The Toriyama Archive section on the official Dragon Ball website continues to unveil rare images and artwork from the franchise’s rich history. The latest reveal is a sketch of Shenron created for the cover of Weekly Shonen Jump issue 7 in 1985, released on January 12, 1985.
Full Design and a More Innocent Shenron
On the original magazine cover, Shenron’s body was mostly hidden behind Goku and Bulma. However, the newly released sketch finally shows Shenron coiled fully, clutching the One-Star and Three-Star Dragon Balls.
What stands out is Shenron’s gentler and more innocent appearance in this sketch, quite different from the usual fearsome dragon image fans recognize.
This illustration is significant as it marks one of Shenron’s earliest appearances. The issue contains chapter 7 of the Dragon Ball manga, introducing Yamcha and Puar. Although Shenron briefly appeared in chapter 1, it wasn’t until chapter 20, when Emperor Pilaf summons him, that Shenron is officially called. This magazine cover was the first full-color reveal of Shenron.
Striking Colors and Design Evolution
This 40-year-old sketch also offers insight into Shenron’s design evolution. The most notable detail is Shenron’s jade green color instead of the iconic green fans are familiar with. This color choice likely references the Azure Dragon from Chinese mythology, which inspired Shenron.
Additionally, the illustration for chapter 9 shows Shenron with wings, a feature that was later removed from the official design.
Another early version of the character appears in the original Dragon Ball logo, featuring a green Chinese dragon coiling around the lettering.
For those unfamiliar, Shenron is an Eternal Dragon who can be summoned by collecting all seven Dragon Balls on Earth. When called forth, he grants a single wish to the summoner. Throughout the franchise’s history, other Eternal Dragons have been introduced, such as Porunga from Namek, who can grant up to three wishes.
The legacy of the Eternal Dragons continues in the latest installments of the franchise, including the recent anime Dragon Ball Daima. This series also introduces another wish-granting dragon summoned from the Demon Realm’s Dragon Balls.