Dragon Ball might be the end-all for many otakus, but for Akira Toriyama, it’s a playground to experiment with ideas. Given its popularity, Toriyama usually gets instant feedback on how fans receive a move.
However, one transformation has historically made fans doubt the series, but it never managed to dissuade Toriyama from using the move again and again. In an interview, the author finally lifted the veil on how the Super Saiyan Fusion move came to exist.
How did Akira Toriyama Create the Saiyan Fusion?
In an interview, Akira Toriyama unapologetically confessed that the idea of the Super Saiyan Fusion was the product of a joke. Fusion is a technique that allows two beings to merge into one to combine their strengths, intelligence, and speed.
“If I remember correctly, I was talking about how, as a concept, “there’s nothing stronger than a Super Saiyan”, and Katsura-kun (Masakazu Katsura-sensei), who I usually just joke around and say idiotic things with, said, “There’s no choice but for them to fuse, then.””
The technique was first used by the Namekians to fuse themselves. Later, Goku learned the Fusion Dance from the Metamorans and formed Super Gogeta, a fusion of Goku and Vegeta. From the naming of the combo itself, readers should have known that the author is simply playing out a joke.
Later, the move was also used by Trunks and Goten. However, the move in itself was a temporary solution as there was a time limit on how long people could stay fused.
Why Fusion is Controversial in Dragon Ball (Psst: Vegeta Hates it too)
Many Dragon Ball fans are skeptical of Fusion due to the simple fact that it’s a very wishy-washy technique. It seems like something that was thought of in a jiffy. Akira Toriyama’s explanation that the Fusion was created due to a joke, finally made fans realize that it was never supposed to be a meaningful transformation anyways.
In chapter 61 of Dragon Ball Super, even Vegeta claims that he hates Fusion. And no, it’s not because he hates to fuse with Goku, his forever rival. According to Saiyan,
“To be honest, this never sat well with me. Absorption, fusion, and all that stuff — it doesn’t reflect one’s inherent power. All I crave is a fair fight.”
Vegeta’s admittance rings true with every Dragon Ball fan. Fusing with another individual to defeat an enemy does not seem like a fair fight. It’s almost like something a weak villain would resort to. (Remember Cell’s absorption technique?) There are multiple Fusions in Dragon Ball, but very few of them are successful in defeating an enemy.
While the Fusion guarantees a merging of two minds, each brain is bound to think differently and make different decisions based on their battle experience. So, logically, there is bound to be some sort of difference in the decision-making procedure.
In a high-stakes battle, where even a single millisecond’s worth of delay can mean death, Fusion is really a risky transformation. All in all, fans are glad that Toriyama has clarified the origin of Fusion.
You can read Dragon Ball on Viz Media and watch the anime on Crunchyroll.
