Notizie

There is one race that posed a far greater challenge to Akira Toriyama than the Saiyans, and it is the little green men, the Namekians. In a candid interview, Akira Toriyama, the legendary author behind Dragon Ball, confessed to a long-time secret.

Most Namekians are sage types, and fighting types like Piccolo are rare. They’re still a very mysterious race, so they can be a bit of a headache even for me, the original creator.

Akira Toriyama

While the lore of the Saiyans has fueled countless debates and arcs, it was the Namekian lore, as well as the complex backstory of the aura farmer, Piccolo, that proved to be a headache for him.

This admission comes during an interview (a Q&a session) that was included in the movie pamphlet of Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero. This movie marks a huge step-up for Piccolo as it showcases a rare wish with something extra,...

Dragon Ball Z’s legacy is defined by its intense battles, but not every fight can represent it at its peak. There are some fights that are worthy of being called legendary; these are the battles that cannot be forgotten and continue to awe fans decades later. Even after installments like Dragon Ball Super and Daima, Z’s legacy remains unsurpassed.

The series’ constant escalation of power levels might mean more flair, but the top fights of Dragon Ball Z are all timeless spectacles. Their impact is not just seen in the franchise or in anime, but is felt in the modern culture of the world. Even after so long, these fights have not been surpassed yet. Be it incredible transformations, iconic entries, or even fusions, here is the list of nine such timeless fights that stand at the peak of the series.

9. Gotenks vs. Super Buu

Gotenks is one...

The Super Saiyan God Prophecy in Dragon Ball Super might not be real, and could have been a huge lie by the Angel Whis. Just hear this out, Beerus had been sleeping, neglecting his duties as the God of Destruction of Universe 7. Without a powerful motivation like a worthy opponent or delicious food, Beerus would’ve continued to doze off.

Whis, being an Angel with a vast range of powers, and timeless wisdom and cunning, might have concocted this Super Saiyan God idea. It wouldn’t be hard for a being who can literally reverse time to make Beerus have a dream about a mysterious ‘God’ figure. By doing so and threatening the Oracle Fish, the prophecy seemed genuine.

Dragon Ball Super’s Hidden Goal Behind the Super Saiyan God Prophecy

Dragon Ball Super follows the rise of Goku, Vegeta, and the others on a cosmic scale. The reason behind...

Dragon Ball's official Toriyama Archives have given fans the chance to see a rare piece of draft Goku artwork nearly 40 years after its initial release.

As seen via the official site's Toriyama Archives feature, Dragon Ball fans were able to take in a rare draft illustration of Goku in a now-deleted post, with the artwork being available for 24 hours only. The finished art originally appeared on the cover of Weekly Shonen Jump's 19th anniversary issue, released on July 7, 1987. Readers can see the art for themselves in the image below.

Dragon Ball Releases Rare Goku Draft Illustration Nearly 40 Years After Official Reveal Image via Shueisha

The classic illustration was shared with a caption reading, "The 19th anniversary issue of Weekly Shonen Jump brought together a large cast of popular manga protagonists on its front cover. Among the parade of characters, Goku can be seen helming the front of the parade car,...

Gohan’s Beast form is one of the coolest ones in all of Dragon Ball, and there is a theory that suggests that it is not accessible to pure-blooded Saiyans. The Saiyans are a race born for battle; they are driven by the pursuit of strength and are limited in their ability to showcase human emotions.

However, as a Hybrid Saiyan, Gohan can effectively leverage both bloodlines. Not only does he have the Saiyan strength, but he can also leverage the unique ability of tapping into extreme emotions and push his strength further. Remember the battle with Cell? The Gohan was then filled with a sense of responsibility, which led him to exceed his limits.

Gohan was able to unlock forms such as Ultimate Gohan not just due to his Saiyan heritage, but also his human genetics. These forms are not available to the Saiyans, as they have a set path of progression.

Dragon Ball‘s editor, Kazuhiko Torishima, reveals the reason for the Budokai Tenkaichi’s existence decades after its introduction. The Budokai Tenkaichi, more popularly known as the World Martial Arts Tournament, is one of the most beloved and enduring elements of the Dragon Ball franchise that has now become a staple trope for the Shonen genre.

After Dragon Ball‘s first arc ended with Oolong’s nonsensical wish, Torishima wondered whether the audience felt that the manga was only about searching for the wish-making items. That would make it extremely tedious and boring. That is why the tournament was introduced. In an interview with Hiroshi Matsuyama, the CEO and President of Japanese video game company CyberConnet2, Torishima revealed,

So I had Gokū train at Kame-sennin’s to keep the story simple. Together with Krillin. Then, the Tenkaichi Budokai was prepared as a place to test the results of that training.

There is a character from Dragon Ball Daima that I would very much like to see returning in Dragon Ball Super. And no, it is not Gomah or Arinsu; instead, it is the seemingly comical character of Majin Duu.

Majin Duu might seem like a generic gag character, but if you examine his traits, it becomes clear that he is extremely broken. Don’t believe me yet? Well, think about Cell, a being with unlimited potential. Now, think about Buu, a similar being with no restrictions on his growth.

Well, Majin Duu might have made a joke out of it, but he manages to perfectly embody both of these traits. The way Duu utilizes the Super Saiyan forms and energy, not to mention his power, all make him a formidable character that should be showcased in Super as well.

Majin Duu Could Break the Power System in Dragon Ball Super...

Ryusei Nakao, the Japanese voice actor of Frieza in Dragon Ball Z, shared his thoughts on the current trend of live-action anime adaptations. Cbr interviewed Nakao during San Diego Comic Con, which took place from July 24 to 27 at the San Diego Convention Center in California.

Nakao, who initially joined the Dragon Ball franchise as the voice of Tambourine in the 1986 anime, has voiced numerous villains, such as Cooler, Chilled and Frost. Of course, Nakao's most iconic role in the franchise is Frieza, the intergalactic tyrant who pushed Goku to his limits on Namek, spurring his legendary transformation into Super Saiyan Goku in Dragon Ball Z. Cbr asked Nakao about his Dbz history and his thoughts on live-action anime adaptations, such as Netflix’s One Piece or the infamous Dragonball Evolution.

Dbz's Frieza Voice Actor Wants to See Another Shonen Jump Anime Transformed Into Live-Action Image via Cbr

Cbr asked Nakao...

One of Dragon Ball's lesser-known properties among Western fans is Cardass -- a collectible trading card game which Bandai first released in 1991. 24 years later, the franchise's staff has unearthed a beautiful piece of original artwork from the game's debut year.

Per Dragon Ball's official website, the Akira Toriyama Archive recently unveiled a hard-to-find draft illustration of Frieza created for the cover of the Cardass Secrets Encyclopedia: Dragon Ball Z. Initially released on April 1, 1994, this volume showcased designs for all 394 cards from the original Cardass game series. As shown below, the original cover highlights Frieza with a dour facial expression. He is also depicted inside one of his classic hover pods from an aerial perspective, making the pod's interior partially visible to the viewer. Cbr readers can check it out below.

Rare Dbz Frieza Artwork Resurfaces After 30 Years Image by Shueisha

By 1991, Dragon Ball had garnered a massive audience...

Remember Dragon Ball? The original one with little Son Goku going on adventures, the hilarious gag humor, and a mystical setting? It has been extremely long since then; it felt like the newer Dragon Ball anime focused massively on expansion, becoming a collage of intense battles.

Many veteran fans missed the feel of the original. This is what led to the making of Dragon Ball Daima. It was a throwback installment that brought out brilliant gags and an incredibly interesting story. Daima had multiple advantages, yet fell flat.

Not only was it the ultimate work of Toriyama, but it also had a unique style that should have made it an appealing drink to the thirsty fans.

Dragon Ball Daima Brings Back the Signature Gags

The Dragon Ball series progressed in an extremely different manner from its original installment. Starting from the Saiyan Saga (the demarcation known as Dragon Ball Z...

If Dragon Ballwere ever going to get another spinoff, then there’s someone who’d be perfect for the job. Even with the untimely death of Akira Toriyama, Dragon Ball is more alive than ever with video games and the recent run of Dragon Ball Daima, and more content should be expected for years to come.

Someone who could help keep Dragon Ball going is Dr. Stone artist Boichi; Boichi recently started posting pieces of his 40th anniversary tribute art to social media, and it’s a perfect reminder that Dr. Stone’s Boichi would be perfect for a Dragon Ball spinoff, an idea that makes even more sense when looking at everything else Boichi has done in the past.

Dr. Stone Fans Already Know What The Artist’s Dragon Ball Spinoff Would Be Like What To Expect From Boichi's Dragon Ball

If Boichi really did do a Dragon Ball spinoff,...

Toyotarou, the artist and co-creator of the Dragon Ball Super manga, released a brand-new artwork of another fan-favorite character in the Dragon Ball universe. This time around, Toyotarou illustrated the rare individual who outranks the high intellect of Bulma Brief.

Shared by the official Dragon Ball website, Toyotarou illustrated Dr. Brief, the father of Bulma Brief, for the July 2025 edition of "Toyotaro Drew This!" Here's the brief description the official website gives of the man who raised Bulma as a super genius: "Bulma's father and the president of Capsule Corporation, one of the world's leading companies. He is the super genius who invented the Hoi-Poi Capsule!"

Dragon Ball Super's Toyotaro Draws Bulma's Father for 'Toyotaro Drew This!' July 2025 Image via Shueisha

Toyotaro's illustration of Dr. Brief shows off the rare serious side of the comical scientist. Dr. Brief is completely locked in, tinkering away at his famed Hoi-Poi...

You might recognise Stephanie Nadolny’s voice in Dragon Ball Daima, as she is also the Og English voice of kid Goku from the original Dragon Ball series. After all, she’s the reason many of us first fell in love with this franchise. However, little did we know how difficult it was for her when she first landed the role of Son Goku, as she struggled a lot to act off-screen.

When it was announced that Stephanie Nadolny was returning in Daima after 16 years, everyone felt joy, including her. However, her journey to get accustomed to this role was filled with major hardships. In a recent interview with Cbr at San Diego Comic-Con, she revealed the difficulties that arose while switching from on-stage to off-stage acting.

Why Nadolny Had a Hard Time Voicing Off-Screen

Stephanie Nadolny’s voice as Kid Goku truly brought the character to life, but she...

A major part of Dragon Ball Daima’s draw for modern audiences was the sense of nostalgia it gave fans of the Og series. Key to capturing that feeling for English-speaking fans was the return of beloved original Kid Goku voice actor Stephanie Nadolny. While Nadolny’s star power speaks for itself nowadays, that wasn’t always the case -- especially given the behind-the-scenes nature of voice acting as a profession.

In a new interview with Cbr at San Diego Comic-Con, Stephanie Nadolny revealed how difficult it was for her to adjust to acting off-screen. Nadolny was the voice actor of young Goku in the original Dragon Ball series, and also the voice of Gohan in Dbz. She later continued her role as Kid Goku in Dragon Ball Gt and has since taken on roles as Kid Goku and Gohan in numerous Dragon Ball video games and other media. However,...

In an exclusive interview at San Diego Comic-Con, Cbr spoke with legendary voice actor Stephanie Nadolny, known for her roles as Kid Goku in Og Dragon Ball and Gohan in Dbz. Nadolny has a particularly close relationship to both Goku and his firstborn son, given that she walked in their shoes for much of their early lives.

Nadolny initially got her start with Dragon Ball as the voice of Gohan in Funimation's Dbz English dub, before taking over as Kid Goku in Dragon Ball and later Dragon Ball Gt. At Sdcc, Nadolny spoke to Cbr about finally reprising her role as Goku in Dragon Ball Daima after over 10 years, as well as how she got into the role to begin with. Playing Gohan, let alone Goku, was never really part of the plan, but they’re so closely interconnected that it makes perfect sense in hindsight.

Dbz Official Voice Actor...

Stephanie Nadolny is a Dragon Ballicon, having been the original English Dub actor of Goku in Og Dragon Ball. As she told Cbr in a new interview at San Diego Comic Con, that’s far from who she originally auditioned to play.

Nadolny took over as Kid Goku in both Og Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Gt, as well as multiple alternative Db media, including the recent DLCs for both Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero and Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot. She actually got her start as the Funimation Dub Va for young Gohan in Dbz, though she hadn’t voiced either Goku or Gohan for over ten years following young Gohan’s recasting in the Dbz Kai Dub. Nadolny recently reprised her role as Kid Goku in Dragon Ball Daima, but as she explained to Cbr at Sdcc, playing either Goku or Gohan was never part of the plan.

Stephanie Nadolny...

Dragon Ball Daima carried fans back to a nostalgic time when Goku was just starting his journey in the original Dragon Ball anime. Coupled with Akira Toriyama’s genius, Toei Animation did everything possible to make Daima the adventure series that Db fans sorely missed, which includes bringing back Goku’s very first voice actress.

Stephanie Nadolny is a famed voice actress who is primarily known for being the English dub voice actor of Kid Goku in Dragon Ball. She also voiced the young Goku in Dragon Ball Gt and Dragon Ball Z. However, she was replaced in Dragon Ball Z Kai and Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, which is why fans were surprised to see her comeback in Dragon Ball Daima.

Toei Doubled Down on the Nostalgia Factor With Goku’s Voice Actor Toei Animation brought back the Og Goku voice actress for Dragon Ball Daima | Credits: Toei Animation

In an interview with Cbr,...

Stephanie Nadolny, the English voice actor of Goku (Mini) in Dragon Ball Daima, spoke with Cbr about her long-awaited return to the franchise after 16 years. Nadolny was interviewed at San Diego Comic Con 2025, which is currently taking place at the San Diego Convention Center in California.

Cbr interviewed Nadolny as she attended San Diego Comic Con, her first Comic Con in 25 years. She revealed that Toei Animation was responsible for her reprising her iconic role as Kid Goku, which originated in the first Dragon Ball anime and continued in Dragon Ball Gt. However, for reasons unknown, she was recast in Dragon Ball Z Kai and was absent from Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot. That changed for the Dragon Ball Daima English dub, as Toei Animation personally requested Nadolny's return as the voice of Kid Goku in the 40th anniversary series.

Goku (Mini) Voice Actor Stephanie Nadolny Thanks Toei Animation for Her...

Among the wider Mobile Suit Gundam franchise, New Mobile Report Gundam Wing remains one of the most popular and iconic. To this end, the big anniversary of the anime is seeing several new projects launched for the After Colony era.

Via a press release, the opening night for 2025's San Diego Comic-Con saw Bandai hosting the "Gundam Showcase - Featuring 30 Years of Gundam Wing" event. Not only did several of the images and videos celebrate the classic anime, but there's also a new manga continuation in the works. This is alongside several other Gundam sequels in different continuities, with Gundam Wing being the harbinger of the brand's continued growth.

Sdcc Reveals Sequels to Gundam Wing & More Anime Classics

The big draw of the "Gundam Showcase" at San Diego Comic-Con 2025 was the celebration of Gundam Wing, which turned 30 years old in 2025. The second "alternate universe" Gundam anime, it was also the...

Netflix's hit new anime series Dandadan is continuing its streaming domination with its latest season. New episodes recently premiered in July.

What's on Netflix recently took a deep dive into the streaming platform's most watched programs and revealed how Dandadan has quietly been breaking its own records. The first season of the series, which ran from October to December 2024, did well -- but Season 2 isn't just keeping up with the debut season but surpassing it. Data shows that cumulative views for the first 2 weeks of Dandadan Season 2 are at 9.4 million, a significant lead over data for the first season, which came in at 7.7 million cumulative views.

Dandadan Season 2 Breaks Own Netflix Anime Record

The new data showing Dandadan's continued rise in popularity comes just weeks after Season 2 premiered on July 4. Picking up directly where the first season ended, the new episodes of Dandadan cover the manga's "Cursed House" and "Evil Eye" arcs,...

One of the moments that shocked fans the most during Dragon Ball Daima's time airing was the introduction of Vegeta's Super Saiyan 3 form. Followers of Akira Toriyama's beloved franchise had been waiting for decades for this transformation to debut at long last. Although it took a while, he was finally able to obtain this legendary form.

However, the intense battles of Daima were not always the best way for fans to truly appreciate the design of this mighty warrior. As such, the Dragon Ball franchise has taken it upon itself to give fans a view of Super Saiyan 3 Vegeta's true splendor in a booklet about the latest anime given to attendees of Japan Expo 2025.

Super Saiyan 3 Vegeta Has Never Looked Better The Booklet Allows Fans to Truly Admire the Prince’s Design

For many fans, one of the most memorable moments from the controversial and retcon-filled Dragon Ball Daima...

After the legendary creator of Dragon Ball, Akira Toriyama, passed away, the franchise’s future hangs in limbo. Dragon Ball Daima was the last gift from the author before he tragically left the world, and it has been more than five years since the last Dragon Ball Super movie premiered in 2018.

With both Dragon Ball Super‘s manga and anime on indefinite hiatus, fans are anxious about the series’ future. That said, this might actually be the best time for Toei Animation to redeem itself with a Dragon Ball movie, especially since Dragon Ball Super has a few more arcs to offer for adaptation.

Dragon Ball Is Missing Out on the Perfect Timing for a Movie Dragon Ball Super’s Galactic Patrol Saga is the perfect recipe for a canon movie | Credits: Viz Media

Episode 131 was the last aired Dragon Ball Super episode, and it adapted chapter 42 of the manga,...

Dragon Ball fans just got a look at a 33-year-old Akira Toriyama illustration featuring what were, at the time, the world's most powerful Saiyan warriors. The draft artwork was originally created for Weekly Shonen Jump, released as the culmination of the 1992 Slogan Grand Prix.

The artwork, seen below, features Goku, Gohan, Vegeta and Trunks in matching Saiyan armor, with the draft courtesy of Dragon Ball's official Toriyama Archives -- a section of the site that showcases rare artwork for just 24 hours before it's returned to the 'vault.' Weekly Shonen Jump ran the Slogan Grand Prix contest every year, letting readers come up with and vote for catchphrases. Dragon Ball's 1992 winner wound up in issue No. 25, released on May 26, 1992.

Dragon Ball Releases Rare Akira Toriyama Illustration Starring Goku, Gohan, Vegeta & Trunks Image via Shueisha

Accompanied by the winning fan slogan, "The future... brings battle!", the illustration was published in...

The official website for Fushigi no Kuni de Alice to -Dive in Wonderland- ("With Alice in Wonderland -Dive in Wonderland-"), an upcoming theatrical anime movie inspired by Lewis Carroll's classic fantasy novel Alice's Adventures in Wonderland , has released 11 character trailers in its "Character & Cast" section . Each clip features the voices of the characters and scenes from the film in which they appear. Rise Azumino voiced by Nanoka Hara Alice voiced by Maika Pugh Queen of Hearts voiced by Mayu Matsuoka Mad Hatter voiced by Koji Yamamoto Humpty Dumpty voiced by Ryuichi Kosugi (comedy duo Black Mayonnaise member) March Hare voiced by Norito Yashima White Hare voiced by Kappei Yamaguchi Cheshire Cat voiced by Tomoyuki Morikawa Caterpillar voiced by Takahiro Yamamoto Tweedledum, Tweedledee voiced by Subaru Kimura, Ayumu Murase Trump Soldiers Related: Fushigi no Kuni de Alice to -Dive in Wonderland- Anime Movie Releases Main Trailer Featuring Sekai No Owari...

Dragon Ball is one of the biggest IPs in the world, and it’s only growing larger even 40 years after the series first became serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump. There’s never been a better time to buy into the hype of the Dragon Ball franchise -- especially now that a new and official one-stop-shop for all things Goku, Vegeta and the rest of the Z-Fighters is officially coming by way of the first-ever physical Dragon Ball store.

Dragon Ball is nothing new to merchandise. Figures and physical manga volumes/anime DVD sales make up a big part of the franchise's bottom line, but never before have fans been able to go to an official brick-and-mortar Dragon Ball store to support the franchise directly. It’s an amazing moment in Dragon Ball history that the late Akira Toriyama would’ve likely been honored to see. Dragon Ball has done...

Akira Toriyama's much-beloved manga Dragon Ball is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2025 with the opening of the world's first Dragon Ball Official Store in Tokyo this fall. The store will feature exclusive goods and limited edition merchandise that will not be available elsewhere. At the time of this reporting, no further details have yet been revealed. Related: Welcome to Jurassic Park: Anime Style Shueisha published the original Dragon Ball manga in their Weekly Shonen Jump manga magazine from 1984 – 1995, and Viz Media also publishes an English language version of the series. Crunchyroll streams the Dragon Ball TV anime as well as its sequels and spin-offs: Dragon Ball Z , Dragon Ball Gt , Dragon Ball Super and Dragon Ball Daima . Source: Dragon Ball Official Site...

One of the most highly acclaimed Shonen Jump anime series is finally making its Toonami premiere. Dandadan, the supernatural/sci-fi action series by Yukinobu Tatsu, will make its televised debut this July on Adult Swim's anime action block on Cartoon Network.

The official Toonami Facebook page announced the arrival of Dandadan, one of the most-requested Shonen Jump shows that fans have been dying to see on TV. (H/T @/ToonamiSquad on X). Dandadan is set to premiere on Toonami on July 26, 2025, at 12:30 Am Est, right after a brand-new episode of Dragon Ball Daima. It will be followed up by Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, Blue Exorcist Season 2, One Piece, Lazarus (subbed), and Naruto.

Dandadan Officially Joins Toonami Alongside Dragon Ball Daima & Bleach: Tybw Lineup Update: Via the official #Toonami Facebook page #DanDaDan will be coming to the block July 26th at 12:30am!https://t.co/65aMh6QE7mpic.

Dive into Wonderland with Rise and Alice in a brand-new special music video! The upcoming P.A. Works anime film Fushigi no Kuni de Alice to -Dive in Wonderland- just shared a new music video-style trailer, showing more of the wonders that await the movie's leads set to the film's theme song, "Zukan" ("Picture Book") by Sekai No Owari. Fushigi no Kuni de Alice to -Dive in Wonderland- will open in Japan on August 29. Fushigi no Kuni de Alice to -Dive in Wonderland- Special Music Video Related: Fushigi no Kuni de Alice to -Dive in Wonderland- Anime Movie Unveils Main Visual Toshiya Shinohara ( The aquatope on white sand ) serves as director on a screenplay by Yuko Kakihara ( Dragon Ball Daima series composition writer) with P.A. Works handling the anime production. Main voice cast members include: Rise voiced by Nanoka Hara Alice voiced by Maika Pugh Ko Urai (the butler) voiced...

Masako Nozawa, the official Japanese voice actor of Goku, is staying true to her vow of voicing the Dragon Ball character until she's in her late 180s. The iconic voice actor stunned audiences at a recent theatrical showing of Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero with her powerful vocal performance of Goku’s signature attack, the Kamehameha Wave, in person.

According to Japan Anime News, Marunouchi Toei, the last movie theater directly operated by Toei and Japan’s final roadside-style cinema, is set to shut down in late July after 65 years, due to the building's redevelopment. To honor the theater's legacy, over 100 classic films will be screened from May 9, 2025, to July 27, 2025. Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, the 21st animated movie in the Dragon Ball franchise, will air from July 18-24, during the 11th week of screenings. Nozawa, who attended an early re-screening of the Super Hero movie on July 9 at the legendary Toei theater,...

Since its 1984 debut, the Dragon Ball franchise has grown into a globally beloved multimedia empire worth an estimated US$23 billion. Consequently, many Japanese companies would be seriously impacted if the franchise were to stop producing new content.

At this year's Japan Expo convention, former Dragon Ball editor Kazuhiko Torishima joined Dragon Ball Super artist Toyotarou and Dragon Ball anime character designer Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru for a lengthy interview with French news site Db-z. During this talk, the creators discussed unique franchise entries such as Dragon Ball Gt, which is ill regarded by some fans as a "non-canon" work. When addressing Gt, Torishima revealed that momentum for the series' creation was driven by "partner companies" such as Bandai Namco and Toei Animation, which now had a major financial stake in the IP.

The End of Akira Toriyama's Original Dragon Ball Manga Forced the Start of the Gt Anime Image via Toei...

After the untimely death of manga writer and illustrator Akira Toriyama, the Dragon Ball franchise has been kind of dormant for a while. Luckily for fans, the latest anime series Dragon Ball Daima was ready to go before Toriyama's passing, and the video game Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero was prepared years in advance. Aside from that, however, the other entries in the franchise entered a long hiatus, most notably the manga series Dragon Ball Super. During a recent press conference, Toyotarou — the creator of the spin-off manga — talked about what it feels like to keep the franchise going while dealing with the death of his sensei.

The press conference featured Toyotarou, Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru (character designer for Dbz and Dragon Ball Gt), and Kazuhiko Torishima (the editor who oversaw Toriyama’s work on Dragon Ball). When talking about how to keep Dragon Ball going without Toriyama, Toyotarou stated that it was "not easy,...

Throughout his career, Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama mastered many unique illustration techniques that set his work apart from that of other Shonen Jump artists. Recently, Dragon Ball unveiled a rare 34-year-old image demonstrating how Toriyama's style evolved over the course of the manga's serialization.

Several times per week, The Akira Toriyama Archive allows fans to admire works by the beloved creator that have been largely lost to time. On July 4, 2025, Dragon Ball's official site showcased a draft of a pull-out poster that was originally included as a reader bonus in Weekly Shonen Jump 1991, Issue No. 7. The year the issue was released corresponds to the initial serialization of Dragon Ball's "Frieza Saga," which ran in the magazine from September 1990 to June 1991. Accordingly, the poster visualizes the intense conflict between Goku and his iconic nemesis, as seen below.

Dragon Ball Releases Akira Toriyama Illustration of Goku & Frieza in Rare Draft Reveal...

In a recent press conference, Dragon Ball Super mangaka Toyotarou revealed that -- at least as far as he is concerned -- there’s no longer anything "non-canon" in the Dragon Ball universe.

The issue of what’s canon to the main Dragon Ball storyline has remained a constant subject of contention for Dragon Ball fans since at least the release of Dragon Ball Super in 2015, which completely contradicted the story told in 1996’s Dragon Ball Gt. Insofar as the future of the Dragon Ball franchise is concerned, the problem of what is considered canon or non-canon may be a thing of the past. That's because, according to the new sole author of the Dragon Ball Super manga, everything is canon now.

Dragon Ball Super's Toyotarou Considers Everything Canon, From Gt to Daima Image via Toei Animation

A press conference was recently held at Japan Expo Paris to discuss the...

"Dragon Ball" is arguably the single most influential anime in modern times: a seminal piece of animation with an unparalleled legacy that still holds up as just a rather entertaining piece of TV storytelling. Part of what can make "Dragon Ball" daunting for newcomers is that, in addition to having many episodes and even more related shows (here is an easy guide if you're curious), many of the ideas that creator Akira Toriyama came up with have since become tropes used in every single shonen action series. Much like the "'Seinfeld' is unfunny" trope, a lot of what made "Dragon Ball" fresh and unique is just expected now.

Indeed, even if Toriyama wasn't the first one to do it, "Dragon Ball" popularized such tropes as having characters transform physically, having a small-brain, big-heart protagonist with spiky hair that eats a lot, rivalries, and of course, time jumps that age up the characters.

Dragon Ball will never be the same again. The latest release of Dragon Ball Super marks the end of Akira Toriyama's contribution to the series as creator, leaving the future of the franchise to Toyotarou, the artist and co-creator of the manga.

Dragon Ball Super Full Color, Volume 24 was released in Japan on July 4, 2025. The latest digital colored collection includes Chapters 101-104 of the manga, which concludes the adaptation of the Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero anime movie and features the recent one-shot story starring Goten and Trunks. The complete colorization of the Dragon Ball Super manga also, unfortunately, means that Toriyama's contribution to Super and the Dragon Ball franchise is now officially over. Toyotarou -- who assured fans that a new Dragon Ball Super arc is coming -- will now have complete creative control of the manga when it resumes publication.

New Dragon Ball Super Color Release Is...

Toei Animation has faced a lot of controversies due to the animation quality of Dragon Ball Super. Many viewers think that the series has taken a drastic step down in terms of animation, and the studio is facing allegations of taking shortcuts. The usual reason why studios often resort to taking shortcuts is due to lower earnings and a tight budget.

However, Toei has some of the biggest anime series under its belt, which means it cannot be short on revenue. At the same time, Dragon Ball Daima received splendid animation, and One Piece airs legendary episodes each week. So why was Dragon Ball Super the only one to have suffered?

Toei Animation Was Unfair to Dragon Ball Super

While Dragon Ball Super‘s initial episodes had disastrous animation quality, it improved gradually as the series kept airing. However, the initial episodes had done enough damage, and the image of...

Few voice actors are as legendary as Sean Schemmel, the voice behind Goku in the English dub of the Dragon Ball franchise. Fans love his performance, and he is notorious for rocking the recording booth with his battle cries. He is so dedicated that he has passed out during several recording sessions.

As Dragon Ball Super pushes forward, Sean seems to be having doubts about his voice’s limits. In an interview, he shared a fear about not being able to keep pace with Goku’s transformations. This admission, along with his worries about the series’ ambitious animation, sheds light on the immense challenges he faces as Goku’s voice actor.

The Physical Toll of Voicing Goku in Dragon Ball Goku screams while transforming into Super Saiyan Blue | Credits: Toei Animation

Voicing Goku is no ordinary task (just look at how much the dude screams). Anyone who voices him needs...

Goku's official voice actor is ready for the next chapter of Dragon Ball Super. Sean Schemmel, the English voice actor of Goku, shared his thoughts about the manga and its hopeful continuation by its artist and co-creator, Toyotarou, following the loss of Akira Toriyama.

Schemmel's thoughts on the Dragon Ball franchise, particularly Dragon Ball Super, were revealed in a viral clip shared across social media platforms, including X (formerly Twitter). The online clip, shared by X user UnrealEntGaming (@/TooRealUnreal), showed Schemmel opening up about the loss of Toriyama, the hopeful passing of the torch to his disciple, Toyotarou, and the future of Dragon Ball Super for the anime and manga. Schemmel's brief interview took place at Anime Arizona 2025, held at the Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel & Conference Center in Glendale, Arizona.

Goku’s Voice Actor Wants Granolah, Moro, & Frieza Black Animated in Dragon Ball Super A recent interview with the...

On certain occasions, Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama would take liberties with his iconic cast of characters by depicting them in unique situations. On June 28, 2025, the franchise unveiled a 34-year-old draft illustration depicting Goku's most infamous foe as a manga artist.

As detailed on Dragon Ball's Official Site, Toriyama created the aforementioned artwork as a pull-out illustration for Dragon Ball Z: Anime Special Vol. 2, a limited line of promotional issues released under the Jump Gold Selection title. These publications focused exclusively on Toei Animation's Dragon Ball Z anime, as well as the many characters that shared the spotlight with Goku and Vegeta. "In a special segment, Frieza learns how to easily draw Dragon Ball characters from Akira Toriyama," the site description stated. "The image of Frieza gripping a pen with serious focus while wearing a disgruntled expression is both amusing and memorable." Cbr readers can check it out below.

Crunchyroll has great news for anime fans across the nation. The award-winning anime Solo Leveling and even more fantastic hits are now available to more North American users than ever before.

Now available on SmartCast-enabled TVs, anime fans in North America can access over 50,000 anime episodes from popular shows like Solo Leveling through Vizio, the renowned electronics brand of Walmart. This exciting digital expansion includes 25,000 hours of anime from over 2,000 titles. In addition to Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-, Vizio owners can also watch hot shows like My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, One Piece, Fire Force Season 3, Wind Breaker Season 2, To Be Hero X, and more.

Crunchyroll Viewers Can Now Watch Over 50,000 Anime Episodes on Vizio Smart TVs

Crunchyroll's massive anime library is now available on all Vizio Smart TVs through the SmartCast platform, featuring titles from a wide range of genres, both past and present. This not only...

2025 is going to be a bad year for Solo Leveling haters. The anime adaptation of the popular South Korean webcomic has once again been recognized for its excellence, following its successful Season 2 run on Crunchyroll.

The nominations for the 2nd Annual Collision Awards were recently announced ahead of the award show's premiere on July 22, 2025. Solo Leveling, as well as seven other Crunchyroll-available titles, were nominated among the 10 categories. Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow- scored two significant nominations: Best Series - Fantasy & Sci-Fi and Best in Style - Television. These two wins could be another feather in the series' cap, following its impressive winning streak at the 2025 Anime Awards and viewership milestone on Crunchyroll.

Solo Leveling Season 2 Continues to Win Awards & Break Records Despite Online Hate

Just like the Anime Awards, fans can make their voices heard by voting on the Audience Choice Rating Platform for the...

After nearly a decade away, Bleach is back on Toonami, and according to Adult Swim’s Jason DeMarco, it took persistence, timing and a bit of luck to break the legendary series out of "Hulu jail."

In a recent podcast with Sketch and Kuro of Toonami fan site, ToonamiFaithful.com, Toonami co-creator and the VP of Warner Bros. Adult Swim's Jason DeMarco opened up about his work in getting Bleach back into Toonami’s programming -- in the process, disrupting Hulu’s reign as the series’ only U.S. streaming platform.

Bleach: Tybw Anime Returned to Toonami After Over 2 Years Following Hulu-Only Streaming

On being asked how he broke Bleach out of "Hulu jail," DeMarco stated, "It’s so weird the way things are working nowadays. You’ll be told something is a definite no, forever, and then five minutes later it’s like, 'Oh, we changed our mind.

Dragon Ball Gt gets a bad reputation in the franchise. It had a bad narration and was riddled with plot errors. These are not mistakes to scoff at, and they took a heavy toll on the popularity of the series.

Despite the lackluster characters, inconsistent pacing, and many plot holes, there is one thing that Dragon Ball Gt did right. Gt dared to break through the bounds of the franchise and explore multiple innovative concepts and ideas.

Even the haters have to admit that Gt had some amazing ideas, but it just fell short while executing them. It was not just one or two; Gt had a myriad of unique concepts that were extremely creative, enhancing the overall complexity of the franchise.

Dragon Ball Gt wasn’t afraid to break the mold

Dragon Ball Gt is often treated like the black sheep of the franchise. It’s not considered canon,...

Dragon Ball's grip on anime streaming is only going to get stronger next month. The dubbed version of Dragon Ball Daima will be making its way to a new streaming platform.

Hulu's press schedule shows Dragon Ball Daima: Complete Series (Dubbed) being added to the platform on July 2. The series is currently available on Hulu only in subbed format, and it's also available on Netflix with subs. Until now, the dub has been an exclusive to Crunchyroll. With the English version of Daima arriving on one of the most popular streaming services in the United States, Dragon Ball's availability is about to get even better for fans, especially those who prefer to watch dubbed content.

Dragon Ball Daima's English Dub Is Finally Coming to Hulu Image via Toei Animation

Dragon Ball Daima is the sixth television series in the Dragon Ball franchise as well as the...

This week on The Anime Effect: Leah, Nick and special guest host Ivana Aranda bring you a special episode from Ccxp Mexico, featuring Solo Leveling Animation Producer Atsushi Kaneko and Action Director Yoshihiro Kanno! The team shares how they navigated the adaptation process, their anime inspirations, what the fan response has meant to them, and more! In our audio-exclusive episode, the hosts discuss the latest news in the anime world, including Dragon Ball Daima bringing home an Astra Award, a new teaser trailer for the final season of My Hero Academia and more! Then, the hosts recommend their guilty pleasure anime and share their favorite video game series. Episode 69 of The Anime Effect is now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and anywhere else you listen to your podcasts! If you're waiting to watch the video episode, it'll be live on Crunchyroll and YouTube at 7 p.m. Et. Listen or Watch...

This summer, P.A. Works dives into the world of Lewis Carrol's classic novel with their own spin on Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Today, a new main visual for Fushigi no Kuni de Alice to -Dive in Wonderland- shows us a bit more of the film's magical world, as well as its two heroines in action. Check out the new artwork, and see how many familiar faces from Wonderland you can spot: Fushigi no Kuni de Alice to -Dive in Wonderland- Main Visual Related: Fushigi no Kuni de Alice to -Dive in Wonderland- Anime Movie Releases Main Trailer Featuring Sekai No Owari Theme Song Fushigi no Kuni de Alice to -Dive in Wonderland- will open in Japan on August 29. This is the first theatrical anime movie in Japan inspired by Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland novel originally published in 1865. Toshiya Shinohara ( The aquatope on white sand ) serves as...

In the sprawling universe of Dragon Ball, few characters carry the weight of transformation, both literally and narratively. One of them is Prince Vegeta. From villain to anti-hero to reluctant hero, his story spans decades, blending values such as pride, pain, and perseverance. While the character is filled with rich character development moments, he remains one of the most misused powerhouses in the franchise.

Over the years, from the early Dragon Ball Z arc to the latest Daima season, just as Vegeta is about to break through his limits, he’s knocked down, written off, or overshadowed by Goku. We have seen it time and again, and now these endless setbacks have turned into a running joke, when in reality, his character could have been utilised for much more compelling storytelling opportunities.

The pride of a warrior is overshadowed by plot armor Vegeta and Bulma from Dragon Ball Super | Image...

2025 is flying by — just ask our lists of the best movies and television of the year so far — and it is (somehow) now July. While networks take a break from much of their narrative programming and Emmy voters get to voting, streaming services like Hulu and Disney+ keep churning out content, from newly acquired titles to original films and series and family-friendly programming for those entertaining kids during summer vacation.

As always, we’ve put all of the month’s new Hulu and Disney+ titles in one handy list, including our top pick to watch in July.

Top Pick: “Washington Black” (Hulu)

George Washington “Wash” Black (Ernest Kingsley Jr.) is a young science prodigy — and also a Black boy born on a sugar plantation in the 19th century. When circumstances force him to flee his home country of Barbados, he ends up on a whirlwind and worldwide adventure that will change him forever.

When we talk about works that have had the heaviest influence on the popularity of anime itself, we cannot go without mentioning Dragon Ball. The Dragon Ball series has attracted many fans for the past four decades. There is no doubt that the series has a timeless element to it, catching the fancy of many.

With the changing times, this beloved series also needs to change. From Dragon Ball Z, the anime took on a single-minded route and centered itself around action. In the modern day, being a Shonen requires something more than just combat; it needs heart. Something that Dragon Ball originally had.

Dragon Ball’s old strength is now its weakness

Dragon Ball defined the Shonen genre for decades. It is the predecessor that inspired the likes of the ‘Big 3’, but the trends Dragon Ball has set have changed over the years.

The fans have switched from seeking...

It's been a bit of a quiet year for Dragon Ballfans, but it makes perfect sense. With the death of franchise creator Akira Toriyama still very recent, it's understandable that the team responsible for continuing the story of Goku and his friends needed to take a breather and regroup. Luckily, Dragon Ball Daima had already been produced and received a timely release. However, other segments of the franchise stood mostly still for the last several months. Now, it looks like this is about to change.

As Dragon Ball Super celebrates its 10th anniversary, V Jump magazine unveiled a gorgeous new art drawn by popular series illustrator Toyotarou. The illustration was unveiled by franchise producer Victory Asada, who participated in a recent edition of the Dragon Ball Weekly News channel on YouTube. The producer revealed that the art would become available to fans in the next issue of V Jump magazine,...