When people think of Dragon Ball, their minds instantly go to Super Saiyan transformations, the legendary fights, or the epic villains that demarcate the arcs in the series.
But one of Akira Toriyama’s most underappreciated innovations is his spaceship designs that are sent throughout the Dragon Ball series. Some of them are extremely iconic and beloved by the fans, more so than that of any famous Hollywood movie.
This rings true, especially in the case of the Saiyan Space Pod. This tiny, spherical vessel is not just a means of travel; it’s an iconic piece that defined Dragon Ball’s origins and the narrative leading to now.
A perfectly simple yet timeless design
In a world that seemed boundless, Toriyama explored space travel and the cosmos with his iconic (and massive) sci-fi ships. The Saiyan Space Pod, for instance, is seen very early on in the series and remains a testament to the beauty of simplicity.
It’s compact, efficient, and perfect to send a Saiyan kid away to a safe planet. Toriyama does not just stop there, he has multiple times showcased his uniqueness when it comes to machinery and vehicles.
Enough with the characters, what’s your favorite spaceship?
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Even his motorcycle and car designs are exaggeratedly cartoonish but very iconic and nostalgic. They are forever going to be associated with the Toriyama name.
Toriyama’s ships follow a consistent design philosophy in Dragon Ball; they are all smooth, rounded, and functional. The only other alternative to spherical ones is the traditionally known saucer-like versions of UFOs (like the one that Frieza had when he set foot on Earth).
Why Dragon Ball’s spaceships are better than Hollywood’s detailed designs
This is not just limited to the Saiyan Space Pods, the Namekian spaceship, and the flying ships manufactured by Bulma’s Capsule Corp have extremely adorable-looking designs, making the viewer feel oddly comforted by the shapes.
All of the spaceships embody an attractive yet minimalistic design that is instantly recognizable. Unlike the bulky, complex ships seen in most sci-fi media, even in high-budget, popular Hollywood films, Toriyama has a unique style that cannot be mimicked or replicated.
There are many things that Toriyama did to avoid excess work or because he thought it was fun. After all, what the legendary author did best was write a gag manga. His exceptional creativity and artistic eye have left many iconic elements that will be remembered for a long time to come.
All of these are the legacy that Toriyama has left behind, even the oddly comforting feeling the fans get when looking at the distinctive spaceships are no exception. Fans will forever be able to find Toriyama in such seemingly simple details.
The Dragon Ball series is available to read on the MangaPlus app and website. You can stream the Dragon Ball series on Netflix and Crunchyroll.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
