According to Akira Toriyama, he did this film in part as personal vengeance for the creation of Dragonball Evolution (2009).
During production Akira Toriyama drew Android 18's hair as purple and his supporting staff had to point out that it was originally blonde. He also forgot about the Super Saiyan 2/3 ascensions, assuming they were "something with long hair".
Emperor Pilaf, Shu and Mai, the antagonists of Dragon Ball (1995), are seen here as children, having wished for youth and technically getting what they wanted. This is a reflection and parody of Dragon Ball GT (1996), where Pilaf wished Goku to be a child and he stayed one throughout that show.
Tadayoshi Yamamuro originally designed the Super Saiyan God to have a muscular form and a cloak, but Akira Toriyama insisted that the form be sleek, with as little enhanced muscles as possible.
The funding of this movie costs ¥50 million ($636,000 USD) received by Toei from the Agency for Cultural Affairs (Bunka-cho) as part of the non-profit organization UNIJAPAN's "Co-production Certification Program". Of the four films awarded funding support, this movie was the only animated film to receive such an honor due to its "enduring international popularity" and its production collaboration with 20th Century Fox.