Midori Iwai

Midori Iwai was an inbetweener who worked on the original Dragon Ball series, helping to bridge the motion between key frames across 18 episodes. Her contributions appeared throughout several defining sagas, including the Emperor Pilaf Saga, the Tournament Saga, the Red Ribbon Army Saga, and the General Blue Saga. She continued her work into Dragon Ball Z, supporting the massive visual demands of the franchise's escalating power levels and action sequences.

Her specific episodes in the original series included some of the most memorable moments, from the Emperor Pilaf Saga's opening episodes to the climactic Piccolo Jr. Saga final match between Goku and the junior demon king. Inbetweeners like Iwai were essential to the anime's fluidity, taking the key animators' core poses and creating the transitional frames that made every punch, kick, and energy blast feel dynamic and alive.

Iwai was part of a generation of inbetweeners who shaped the visual identity of Dragon Ball during its most formative years. Beyond her Dragon Ball work, she contributed to other notable projects including Galaxy Express 999 and various theatrical films. Her consistent technical work on the original series and Z laid groundwork for animators who would follow, demonstrating the craft required to sustain Toei Animation's ambitious weekly production schedule.