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.
According to Akira Toriyama, the inspiration for Beerus' design came from an old Cornish Rex cat living with him. The cat became seriously ill and the vet declared it did not have much longer to live, but the cat miraculously recovered and the vet joked that it might be some kind of demon.