Frieza is not only one of the most famous characters in Dragon Ball but also one of the most iconic villains in anime and manga history. When shōnen anime made a major breakthrough in the West in the early 2000s, Dragon Ball Z dominated TV screens, and Frieza’s connection to Goku’s first Super Saiyan transformation cemented his legendary status.
However, some of Akira Toriyama’s earliest artwork for the ruthless emperor portrayed Frieza in a completely different light. This creative decision could have changed the entire Dragon Ball series if the author hadn’t revised it.
Frieza’s original design was very different from the villain fans know today
Frieza’s small and compact appearance sharply contrasts with his cruel nature and terrifying actions throughout Dragon Ball. Yet his refined way of speaking always made him intimidating, a trait Akira Toriyama carefully emphasized to highlight Frieza’s fearsome personality from the start.
Based on the original image, it’s clear that Frieza’s smaller stature was developed later in the creative process. In this early sketch, he appears much larger, resembling Dodoria’s design or Zarbon’s transformed state. It seems Toriyama initially preferred bigger villain designs, but fans will likely be grateful he reserved that approach for Frieza’s ruthless henchmen.
How his transformations would have looked remains unknown, though it’s fascinating to imagine a third, even more grotesque form of Frieza.
Frieza wasn’t the only family member with wild early designs
Dragon Ball Heroes, a popular arcade game in Japan, has introduced countless reimagined and “what if” characters. Among them are other members of Frieza’s clan who never appeared in the main series. The initial concept sketches for the Frieza family are just as surprising as the villain’s original design.
The first two illustrations mostly align with fan expectations, but the last one, featuring Saiyan-style hair and armor, looks quite unusual. Considering the frequent fusions in Dragon Ball Heroes, this character might have fused with a Saiyan, which would be shocking given Frieza’s antagonistic relationship with the inhabitants of Planet Vegeta.
Dragon Ball brings together some of the most iconic anime characters, and Frieza has proven himself compelling enough to remain a key figure in Dragon Ball Super. However, if Akira Toriyama had stuck with the original design, fans might not have loved Frieza enough to want him to return.