Minoru Maeda

Minoru Maeda served as chief animator and primary character designer for Dragon Ball from its 1986 premiere through the Perfect Cell Saga of Dragon Ball Z in 1992, making him the single largest visual influence on the original anime adaptation. His rounded design aesthetic became synonymous with Dragon Ball's early charm, contrasting sharply with the more angular style Tadayoshi Yamamuro would later introduce. Maeda overseen nearly every aspect of the animation process, inspecting and approving key animation cels and stepping in as animator or supervisor when needed. He directed numerous episodes across both series and illustrated all promotional materials, character databooks, and film comic covers during his tenure.

Maeda began his animation career in 1968 at Studio Junio and became chief animation director for Dr. Slump before Dragon Ball. After leaving Studio Junio, he joined SynergySP, an animation studio founded in 1998 by former Toei animators. He expressed strong interest in returning to Dragon Ball if new projects were commissioned. Beyond Dragon Ball, Maeda contributed to classic anime including Doraemon, Lupin III, and Space Battleship Yamato.