Dragon Ball is home to some of the greatest fights in anime and manga history. Not only are the series' heroes iconic, but its biggest villains have become household names as well, due in large part to the battles they took part in. Goku and Frieza on Namek is likely the first fight that comes to mind for many, while the fated showdown between Gohan and Cell, as well as the final sections of the Majin Buu Saga, are also fan-favorites.

Akira Toriyama, however, wasn't as big a fan of these iconic tilts as others in the Dragon Ball community. In a 1995 interview featured in the Dragon Ball Daizenshuu 4 guidebook, he revealed that his two favorite fights might not be what fans expect, though he enjoyed them for unique reasons. The first was Goku vs. Demon King Piccolo, which isn't all that surprising given the artist's affinity for the Namekian. The second, more unexpected answer, was Gotenks vs. Buu.

Piccolo Was Akira Toriyama's Favorite Character

Toriyama's Favorite Character Starred in His Favorite Fight

Though Goku is Dragon Ball's iconic leading Saiyan, Akira Toriyama revealed that Piccolo was in fact his favorite character in another interview included in the Daizenshuu guidebooks. He explained that not only was Demon King Piccolo his favorite villain, but that the Namekian remained his favorite character even after his major changes later in the series. It only makes sense that he would also have the starring role in the artist's favorite fight.

Toriyama said, "Since it was the first battle with a truly evil guy, there was a certain something to the fight." Up until Demon King Piccolo's introduction into the series, Dragon Ball's focus was split between adventure and tournaments. There had never been a major villain with truly evil intent, and though characters like Frieza and Cell made it status quo down the line, Demon King Piccolo's wickedness was actually a breath of fresh air. Unfortunately, many fans tend to skip the sections of the series prior to the Saiyan Saga, and deny themselves the experience of Toriyama's favorite showdown.

Toriyama Felt He Could Do Things His Way in the Gotenks and Buu Fight

The Series' Creator Felt He Had Total Freedom During the Majin Buu Saga

The far more surprising answer to the interviewer's question revealed that Gotenks vs. Buu was Toriyama's other favorite fight. In the grand scheme of the Buu Saga, Goten and Trunks didn't play that important a role in the events aside from being absorbed, which turned the tables against Gohan in his attempt to stop the arc's main villain. Nevertheless, their fused state, Gotenks, was the main player in the artist's favorite fight, but not for the reason many think.

Toriyama's longtime editors recently answered questions regarding their time with Dragon Ball, and revealed that they gave the artist much more freedom during the manga's final act in order to keep him motivated. This inspired the gag-filled fight between Gotenks and Buu, which featured nonsensical techniques like the Super Ghost Kamikaze Attack and the Charging Ultra Buu Buu Volleyball Attack. Rather than intense action, the battle is defined by its surreal comedy.

Toriyama said, "I think this was the first fight in a long time where I was able to do things my way." With a little more freedom, the artist swiftly returned to his gag manga roots, and drew one of the most entertaining, if not strangest, fights in the entire series. Gotenks' unique move-set makes his every appearance exciting, and it's unfortunate that he hasn't seen very much action in the time since his introduction. Now that Goten and Trunks have finally aged a bit, fans continue to plead for an updated Gotenks design.

Dragon Ball's fights are iconic, and though the series' main character is typically the final warrior standing by the end of them, Goku was not involved in Akira Toriyama's favorite battles. The artist always kept in touch with his gag manga roots, and the Majin Buu Saga seemed to finally give him the freedom to lean into comedy. Piccolo finally got some shine in 2022's Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, but fans are still waiting for Gotenks to take on a more important role.

Source: Dragon Ball Daizenshuu 4 (translation by Kanzenshuu)