{"product_id":"dragon-quest-ドラゴンクエスト-later-known-as-dragon-quest-legend-of-the-hero-abel-original-japanese-tv-retail-promotional-poster-1989-rare-b1-size-c-72-103-cm","title":"“Dragon Quest” (ドラゴンクエスト \/ later known as Dragon Quest: Legend of the Hero Abel), Original Japanese TV \u0026 Retail Promotional Poster 1989, Rare B1 Size (c. 72 × 103 cm) JA23","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is an \u003cstrong\u003eoriginal Japanese B1 promotional poster produced in 1989 for the launch of the television anime\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDragon Quest\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e, the series later widely known as \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDragon Quest: Legend of the Hero Abel\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e (ドラゴンクエスト 勇者アベル伝説).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eImportantly, this is \u003cstrong\u003enot a theatrical movie poster\u003c\/strong\u003e. It is a large-format \u003cstrong\u003ebroadcast and retail promotional piece\u003c\/strong\u003e, produced to advertise both the anime’s Fuji TV premiere and the rapidly expanding range of \u003cstrong\u003eDragon Quest World Goods\u003c\/strong\u003e merchandise being sold through Japanese toy and department stores.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrinted in the imposing \u003cstrong\u003eJapanese B1 format of approximately 72.8 × 103 cm\u003c\/strong\u003e, the poster combines a spectacular full-sheet anime illustration with period broadcast information and a dedicated merchandising strip along the bottom.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistorical \u0026amp; broadcast context\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe poster itself provides an unusually precise historical anchor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe circular announcement at lower right reads:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e「アニメ『ドラゴンクエスト』\u003cbr\u003e12\/2(土)から\u003cbr\u003e午後7時30分〜8時\u003cbr\u003eフジテレビ系で\u003cbr\u003e放映開始」\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e— approximately:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“The anime ‘Dragon Quest’ begins broadcasting on the Fuji TV network from Saturday, December 2, 7:30–8:00 PM.”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis corresponds to the series’ \u003cstrong\u003e2 December 1989 Japanese television debut\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe production emerged during the extraordinary late-1980s rise of the \u003cem\u003eDragon Quest\u003c\/em\u003e franchise, when the Enix role-playing games had become a genuine cultural phenomenon in Japan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile the programme is now commonly identified as \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDragon Quest: Legend of the Hero Abel\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e, the poster itself uses the contemporary, simpler title:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDRAGON QUEST\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003emaking it a particularly interesting piece from the programme’s \u003cstrong\u003eoriginal launch period\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDesign\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA wonderfully dynamic large-format composition that transforms the familiar \u003cem\u003eDragon Quest\u003c\/em\u003e fantasy world into an airborne adventure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe central figure is \u003cstrong\u003eAbel\u003c\/strong\u003e, the series’ young hero, flying directly toward the viewer aboard an extraordinary \u003cstrong\u003ewinged glider\u003c\/strong\u003e. His body projects forward from the centre of the sheet, creating a remarkable sense of depth and momentum, while the vast cream-coloured wings sweep diagonally across almost the entire B1 composition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbove and behind him appears \u003cstrong\u003eTiala\u003c\/strong\u003e, gripping the glider rigging, while the supporting adventurers are distributed throughout the airborne formation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe comic wizard \u003cstrong\u003eYanack\u003c\/strong\u003e appears suspended upside down from another winged craft, adding a wonderfully playful note to the otherwise high-energy action scene.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt lower right, \u003cstrong\u003eMokomoko\u003c\/strong\u003e joins the assault, while the background is filled with flying monsters and other creatures from the \u003cem\u003eDragon Quest\u003c\/em\u003e universe.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLooming over the entire right-hand side is the enormous spectral image of \u003cstrong\u003eBaramos\u003c\/strong\u003e, the principal antagonist, rendered in ominous purples and deep shadow. His scale turns the background itself into a threat, contrasting dramatically with the bright blue sky and adventurous movement of the heroes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt the upper centre appears the bold red:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDRAGON QUEST\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003elogo.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe design captures the particular visual appeal of early \u003cem\u003eDragon Quest\u003c\/em\u003e: a mixture of \u003cstrong\u003efantasy adventure, humour, monsters, technology and unmistakably Toriyama-derived character design\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAkira Toriyama connection\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe visual identity of \u003cem\u003eDragon Quest\u003c\/em\u003e is inseparable from \u003cstrong\u003eAkira Toriyama\u003c\/strong\u003e, whose original character and monster designs for the game series established the franchise’s instantly recognisable look.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe anime adapts that visual language into television animation: the rounded character forms, expressive faces, comic monsters and clean, energetic linework all unmistakably belong to the broader Toriyama-era \u003cem\u003eDragon Quest\u003c\/em\u003e aesthetic.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is especially evident in the contrast between the heroic central figures and the multitude of colourful flying creatures scattered throughout the composition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor collectors, that gives the poster strong crossover appeal between \u003cstrong\u003eDragon Quest, classic Japanese RPG culture, late-1980s television anime and Akira Toriyama-related design\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDragon Quest World Goods\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe lower promotional strip is one of the most historically interesting elements of the poster.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAcross the bottom appears:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDRAGON QUEST WORLD GOODS\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003etogether with the announcement:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e「ドラゴエグッズ取扱店が、12月から1000店に！一気に増えた。\u003cbr\u003eお求めはデパート玩具売場、玩具専門店で。」\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e— approximately:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“Stores carrying Dragon Quest goods expand to 1,000 locations from December! Available at department-store toy sections and specialist toy shops.”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlongside the copy are actual photographs of contemporary merchandise, including \u003cstrong\u003epencils \/ stationery, figures, plush toys, cards and monster goods\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis makes the poster considerably more than a simple anime advertisement. It documents the moment when \u003cem\u003eDragon Quest\u003c\/em\u003e was becoming a \u003cstrong\u003efully developed multimedia and merchandising phenomenon\u003c\/strong\u003e, extending from video games into television, toys, stationery and character goods.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe lower copyright line identifies \u003cstrong\u003eEnix, Shueisha, Fuji Television and NAS\u003c\/strong\u003e, reinforcing its original promotional purpose.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe B1 format\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eJapanese B1 measures approximately 72.8 × 103 cm\u003c\/strong\u003e, giving it roughly twice the printed surface area of the more familiar Japanese B2 format.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLarge B1 promotional sheets were particularly effective for \u003cstrong\u003emajor retail displays, department stores, toy shops and other high-visibility promotional locations\u003c\/strong\u003e, but their scale also made them substantially more difficult to store and preserve.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis design benefits enormously from the format.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe sweeping wings, layered aircraft and enormous image of Baramos stretch across more than a metre of printed paper, creating a much more dramatic impression than a conventional smaller-format advertisement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSurviving period \u003cem\u003eDragon Quest\u003c\/em\u003e promotional material of this size is increasingly difficult to encounter, particularly with the \u003cstrong\u003eprincipal illustration retaining such strong colour and visual integrity\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVery Good+ overall, with the principal image presenting in Excellent condition.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe central artwork remains exceptionally strong, with \u003cstrong\u003ebright, saturated blues, yellows, reds and greens\u003c\/strong\u003e, crisp character detail and no significant fading affecting the main composition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is \u003cstrong\u003evisible age and handling wear concentrated principally around the margins and lower promotional strip\u003c\/strong\u003e, including \u003cstrong\u003eedge creasing, scattered wrinkles \/ surface impressions and some small areas of edge wear\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe reverse is \u003cstrong\u003eblank\u003c\/strong\u003e and shows natural age-related waviness, creasing and minor handling consistent with a large-format promotional poster from 1989.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCrucially, the \u003cstrong\u003emain illustrated field remains extremely attractive\u003c\/strong\u003e, and the condition issues are substantially less intrusive when the poster is viewed as a complete composition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOnce professionally framed, it will display excellently.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe have \u003cstrong\u003efully taken the condition into account when pricing\u003c\/strong\u003e this example.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlease review all photographs carefully; they show the \u003cstrong\u003eexact poster for sale, front, reverse and detailed areas\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is an \u003cstrong\u003eoriginal Japanese B1 promotional poster from the anime’s original 1989 broadcast and merchandising campaign\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003cbr\u003eIt is \u003cstrong\u003enot a reproduction or modern reprint\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is approximately \u003cstrong\u003e37 years old\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCertificate of Authenticity included.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Japan Poster Shop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57255698628986,"sku":null,"price":475.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0424\/8859\/4591\/files\/man-looking-at-an-art-gallery-wall-2026-09-11T172112.947.jpg?v=1789115069","url":"https:\/\/japanposter.co.uk\/products\/dragon-quest-%e3%83%89%e3%83%a9%e3%82%b4%e3%83%b3%e3%82%af%e3%82%a8%e3%82%b9%e3%83%88-later-known-as-dragon-quest-legend-of-the-hero-abel-original-japanese-tv-retail-promotional-poster-1989-rare-b1-size-c-72-103-cm","provider":"Japan Poster Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}