By this point,Dragon Ball Superis almost as beloved as its predecessor series, and it had a long and successful run as an anime (and is still running, though on hiatus, as a manga). However,Dragon Ball Supermight never have existed if it weren’t for the addition of two new characters in the movieDragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods: Beerus and Whis.
Beerus and Whis were introduced for the movie, intending to give Goku an opponent who was literally on a divine level to match the new power he’d received. Beerus and Whis had some input from Toriyama as they were being created, turningGod of Destruction Beerusfrom a truly evil figure into one that could be reasoned with, and who destroys mostly because it is his responsibility to do so. Toriyama seems to have been intrigued by Beerus and Whis conceptually from the start.
Given the major role that the pair occupy throughoutDragon Ball Super, Toriyama clearly took full advantage of the two characters once established.
Beerus and Whis Made Dragon Ball Super Possible
Not Just the Characters, But The Lore They Brought With Them
In an interview from around the time of the release ofDragon Ball Supervolume 1,as translated by fansite Kanzenshuu, Toriyama and his artist Toyotarou began discussing Beerus and Whis, after Toyotarou was prompted to ask Toriyama a question of his own. On the subject of the two characters, Toriyama said, “If it hadn’t been for those two, making any more story after that would have been a nightmare. There wouldn’t have been anything to expand upon. That’s why I’m so glad to have them around.” Despite not having created the characters, Toriyama seized upon their existence with gusto.
It’s certainly true that the existence of Beerus, as a God of Destruction, and Whis as his “angel” attendant, added a lot of new depth toDragon Ball Super’s lore. Suddenly, there was a significant new power looming over Goku and Vegeta, pushing them to attain new heights. But beyond that, this also opened the door to the multiverse, with Beerus’s brother Champa, and eventually toGrand Zeno, the most powerful being inDragon Ball. The entire premise of the Tournament of Power is dependent on the idea of the Destroyer Gods and their responsibility to keep a universe at an acceptable development level.
“Some Kind of Demon” - Dragon Ball’s Beerus Actually Has a Surprisingly Wholesome Real Origin
Akira Toriyama revealed in an interview that the God of Destruction’s signature look was inspired by an adorable source.
Beerus and Whis also have an interesting relationship with each other, as despite their roles, Whis is the more experienced teacher and Beerus the student. This gives them a fascinating dynamic of mutual respect, something Beerus rarely seems to show outside of his superiors. By simply exploring these two new characters and the world they must’ve come from, Toriyama was able to come up with cool plots like the Tournament of Power, providing plenty of content to base an entire new series around. It’s clear that fans have the creation of Beerus and Whis forBattle of Godsto thank for inspiring Toriyama to createDragon Ball Super.
Dragon Ball Super
Cast
Dragon Ball Super is an anime series set after Majin Buu’s defeat. It follows Son Goku, now a radish farmer, as peace prevails until Beerus, the God of Destruction, appears. Seeking to challenge a legendary warrior, the series revisits events from two Dragon Ball Z films before exploring alternate universes.
