"There's No Choice": Dragon Ball Only Had One Chance to Make a Form Stronger Than Super Saiyan

Summary Dragon Ball's fusion technique was inspired by a passing comment from a fellow manga creator, leading to the creation of the fan-favorite character Gogeta.

The Fusion Dance, an iconic technique in Dragon Ball, symbolizes the union between warriors to defeat powerful enemies.

The Fusion technique requires a special dance, has limitations, and lasts for thirty minutes, exponentially increasing the warriors' strength.

When faced with the issue of what could be stronger than a Super Sayan, Dragon Ball’s creator, Akira Toriyama, found the solution unexpectedly. In an interview found in the Dragon Ball Great Complete Collection volume #6, Toriyama revealed that the iconic fusion between Goku and Vegeta was inspired by a passing comment made by a fellow manga creator, Masakazu Katsura.

Dragon Ball’s creator complained to his friend about not knowing what could surpass his beloved transformation in power, prompting Katsura to recommend a fusion between the protagonists. According to Toriyama, his colleague said, “There’s no choice but for them to fuse, then.” This immediately stuck with Toriyama, who went on to create the fan-favorite character, Gogeta.

Related Shonen Jump Settled Dragon Ball's Gogeta Vs. Vegito Debate Long Ago Dragon Ball fans have debated for years whether Gogeta or Vegito is stronger, but the manga's publisher declared the answer a long time ago.

One Of Dragon Ball’s Most Iconic Techniques

The Fusion Dance is an important part of shonen anime history

While the Fusion technique has not been as prevalent in the series as others, like the Super Saiyan, it is still an emblematic part of the story. Whenever the Fusion is used by Goku, Vegeta, or their children, it becomes an iconic moment. The fact that this ability is used mostly to defeat incredibly powerful opponents only adds to how memorable it becomes. Its successor, the Potara Fusion, was created shortly after the original technique came to be. Toriyama wanted to bring the concept of Fusion, unique to the Toei Animation movies, into his main story.

This ability has become so recognizable, that it has been referenced in other anime and American cartoons. Other anime like Please Don’t Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro and Gintama contain scenes in which the Fusion dance is directly represented. In America, shows like Avatar: The Last Airbender took direct inspiration from Toriyama’s work, creating an extremely similar technique known as the Dancing Dragon. The technique has become synonymous with the need for more strength and the power of fighting together.

The Fusion Between Two Noble Warriors

The rules, limitations, and advantages of the Fusion Dance

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Fusion in the Dragon Ball universe is a technique in which two beings become one to increase their strength exponentially. To make use of this ability, the two parties need to perform a special dance. In canon, only a select number of individuals are capable of using this technique, with Goku, Vegeta, Goten, and Trunks being the ones to utilize it most often. Nonetheless, there are many restrictions as to how this technique can be used. If the dance is not performed perfectly, the resulting Fusion will be much weaker than the warriors used to create it.

If two beings with different power levels want to fuse, the strongest will need to bring their power level down to their partner’s level. Lastly, the Fusion only lasts for 30 minutes, after which the two beings who fused will be immediately separated. Yet, during the time the Fusion lasts, the power of the being created by the dance goes beyond human imagination. It is an outstanding technique that can help the powerful Z Fighters defeat terrifying opponents like Janenmba, the embodiment of evil.

The Fusion technique will forever remain one of Dragon Ball’s most unique and cherished abilities. It is the representation of the union between two warriors, joining forces to create something that goes beyond themselves. The fact that this iconic skill was created thanks to the combined efforts of Toriyama and Katsura only makes it more special and poetic.

Dragon Ball Super is available for streaming on Crunchyroll in the U.S.