In 2013, V-Jump released a collection of guidebooks for the Dragon Ball series called Chozenshu. In an interview translated by Kanzenshuu, Toriyama discussed aspects of the story, often providing new information about the world. He was asked several questions about the protagonists’ private lives and the Neko Majin race from his self-parody manga. However, when asked if he modeled any of the characters after real people, Toriyama delivered a surprisingly wholesome response.

Beerus’ Appearance Was Based On A Cornish Rex Cat

“I suppose Beerus, the God of Destruction, was modeled on the 14-year-old cat currently living with us. It’s called a Cornish Rex; it’s a bit of a rare breed. I’m getting off-topic here, but the other day, in spite of developing a serious illness, and the vet declaring it didn’t have long to live, it miraculously got better on its own, and the vet said it might be some kind of demon.”

Beerus first appears in Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods, where he awakens from a 39-year slumber and comes to Earth seeking a worthy opponent. He later acts as an antagonist for Dragon Ball Super’s first saga, which retells the events of the film with a few differences. Initially hostile towards Goku and his friends, Beerus grows to care for them and often provides help during tough situations. A powerful but lazy being, he displays many cat-like behaviors, such as grooming himself and enjoying fish. These traits are unsurprising when considering his feline origins.

Toriyama stated in the 2013 interview how he modeled Beerus after his cat at the time. The 14-year-old Cornish Rex had developed an illness and was told by a veterinarian that they didn’t have long to live. Fortunately, the cat’s condition was somehow cured on its own, leading the vet to remark on how it might be “some kind of demon”. Toriyama said he also modeled Korin’s appearance after the sleeping face of his previous cat, Koge, which is why the Tower Master’s eyes are always closed.

Despite stating that he rarely uses real-life models, some characters bear a striking resemblance to existing figures. It’s also worth noting that Dragon Ball’s story was inspired by the classic Chinese novel, Journey to the West, which follows a Buddhist monk’s pilgrimage to acquire sacred texts. Son Goku is the Japanese form of the Monkey King’s name, Sun Wukong. Others like Bulma, Oolong, and Yamcha were also based on central figures from the novel. Regardless, Beerus’ character has one of the most adorable origin stories from Dragon Ball.