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Three former Dragon Ball editors have strongly criticized Shueisha for its lackluster tribute to Akira Toriyama.

During the latest episode of KosoKoso, a Japanese podcast co-hosted by former Shonen Jump editor Kazuhiko Torishima and Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii, ex-editors Yu Kondo and Fuyuto Takeda joined Torishima in expressing disappointment over Shueisha’s handling of Toriyama’s passing.

All three editors worked closely with Toriyama during his Shonen Jump run from 1984 to 1995 and were deeply involved in shaping his iconic work.

According to the former editors, Shueisha’s public acknowledgment of Toriyama’s death was insufficient, failing to reflect his contribution to manga and pop culture properly. No official memorial event was held in his honor.

While Toriyama was known for his reserved nature, they believe this should not have prevented Shueisha from making a more meaningful acknowledgment of his contributions to the industry.

The editors emphasized that even a small,...

Three longtime editors for the Dragon Ball manga have accused the parent company of Weekly Shonen Jump of disrespecting Akira Toriyama's legacy following his death in March 2024. Criticism of Shueisha’s treatment of Toriyama and the Dragon Ball franchise follows reports of disputes over creative rights between the company and Dragon Ball Daima’s executive producer, Akio Iyoku, who acted as Toriyama's right-hand man.

Kazuhiko Torishima, Yu Kondo and Fuyuto Takeda harshly criticized Shueisha during the most recent episode of KosoKoso, a Japanese podcast co-hosted by Torishima and Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii. All three former Dragon Ball editors worked closely with Toriyama during the Shonen Jump run from Nov. 20, 1984, to May 23, 1995. The legendary trio had previously discussed their history with Dragon Ball and Toriyama back in late February, where they confirmed Toriyama initially wanted to end Dragon Ball Z with Gohan defeating Perfect Cell and his impulsive style of storytelling,...

When we think about nostalgia, Akira Toriyama’s name would instantly come to mind. The Godfather of Anime made our childhoods memorable with his magnum opus, Dragon Ball. Over the years, the series has not only remained relatable to the Shonen fans but has also been attracting more and more viewers.

Goku. Credits: Toei Animation

To keep the series relevant, new series were gradually added to the franchise. Each series showcases Goku and his journey of making new friends and becoming the strongest mortal in Universe 7. However, fans would be at a loss for words when they learn how the legendary mangaka would have ended the lore of Kakarot long before its most critically acclaimed show, Dragon Ball Z.

During an exclusive interview, the late mangaka expressed his views on how he would have concluded the series long ago.

Akira Toriyama had planned things differently with Dragon Ball’s conclusion...

Dragon Ballis a 40-year-running franchise by the late Akira Toriyama. Because of its popularity and the number of years it's been running, there have been quite a few TV specials based on the series. These range from action-packed adventures featuring Goku and others to informative safety PSAs for children to take to heart.

Many of these TV specials are one-offs that have no effect on the canon or plot, but some frequently do. While a lot isn't available in the West or online to view, there's still a lot even the most dedicated fan can learn from studying. For example, some may not even be aware of this, but Vegeta has a secret younger brother.

"Dragon Ball: The Return of Son Goku and Friends!" is a Canon Dragon Ball Ova "Dragon Ball: The Return of Son Goku and Friends!" Was The First Animated Dragon Ball Special in Nearly a Decade...

Now that Dragon BallDAIMA has concluded, and with no immediate release date for the next chapter of Dragon Ball Super, fans of the manga and anime have once again entered the industries' equivalent of Super's World of Void – a time and space devoid of new Dragon Ball content. However, there is at least one individual willing to help rescue the fan base from the void.

As shared by Nicolas D. Kaiwai, an aspiring mangaka, on his personal X (formerly Twitter) account @KaiwaiDB, legendary animator, character designer, and manga artist Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru recently revealed that he would eagerly take on the opportunity to create a Dragon Ball manga if given the chance. For fans of the Dragon Ball manga and anime, no announcement could be more exciting — provided that producers Shueisha and Toei Animation act on his offer.

Nakatsuru Can Help Solve The Dearth Of Dragon Ball Content Voici la magnifique...

Dragon Ball Daima was a unique experience, akin to a roller coaster ride. It was new and exciting, a fresh breath of air from the usual style of the franchise. The original intention of Akira Toriyama, when he was drawing the Dragon Ball manga, can be seen in Daima as well.

Super Saiyan 4 Goku (Adult) | Credit: Toei Animation

It was a return to the roots sort of series, and it is ‘canon’! Goku’s adventures in the Demon Realm and the inclusion of characters like Piccolo (who was relegated to the role of a spectator for far too long) made it all the better.

With the series ending, the highlight has to be Goku’s fight against Gomah; it was nothing short of a delight. Watching the adult ‘Super Saiyan 4’ Goku clash against an almost invincible Third Eye Gomah was extremely thrilling until the post-credit scenes popped up.

The battle...

It’s been 40 years since Akira Toriyama’s original “Dragon Ball” manga entered circulation, and neither manga nor anime have been the same since. Not only has virtually every big action manga that’s come since been influenced in some capacity by Toriyama’s work, but “Dragon Ball Z” has all but become synonymous with the medium of anime, and Son Goku become The anime protagonist. Now, the last project Toriyama worked on before his passing, “Dragon Ball Daima,” has come to an end. With the future of the franchise up in the air, we at least have a fitting conclusion to Toriyama’s work, one that encapsulates everything its creator tried to accomplish.

Taking place shortly after the end of “Dragon Ball Z,” this new chapter in the “Dragon Ball” franchise sees Son Goku and his friends turned into child versions of themselves by a new Supreme King of...

History was made on February 26, 1986, when Dragon Ball premiered with its first episode on Fuji TV in Japan. The anime debuted in what became known as the ‘Toriyama Time Slot’, Wednesdays at 7 Pm, just a week after the conclusion of Dr. Slump, Akira Toriyama’s previous blockbuster series.

A scene from Dragon Ball Daima. | Credit: Toei Animation

It was a huge hit, capturing a whopping 27.4% viewership rating. Fast forward to almost four decades, and now it is one of the most valuable and influential media franchises ever. Although few would have guessed its success at the time, this was the beginning of what would develop into a $23 billion global franchise.

The foundation of Dragon Ball: Breaking down $23 billion brand value

Akira Toriyama‘s Dragon Ball took inspiration from the 16th-century Chinese novel Journey to the West, specifically the figure of Sun Wukong, upon whom Son Goku was based. In...

Now don’t get the wrong idea about Makoto Yukimura from the title of this article itself! While that is indeed true, there needs to be a sufficient amount of context to justify Yukiura-sensei’s initial opinions on anime and manga in general.

As the mastermind behind series like Planetes and Vinland Saga, Yukimura-sensei has always had a more human approach to storytelling. But believe it or not, his journey into this industry began with a rather unexpected opinion.

A still from Makoto Yumikura’s Planetes anime | Credits: Studio Sunrise

There was a time when Yukimura-sensei used to believe creating an anime from an already existing manga was pointless, and it all started when he stumbled upon Akira Toriyama’s Dr. Slump! But what exactly led Yukimura-sensei to come up with such a horrible opinion, that even he knows now how wrong he was?

To get the full context, one...

It's official. Dragon Ball Z was meant to end with the conclusion of the "Cell Saga," according to the former editors of the late Akira Toriyama.

While fans have often speculated, there’s now confirmation that the "Cell Saga" in Dragon Ball Z was initially intended to close out the series during its publication in Shonen Jump magazine. This surprise reveal was announced by Toriyama’s former Dragon Ball editors: Kazuhiko Torishima, Yu Kondo and Fuyuto Takeda. The legendary trio were interviewed for the Feb. 22, 2025, episode of KosoKoso, a podcast hosted by Yuji Horii (Dragon Quest) and Torishima -- who was forever immortalized by Toriyama as Dr. Mashirito in Dr. Slump.

RelatedMarch 19 Will Be a Good Day for Dragon Ball Daima Fans

Dragon Ball Daima fans will have an exciting March, as the official soundtrack featuring the Super Saiyan 4 Goku theme and more will be released.

Dbz's 'Cell Saga' Was...

After a nearly one-year hiatus, the Dragon Ball Super manga is back in publication. The brand-new chapter features a surprising reference to one of the late Akira Toriyama's most influential works.

On Feb. 19, 2025, Dragon Ball Super Chapter 104 went live on the digital manga platforms of Viz Media and Manga Plus. The last new chapter was published on March 20, 2024 -- days after the public announcement of Toriyama’s death on March 1, 2024. Although Toriyama remains credited as the writer of Dragon Ball Super, Chapter 104 is the first chapter spearheaded by series artist Toyotarou. Among the deep cuts to Dragon Ball lore, one scene in Chapter 104 makes a peculiar reference to Toriyama’s most influential but often forgotten comics.

RelatedDragon Ball Super Chapter 104's 'To Be Continued' Spells Bad News for Fans

Dragon Ball Super's new chapter confirms what fans feared the most about the nearly one-year-later release of Chapter 104 by the late Akira Toriyama.

A mangaka’s life is often characterized by severe deadlines, editorial constraints, and an industry that demands constant output with little room for creative flexibility. Akira Toriyama, the famed creator of Dragon Ball, knew this struggle all too well.

A scene from the Dragon Ball Daima | Credit: Toei Animation

From the early days of Dr. Slump to the global phenomenon of Dragon Ball, Toriyama spent decades navigating an industry that, despite his success, rarely granted him the freedom to tell stories on his own terms. However, Dragon Ball Daima, the special anime project celebrating the franchise’s 40th anniversary, offered something different.

The reason behind Akira Toriyama’s attachment to Dragon Ball Daima

Mangakas are often bound by an unforgiving cycle of weekly or monthly serialization. The need to consistently produce new chapters, to match editorial expectations, while maintaining the audience engaged provides little room for creative spontaneity. Toriyama, despite his renowned reputation,...

Fuji Television Network -- one of Japan’s largest broadcasters, and well-known for broadcasting hit anime shows such as the currently airing Dragon Ball Daima, One Piece, Honey Lemon Soda and more -- has been embroiled in a public scandal for months, and its effects continue to be felt. Now, after several high-profile companies have pulled their sponsorship, two of Fuji TV’s most celebrated anime are left without backing.

Via Unseen Japan, the world's longest-running animated television series, Sazae-san, has seen a substantial drop in sponsorship in response to Fuji TV’s sexual assault scandal and its continuing fallout. Although not widely known in the West, Sazae-san, which portrays an idealized Japanese family, is one of Japan's most cherished anime and is a cultural institution. At the end of an episode, a placard displaying the show's sponsors is shown, but on Jan.19, X user @arakawakohsen_B documented the show's waning support.

Toyotaro, the artist who worked with the late Akira Toriyama in the Dragon Ball Super manga, has a unique and rare talent. His drawings have helped the adventures of Goku feel exciting, with millions of fans worldwide praising his work. Despite a small portion of the fandom saying otherwise, he has proven to be an incredible successor to Kakarot’s beloved creator.

Nonetheless, according to Kazuhiko Torishima, Toriyama’s original and trusted editor, his work is still missing an important detail to be as good as the original. Torisihima recently revised Toyotaro’s work and gave his honest impressions, letting the current artist know that he could still improve.

Toriyama’s Original Editor Gives His Opinions on Toyotaro’s Work Torishima Comments That He Is Missing Important Panels 本人ã«ä¼ãˆãŸã„一番大事ãªã‚«ãƒƒãƒˆãŒãªã„ã‚‚ã£ãŸã„ãªã„鳥嶋。 pic.twitter.com/nrhBSQj5U...

The Dragon Ball Super manga by Toyotaro will soon return in 2025. However, a former prolific editor of Shonen Jump magazine had some interesting things to say about the last published chapter.

Kazuhiko Torishima, former Shonen Jump editor and current outside director at Bushiroad, shared his thoughts on Toyotaro’s artwork for Dragon Ball Super on X (formerly Twitter). The posts, translated by Todd Blankenship (@/Herms98), offer a comically blunt critique of Toyotaro’s paneling for Dragon Ball Super Chapter 103. “I want to tell the artist himself: it’s missing the most important cut. Such a shame,” Torishima said.

Related Dragon Ball Super's Toyotarou Reveals New Artwork of Akira Toriyama's Favorite Character – And It's Not Goku

Dragon Ball Super artist Toyotarou pays tribute to a unique Akira Toriyama gem, showcasing new artwork of the latter's favorite manga hero.

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You might know Akira Toriyama as the creator of Dragon Ball, but did you know that the legendary mangaka had a huge hand in the creation of one of the most used emojis? The emoji in question is the steaming hot pile of poo that everyone seems to love using.

Be it a shitty day, a trash argument, or a fun banter in general, the poop emoji can make any conversation better. But how exactly did Akira Toriyama go from creating Super Saiyan transformations to making a nasty emoji? The answer lies in his past works.

Before Dragon Ball, Akira Toriyama was Busy Making Poop the Next ‘It’ Thing Arale picks up a pile pf poop in Dr. Slump by Akira Toriyama | Credits: Viz Media

Before becoming a worldwide icon with the inception of Dragon Ball, Akira Toriyama wrote Dr. Slump which ran from 1980-1983 in Weekly Shonen Jump. The...

As a huge and lifelong fan of Dragon Ball, Eichiro Oda, creator of One Piece, has never hidden his love for the series and is set to recreate one of the series' iconic manga covers this coming month. Furthermore, the cover he is set to recreate is special and holds a sentimental message, and there is no better person to do this than him.

It has been confirmed that Eichiro Oda will be the last person to participate in this project, and will be recreating volume 42 of the series. Coming before him was Nobuhiro Watsuki leaving Oda to close the project out. Volume 42 holds a lot of emotional weight, not just because it was the last volume in the series, but because of the image itself. It depicts an image of Goku waving and saying goodbye, which packs a punch following the death of Akira Toriyama. No doubt Oda's depiction...

It’s not just the legendary Dragon Ball franchise, back in the early days of Akira Toriyama’s career, he has also offered a minor but promising manga, named Dr. Slump. Long before Dragon Ball, this manga used to please the readers with Toriyama’s unique sense of humor and creativity.

Senbei Norimaki from Dr. Slump anime | Credits: Toei Animation

Now, in a surprising twist, the Dr. Slump manga unexpectedly shares one thread with the critically acclaimed Western TV series, Breaking Bad! It certainly does sound like an unlikely connection between a Japanese manga from the 1980s and a gritty American drama. So what could be the connecting link between Dr. Slump, Dragon Ball, and Breaking Bad?

Bryan Cranston Had Voiced Toriyama, But Not the Way You Might Think! Bryan Cranston as Walter White from Breaking Bad | Credits: High Bridge Productions, Gran Via Productions, and Sony Pictures Television

Bryan Cranston...

Dragon Ball Super co-creator Toyotarou has released a new sketch of the lead protagonist of an Akira Toriyama manga from 1998. Widely unknown to many Western readers, the new artwork comes from a series that has to this day never been officially licensed for an English-language release: Kajika.

Via the official Dragon Ball English website, Dragon Ball Super artist Toyotarou revealed the latest in his monthly art series, Toyotarou Tried To Draw. This month's edition centered on the "stupendously strong fox-boy" Kajika, from Akira Toriyama's 1998 Kajika series. In the sketch, Kajika is perched on a cliff edge staring into the distance, wearing a stylish outfit and sporting a prominent fox tail. As he stares into the distance, Toriyama's touch is particularly noticeable when looking at Kajika's face, easily passable as a relative of Goku's or a younger version of the character himself. Readers can check out Toyotarou's art and his comments below.

Akira Toriyama was a powerhouse of creativity right until his unfortunate death in March 2024 at the age of 68. The author gave birth to incredible franchises like Dragon Ball and Dr. Slump and is considered a legend in the manga industry.

Dragon Ball Daima marked the first new project from the franchise after the death of the author, and it is also the last series that he had worked on. Needless to say, it holds a lot of meaning for not just fans but also the rest of the industry.

Akira Toriyama’s Last Message to Fans About Dragon Ball Daima Kid Goku in Dragon Ball Daima | Credits: Toei Animation

Dragon Ball Daima is the sixth installment of the Dragon Ball anime franchise and is also the last one to have been written by creator Akira Toriyama. It was announced on the 40th anniversary of the franchise, and Toriyama has been...

One opponent in Dragon Ball Super easily defeated Vegeta, and their powers are a sign that Gear 5 Luffy from One Piece could beat Goku. More Dragon Ball content is on the way with the new Daima anime series, but One Piece fans have been eating well with beautiful and action-packed anime episodes, and with the manga's final saga delivering narrative-rich surprises. Straw Hat Luffy's most recent power-up breaks One Piece, and evidence from Dbs's anime proves that it might be able to break Goku.

Episode #69 of the Dragon Ball Super anime featured an opponent for Goku and Vegeta so strong that they can break Earth in two with a single strike: the android Arale Norimaki. Long-time Akira Toriyama fans would recognize the character as the main character of the Dr.Slump series, the manga he created before Dragon Ball. It included even more humor than Goku's adventures, with many...

A famous figure in the anime industry has found manuscripts by the late Akira Toriyama. These drafts originate from Toriyama's early days on Dr. Slump before the creation of his world-famous Dragon Ball series.

Haruka Takachiho, a co-founder of Studio Nue and the creator of Dirty Pair, recently shared Toriyama's rejected drafts on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). These pages were drawn for the Dr. Slump manga's serialization in Weekly Shonen Jump in the 1980s. Both pages feature Polly Buckets, the trigger-happy officer of the Penguin Village police force. The first page is a loosely sketched page layout, while the second page is a more refined drawing of Polly riding her motorcycle.

Related Dragon Ball Daima Releases First English Dub Trailer Ahead of World Premiere in U.S. Theaters

Toei Animation and Fathom Events will screen the first three Dragon Ball Daima English dub episodes in November in North American theaters.

by John Carlo Rayas

“Dr. Slump” is a gag manga written and drawn by the late Akira Toriyama. The series was first published in issue 581 of Weekly Shonen Jump on February 4, 1980.

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It revolved around the antics of eccentric professor Senbei Norimaki, his robot “sister” Arale, and the citizens of Penguin Village. The professor is trying his best to hide the fact that his “sister” is a robot from the rest of the village. Dr. Norimaki’s neighbors are oblivious to that fact even though Arale’s actions aren’t something an ordinary human can do.

Before the creation of” Dragon Ball” (1984), “Dr. Slump” was considered his most popular work. The series sold 35 million copies in Japan and is revered by fans for its simplistic yet adult humor. Is it an underrated masterpiece that international anime fans must read or is it outdated by today’s standards?...

There are often times when mangakas publish one work after another to stand out and Eiichiro Oda wants to be amongst them. After creating a universe as big as that of One Piece, taking things slow and stepping aside would change the pace that the mangaka is otherwise so used to.

Luffy | Credit: Toei Animation

For someone who thrives under pressure, the lack of stress that comes with working on a weekly serialized project would easily catch him off guard. To make sure nothing like this ever happens, there must be a way to turn things around. Seeing that the series is already approaching its final arc, that very moment might be sooner rather than later.

Another Long Series isn’t for Eiichiro Oda

During an interview with Manga Tengoku (via Oda Tengoku), Eiichiro Oda addressed how things would be once One Piece were to finally end. For a series with decades in the making,...

Akira Toriyama’s rise to fame may be credited to his most renowned work, Dragon Ball, but his journey began much earlier. As the mastermind behind Dr. Slump, there was an experience that helped him understand the rights and wrongs of what can make a manga work. The manga created a foundation for him that helped shape his second series into existence.

Vegeta and Bulma | Credit: Toei Animation

With the fame it gathered, it would be difficult to believe just what his original plans were with Dr. Slump. The series is regarded to be brilliant, even with Dragon Ball’s shadow looming over it. Toriyama was under the impression of stereotypes that shaped much of what Shonen Jump was for many years. However, it was his editor Kazuhiko Torishima who pushed different ideas into the forefront.

Akira Toriyama Didn’t Want a Female Protagonist

Dr. Slump is a highly successful...

The Dragon Ball manga is revered for its simple narrative and detailed illustrations. Even before Dragon Ball was serialized on Weekly Shonen Jump, series creator Akira Toriyama was already hailed as the “embodiment of illustrative sense” during the running of Dr. Slump.

That series already made Toriyama a multi-millionaire. In fact, Monster and 20th Century Boys author Naoki Urasawa read Dr. Slump and thought, “This might be the guy to raise manga to the next level.” Even Astro Boy creator Osamu Tezuka referred to Toriyama as his “heir apparent.”

Astro Boy | Credits: Tezuka Productions

Even so, Toriyama admitted that there were still some skills that were out of his reach and he was shocked that a certain mangaka was able to do it. And that is the creator of Slam Dunk, Takehiko Inoue.

Slam Dunk creator’s one creative ability that surprised even Toriyama Goku and Vegeta | Credits: Toei Animation...

In recent years, finding a Shonen series with a gripping narrative has been a task in itself. However, Atsushi Ohkubo’s Fire Force makes the job easier, as the show is the perfect work that can light up viewers’ eyes with joy.

A still from Fire Force. Credits: David Production

Not only does the series feature a flawless narrative with three-dimensional characters, but the conclusion is a true spectacle that pleases the otaku community. Ohkubo-San has been a true veteran mangaka in this aspect, but even the greatest of minds has an inspiration.

For him, that well of ideas was none other than the Godfather of anime, Akira Toriyama. Despite the fact that most manga artists are inspired by his magnum opus, Dragon Ball, Atsushi Ohkubo was guided by his other works. The resemblance is evident in the show, as he sheds light on the aspect that piqued his curiosity...

Reading and analyzing the source material while adapting it into another art form is extremely necessary. It helps to keep the authenticity of the story and makes sure that it is followed to the core. However, this is not what Luffy’s Voice Actor, Mayumi Tanaka, thinks. Tanaka has been voicing Luffy since the beginning of One Piece anime, and she has given her best in every episode.

Luffy in One Piece | Credit: Toei Animation

Her voice reflects Luffy’s emotions in the perfect way, and even after so many years, she still maintains the same pace and approach while enacting Luffy. The secret to her outstanding performance is that she has never read the One Piece manga and will most likely continue to do so in the future.

Although this may sound a little bizarre, but Tanaka has some very valid reasons behind her approach, and they have been...

Akira Toriyama, the legendary mangaka who created beloved series like Dr. Slump and Dragon Ball, is respected throughout the world. There’s no bigger proof of this than when even the Government Officials of China and El Salvador declared nationwide mourning on account of the creator’s passing.

The reason he’s so revered is that he literally kickstarted the careers of other mangakas such as Masashi Kishimoto, Eiichiro Oda, and Yuki Tabata.

Goku and his successors | Credit: Viz Media

In fact, Oda stated on a Japanese TV program on Dec 21, 2021, that out of all the manga he read before starting One Piece, he re-read Dragon Ball the most in order to imitate Toriyama’s drawing style.

As a young aspiring manga artist from childhood, Oda admitted that he got fascinated by Toriyama’s illustrations and spent hours imitating everything he drew, from Goku, to humans, machines, and animals.

It...

Akira Toriyama began Dragon Ball’s serialization in 1984 and ended in 1995. He worked tirelessly for more than a decade on the popular franchise. Before that, he worked on Dr. Slump, which also became a popular manga among fans. After working for so long and continuously keeping in mind the deadlines, Toriyama decided to take a break after Dragon Ball was wrapped up.

The late Mangaka was offered to continue the franchise with another series, but he rejected it. It remains the only Dragon Ball series he was not involved. But he did contribute his fair share by providing the series with the title. Apart from that, he had no connection to Dragon Ball Gt.

Akira Toriyama Barely Contributed To Dragon Ball Gt Dragon Ball Gt (Credits: Toei Animation)

Dragon Ball Gt is the only anime of the franchise to not be written by the late Akira Toriyama. As a result,...

Akira Toriyamas Dragon Ball has become one of the biggest anime in the world, shonen or otherwise. Its remarkable to see how its ignited passion in an international audience for nearly four decades. Dragon Ball has gradually evolved over the course of its 600+ episodes, 20 feature films, and endless video games and other expanded universe material, yet theres a core sensibility to the series that remains unchanged through Gokus many action-packed adventures.

There are many elements that fans associate with Dragon Ball, whether its the grandiose fight sequences, staggering transformations, or deadly energy attacks that punctuate the series biggest battles. Theres a lot of Dragon Ball content for fans to explore and theres even a new anime, Dragon Ball Daima, thats set to premiere in October and end 2024 on a strong note. However, there are many other satisfying anime that trade in comparable characters, combat, and storytelling that are sure to...

Official profile photo via Aoni Productions The official website for voice talent agency Aoni Production announced today that voice actor Keiko Yamamoto passed away on April 18 at the age of 83 due to sepsis. The agency apologized for the delay in reporting the news, stating it was the “wishes of the bereaved family.” A funeral has been held with close friends and family. Keiko Yamamoto was born on August 7, 1940, in Osaka Prefecture. Yamamoto made her debut in 1963 with the role of Wally Wolf Boy Ken . Her break-out mainstream role as a voice actor came in 1965 where she voiced Osper in Tatakae! Osper . From there, she joined Aoni Production as a founding member in 1969. In 1972, Yamamoto started her role as Hanako Hanazawa in the Sazae-san anime. She also voiced Shouta Yamada in the Chibi Maruko-chan anime. In late 2023, Yamamoto retired from her long-running roles in Sazae-san and Chibi Maruko-chan , both of which spanned 30 and 50 years respectively.

Legendary manga creator Akira Toriyama might have built the pillars for the anime and manga industry with his projects like Dr. Slump and Dragon Ball, but the story that started his journey as a mangaka was actually a Star Wars parody. During his unemployment years, the mangaka got hooked on George Lucas’ galactic universe and decided to sprinkle some of his own spice on it.

The Dragon Ball Universe | Toei Animation

He created a parody series called Mysterious Rain Jack that featured prominent Star Wars characters like R2-D2, Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Chewbacca, C-3P0, Princess Leia, etc. The series majorly focused on the humor part of the narrative and set the base for Toriyama’s entry into the manga industry.

Not only that, but Mysterious Rain Jack also featured in his later works, as both Dr. Slump and Dragon Ball had references from his early work, but they...

Only a legend can truly understand what goes on in the mind of another legend. Akira Toriyama left his mark on the world as one of the greatest mangakas in the world with a legacy left for many to follow through. For the creator of Dragon Ball, his was a world so immersive that every corner of the world found itself connected.

Goten meeting Goku in Dragon Ball Z | Credit: Toei Animation

When legends meet others with potential just as magnificent as their own, they recognize it. Toriyama was no different, finding himself enamored by the artistic prowess of one mangaka who left no stone unturned in expressing the subtly of his work through an even more captivating story. When it came to the art, even Toriyama had to admit that Takehiko Inoue was on another level, one that was too ambitious for the Dragon Ball mangaka to reach.

Akira...

For a manga series to achieve success, it is important that the creator and the editor have a great partnership. However, in the case of Dragon Ball, its creator, Akira Toriyama, and its first editor, Kazuhiko Torishima, had a weird relationship that cannot be defined so easily. Nonetheless, it helped them create one of the best manga series of all time.

Dragon Ball Anime | Toei Animation

Torishima was one of the first individuals to recognize Toriyama’s talent for manga, and he helped him create not only Dragon Ball but also his former manga, Dr. Slump. Although Torishima has worked on many other projects and is currently serving as the director of Bushiroad, he is most known for Dragon Ball and his connection to Toriyama.

The Dragon Ball creator once recalled an interaction with Torishima where the editor forced him to draw Dragon Ball manga when Toriyama was tired and...

Quick Links Stop!! Hibari-kun! Inadvertently Contributed to the Creation of Dragon Ball Dragon Ball and Stop Hibari-kun's Authors Influenced Each Other Stop Hibari-Kuns Story Is Still Relevant 40 Years Later Stop!! Hibari-kun! was almost successful enough to allow Akira Toriyama to quit writing Dr. Slump early. Hisashi Eguchi's artwork for Hibari-kun influenced Toriyama's character design for Dragon Ball. Stop!! Hibari-kun! was a pioneering manga in providing representation and positive portrayal of transgender characters. Stop!! Hibari-kun! almost allowed Akira Toriyama to quit Dr. Slump early due to its overwhelming success. Hibari-kun's success ultimately allowed Toriyama to start working on a new manga, Dragon Ball. Stop!! Hibari-kun! was a pioneering manga in representing and positively portraying transgender characters.

Dragon Ball, created by Akira Toriyama, is one of the most famous series that became a titan of pop culture. But before Goku and Vegeta, Toriyama created another story that was also very popular: Dr. Slump.

Akira Toriyama, the creator of Dragon Ball, almost ended his manga Dr. Slump early due to the overwhelming popularity of Hisashi Eguchi’s Stop!! Hibari-kun! manga, according to a recent interview with former Weekly Shonen Jump editor Kazuhiko Torishima.

According to Torishima, while Stop!! Hibari-kun! manga had achieved overwhelming popularity, becoming the magazine’s leading manga, Dr. Slump was witnessing a gradual decline in its fanbase.

This decline prompted Toriyama to express a desire to end the series early, a request he made repeatedly to the editorial team.

Torishima went on to explained that the editorial team was open to the idea of letting Toriyama concluding Dr. Slump early due to the strong performance of Stop!! Hibari-kun, since it was already leading the magazine forward.

However, unforeseen challenges arose when Eguchi began submitting late manuscripts, causing the manga to go on hiatus. This development forced the editorial team to reassess their strategy,...

Legendary mangaka Akira Toriyama was not only the creator of series like Dr. Slump and Dragon Ball, but he had also ventured into the world of video games. Toriyama had worked on multiple games, like Chrono Tiger and Blue Dragon. But his biggest achievement in the gaming world was his character designs for the popular role-playing game Dragon Quest.

Dragon Quest

While Toriyama earned a lot of recognition with Dragon Quest, he was not particularly a fan of his works in the series. In 2017, when Dragon Quest celebrated its 30th anniversary, Toriyama shared a special letter where he claimed that he would have never agreed to work on the video game if he had known that it would have gone for so long.

The manga creator also gave a reason why he was not interested in working on Dragon Quest anymore and would rather have someone else take his job and design the characters.

The official Dragon Ball website is sharing another rare and valuable illustration by the late Akira Toriyama. In the May 2, 2024, edition of the Toriyama Archives, two young characters from completely different series meet up for the first time.

From Akira Toriyama - The World Anime Special, an original illustration of Gohan in his youth and Arale Norimaki from the Dr. Slump series are pictured together for the first time. Described on the official site before the post was deleted as a "Dream Team" meetup, both characters are drawn in casual clothing that fits their personalities. Gohan's clothes evoke a well-behaved schoolboy persona, while Arale's shirt and overalls have a more troublemaker vibe to them. The book Gohan reads features the little "gas mask guy" that Toriyama liked to depict himself as in his artwork.

Related Dragon Ball Super Artist Tributes Akira Toriyama in New Drawing of Nearly 20-Year-Old Game Character...

"Mad Max: Fury Road" is one of the best movies of all time — according to /Film — a masterpiece of action cinema and a masterclass in visual storytelling. It is also a bit of a live-action cartoon. Like the best live-action directors, George Miller pulls inspiration from "Looney Tunes" as much as he does live-action movies in making his post-apocalyptic epic, with a sense of logic, physics, pacing, and fun that feels more outlandish than grounded.

But before the movie came out and became a big hit and an Oscar winner, it went through development hell for literal decades, only to go through actual hell during filming. Development took so long and suffered so many setbacks that Miller looked at alternatives to "Fury Road," including telling a completely different story in animated form. Indeed, we know that in 2009 — between two "Happy Feet" movies — Miller considered making an R-rated 3D "Mad Max" anime instead,...

Dragon Ball, the magnum opus of Akira Toriyama, has been going strong since 1984. The series has been entertaining fans and inspiring manga creators for almost 40 years. However, it was not the first creation of Toriyama. Before working on Dragon Ball, Toriyama released a science fiction manga series called Dr. Slump.

Dragon Ball by Akira Toriyama

The story of Dr. Slump is set around Penguin Village, and it follows the adventures of Arale Norimaki, a little robot girl, and her creator, Senbei Norimaki. The story is a sci-fi-based manga with comedic and humorous elements in it. Dr. Slump marked the beginning of Toriyama’s career and was one of the best manga series of that time.

In an interview, Toriyama explained how he learned from the mistakes he made in Dr. Slump and used them to improve Dragon Ball in such a way that it became one of the biggest anime...

Akira Toriyama, the creator of Dragon Ball, has blessed the anime and manga communities with his works. His creations like Dragon Ball and Dr. Slump have opened the realm of manga to a global audience that has now fallen in love with the anime and manga industry, making it one of the biggest entertainment artworks of all time.

The Dragon Ball universe

However, Toriyama revealed in an interview that he did not plan to send the drafts of his magnum opus, Dragon Ball, to Weekly Shonen Jump. Rather, he wanted to send it to Weekly Shonen Magazine at first but, ultimately, was forced to get his work published in Weekly Shonen Jump. Toriyama’s first manga, Dr. Slump, was already a big deal in Weekly Shonen Magazine at the time.

While it was a forced decision, it worked in the favor of the series, as it went on to inspire...

In the latest edition of the Akira Toriyama Archives, the official Dragon Ball website has shared a rare scan of a published interview with the late manga author. The interview reveals how much creative input Toriyama had on the anime adaptation of Dragon Ball and how it influenced the manga in turn.

Originally released on Sept. 1, 1995, Dragon Ball Daizenshuu Volume 3 featured an interview with Toriyama about his thoughts on the anime adaptation of his series by Toei Animation. The full interview, translated by Kanzenshuu, begins with Toriyama revealing that he watched the anime with his children from the perspective of both a creator and an ordinary viewer. He then talked about creating original characters for the anime, like the speedy cricket Gregory, because Toei wanted one more character for King Kai's Planet. The interview then proceeds to dig deeper into the creative influence Toriyama had on the anime series.

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Akira Toriyama was the most legendary figure in the anime and manga industry. He is the creator of the Dragon Ball franchise and has gifted the fans several iconic moments through his magnum opus. Unfortunately, the legend passed away on March 1, 2024, and left the fans grief-stricken. He began the serialization of his magnum opus in 1984, two years before the anime started to air.

Akira Toriyama has inspired several mangaka and is one of the key figures to pave the path to success for the business. Even though Toriyama sensei did not have any demand regarding the anime adaptation of his manga, he set one ground rule after seeing it get animated for the first time. He personally asked Toei to take care of it.

Akira Toriyama Wanted Dragon Ball To Be A Fairy Tale Dragon Ball (Credit: Crunchyroll)

Akira Toriyama was always passionate about his magnum opus. He gave his...

The April 4, 2024, edition of the Akira Toriyama Archive gave fans another detailed look at the rich history of Dragon Ball. This time, a chapter illustration of Kid Goku revealed more about the state of the franchise at the time than fans may think.

As shared by the official Dragon Ball website, the illustration in question, seen below, came from Chapter 9 of the original Dragon Ball manga, initially released in 1985. In the story, titled "Dragon Balls in Danger!!", Goku, Bulma and Oolong spend the night inside the Capsule Corp. camper, unaware that Yamcha the Desert Bandit is right on their trail. Oolong, frustrated by Bulma's bossiness and intrigued by the wish-granting power of Goku's Dragon Balls, tricks them into drinking a sleeping tonic.

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Dragon Ball's late creator, Akira Toriyama, filled the manga and anime world with dozens of creative tales over the course of his career. Toyotarou, the official illustrator of Dragon Ball Super, recently paid tribute to some of Toriyama's earlier manga with retro redraws of three famous characters.

Dragon Ball's official website posted these illustrations as part of its ongoing "Toyotarou Tries to Draw" series. Toriyama's iconic Dragon Ball manga originally launched in Weekly Shonen Jump in November 1984. Four decades later, the manga's current home is Shueisha's V-Jump magazine, which released its first issue in 1990. One of the magazine's earliest features was Savings Soldier Cashman, a three-part sci-fi comedy written and drawn by Toriyama. In honor of the manga, Toyotarou drew his own version of its titular hero -- an alien police officer named Jiora whose ship becomes badly damaged while pursuing a group of criminals through space. While trying...

One of the earliest original drawings from Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball manga was revealed on April 2, 2024, featuring concept art of a young Goku in gi trousers looking ready to spar. The drawing dates back to around 1984, pre-publication of the manga.

The artwork reveal forms part of the Toriyama Archives -- the daily Dragon Ball column on the official site (now deleted). "From manga to character design to interviews, we showcase one rare, hard-to-find image every other day!" the page said. "Each image can only be seen for 24 hours after its release, so be sure to stop by whenever you can!" The Goku image was drawn before Dragon Ball was even officially published, making it one of the oldest in existence that's been released to the public. Readers can check it out below.

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Dragon Ball fans should check out Fist of the North Star for epic battles and a strong protagonist like Son Goku. Keep the anime marathon going with Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai, a spiritual successor to Dragon Ball on Crunchyroll. Saiyuki offers a unique retelling of Journey to the West with a band of heroes fighting demons, akin to Dragon Ball's themes.

Many of the best anime that Dragon Ball fans need to watch are streaming on Crunchyroll right now. It’s a very rare anime or manga fan that doesn’t at least know about Dragon Ball, even if they haven’t seen or read it all the way through. It chronicles the adventures of Son Goku and his friends, family, and rivals, as they seek greater power and fight increasingly strong opponents to protect Earth and its people.

With the recent passing of one of the medium’s greatest masters,...

On the Dragon Ball official site, a prominent Japanese academic argues that Dragon Ball Z's "Great Saiyaman" character symbolizes the modern-day version of Japan.

In Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball series, Goku's son Gohan creates his "Great Saiyaman" persona in order to discreetly take down the criminals of Satan City. During a recent interview for Dragon Ball's website, Timothy Takemoto, who teaches Cultural Psychology at Yamaguchi University, sat down to discuss Gohan's comical alter ego. In the world of academia, Cultural Psychology is the branch of human psychology that deals with the formation of culture. In his research, Takemoto primarily studies Japanese subculture, tourism and administration with a focus on how these elements reflect a society's overall self-image and self-esteem.

Related My Hero Academia Pays Homage to Dragon Ball's Akira Toriyama on Latest Volume Cover Kohei Horikoshi pays tribute to the late Akira Toriyama with a...

Kohei Horikoshi honors the late Akira Toriyama in My Hero Academia Volume 40 by paying homage to one of the most memorable covers in Dragon Ball Z history.

Social media X user @/SupaChronicles recently uploaded an image from the latest volume of My Hero Academia. The image in question features All For One in his youth in the middle of a stare-down between All Might in his weakened form. If the illustration feels familiar, it's because it references the artwork for the cover of Chapter 309 of Dragon Ball, where a petite Frieza locks eyes with the giant-sized Goku. While anime fans know this famous storyline from Dragon Ball Z, the manga by the late Toriyama continued under the original Dragon Ball title in Japan.

Related Dragon Ball and More Akira Toriyama Reprints Get April Release Amid Printing Shortage In the wake of Akira Toriyama's passing, reprints of Dragon Ball, Sand Land,...