Beerus

Lore & Background

Beerus's name was taken from the word "virus", though Toriyama mistakenly believed the word meant "beer", which began the naming pun used for Whis during production of Battle of Gods, and later future Gods of Destruction and attendants after alcoholic beverages. His design is based on a cat and his clothes based on Egyptian garments. Beerus's design was partially based on a Cornish Rex cat that had lived with Toriyama at the time of design work, the cat miraculously recovering from an illness and the veterinarian joked that it was demonic.

Toei initially had the character to resemble a lizard, Toriyama changing it entirely to a cat. Beerus was planned to use either a spoon or fork in combatting the heroes, the idea being overturned when Tadayoshi Yamamuro, the animation director on Battle of Gods, considered it difficult for Beerus to fight that way and made the suggestion of chopsticks instead. The development of Beerus' character first started sometime in 2011. His name and voice actors, along with the film's poster, were officially revealed in December 2012 in Weekly Shōnen Jump's first issue of 2013; Kōichi Yamadera would provide the character's voice.

The film poster displays Super Saiyan Goku combating the God of Destruction Beerus, with Whis floating showered in light in the background.

Reader's Guide

Beerus is voiced by Kōichi Yamadera in all Japanese Dragon Ball media. In the English Funimation dub, Beerus is voiced by Jason Douglas. Douglas interpreted voice director Chris Sabat as believing Beerus's voice was "similar in tone" to Douglas' prior role in Borderlands 2 as Krieg. Douglas found out he had earned the role through his agent.

In the Bang Zoom! Entertainment English language dub, produced for Toonami Asia and is exclusive to Southeast Asia and India, he is voiced by John DeMita. Beerus possesses power capable of easily destroying universes. During his first fight with Super Saiyan God Goku, the clashing of the two's fists created ripples which traveled through the macrocosmos of Universe 7, and was said to be able to destroy the universe if it continued.

It was also revealed after the fight that Beerus was holding back a considerably significant amount of his power and had an ability to neutralize any mortal's energy. In Chapter 28 of the Dragon Ball Super manga, Beerus is shown to have the imperfect version of Ultra Instinct, which was showcased as he dodged the attacks of every other God of Destruction. Some of Beerus's unique attacks include Sphere of Destruction (ビルス玉, Birusu Dama), where he creates a small sun-like ball of energy in between his hands, raises his arms, and quickly enlarges the ball before launching it, along with Destruction before Creation, where he surrounds himself in an aura resembling a sun prior to releasing an energy wave.

Beerus's strongest technique, Hakai (破壊; lit. "Destruction") can be used to completely obliterate objects and entities within the universe. Hakai is able to instantly destroy the body and even souls of mortals and low-tier Gods, which can be seen in action when Beerus uses the technique on Zamasu and the ghost of Dr. Mashirito. Although the technique is first seen being used by Beerus, all Gods of Destruction can utilize the ability. Similarly to other Gods of Destruction and Supreme Kais, Beerus's life is linked to the East Supreme Kai, where if one dies then so will the other.

This amounts to a weakness given East Supreme Kai's vast inferiority in strength to Beerus. Due to the East Supreme Kai being killed in the alternate timeline, while assisting Trunks in facing Dabura, the version of Beerus that exists there dies during his sleep.