Trunks' initial mysterious appearance flipped Dragon Ball on its head, eventually leading to a complex time travel arc that remains one of the series' most popular ever. The half-Saiyan son of Vegeta and Bulma became an instant fan-favorite, and gripped fans who desperately wanted to know who this mysterious Super Saiyan was. At the time, the cast had just spent the entirety of the Planet Namek Saga trying to defeat Frieza, only for a teenage fighter to appear and dismantle him with only a few swings of his sword.

However, while countless fans attempted to piece together Trunks' identity, it turns out that not even Akira Toriyama knew who he was. The legendary artist responsible for the franchise spanning four decades of incredible success was notorious for not quite planning ahead, and the Cell Saga is jam-packed with examples of his distinct, spontaneous writing style. Only later would Toriyama flesh out Trunks in detail, and his unplanned backstory changed Dragon Ball forever.

Akira Toriyama Was Known For Not Planning Very Far Ahead

Very Few Artists Are Capable of Writing Like Akira Toriyama

Akira Toriyama was often critical of himself, claiming on numerous occasions that many of his writing choices stemmed from laziness. In reality, the profession of a manga artist does not allow for laziness, and Toriyama worked tirelessly to produce weekly chapters for the better part of 11 years. His writing style, though, was unique even for its time in that the series' creator rarely ever planned ahead, and decided on story beats as the chapters were being produced week to week.

In an all-new interview with Toriyama's original editors, it was revealed that Trunks first appeared with no plan in place in regard to his identity and backstory. Only later did the artist decide he was the son of Vegeta and Bulma, and this development was met with shock from the editing team. Originally intended to be a simple messenger of an oncoming apocalypse, Toriyama decided to give Trunks a major role, and when his editing team suggested he should explain how Vegeta and Bulma got together, he responded with, "Eh, more or less."

Trunks Changed the Trajectory of Dragon Ball Forever

The Last-Minute Decision to Have Vegeta Marry Bulma Had a Lasting Impact on the Series

Toriyama's decision to make Trunks the child of Vegeta and Bulma had an incredible effect on Dragon Ball. Not only did it lead to one of the more coherent time travel stories in the medium, but it also changed the trajectory of the prince's character arc forever. In a rare 1991 interview which took place two months before Trunks' first appearance, Toriyama itted that he really wanted Vegeta to remain villainous throughout the remainder of the story.

Only a few chapters of Dragon Ball later, and the reveal of Trunks' identity as Vegeta's son acted as the first step towards a character arc which saw Vegeta become one of the franchise's most popular heroes. His internal struggle during the Majin Buu Saga, and eventual role as Goku's equal in Dragon Ball Super would not have been possible had the artist not made the spontaneous decision to bring the prince and Bulma together.

There Will Likely Never Be Another Series Written Like Dragon Ball

Dragon Ball Is a Once-In-a-Lifetime Story by a Once-In-a-Lifetime Author

Dragon Ball's week-to-week spontaneous style of storytelling will likely never be seen again, at least not in a series so influential and beloved. Akira Toriyama began his career as a gag manga artist, which is a genre that prioritizes often-surreal comedy over straightforward storytelling. When beginning work on Dragon Ball, the artist took his habits to the shōnen battle manga scene, and crafted a story in a manner that will likely never be seen again. Many popular current ongoing manga series feature large-scale, complex narratives which require months of planning in advance.

That doesn't mean other artists can't write in a similar way, but rather, very few would be capable of doing so and landing gracefully on every writing decision. Dragon Ball is a once-in-a-lifetime story written by a once-in-a-lifetime artist who made a spontaneous decision regarding one of his most beloved characters that would change his series forever.

Sources: KosoKoso (translation by Venixys on X), Minna Ai no Sai (translation by Kami Sama Explorer)