A new interview with Akira Toriyama that goes over his draft for the Tournament of Power is out. Translations
here.
But to summarize:
- Quitela, Jiren, Toppo and Dyspo were designed by Toriyama
- Toriyama didn't have a personality yet for Jiren, so when Toei wanted to make him a talkative Superman-type character, Toriyama shot down that idea and instead the Superman-type character went to Toppo.
- Toppo being a GoD candidate was in Toriyama's initial draft.
- Toei and Toriyama were unsure what to do with Dyspo until they casted Bin Shimada to voice him, which gave him the cocky personality.
- The rest of the Pride Troopers were by Toei, which isn't surprising given how nothing they were.
- You can also infer the rest of the Universes were all Toei and not Toriyama.
- Ribrianne was designed by Toriyama, but Toei stepped in and gave her the weaker "ladylike" base form called Brianne de Chateau.
- Kale and Caulifla weren't in Toriyama's draft at all. Kale was conceived by Toei after Broly's popularity came up in a meeting, they made her a girl so she "wouldn't be exactly like Broly." (lul)
- Caulifla was designed by Toriyama after Toei staff showed him Kale.
- Universe 7's elminations were planned from the start.
- On that note, Buu being a bait and switch for Frieza was also planned from the start.
- Ultra Instinct was conceived in the middle of constructing the flow of the story. (of course lol)
- DB Super's producer believes Toriyama is setting up a continuation with Super's end.
- 131 apparently has a surprise at the end.
Stuff like this is quite facisnating and makes me wonder how much of this arc was Toriyama and how much of it was Toei filling the blanks. Actually, I question the same regarding the Future Trunks arc, especially since Zamasu ended up being one of my favorite antagonists in the series.