Dragon Ball

It’s undeniable that the Dragon Ball franchise has achieved legendary status since its inception by Akira Toriyama in 1984. The manga quickly gained a huge following, and even today, over four decades later, Toriyama’s impact on the world of manga and anime is still felt. The series played a significant role in reshaping the manga industry, paving the way for future shonen manga and anime. It also established the formula for shonen battles, introducing elements like power-ups, training phases, rivalries, and more. Dragon Ball not only made manga and anime popular globally but also influenced numerous artists with its distinctive clean art style and exhilarating fight scenes.

The show not only introduced power leveling and transformations, which are now common in battle-themed manga, but it has significantly influenced series like Naruto, One Piece, My Hero Academia, and many more. Yet, during an interview with KosoKoso_hoso for J-Wave, Dragon Ball editors revealed some hidden aspects of the series. Initially, Toriyama intended to conclude the series sooner, but was persuaded to continue, despite his waning enthusiasm. However, he agreed to carry on under one stipulation: simplifying and streamlining the final saga of Dragon Ball, eliminating complex time paradoxes from the Cell Saga. Although the original interview is in Japanese, Venixys, a Dragon Ball fan, has translated the discussions between editors Kazuhiko Torishima, Yu Kondo, and Fuyuto Takeda.

| In the podcast here, they talk about how great Back to the Future is.

6/n

— Enomis (@Venixys) February 23, 2025

Akira Toriyama Planned to End Dragon Ball After the Cell Saga

The Epic Tale of Dragon Ball Z’s Cell Saga remains one of the franchise’s finest arcs. What many fans may not realize is that Toriyama initially intended to wrap up the series post-Cell Saga. Yet, his intention puzzled many, as they felt the story could carry on beyond the Cell Saga’s conclusion. As time went by, Toriyama encountered significant pressure from the editorial team to keep the narrative going. However, Takeda stood by Toriyama, even attempting to alleviate some of his workload. Eventually, both creators decided that the story would culminate in the Majin Buu Saga, and their wish was granted.

Following the Cell Saga, the plot took a dramatic shift. Goku’s demise and a seven-year time jump were major turning points. As time progressed, the narrative grew intricate with elements like time travel and paradoxes. An alternate timeline added complexity to the storytelling, making it challenging to maintain a consistent sequence without introducing inconsistencies. It became apparent that events became increasingly convoluted as the Saga unfolded. The Saga ultimately concluded on a somber note.

Typically, Goku’s companions could resurrect him using the Dragon Balls. Yet, he refused this revival. Goku thought that the planet would be safer without him present, so no fresh adversary would target him again. After seven peaceful years, Gohan has grown up and everyone has progressed in their lives. However, the World Tournament disrupts this tranquility as a new danger arises from another realm.

Toriyama Wasn’t Enthusiastic About Restarting Dragon Ball

Twenty years following the end of the Dragon Ball Z comic series, fans were thrilled by the arrival of a new chapter called Dragon Ball Super, debuted in 2015. The narrative unfolds approximately four years after the conclusion of the Majin Buu Saga, launching a fresh journey for Goku and his companions. Interestingly, it was disclosed that Toriyama felt uneasy about resuming Dragon Ball. Around a decade ago, when talks about carrying on with the original tale surfaced, the creator showed minimal excitement.

Toriyama expressed that the joy he once took in his work wasn’t present anymore, which is a shift from his past motivation. In an interview, he also mentioned feeling less enthusiastic compared to before. While he still enjoyed working with certain characters, his level of involvement was not as intense as it once was. This is quite different from when he was creating the Buu or Frieza Sagas, during which he was brimming with creative energy and ideas.

It was noted that Toriyama’s storytelling techniques subtly evolved over time, suggesting a shift in his creative process and a waning source of inspiration. Nevertheless, he remained dedicated to his craft even during his later years. From penning Dragon Ball Super to collaborating closely with Toei on Dragon Ball Daima, Toriyama’s work continues to be highly regarded as one of the best. Following his passing on March 1st, 2024, Dragon Ball Super temporarily stopped publication. Although Chapter 104 resumed on February 19th, 2025, the release date for the next chapter remains undetermined.

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2025-02-28 23:03