Dragon Ball Team Confirms Cell Saga Was Meant to Be the End

A popular talk among playground chatter is that “Dragon Ball” could have concluded sooner than it did. This assumption arises from several key story points within the series that many viewers considered fitting endings for the franchise. Additionally, there are records indicating that the original creator of “Dragon Ball,” Akira Toriyama, had been seeking to wrap up the series for quite some time before he finally did. Most fans believe that the series was intended to conclude at the end of the Cell Games arc. This segment featured one of the more definitive conclusions in the franchise, with Goku giving his life and Gohan stepping forward to save Earth from Cell.

After Goku’s permanent demise, the conclusion of the Cell Games felt like an appropriate ending for the series. On the other hand, the Buu Saga seemed chaotic, with Toriyama introducing and abandoning various plot points haphazardly. Despite numerous discussions about Toriyama’s feelings towards the later parts of Dragon Ball, there was little confirmation that the Cell Games were meant to be the final chapter. However, recent interviews with Toriyama’s editors on a Japanese radio podcast have confirmed that the author indeed intended to conclude Dragon Ball with the defeat of Cell.

| We finally have confirmation that Toriyama wanted to end Dragon Ball with the Cell saga!

2/n

— Enomis (@Venixys) February 23, 2025

Akira Toriyama Wanted to End Dragon Ball with the Cell Saga

On a previous platform known as Twitter, Venixys has been sharing excerpts from an interview on the Kosokoso Radio show by Kazuhiko Torishima, Yu Kondo, and Fuyuto Takeda (former editors of Dragon Ball manga on Shonen Jump). They revealed that Toriyama had initially planned to conclude the manga during the Cell Saga. Initially taken aback, the team felt the series could continue after Cell’s defeat. However, they eventually persuaded Toriyama to carry on the storyline, which led to the Majin Buu Saga.

In this scenario, Takeda, often aligning closely with Toriyama, made efforts to lighten Toriyama’s workload and boost his creative freedom. The team brainstormed ideas to enhance the enjoyment factor of the Buu Saga for Toriyama, allowing him greater flexibility in character design and incorporating more humor. The team was particularly amazed by Toriyama’s inventiveness, particularly the comical Ghost Kamikaze Attack move from Gotenks, which showcased Toriyama’s unique creativity at its best. Later on, Takeda collaborated with Toriyama to bring a conclusive end to the Dragon Ball manga with the finale of the Majin Buu Saga, resulting in the beloved ending fans remember.

Why the Cell Games Was the Perfect Ending for Dragon Ball

There were various rumors circulating among fans about where the Dragon Ball series would conclude, with some believing it should end after the Cell Games arc due to its satisfying narrative resolution. Others thought it might have ended with the Namek Saga when Goku unlocked Super Saiyan and defeated the strongest being in the universe, while some even speculated that the original Dragon Ball was the intended ending point for the manga because Goku had become an adult, surpassed the Earth’s protector, and defeated the Demon King. These differing opinions about the series’ endpoint made the rumor seem unreliable until recently when it was officially confirmed.

Despite other possibilities, the Cell Games ending was widely favored for the series due to its compelling narrative resolution. Gohan’s long-building anger found its full expression in this instance. Symbolically, Goku handed over his role as Earth’s protector to his son, Gohan, through their powerful Father-Son Kamehameha Wave, which ultimately destroyed Cell for good. Even secondary characters received fitting conclusions; Piccolo merged with Kami and Vegeta formed a bond with his son Trunks. Notably, Vegeta delivered a decisive blow to help Gohan overcome and defeat Cell, demonstrating his commitment as a permanent ally.

Compared to the Cell Saga, the Majin Buu arc felt more disorganized and less centered. The turning point of Vegeta’s heel and subsequent redemption, along with the ongoing character growth, were significant highlights. However, the shift back to Goku as the primary character weakened the initial message of passing on responsibilities to the next generation. Additionally, the Majin Buu arc didn’t provide the same payoff for the long-anticipated strength of Gohan that was hinted at since the beginning of Dragon Ball Z. Despite this, the story moved forward beyond the Buu Saga through shows like Dragon Ball Super and Daima, making it an ongoing series. Ultimately, the ending of the series doesn’t matter because the franchise will continue indefinitely.

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2025-02-27 17:10