I came across a new interview with Dragon Ball Super episode director Ryōta Nakamura and producer Satoru Takami, on the series ending and how they all pitched in with Toriyama to create this stuff. some of the answers and origins of the characters is actually really cool:
How they started:
With the Dragon Ball Super TV anime finally heading into its climax this month, you two have been kind enough to come discuss it. To start off with, when did you first become involved with Dragon Ball Super?
Producer Satoru Takami: I started working on it midway through, a little while before the Future Trunks arc began.
Series Director Ryōta Nakamura: I become involved in individual episodes’ production from the Universe 6 arc onward. Afterwards I also handled individual episodes’ production in the Future Trunks arc, and then with the Universe Survival arc I became series director.
On the creation of Jiren and the Prider Troopers:
When did you start making the Universe Survival arc, and what was the process like?
Takami: To start off with, Dragon Ball Super is based on Toriyama-sensei‘s “original draft.” That’s why it’s not like the original stories that Toei Animation would make back with Dragon Ball Z. Instead, it’s a question of how Toei Animation will depict the original draft which Toriyama-sensei came up with. The Universe Survival arc likewise started off with an original draft from Toriyama-sensei. This draft flat-out said “80 people fighting all in a jumble” (laughs)
Nakamura: That’s right. At that time we also received several character design images drawn by Toriyama-sensei himself. In addition, there was the design image for the Tournament of Power’s arena which the Great Priest built. That arena’s pretty wrecked by now (laughs).
Which characters were in the initial rough draft?
Nakamura: Jiren, Toppo, Dyspo, and the God of Destruction Quitela were the first characters drawn.
Were Universe 11’s Pride Troopers part of Toriyama-sensei‘s designs?
Nakamura: They weren’t in his designs, but since Jiren and co. all wore the same red and black suits, he allowed us to flesh it out like that.
Takami: In sensei‘s initial rough draft, there was no information indicating Jiren’s personality. Since the tough opponents in Dragon Ball Super up until then had been nihilistic, cool characters like Hit or Zamasu, we thought it might be best to make Jiren very talkative, so we came up with the background of him being a hero of justice. Jiren was central to this squadron of heroes.
Nakamura: When we suggested that to Toriyama-sensei, he replied that “Jiren is a character who doesn’t speak.” It was then that Toriyama-sensei sent us the backstory that his parents and martial arts master had been killed. He said that Jiren was this type of character, in contrast to Hit or Zamasu.
Takami: And so the characterization of Jiren that we originally came up with was passed on to Toppo.
On the creation of Chaulifa and Kale:
Nakamura: The Universe 6 Saiyan Caulifla was another one of Toriyama-sensei‘s character designs.
Takami: She wasn’t part of the initial rough draft. During a story conference, it was mentioned that Broli was very popular.5
Nakamura: From there, we came up with the character of Kale.
Takami: We wanted a Broli-like character, but it would be boring to have it be exactly the same. So we made the character a girl, and designed her at Toei Animation. When we showed her to Toriyama-sensei, he went along with it and drew Caulifla.
Nakamura: So we decided to pair up Kale and Caulifla.
I find it interesting that Kale wasn't originally Toriyama's idea. It explains why she seems a bit different in the manga version.
On the entire storyline:
How much of the story was written out in Toriyama-sensei‘s original draft?
Nakamura: The course of events for the Universe 7 warriors was written out in a document from beginning to end. For instance, who Piccolo fights and loses to, and who ultimately survives. Plus the course of the battle between Universe 7 and Universe 11… all of the main points were written out.
On the final two episodes:
Ultra Instinct goes into operation in ep.129, and everyone’s very interested in what will happen in the final two episodes, but…?!
Nakamura: I’m sure everyone realizes this too, but in a situation like this, the story’s not going to end with Goku simply firing a Kamehameha and finishing Jiren off, like with previous villains (laughs).
Takami: Director Nakamura has pulled the Universe Survival arc along up until now, and the last two episodes feature storyboards and direction that he put his whole heart and soul into. I truly can’t say anything else than “don’t miss it!”
Nakamura: No, it’s nothing special… but still, I’ve never fretted over anything as much as this before. Personally I think the ending to episode 131 is very fitting. While the Universe Survival arc may be Goku’s story, I think it might actually be Jiren’s story, too. I think that was Toriyama-sensei‘s intention when he set up someone like Jiren as the greatest rival, someone who’s not simply evil. I made it with that interpretation in mind, but I wonder how everyone else will feel about it.
Takami: I hope people’s eyes are glued to director Nakamura’s full-force direction and the ending which Toriyama-sensei has prepared for this story. Personally I even get the feeling that Toriyama-sensei is trying to set up even more stories.
Nakamura: Even after the story is over, please keep watching to the end and don’t change the channel. There’ll be something special!
Hopefully that means what I think it means.
