Ever wonder why Perfect Cell feels so much more "alive" than the generic villains in modern shonen? It’s not just the voice acting or the fact that he literally ate half the cast to get his power. It’s the reference material. If you look at an original dbz cell facial expressions model sheet from the early 90s, you start to realize that the animators at Toei weren’t just drawing a bug-man; they were documenting a specific kind of narcissistic arrogance that is incredibly hard to replicate.
These model sheets—sometimes called settei—are basically the holy grail for Dragon Ball nerds and aspiring animators. They are the literal blueprints. They told every animator on the production line exactly how many lines should be under Cell’s eyes when he’s annoyed versus when he’s actually terrified. They are the reason he looks consistent whether he’s fighting Goku or getting his face kicked in by Gohan.
What an Authentic DBZ Cell Facial Expressions Model Sheet Actually Reveals
Back in the Cell Saga, the production was a chaotic beast. You had different animation supervisors like Minoru Maeda, Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru, and the legendary (yet polarizing) Masayuki Uchiyama. Without a rock-solid dbz cell facial expressions model sheet, the character would have looked like a different person every week. Actually, sometimes he did, but the model sheet was the "North Star" that kept the nightmare at bay.
The most striking thing about these sheets is the focus on the mouth. Perfect Cell has a very human-like mouth compared to his Semi-Perfect or Imperfect forms. The model sheets highlight his "smugness." Look closely at the sketches. You’ll see specific notations on how the corner of the lip should curl. It’s a subtle sneer. It tells the animator: "This guy thinks he’s better than you."
Then there are the eyes. Cell’s eyes are unique because they have that thick, black eyeliner look. The model sheet dictates the thickness of those lines. When he goes into his "wide-eyed" shock—like when Gohan goes Super Saiyan 2—the model sheet shows the pupils shrinking to tiny dots. It’s a classic Akira Toriyama trope, but seeing it laid out on a reference sheet makes you appreciate the technicality of it.
👉 See also: Nothing to Lose: Why the Martin Lawrence and Tim Robbins Movie is Still a 90s Classic
The Evolution of the "Perfect" Look
If you compare the dbz cell facial expressions model sheet across his three forms, you see a clear trajectory of "humanization."
Imperfect Cell was a monster. His model sheets focus on his beak-like mouth and wide, lidless eyes. There isn't much room for "expression" there other than hunger and malice. Semi-Perfect Cell was the awkward middle child. His expressions were more "thuggish." The sketches show him with a heavier brow and a much wider, flatter nose. He looked like a brawler.
But Perfect Cell? That’s where the artistry peaked. The model sheet for his final form is surprisingly elegant. It’s almost pretty. It emphasizes a sharp jawline and a very specific "calm" expression. The animators were instructed to keep his face relatively still. Unlike Frieza, who was prone to wild, vein-popping tantrums, Cell was supposed to be the "Perfect" being. The model sheet reflects that by showing how to draw him with a chilling, stoic grace.
Honestly, the way they handled his "regeneration" face is probably the coolest part of these documents. When he’s growing a limb back, the expression isn't just pain—it's a mixture of agony and intense focus. The model sheets capture those micro-expressions that make the scene feel visceral.
✨ Don't miss: How Old Is Paul Heyman? The Real Story of Wrestling’s Greatest Mind
Why These Sheets Are Still Relevant in 2026
You might think that in the era of Dragon Ball Super and high-end CGI like Super Hero, these old paper sheets don't matter. You’d be wrong.
Modern digital animation often suffers from "flatness." Characters move, but their faces don't always emote with the same weight as the hand-drawn era. When fans talk about the dbz cell facial expressions model sheet, they’re usually pining for that era of "line weight." On the original sheets, you can see where the lead animator pressed down harder on the pencil to emphasize a scowl. That translates to a sense of "mass" on screen.
Collectors pay thousands for original settei copies. Why? Because they are a record of a lost art. They show the "cheats" animators used to make a character look 3D on a 2D plane. For example, Cell’s headpiece (the "crown") is a nightmare to draw from different angles. The model sheet provides a "rotation" guide, showing exactly how the perspective shifts when he looks up or down.
Breaking Down the Key Expressions
If you’re lucky enough to find a high-res scan of these sheets, look for these specific "keys":
🔗 Read more: Howie Mandel Cupcake Picture: What Really Happened With That Viral Post
- The "I’ve Won" Smirk: This is the most famous Cell face. One eye slightly more closed than the other, a tiny upturn of the lip. It’s pure ego.
- The "Impossible" Shock: Used when someone (usually Gohan) overpowers him. The brow disappears, the eyes go perfectly round, and the chin drops.
- The Mid-Laugh Cackle: The model sheet shows how the "cheeks" of the mask interact with the jaw. It’s a complex piece of character design because his face is essentially a hard shell, yet it has to move like skin.
- The Zenkai Focus: This is the serious, "I’m about to blow up the planet" look. Minimal lines, heavy shading under the brow.
Kinda crazy how much thought goes into a villain who basically exists just to get beat up by a teenager, right? But that’s why the Cell Saga remains the peak of the franchise for many. The level of detail in the character's "acting"—driven by these reference sheets—was unparalleled at the time.
Where to Find These Reference Materials Today
Finding an original dbz cell facial expressions model sheet is getting harder. Most are tucked away in private collections in Japan or owned by former Toei staff. However, the internet archive and specific "settei" repositories are your best bet.
Sites like Kanzenshuu or specialized Mandarake auctions often feature these. Just be careful with "reproduction" sheets. A real production sheet will often have "copy" marks or specific studio notations in the margins (like scene numbers or animator initials). If it looks too clean, it’s probably a modern print.
Basically, if you want to understand the "soul" of 90s Dragon Ball, stop looking at the finished frames and start looking at the blueprints. The model sheets are where the character was actually born. They are the bridge between Toriyama's manga art and the fluid animation we saw on TV.
How to Use This Knowledge for Your Own Art
If you’re a digital artist or an aspiring animator trying to capture that 90s aesthetic, don't just "copy" a screenshot. That’s a rookie mistake. A screenshot is the result of a tired animator trying to meet a deadline. Instead, study the dbz cell facial expressions model sheet itself.
- Analyze the line weight: Notice how the outer lines of the face are thicker than the interior detail lines.
- Study the "Eye-to-Brow" ratio: In DBZ, the distance between the eye and the eyebrow is the "anger meter." The closer they are, the more intense the character is.
- Don't over-detail: The beauty of the model sheet is its simplicity. It gives you the "essential" lines. If you add too many wrinkles or shadows, you lose the "Toriyama" feel.
- Practice the "V" shape: Cell’s face is built on a series of V-shapes and triangles. From the shape of his eyes to the way his chin tapers, mastering these geometric foundations is the only way to get the likeness right.
Once you’ve mastered the base expressions from the sheet, try "acting" with the character. Draw Cell doing something he never did in the show—like eating a sandwich or looking genuinely bored. If you can maintain the "Cell-ness" using the rules from the model sheet, you’ve truly understood the character's design language.
Practical Next Steps
- Search for "DBZ Settei" on Japanese auction sites to see the variety of sheets available; this gives you a better sense of how different characters were handled.
- Download high-resolution scans of the Cell "rotation" sheets to understand how his crown and facial structure work in 3D space.
- Compare the Cell sheets to modern Dragon Ball Super character sheets to see the shift from "organic/hand-drawn" shapes to "digital-friendly" designs.