Hisaharu Iijima

Iijima created background art for both Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z, establishing the visual environments that grounded the series' epic battles. His work on DBZ episode 42 in the Namek Saga contributed to the desolate alien landscapes where Goku's allies faced Frieza's forces. His background painting expertise shaped how viewers perceived the stark contrast between Earth locations and the hostile Namek environment. While his Dragon Ball credits are focused compared to his later career, they represent foundational work on one of anime's most visually demanding projects.

Iijima became particularly renowned for his art direction work, serving as art director on prestigious series like Bakemonogatari, the Monogatari franchise (including Nisemonogatari, Nekomonogatari, and Hanamonogatari), Hidamari Sketch, and Maria Holic. He worked closely with Studio Easter and other premier studios on establishing consistent visual palettes for complex narratives. His background art spans comedy, supernatural drama, and slice-of-life genres, demonstrating versatility across tonal ranges. Iijima's foundational work on Dragon Ball placed him among the generation of artists who built anime's visual language during the medium's formative decades.