform	Nintendo Famicom
Main Staff
Creator	Yūji Horii
Character Designs	Akira Toriyama
Music	Koichi Sugiyama
Publisher	Square Enix (prev. "Enix")
Developer(s)	ArtePiazza, Chunsoft, Heartbeat, Level-5, Square Enix
Additional Information
Additional games, manga, anime, film

Dragon Quest (often shortened to ドラクエ Dorakure in Japan, and initially released under the title "Dragon Warrior" in North America) is a Japanese role-playing video game series historically (and still regularly) featuring character designs by Akira Toriyama.

History

The original Dragon Quest grew out of ongoing video game coverage at Shueisha within the pages of Weekly Shōnen Jump, with then-editor Kazuhiko Torishima pushing for development of a game that Shueisha themselves would not necessarily be directly responsible for, but could secure exclusive coverage of (notably above and beyond that of competitors CoroCoro Comics and Famicom Tsūshin / Famitsu). Torishima pitched a role-playing game to be headed by Yūji Horii of Enix, who he had become acquainted with by way of Monthly Playboy writer Akira Sakuma. Torishima then further pitched Akira Toriyama as character designer to capitalize on his ongoing success and further the connection between Shueisha and the game. Toriyama did not quite understand the concept at the time, but accepted due to Torishima's insistence (and penchant for following trends), as well as the promise of some side money. Torishima had told Horii that Toriyama wanted to do artwork for the game, which he later learned was only half-true, with Torishima orchestrating the whole relationship.

Dragon Quest games generally feature a main protagonist — solo in the original game, and escorted by an ever-growing group of companions in subsequent games — journeying across the land and ultimately doing battle with some kind of evil presence. Stories typically take place vignette-style, with individual towns or areas featuring their own beats that add up over the course of the game to the larger story. The series maintains many of its classic roots through today with consistent sound effects, jingles, and other hold-overs.

Character Design Process

Akira Toriyama does not write the stories, character dialog, etc. in the Dragon Quest video games or any of their supplemental media. Rather, Toriyama has historically been responsible for character designs of main characters and villains within the Dragon Quest video games, some of which he may first receive as rough concepts/designs from Yūji Horii himself.

Specifically with regard to the Slime — the now-iconic weak monster that Dragon Quest players will traditionally encounter as their first enemy — Horii explained that he took inspiration from an enemy in the Wizardy video game, doodled his own character design, and passed that along to Toriyama for a "final" version:

• 
  Original Slime design by Yūji Horii: "No fixed shape. A gelatinous, goopy monster. It attaches itself to people's faces, etc. and suffocates them."
• 
  Slime design by Akira Toriyama
• 
  Encountering a Slime in the original Japanese Nintendo Famicom edition of Dragon Quest

Toriyama enjoyed designing the minor characters and monsters more than the main characters and "final bosses", and in general approached the designs without much regard for how they would ultimately be adapted in-game:

When it’s ultimately going to be made into a video game, the character sprites will be small, so you can make the design illustrations relatively complex. It’s not like you’re going to draw it in a comic and develop it, and it’s not going to be drawn as animation, so you can ignore the “it would be a pain if I did it this way” aspect. You just have to give them a design with a feature that you can tell “it’s this character” even when they’re small.
— Akira Toriyama

Not all of Toriyama's designs (or elements thereof) would necessarily be finalized for usage in its respective game, with some entire characters and enemies going unused, some unused designs being picked up and used in later games, etc.

Personal Fandom

Early on in the franchise's production, Toriyama was somewhat infamous for losing himself in playing the games, and would regularly provide updates on his gameplay and work on the series in the comments published alongside chapters of Dragon Ball during its original serialization in Weekly Shōnen Jump. Other references to Dragon Quest from Toriyama included an illustration of himself and Kazuhiko Torishima battling as Dragon Quest III characters as the cover artwork to Bird Land Press volume 25, as well as a postcard to his fanclub for New Year's 1988 discussing his playing Dragon Quest III ahead of its release.

Dragon Quest References in Serialization Comments

Weekly Jump Issue	Release Date	Corresponding Chapter	Original Japanese Text	Kanzenshuu English Translation
1986 #24	13 May 1986	Dragon Ball Chapter 74	ドラゴンクエストはやばい！仕事ができなくなるので奥さんにとりあげられた	Dragon Quest is dangerous! It got to the point where I couldn’t get any work done, so my wife finally took it away.
1987 #08	20 January 1987	Dragon Ball Chapter 108	ファミコンのドラゴンクエストⅡは面白すぎて仕事にならないので、しまっちゃいました！	Dragon Quest II on the Famicom is too much fun! Now I can’t get any work done!
1987 #41	08 September 1987	Dragon Ball Chapter 141	ドラゴンクエストⅢのモンスターをやっと全部かきおえた。ゲームはかなり面白そうだぞ！	I’ve finally finished drawing all the monsters for Dragon Quest III. The game looks like a lot of fun!
1988 #09	26 January 1988	Dragon Ball Chapter 159	休みは全部ドラクエⅢでつぶれてしまった。嬉しいやら、悲しいやら。でもとっても面白いよ	I spent my entire vacation playing Dragon Quest III. I’m happy, and sad. But it’s fun.
1989 #33	18 July 1989	Dragon Ball Chapter 223	ドラクエⅣのデモ画面を見ました！スケールの大きさ、面白さにビックリ！早くしたい！！	I saw a demo screen of Dragon Quest IV! I was amazed at its large scale and the fun of it! I want to play it soon!!
1989 #45	10 October 1989	Dragon Ball Chapter 245	なんと！！ドラクエⅣの見本版を借りて最後までやりました！！面白い！！期待通りの◎（にじゅうまる）です！！	Whoa!! I borrowed the demo version of Dragon Quest IV and played it to the end!! It’s fun!! A perfect 10, just as I anticipated!!
1992 #46	20 October 1992	Dragon Ball Chapter 395	仕事に追われ折角のＤＱＶも終わりまでやっていません。この誘惑を断つのは大変です	Hounded by work, I still haven’t made it all the way to the end of Dragon Quest V. It’s tough resisting this temptation.
1994 #43	27 September 1994	Dragon Ball Chapter 488	DQVIのラスボスのデザインが完成。我ながらなかなかすごい造形になったので期待してね。	The design for the final boss of Dragon Quest VI is complete. As far as I’m concerned, I think it took a pretty amazing shape, so look forward to it.
1994 #47	25 October 1994	Dragon Ball Chapter 492	ふっふっふ，ドラクエとクロノのパッケージイラストを描きあげたぞ！楽しみに待っててね。	Oh ho ho, I’ve finished drawing the box art for Dragon Quest and Chrono Trigger! Look forward to it.

Dragon Quest Cameos in Dragon Ball

Akira Toriyama included several Dragon Quest II character cameos during the preliminaries at the 22nd Tenka'ichi Budōkai in the Dragon Ball manga, with both these chapters and Dragon Quest II releasing that same year in 1987:

• 
  Killer Tiger, Orc, and Shaman
• 
  Shaman and Cyclops
• 
  Archdemon
• 
  Shaman and Killer Tiger
• 
  Shaman

Additional References

The first chapter of Akira Toriyama's 2000 manga series Sand Land features the main protagonist Beelzebub being presented with a box containing a "PlayStation 6" and the video game "Dragon Quest XIII".

• 
  Beelzebub with a "PlayStation 6" and "Dragon Quest XIII"

Akira Toriyama Involvement in Dragon Quest Works

As noted, Akira Toriyama provided a combination of character design and general promotional artwork (sometimes including game cover artwork) for various Dragon Quest games. The following chart outlines these primary contributions by game. Direct documentation of Toriyama's work on these games primarily comes through the 2016 Akira Toriyama Dragon Quest Illustrations artbook. Confirmation of Toriyama's contributions to items released after this book will be uniquely/individually cited.

Title Screen	Name	Format	Original Release Date	Original Platform	Notes
	ドラゴンクエスト Doragon Kuesuto Dragon Quest ("Dragon Warrior")	Video Game	27 May 1986	Nintendo Famicom	Similar work for the game's Super Famicom and Game Boy remakes
	ドラゴンクエストII 悪霊の神々 Doragon Kuesuto Tsū Akuryō no Kamigami Dragon Quest II: Pantheon of Evil Spirits ("Dragon Warrior II") (later "Luminaries of the Legendary Line")	Video Game	26 January 1987	Nintendo Famicom	Similar work for the game's Super Famicom and Game Boy remakes
	ドラゴンクエストIII そして伝説へ... Doragon Kuesuto Surī Soshite Densetsu he... Dragon Quest III: To the Legend... ("Dragon Warrior III") (later "Dragon Quest III: The Seeds of Salvation")	Video Game	10 February 1988	Nintendo Famicom	Similar work for the game's Super Famicom and Game Boy remakes
	ドラゴンクエスト ～勇者アベル伝説～ Doragon Kuesuto Yūsha Aberu Densetsu Dragon Quest: Legend of the Hero Abel ("Dragon Warrior")	Television Series	02 December 1989	Fuji TV	n/a
	ドラゴンクエストIV 導かれし者たち Doragon Kuesuto Fō Michibikareshi Monotachi Dragon Quest IV: The Guided Ones ("Dragon Warrior IV") (later "Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen")	Video Game	11 February 1990	Nintendo Famicom	Similar work for the game's PlayStation remake
	ドラゴンクエストV 天空の花嫁 Doragon Kuesuto Fuaibu Tenkū no Hanayome Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride	Video Game	27 September 1992	Nintendo Super Famicom	Similar work for the game's PlayStation 2 remake
	トルネコの大冒険 不思議のダンジョン Toruneko no Daibōken Fushigi no Danjon Torneko's Great Adventure: Mystery Dungeon	Video Game	19 September 1993	Nintendo Super Famicom	n/a
	ドラゴンクエストVI 幻の大地 Doragon Kuesuto Shikusu Maboroshi no Daichi Dragon Quest VI: Land of Illusion (later "Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation")	Video Game	09 December 1995	Nintendo Super Famicom	Similar work for the game's Nintendo DS remake
	ドラゴンクエストモンスターズ テリーのワンダーランド Doragon Kuesuto Monsutāzu Terii no Wandārando Dragon Quest Monsters: Terry's Wonderland ("Dragon Warrior Monsters")	Video Game	25 September 1998	Nintendo Game Boy	Similar work for the game's PlayStation remake (Dragon Quest Monsters 1+2) and Nintendo 3DS remake (Dragon Quest Monsters: Terry's Wonderland 3D)
	ドラゴンクエストキャラクターズ トルネコの大冒険2 不思議のダンジョン Doragon Kuesuto Kyarakutāzu Torneko no Daibōken Tsū Fushigi no Danjon Dragon Quest Characters: Torneko's Great Adventure 2 – Mystery Dungeon ("World of Dragon Warrior: Torneko – The Last Hope")	Video Game	15 September 1999	Sony PlayStation	Similar work for the game's Nintendo Game Boy Advance remake (Dragon Quest Characters: Torneko's Great Adventure 2 Advance – Mystery Dungeon)
	ドラゴンクエストVII エデンの戦士たち Doragon Kuesuto Sebun Eden no Senshi-tachi Dragon Quest VII: Warriors of Eden ("Dragon Warrior VII") (later "Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past")	Video Game	26 August 2000	Sony PlayStation	Similar work for the game's Nintendo 3DS remake
	ドラゴンクエストモンスターズ2 マルタのふしぎな鍵・ルカの旅立ち/イルの冒険 Doragon Kuesuto Monsutāzu Tsū Maruta no Fushigi na Kagi Ruka no Tabidachi / Iru no Bōken Dragon Quest Monsters 2: The Mysterious Key of Malta - Luca's Journey / Iru's Adventure ("Dragon Warrior Monsters 2: Cobi's Adventure / Tara's Adventure")	Video Game	09 March 2001	Nintendo Game Boy	Similar work for the game's PlayStation remake (Dragon Quest Monsters 1+2) as well as the game's combined/single-game Nintendo 3DS remake (Dragon Quest Monsters: Iru and Luca's Marvelous Mysterious Key)
	ドラゴンクエストキャラクターズ トルネコの大冒険3 不思議のダンジョン Doragon Kuesuto Kyarakutāzu Torneko no Daibōken Surii Fushigi no Danjon Dragon Quest Characters: Torneko's Great Adventure 3 – Mystery Dungeon	Video Game	31 October 2002	Sony PlayStation 2	n/a
	ドラゴンクエストモンスターズ キャラバンハート Doragon Kuesuto Monsutāzu Kyaraban Hāto Dragon Quest Monsters: Caravan Heart	Video Game	29 March 2003	Nintendo Game Boy Advance	n/a
	剣神ドラゴンクエスト　甦りし伝説の剣 Kenshin Doragon Kuesto Yomigaerishi Densetsu no Ken Swordmaster Dragon Quest: Resurrection of the Legendary Sword	Video Game	19 September 2003	Standalone Television Game	n/a
	ドラゴンクエストVIII 空と海と大地と呪われし姫君 Doragon Kuesuto Eito Sora to Umi to Daichi to Norowa Reshi Himegimi Dragon Quest VIII: The Sky, the Ocean, the Earth, and the Cursed Princess ("Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King")	Video Game	27 November 2004	Sony PlayStation 2	Similar work for the game's Nintendo 3DS remake
	スライムもりもりドラゴンクエスト 衝撃のしっぽ団 Suraimu Morimori Doragon Kuesuto Shōgeki no Shippo-dan Vigorous Slime Dragon Quest: The Shocking Tail Squad	Video Game	09 March 2006	Nintendo Game Boy Advance	n/a
	ラゴンクェスト　少年ヤンガスと不思議のダンジョン Shōnen Yangasu to Fushigi no Danjon Dragon Quest: Young Yangus and the Mysterious Dungeon	Video Game	20 April 2006	Sony PlayStation 2	n/a
	ドラゴンクエストモンスターズ ジョーカー Doragon Kuesuto Monsutāzu Jōkā Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker	Video Game	28 December 2006	Nintendo DS	n/a
	ドラゴンクエスト　モンスターバトルロード Doragon Kuesuto Monsutā Batoru Rōdo Dragon Quest Monster Battle Road	Video Game	21 June 2007	Arcade	n/a
	スライムもりもりドラゴンクエスト2 大戦車としっぽ団 Suraimu Morimori Doragon Kuesuto Tsū Dai Sensha to Shippo-dan Vigorous Slime Dragon Quest 2: The Great Tank and the Tail Squad ("Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime")	Video Game	23 October 2008	Nintendo DS	n/a
	ドラゴンクエスト　モンスターバトルロードII Doragon Kuesuto Monsutā Batoru Rōdo Tsū Dragon Quest Monster Battle Road II	Video Game	03 December 2008	Arcade	n/a
	ドラゴンクエストIX 星空の守り人 Doragon Kuesuto Nain Hoshizora no Mamoribito Dragon Quest IX: Protectors of the Starry Sky ("Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies")	Video Game	11 July 2009	Nintendo DS	n/a
	ドラゴンクエストソード 仮面の女王と鏡の塔 Doragon Kuesuto Sōdo Kamen no Jo'ō to Kagami no Tō Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors	Video Game	03 December 2009	Nintendo Wii	n/a
	ドラゴンクエストモンスターズ ジョーカー2 Doragon Kuesuto Monsutāzu Jōkā Tsū Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2	Video Game	28 April 2010	Nintendo DS	Similar work for the game's expanded version (Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2 Professional)
	ドラゴンクエストX 目覚めし五つの種族 オンライン Doragon Kuesuto Ten Mezameshi Itsutsu no Shuzoku Onrain Dragon Quest X: Awakening of the Five Tribes	Video Game	02 August 2012	Nintendo Wii	Ongoing similar work into the game's expansions
	スライムもりもりドラゴンクエスト３　大海賊としっぽ団 Suraimu Morimori Doragon Kuesuto Tsū Dai Kaizoku to Shippo-dan Vigorous Slime Dragon Quest 3: The Great Pirate and the Tail Squad	Video Game	06 December 2012	Nintendo 3DS	n/a
	ドラゴンクエストヒーローズ　闇竜と世界樹の城 Doragon Kuesuto Hiirōzu Yami Ryū to Seikaiju no Shiro Dragon Quest Heroes: The Dark Dragon and the World Tree Castle ("Dragon Quest Heroes: The World Tree's Woe and the Blight Below")	Video Game	26 February 2015	Sony PlayStation 3 Sony PlayStation 4	n/a
	ドラゴンクエストビルダーズ アレフガルドを復活せよ Doragon Kuesuto Birudāzu Arefugarudo o Fukkatsu Seyo Dragon Quest Builders: Revive Alefgard ("Dragon Quest Builders")	Video Game	28 January 2016	Sony Playstation 3 Sony PlayStation 4 Sony PlayStation Vita	n/a
	ドラゴンクエストモンスターズ ジョーカー3 Doragon Kuesuto Monsutāzu Jōkā Surī Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 3	Video Game	24 March 2016	Nintendo 3DS	n/a
	ドラゴンクエストヒーローズII 双子の王と予言の終わり Doragon Kuesuto Hiirōzu Tsū Futago no Ō to Yogen no Owari Dragon Quest Heroes II: Twin Kings and the Prophecy's End ("Dragon Quest Heroes II")	Video Game	27 May 2016	Sony PlayStation 3 Sony PlayStation 4 Sony PlayStation Vita	n/a
	ドラゴンクエストXI 過ぎ去りし時を求めて Doragon Kuesuto Erebun Sugisarishi Toki o Motomete Dragon Quest XI: In Search of Times Gone By ("Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age")	Video Game	28 July 2017	Sony PlayStation 4 Nintendo 3DS	n/a
	ドラゴンクエストビルダーズ2 破壊神シドーとからっぽの島 Doragon Kuesuto Birudāzu Tsū Hakaishin Shidō to Karappo no Shima Dragon Quest Builders 2: God of Destruction Shidō and the Empty Island ("Dragon Quest Builders 2")	Video Game	20 December 2018	Sony PlayStation 4 Nintendo Switch	Character designs confirmed in Weekly Shōnen Jump 2018 No. 18 and 19

Akira Toriyama Artbooks With Dragon Quest Content

While the occasional Dragon Quest game-specific guidebook and/or artbook include various Akira Toriyama illustrations, three Akira Toriyama-specific artbooks exist that contain a varying range of his Dragon Quest character designs and illustrations, with the most notable and comprehensive being 2016's Akira Toriyama Dragon Quest Illustrations:

• 
  Akira Toriyama: The World, released 10 January 1990
• 
  Akira Toriyama: The World SPECIAL, released 19 September 1990
• 
  Akira Toriyama Dragon Quest Illustrations, released 27 May 2016

External Links

• TBD