This Akira Toriyama quote reveals why ‘Dragon Ball’ villains are unforgettable

Dragon Ball, the world-famous manga and anime series created by Akira Toriyama, is celebrated for many reasons, but its villains play a fundamental role in the franchise’s lasting popularity. Names like Frieza, Cell, and Majin Buu have transcended their own medium, becoming pop culture icons almost from the moment they first appeared, both in the manga and the anime. Each has had their own generation of fans and has returned in one form or another throughout the long history of Dragon Ball, whether canon or not.

The great villains of Dragon Ball: Frieza, Cell, Majin Buu

But what exactly makes them so compelling—and even likable to fans—despite being undeniably evil? According to Akira Toriyama himself, the late creator of Dragon Ball, designing villains with these types of personalities was a conscious choice to make them iconic over the years.

Some of these characters committed outright atrocities during their arcs. Frieza, for instance, reigned with terror across the galaxy, subjugating countless worlds and even wiping entire planets from existence with a mere flick of his finger. And yet, each villain also displayed traits that made them oddly relatable.

From Frieza’s insecurities about his height, to Cell’s cowardice before reaching his “perfect” form, to Majin Buu acting like an immature child throwing tantrums in every one of his incarnations—these quirks gave fans something more human to connect with, even if the characters’ actions were horrific. Toriyama himself explained this during Dragon Ball’s 30th anniversary in 2014:

“When I draw villains, I don’t make them so cunning or dishonest that they leave a bad aftertaste for the reader. Not because I’m overly concerned with the readers, but because I personally hate drawing that sort of thing,” Toriyama said. Regarding Frieza in particular, he added: “I paid a lot of attention to the way Frieza spoke. After all, villains almost always speak harshly. I found it really unsettling to contrast his polite way of speaking with his cruelty and power.”

In one way or another, later villains in the saga followed that same path—especially in Dragon Ball Super. From Goku Black and Zamasu’s disbelief at the power of the Saiyans they faced, to Broly’s overwhelming immaturity throughout his movie, and even Daima’s Gomah, who comes off as ridiculously cowardly until he finally reaches his full power.

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