Dragon Ball fans just got a fleeting glimpse into anime history in the form of a 35-year-old sketch of Recoome from the infamous Ginyu Force. The artwork, dating back to 1990, was dropped on the official Dragon Ball website, albeit for a mere 24 hours.

The sketch is a rare window into Akira Toriyama’s creative process, especially coveted given Toriyama’s tragic passing last year. It reveals the remarkably fully-realized imagination Toriyama possessed. Recoome is, essentially, fully formed from the start. His wild, spiky hairstyle, signature scouter worn over his left eye and unmistakable smirk are all on full display in what is only a preliminary drawing. The implication is that Toriyama, despite shying away from long-term planning in favor of spontaneous storytelling decisions, knew exactly what he wanted.

Dragon Ball Releases ’90s Akira Toriyama Concept Art for Original Recoome Design

Fans will be fascinated to see how locked in the character design was, where Recoome stood out even among the theatrical Ginyu Force for his debut in 1990. His hulking frame and rambunctious personality not only made him a formidable obstacle, but also one of the most recognizable henchmen in anime history. “Even as a rough sketch, the character concept is fully formed, from his distinctive hairstyle to his silly smile,” reads the image’s official description. “It seems at this stage, Toriyama already had a solid idea of how Recoome would be visually depicted.”

The 24-hour availability window for the website’s Toriyama Archive releases speaks volumes about how these artifacts are treated. While fans clamor for more posthumous releases of Toriyama’s, whether behind-the-scenes material from Dragon Ball or other content, these glimpses into the legendary creator’s drafting process remain carefully controlled digital museum exhibits.

Source: Dragon Ball official site