Dragon Ball Swaps Goku for Akira Toriyama Himself in Saiyan Battle Armor in Official Art Reveal

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Akira Toriyama, the famous creator of shonen manga like Dragon Ball, often included a version of himself as a character in his comics. Recently, a very early example of this – a ‘self-portrait’ from over 33 years ago – has been found, showing how he used to playfully insert himself into his stories.

I recently came across some interesting history about how Akira Toriyama, the creator of Dragon Ball, helped launch new manga artists. Back in 1992, Weekly Shonen Jump featured a monthly contest called “Hop Step” aimed at discovering fresh talent. To get readers involved, Toriyama himself shared some advice on creating memorable characters. He even illustrated it with fun sketches – including a charming picture of Master Roshi and a self-portrait as a robot, “Tori-bot,” wearing Saiyan armor!

Rare Shonen Jump Reveal Shows 33-Year-Old Dragon Ball Art of Akira Toriyama as a Saiyan

RoboToriyama, often called “Tori-bot,” has appeared in several of Akira Toriyama’s creations. He was first shown as a good friend of the main scientist in one series. Tori-bot is consistently depicted with claw-like hands, bright black eyes, and a mouth that looks like a nozzle.

In the Dragon Ball manga, you can sometimes see him as a background character in crowds. He appears more often in the Dragon Ball anime, notably in Episode 3 of the 1986 series where he’s briefly shown holding onto a palm tree. The 1992 Hop Step illustration by Toriyama is one of the few times Tori-bot is depicted wearing Saiyan clothing.

Akira Toriyama’s Tori-bot Was Often Used Outside Dragon Ball Anime & Manga Easter Eggs

Tori-bot wasn’t just a fun surprise; it also helped Akira Toriyama in his later years. The adorable robot often appeared on TV and at events in place of the artist himself. This was because Toriyama, despite being famous for his anime and manga work, preferred to keep his personal life private.

Akira Toriyama, the creator of Dragon Ball, sadly passed away in March 2024, leaving behind a wealth of characters, including ‘Tori-bot.’ The manga Dragon Ball Super returned from a year-long break with chapter 104, titled “The Birth of Saiyaman X,” in February 2025. But after another ten months with no new chapters, many fans are curious about Toyotarou’s future plans for the series.

There’s some encouraging news for anime fans. Kazuhiko Torishima, a former editor-in-chief of Shonen Jump, recently hinted at upcoming projects. Although Dragon Ball Super will remain on hold throughout 2025, the upcoming “Genki Damatsuri” livestream event should reveal what’s planned for the Dragon Ball franchise in 2026 and beyond.

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2025-12-14 02:13