For decades,Dragon Ball Zfans have praised the climactic Namek Saga for its shocking reveals and brutal power escalations. But the truth behind one of its most iconic twists, Frieza’s multiple transformations, has now been officially clarified. And surprisingly, evenDragon Ballcreator Akira Toriyama admits he didn’t plan it that way from the beginning.
In a recent post on the officialDragon BallX account,@DB_official_en, staff confirmed something longtime fans have speculated for years:Frieza’s transformations were a spontaneous decision. Toriyama himself once joked that having Frieza say “two more transformations” might have been too much.That revelation reaffirms the off-the-cuff genius behindDragon Ball’smost powerful villain.
“I hadn’t planned on that either. (laughs) I was like “That’s kind of a lot; I should’ve just had him say ‘two times’ instead.” (laughs)”
Frieza’s Iconic Forms Were a Last-Minute Idea
Frieza’s Forms Were Never Part of the Plan
Frieza’s transformations were jaw-dropping when they debuted, but fans had little warning. Unlike other arcs where characters steadily train and power up, Frieza’s ability to morph into increasingly terrifying forms came out of nowhere. As Piccolo gained the upper hand, Frieza coolly revealed he wasn’t even close to full strength.
Toriyama didn’t originally plan for Frieza to transform at all.In a 2016 interview, he admitted that midway through the Namek Saga, he thought it might be cool if Frieza was bluffing, only to transform for real.That split-second creative decision ended up redefining Frieza as the ultimate shape-shifting threat.
When Frieza declared, “I still have two more transformations left,” fans were floored, but Toriyama was too. He later joked that three forms may have been overkill. “I should’ve just had him say ‘two times’ instead,” he laughed. That comment came back into focus after the recentDragon Ballpost echoed it nearly a decade later.
The Frieza Post That Confused the Fandom
What Toriyama Really Meant By Saying He Didn’t Plan the Frieza Moment
When theDragon Ballaccount shared the anecdote, some fans mistook it for a factual error, especially since it used a manga panel showing Frieza’s “two more transformations” line. Commenters rushed to correct what they thought was a mistake,clarifying that Frieza’s final Full Power form isn’t a transformation, it’s just his final form at maximum output.
But the post did not suggest Toriyama made a plot error. Instead, it reaffirmed what the creator had already said years ago, that he hadn’t planned on Frieza going through so many changes. The post simply highlighted Toriyama’s own words, adding context that many newer fans may not have seen from the 2016 Super History Book.
Ironically, while Frieza’s original transformations were never planned, his legacy of reinvention lives on.
Ironically, while Frieza’s original transformations were never planned, his legacy of reinvention lives on. SinceDragon Ball Zended, Frieza’s Golden and Black forms have pushed his power even further. Black Frieza, introduced inDragon Ball Super, was strong enough to drop Goku and Vegeta in one blow. While Akira Toriyama may have passed away, his legacy lives on through the many discussions and speculations aboutDragon Ballthat still happen today.
