Even Dragon Ball’s Creator Thought Cell Was a Failure & the Reason Why Is Brutal

Dragon Ball is full of memorable heroes and villains, with many fans considering Cell as their favorite antagonist. Every one of his appearances carries weight, and his gradual transformation into Perfect Cell was both thrilling and intense. Cell managed to dominate conversations among the fan base and continues to stand as one of the series' high points.

However, despite his widespread popularity, Dragon Ball’s creator has shared in the past that he thought Cell was a failure. While he is known for his countless moments of strength, cunning, and brilliance as a villain, Akira Toriyama feels differently, but for a reason that fans might not expect.

Cell Became One of Dragon Ball Z’s Most Beloved Villains

Cell stands out among Dragon Ball Z’s major antagonists. Rather than being driven purely by destruction or impulse, Cell is calculating, intelligent, self-aware, and most of all, he’s methodical. He’s known for his calm demeanor and manipulations, traits that differentiate him from other villains.

Paired with his evolution from Imperfect Cell to Semi-Perfect to Perfect Cell, the saga itself was able to infuse a gradually building sense of tension and dread as the stakes continued to escalate. By the time the series reached the iconic Cell Games, he was already cemented as a formidable and memorable villain in the franchise.

The Cell Games only served to raise his character to greater heights as he pursued a course of action that emphasized psychological pressure on the heroes rather than outright chaos. Unlike other villains, such as Frieza or Majin Buu, Cell’s motivations were to test the limits of his power and showcase his superiority, making him a chilling yet calculating villain.

All in all, Cell stands out among the many characters featured in Dragon Ball’s long history, with many fans considering his saga the series's peak. Everything about Cell felt intentional and polished, with audiences around the world praising his character and the arc as a whole. However, while fans embraced Cell, the creator was left with an incredibly different impression.

Akira Toriyama Openly Called Cell a “Failure”

Resurfaced quotes from Akira Toriyama showed that when he reflected on the Cell Saga years later, despite Cell’s popularity, he felt quite differently. Toriyama repeatedly described Cell’s design in blunt terms, openly stating that “the design of Cell was honestly a failure.”

Toriyama’s reasoning for calling Cell such a thing had nothing to do with storytelling or concept. Instead, it came down to the tedious physical act of drawing Cell week after week, needing to incorporate the countless black spots that cover the villain’s entire body. These markings were hand-drawn one by one every time he appeared on a panel.

For Toriyama and his assistants, the task became exhausting, repetitive, and time-consuming, with Toriyama later sharing, “The moment I designed it, I thought, ‘This is cool.’ But once I started drawing it, I thought, ‘I’ve really done it now.’” While Cell became an iconic character in the series, his design and creation were a source of frustration for Toriyama.

Cell’s Design Shaped the Creation of Dragon Ball’s Next Villain

The lesson Dragon Ball’s creator learned from Cell left a lasting impression on how he approached the series's next major villain, with Toriyama explicitly stating that he would “never do a design like that again.”

The change in design from Cell to Majin Buu showed this shift clear as day, with Buu possessing a far more simplistic design in comparison to Cell. This approach to Buu meant Toriyama and his assistants wouldn’t need to repeatedly draw and fill in the spots, reducing the level of detail while still delivering another unforgettable villain.

Majin Buu’s design was born of hard-won experience from his predecessor. Toriyama ensured that his next villain wouldn’t require the same amount of painstaking detail that Cell did. With this information in mind, it changes the way fans see the Cell Saga, bringing about more appreciation for the hard work that went into creating the series's most epic arc.

Cell Remains an Iconic, Memorable Villain in Dragon Ball

While Akira Toriyama considered Cell’s design a failure, it’s undeniable that he also created one of the most visually striking villains in shōnen anime. His appeal lies in his character design, with Toriyama and his team’s hard work standing out as immensely admirable, as well as in his personality and driving motivations.

His intelligence, manipulative nature, and psychological warfare all helped his character stand out. This culminated in the Cell Games, an arc that many Dragon Ball fans consider to be one of the best in the entire franchise. Everything about him, from his actions to his appearance, truly left an unforgettable mark.

Though his creation became a nightmare for those who brought Cell to life, their commitment to detail helped the villain become not only one of the best-written characters in Dragon Ball but also the best-designed and most visually stunning.