Originally intended as the main character, Senbei Norimaki—also known as Dr. Slump—became the deuteragonist when the series shifted focus to his creation, Arale Norimaki. The editor preferred Arale as the protagonist, deeming Senbei insufficiently appealing alone. Initially designed as cool and handsome, the creator reimagined him with an "idiotic personality" to prevent being overshadowed by his own character. Orphaned young, Senbei attended Penguin Village Middle School and developed his first crush on a teacher. Early inventions like a talking alarm clock and the Future Camera—displaying images of future appearances—marked his beginnings. Creating Arale, an android he introduces variably as his younger sister or daughter, changed his life. Early paternal challenges, including buying her clothing, forced him to cross-dress for discreet panty purchases. Portly with bushy black hair and a mustache, Senbei typically dons a white lab coat or a "Slump"-labeled cap. A recurring trait temporarily transforms him into a taller, rugged figure during moments of confidence or seriousness—but only for three minutes. His personality merges scientific brilliance with eccentricity and lechery. Lacking common sense, he often crafts absurd inventions for ulterior motives, such as voyeuristic See-Thru Glasses that see through clothing. An obsession with women, especially Arale’s teacher Midori Yamabuki, frequently sparks his inventiveness. His romantic pursuit of Midori creates a major story arc. Following many misadventures, an accidental proposal in a restroom results in their marriage. They later bear a biological son, Turbo Norimaki, who gains superhuman intelligence and telekinetic powers after aliens save him from a near-fatal accident. The family grows with Gatchan, a winged, metal-eating creature hatched from an egg Senbei acquired on a prehistoric time-travel trip. Senbei's inventions span from practical to ludicrous: the Big-Small Gun for resizing objects; the Numb Ray Gun, a dinosaur-immune paralysis device; the Time Slipper time machine; and the Reality Machine #2, materializing imagined objects. Other creations include a cyborg bear rebuilt post-hunting and a robotic dog tracker using Arale’s panties for scent. Crossover appearances in the Dragon Ball universe feature Senbei interacting with Goku in the Red Ribbon Army Saga. He fails to fix Goku’s Dragon Radar, needing Turbo’s covert help. Later, in Dragon Ball Super, he wins the "World Invention Award" for Reality Machine #2, foiling rival Dr. Mashirito’s revenge with Arale’s aid. The 1997 anime remake changes Senbei’s backstory, showing Arale’s creation as an accident while building an attractive maid. His name puns on "senbei" (rice cracker) and "norimaki" (wrapped in seaweed). A running gag inconsistently presents Arale’s origins, alternating between sister and daughter claims.