A Forgotten Piece of Dragon Ball History Resurfaces
Dragon Ball started in the 1980s and quickly became a popular series. Even after many years, fans still come across new and interesting details. Recently, a rare piece of Dragon Ball artwork from 1988 was found, and it shows something different from what we saw in the anime.
This color page was drawn and colored by Akira Toriyama, the creator of Dragon Ball. In it, he shows Kame House, the island home of Master Roshi. But the house isn’t pink like it is in the anime. In Toriyama’s original version, Kame House is blue with a black roof.
Most people remember Kame House as pink, because that’s how it looked in the anime versions of Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, and Dragon Ball Super. But this artwork shows that the color came from the anime team, not from Toriyama’s own design.
Original Artwork from 1988 Shows a Different Color Scheme
The artwork appeared in the Akira Toriyama Archive Collection, which includes older sketches, color drawings, and notes. This page was from a full-color manga chapter published in Weekly Shonen Jump on October 8, 1988.
What makes this piece stand out is that Toriyama colored it himself. This shows the colors he had in mind when he created the setting. In this version, Kame House is shown as a quiet blue house with a black roof on a small island.
There is also a note from the archive team saying that Toriyama wanted the colors to reflect a calm beach environment. So when the anime team made the house pink, it was their own change, not part of the manga.
Official Artwork Reveals That Kame House Was Actually Blue
In a rare 1988 Dragon Ball illustration from the Akira Toriyama: The World Anime Art Collection, fans noticed a surprising detail — Kame House was originally blue, not pink. While the anime shows it with its familiar pink color, this original artwork features a fully blue version of the house, giving fans a new look at how Toriyama first imagined it.
This artwork was part of a limited set released in Weekly Shonen Jump. It wasn’t widely seen for decades, which is why fans on Reddit and Twitter were shocked to spot this color difference in April 2025.
Dragon Ball’s Anime Adaptations Have Always Differed Slightly From the Manga
This isn’t the first time Dragon Ball’s anime has changed small things from Toriyama’s original work. From character hair colors to outfit shades, many visual details in the anime don’t match the manga or Toriyama’s illustrations exactly.
For example, Master Roshi’s house, Super Saiyan aura colors, and even some scouter designs look different between the manga, original anime, and later adaptations like GT or Super. These changes were often made by the anime team to better fit TV visuals or studio preferences, not by Toriyama himself.
Why Kame House’s Color Feels Important
To some, the color of a house may not seem like a big change. But fans of Dragon Ball notice small things, especially when it comes to well-known places.
Kame House is one of the first locations we see when Goku begins training with Master Roshi. It’s where Krillin and Goku prepare for the martial arts tournament. Later on, it becomes home to Android 18 and Maron in Dragon Ball Z.
Knowing that the original color was different shows how the manga and anime can sometimes take separate paths — even if they tell the same story. This reminds us that the manga is the original source of Dragon Ball.
Anime and Manga Differences Go Beyond Color
This isn’t the only time the Dragon Ball anime made changes. Over the years, there have been several differences, such as:
- Power levels: In the anime, Vegeta says “It’s over 9000!” but in the manga, it was “over 8000.”
- Extra characters: Some, like Gregory (King Kai’s helper), do not appear in the manga.
- Filler scenes: The anime added extra episodes and moments that were not in the manga.
While these changes didn’t affect the overall story, they created a few differences that fans often discuss. Now, with the discovery of this old Kame House artwork, another small difference comes to light.
A Short Return to the Original Color in Dragon Ball GT
Interestingly, the anime once showed the blue version of Kame House. In Dragon Ball GT Episode 64, during the Japanese broadcast version, the house appeared blue with a black roof.
However, in later home releases and in international versions, the color was changed back to pink. So, although the original version did appear for a short time, many fans never saw it.
This makes the newly found artwork more meaningful. It confirms how Toriyama originally designed Kame House before changes were made in animation.
How Fans Are Reacting to the Discovery
Since the artwork appeared online on April 11, 2025, fans have been sharing their thoughts on forums, social media, and fan sites. Some people were surprised to learn that the pink color wasn’t part of the original design.
Others shared images and fan art based on the blue version. Many fans said they now view Kame House a little differently. Some even said they prefer the blue design because it matches the quiet island setting more.
Could Dragon Ball Super Bring Back the Original Look?
Dragon Ball is still ongoing, especially with the Dragon Ball Super manga continuing. A new anime or movie may be announced soon. This opens the door for the original blue version of Kame House to appear again.
As the story moves forward and new characters or places are introduced, a return to original designs like this one could happen. If the creators want to stay close to Toriyama’s early ideas, small changes like these might be added.
Final Thoughts on the Rediscovered Artwork
Dragon Ball is known for its characters and story, but even small parts of the world, like Kame House, play a role in how fans remember the series. This rediscovered artwork shows that even details like house color can change between manga and anime.
While it doesn’t affect the overall story, it adds new perspective on how the series was first imagined. And for long-time fans, learning about the original color design is one more way to better understand the world of Dragon Ball.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What is the original design of Kame House like?
In Akira Toriyama’s original artwork from 1988, Kame House was blue, not pink! The original design showed the house with a blue color and a black roof, which is different from the pink house seen in the Dragon Ball anime.
Q2. Why is Kame House pink in the anime?
The pink Kame House color was chosen by the anime team after Toriyama’s original art. While Akira Toriyama’s original art showed the house as blue, the anime team decided pink would work better for TV.
Q3. What is the story behind the rare Dragon Ball artwork from 1988?
The rare Dragon Ball artwork from 1988 shows Kame House in its original blue color. This art was made by Akira Toriyama and was part of a special collection. It gives fans a chance to see how Toriyama first imagined the setting before the anime team made changes.
Q4. Did the anime and manga have different designs for Kame House?
Yes! There are many small differences between the Dragon Ball anime and manga. In this case, the color of Kame House is one change. In the original manga, Kame House was blue, but the anime made it pink. This is one example of how the anime and manga can look different.
Q5. When did fans first see Kame House as blue?
Fans first saw the blue Kame House in Dragon Ball GT Episode 64 during the Japanese broadcast. The house appeared blue with a black roof, just like in the original art. However, the color was later changed to pink in other versions, so many fans didn’t see it.
Q6. Why does the color of Kame House matter to fans?
Even small details like the color of Master Roshi’s house are important to Dragon Ball fans. Kame House is a well-known place in the series, and knowing that it was originally blue helps fans see how the anime and manga can be different. It also adds to fun facts about the series.
Q7. Will the original design of Kame House come back in future Dragon Ball shows?
Maybe! Since Dragon Ball Super and other Dragon Ball anime are still going on, fans could see the blue Kame House again in the future. If the creators want to stay true to Akira Toriyama’s original designs, they might bring back the blue version of Kame House.
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