Dragon Ball

Finally, Supreme Kai Cooks!

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Dragon Ball Daima Ep 7 Review

Dragon Ball is the template for the modern Shonen manga, and that means most mangaka learned from its successes as well as its shortcomings. And one of the franchise’s biggest shortcomings has to be how Goku comes to outshine almost every other character. That’s expected since he’s the main protagonist, but at some point, the franchise’s default strategy for dealing with the big bads became “wait for Goku.” Even TeamFourStar pointed this fact out in their abridged series. Thankfully, the franchise has started to learn from this in recent years by giving other characters the chance to show what they can do. And with Goku reduced to chibi-sized for the duration of Daima, his party can show that they’re not just there to keep Goku on the right path. They can fight, too, as Supreme Kai proves in this episode!

So I was Wrong about the Plane

At the end of the last episode, I speculated that Kibito’s prescence had something to do with Shin’s plane not working. However, it was something simpler. A rock used for the energy converter isn’t working, thereby making the plane useless. Which also makes me question why they even bothered to have it? Thankfully, Hybis, one of King Kadam’s men, shows up to give them a ride. Before the episode’s out, the team of Hybis, Bulma, Vegeta, and Piccolo have made it to the Demon Realm. Kibito stayed behind to watch the Lookout with Popo.

Honestly, this is much better than having to wait longer to see how Bulma and the others make it to the Demon Realm. Even better, it solves the issue of not having the right pin # for Mr. Warp. Way to think on your feet, Toei!

Meanwhile, Goku’s party continues to have a string of bad luck as the Gendermerie return looking for Goku. He’s able to elude them thanks to his Instant Transmission, but then they try to arrest Panzy because they (rightfully) suspect her for attacking them in that village. Another fight ensues, and the trio of Goku, Shin, and Glorio proceed to beat everyone unconcious. However, their plane gets destroyed in the process, once again hindering their travels…

…is what you’d think I’d say! However, they find an extra Gendermerie plane and decide to steal that instead. As a bonus, this will mean that fewer people will try to stop them.

Supreme Kai is Mattering Now

This fight, while nowhere near as epic as what we’re used to in Dragon Ball, is still good. The reason being that, unlike in most cases, Goku can’t handle everything on his own. For the first time since he was a kid, he’s in a position where he has to rely on his friends to help. And after years of being considered weak compared to the Saiyans, Shin reminds us just why he’s a Supreme Kai in the first place. He may be young by his race’s standards, but he’s still fairly capable.

As if to highlight the greater emphasis Shin has in this series, the next thing that he does is get rid of the collar Panzy’s forced to wear around her neck. The series already implied it, but this episode confirms that the collars the Third Demon World resident’s wear suppress their magic and can be used as tracking devices. Dr. Arinsu created them back during Dabura’s reign, so this is something that’s been going on for a longtime. It further emphasizes how unfair a place the Demon Realm is, and that it’s high time for a regime change. Given how this is a Shonen series, there’s a good chance that by the time Daima ends, those collars will be a thing of the past. Especially since Shin tells Panzy that the magic he used to break her collar can be used by anyone. Shin and Panzy could be the key to liberating the people of the Demon Realm in the near future!

In addition, this episode also reveals Shin’s true Glind name, Nahare. Just like Goku has his Saiyan name, Shin has a Glind name. Neat!

The Real Fun is Coming

The series is now seven episodes in, but it feels like the pacing hasn’t picked up at all, though that’s about to change. The episode ends with Goku and the others making it to the first of the Tamagami warriors that guard this dimension’s Dragon Balls so that he can fight them. Given what the preview for the next episode has to say, it looks like we’re in for a good fight. And while I don’t doubt the strength of the Tamagami…it’s Goku. The man is going to fight actual gods in the near future, can solo most characters in all of fiction, and has fought Superman three different times. He may not have won any of those fights, but he did put the Man of Steel through his paces. He can handle the Tamagami.

I Give “Collar” a 3.5/5

So, Glorio is Sus. We all Know that, Right?

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Dragon Ball Daima Ep 6 Review

What is Glorio after? We know next to nothing about this enigmatic gunslinger from the Demon Realm, but given how he gave Goku and Shin the means to go after Gomah, he seems trustworthy. Despite Goku trusting him, Supreme Kai has remained noticeably on guard around him. On the surface, it could be because of the underlying tension between the different worlds of the Demon Realm. But as this week reveals, Shin might be onto something about Glorio, as we learn who he’s actually working for.

Glorio’s True Loyalties?

After Panzy joins the party and they set off in a new ship/plane, the group has to make an emergency landing. A consequence of their ride being unable to handle all that weight. So, while Goku goes to use the bathroom, they have to ditch half of their supplies. That, and soldiers from Gomah’s army come looking for Goku. His decision to stand up to the Gendermerie has made him a wanted man. It’s only a matter of time before Gomah realizes that Goku followed him home, and tries to throw everything he has at him. If not thanks to his army, then due to a certain someone very close to him.

When Glorio first appeared, he claimed to have been hired by King Kadan to bring him the one who beat Majin Buu. However, Kadan himself said Glorio only came to him with the idea, meaning he was hired by someone else. That someone else gets revealed when, after making camp for the night, Glorio makes a phone call to his actual employer, Dr Arinsu. AKA Shin and Degesu’s older sister and chief scientist for Gomah.

Quick aside, this episode also confirms how the Glind, Supreme Kai’s race, are born from plants. Cool bit of lore there.

Why is Glorio Working for Arinsu?

For the record, the fact that Dr. Arinsu hired Glorio behind Gomah’s back should not be surprising. Given how she gave him the idea to use Earth’s Dragon Balls to make Goku and his friends kids, I suspected she knew that would make them get involved with Gomah. The fact that she already traveled to their Universe ahead of Gomah corroborates this. My working theory is that she’s pulling strings to ensure that Goku takes down Gomah for her own benefit. Or she could just be luring the Saiyan into a trap. Either way, this means that Shin’s concerns about Glorio are more justifiable now.

Does that mean that Glorio is a direct threat, though? That’s uncertain, as we soon learn why.

When a Minotaurus Demon (cool reference to Greek Mythology) shows up wanting to eat the party, Goku and Glorio argue over who will fight him. So, the two decide to have a sparring match to see who will be the Demon’s opponent, much to their “enemy’s” irritation. Though, given who he’s dealing with, the Minotaurus isn’t much of a threat.

We’ve gotten glimpses of how capable Glorio is in a fight, but this sparring session is when we truly start to see what he can do. As expected, he does manage to put up a good fight against Goku, even managing to knock the Power Pole out of his hands. What’s more, we get to see what kind of magic Glorio uses: he’s got lightning magic! He can fire it off like ki blasts, generate it from his fingertips like he’s a Sith Lord. He can even turn it into a weapon like a whip!

It’s clear that Glorio is indeed strong. Right now, I’d say he’s likely one of the strongest in the Demon Realm. However, Goku makes it clear that, even in his kid form, he’s still stronger. The fact that he can still go Super Saiyan is a testament to that. It also puts into perspective how powerful the adult Goku would be compared to the people of the Demon Realm. Gomah may have underestimated Goku’s strength, but the show had to nerf him for it to work. Otherwise, he would likely steamroll through everything, and that wouldn’t be any fun!

Oh, and the Minotaurus pulls a Mr. Satan and bails.

I’m Not Worried About Glorio

So, while fans now know that Glorio is sus, I don’t think it’s much of a problem. My guess is that even if something bad happens, it will be because Glorio had to fool Goku. Which, given that it’s Goku, won’t be that hard. However, Goku has a habit of befriending those who start out opposing him, so I think Glorio will warm up to him with time.

Meanwhile, back on Earth, there’s good news and bad news to end the episode. The good news is that Bulma finished fixing Shin’s ship. The bad news? When Kibito, Vegeta, and Piccolo go to use it, it shuts down almost immediately. Though I suspect it might have something to do with Kibito, mainly because the ED shows Bulma being the one to go to the Demon Realm. This will just justify that.

It’s taken a while, but it seems like Daima is starting to pick up steam. I suspect things will start to get a little more exciting over the next few episodes as we get into this for the long haul. I’m not complaining; this is Toriyama’s last gift to us, so I want it to last as long as possible.

I Give “Lightning” a 4/5

Goku & Luffy Share Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2nd Year in a Row

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You know, considering how much Goku and Luffy eat, it feels appropriate that they’re balloons at the Thanksgiving Day Parade.

This year marks the hundredth anniversary of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, though it’s only the 98th. It got canceled from 1942-44 because they needed the rubber for World War II. In that time, countless cultural icons have had their likeness be a part of the parade, reflecting what is considered popular in the US. And with anime having gone mainstream, that now includes the likes of Shonen icons such as Goku and Luffy.

This year, Goku appeared at the parade with a new balloon. Rather than the Super Saiyan Blue balloon that’s been used since his 2018 debut, Goku was shown off in his base form, smiling as he gives a two-finger salute to those watching. Considering how his new series, Daima, has him returned to a child form, this is very timely on the part of whoever makes the balloons. It should also be noted that this is first time Goku’s in the parade without his creator due to Akira Toriyama’s passing earlier this year. It should be noted that NBC’s hosts for the parade did not make any mention of Toriyama as Goku went by, though. It feels like a missed opportunity.

As for Luffy, this year marks his second year of being a part of the Macy’s parade, having debuted in 2023. Unfortunately, the future Pirate King’s debut was marred when his balloon got blown into a tree as it passed by. The branches tore open the brim of his iconic straw hat, making it resemble a bucket hat instead. Fans took this in stride, though, as many jokingly called him “Bucket Hat Luffy” and even made fanart of it.

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Unlike last year, this year had no branches or trees to get in Luffy’s way. Considering how the One Piece anime had its 25th anniversary this year, it’s good to see this happen to him. It’s a reminder of how much people love One Piece and support its creator, Eichiro Oda. Oda has had to take frequent breaks from the manga in recent years for his well-being, but many fans have been understanding of his needs.

Did you see the parade this year? Any other anime characters you hope to see join someday? Let us know!

Panzy, New Party Member, Acquired!

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Dragon Ball Daima Ep 5 Review

Last time on Dragon Ball Daima, the trip of Goku, Shin, and Glorio witnessed the cruelty of Gomah’s reign first-hand as they extorted a village for their money. Or worse, for their very life essence. Thankfully, a mysterious little girl with a penchant for engineering provided enough of a distraction for Goku to do his thing. The question is, who is this girl who seems oddly similar to the likes of Bulma? Fans, meet Panzy, the next party member and the Demon Realm’s equivalent to Bulma…in more ways than one.

Meet Panzy, the New Bulma

After escaping the hopeless soldiers in the village, Goku’s party gets a formal introduction to the mysterious girl seen in the OP and ED, Panzy. A native of the Third Demon World, Panzy is, for lack of a better term, a younger version of Bulma. Young being subjective here, since we learn that Demons can live a thousand years. At 82 years old, she’s basically the human/saiyan equivalent of an 8-year-old.

Regardless of her age, though, I wasn’t joking when comparing her to Bulma. She’s incredibly smart, resourceful, and extroverted for someone her age, being the one who made her failed bombs that she tried to use. She’s also able to get the group a faster route to the castle they’re headed to, which her father rules.

Did we not mention that she’s a princess? Bulma may not be a princess (unless being married to Vegeta counts,) but with how rich she is, she might as well be! The only difference between her and Panzy is that Panzy has magic telekinesis!

A Good Old-Fashioned Goku Beatdown

At any rate, now that they’re at the castle, it’s revealed that Panzy’s father, Kadan, hired Glorio to bring the guy who beat Majin Buu to him. This was so that that person could defeat King Gomah and allow Kadan to become the new Demon King. While the man may be a bit arrogant, even offering to let Goku marry Panzy (lol), given what we remember about Dabura and what we’ve seen of Gomah, he’d be an improvement.

Speaking of Gomah, we get an update as to what he’s doing. Instead of holding Dende captive, he’s treating him like he would any baby: with love and care. Granted, it’s pretty obvious he’s only raising him so that when he gets big again, he can make Gomah more Dragon Balls.

https://twitter.com/DbsHype/status/1854935719590199610

At any rate, Kadan is obviously unsure as to how strong Goku is given his current state. So, he has Goku fight the entire castle garrison on his own. What follows is a…well I wouldn’t even call it a fight for Goku. It’s more like him just getting a warm-up in as he wipes the floor with the soldiers. In the episode’s best moment, he even flexes by briefly assuming his Super Saiyan form just for the heck of it!

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As someone who binge-watched the original Dragon Ball online during high school, this fight was incredibly nostalgic for me. It harkens back to the days when Goku fought enemies like the Red Ribbon Army on his own or with his friends. Good times!

By the end of the episode, Kadan gives his full support to the group as they set off on the next leg of their journey, giving them a new plane to use in the process. They even offer to leave a message for the second group of Vegeta, Bulma, and Piccolo that will be following them. The most significant thing that happens, though, is that Panzy decides to join the group as their fourth party member.

New Party Member Acquired

This entire episode easily cements Panzy as the best girl of Daima. Everything about her reminds viewers of how Goku and Bulma’s friendship formed in the early days, and it looks like history will repeat with him and Panzy. Unfortunately, the group’s bad luck doesn’t seem to let up. First, Shin continues to think that Glorio is sus. Secondly, their plane goes down as they’re headed to…wherever it is they’re going to. It looks like this is going to be one of those long Shonen series.

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Who cares, though? That just means more Dragon Ball for everyone! Great introduction to a new character who will no doubt become a waifu.

I Give “Panzy” a 4.5/5

More Worldbuilding for Demon Realm!

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Dragon Ball Daima Ep 4

Last time on Dragon Ball Daima, Goku, Glorio, and Superme Kai arrived in the Demon Realm, a dimension full of wonder and danger. Unfortunately, whatever plans they had to quickly track down Gomah and rescue Dende are derailed by the loss of Glorio’s plane. Now they have no choice but to proceed on foot. However, what’s unfortunate for them is fortunate for the viewers, as it lets this episode take the time to further explain how things in the Demon Realm work. From the methods people use to get around to how they enhance their strength, this episode does the best thing it can do for a land fans know nothing about: it keeps worldbuilding.

SOMEONE STOLE THEIR RIDE!!

Picking up right where the last episode ended, Goku, Glorio, and Supreme Kai have woken up to find that their plane is gone. The thugs that Goku humiliated at the bar stole it as payback. Given the urgency of their quest to get to Gomah, one would think recovering it would be a top priority. Instead, Glorio opts to take the unexpected route and decides they’ll continue on foot.

And before any viewers can point out that they can fly using ki, the show reveals it already thought ahead. The dense air of the area makes it difficult to fly for extended periods, leaving Goku and the others stuck on Terra Firma.

It might not seem like a big deal, but filling up this potential plot hole demonstrates how much forethought the people put into Daima. When Toei said that it would be returning Goku to his early days, they meant it! They’re doing everything to ensure that Goku can’t steamroll his way through their quest. That’s a sign of good writing!

Good Worldbuilding

As an added benefit to traveling on foot, the episode gets to continue the series’ worldbuilding efforts for the Demon Realm. Most notably, their stop at a tea shop for supplies demonstrates new story mechanics in the form of medicines. The Demon Realm has a medicine that serves as its equivalent to Senzu Beans, and a herb that can allow people to fuse together! Then immediately afterward, we get a new method of transportation in the form of giant, rocket-like seeds.

In one scene, we get introduced to the equivalent to two kinds of potions and a method of fast travel. At this point, there’s no point denying that JRPGs inspired Daima.

Covering Up the Plot Holes

In addition to introducing these story mechanics, another big piece of information we get involves the Dragon Balls of the Demon Realm. Viewers already know from listening to Gomah, but no one has been able to use the Demon Realm’s Dragon Balls because three guardians protect them. If they can’t beat these guardians, the Tamagami, they can’t have the Dragon Balls. It’s not a new concept, since GT had the Shadow Dragons near the end. But it still feels novel because solves an issue that I think many fans might have with the concept of the Dragon Balls:

“If the Dragon Balls are so easy for everyone to find, then why aren’t they protected to keep them out of unworthy hands?”

Keep in mind, when they were made, they were supposed to be hard to find, but Bulma creating the Dragon Radar made that pointless. Having their location known but protected by powerful warriors seems far safer. That, and it makes it seem like Daima is doing its best to make it so fans like TeamFourStar can’t point out its flaws.

A New Party Member Appears

At any rate, Goku’s need to fight powerful opponents makes the group change course to find the first Dragon Ball, and that leads to yet another bit of worldbuilding. In this case, we see just what the Demon Realm is like under Gomah’s rule, and it’s not good. The self-proclaimed king has his own army that he uses to extort villagers. They either forfeit what little money they have, or give up part of their life-span. It’s a sadistic choice that leads to suffering no matter what happens. Goku naturally steps in to fight the soldiers, but not before someone else does. A young girl that we’ve seen in the OP and ED for the series.

We don’t get her name in this episode, but judging by the title for the next episode, it’s pretty obvious that her name is Panzy. And if it’s not obvious by now, Toriyama based the names of the Demon Realm characters on puns involving flowers. The man was nothing if not consistent. And even though she only appears in the episode’s final act, it does a good of establishing her character. She’s brave and inventive, but her creations don’t always work the way she wants to. She’s like a younger version of Bulma, which could make for some interesting character dynamics in the future.

This episode might not be as action-oriented as some people would like, with most of the action taking place near the end, but that doesn’t make it a bad episode. Far from it; fans should appreciate the amount of worldbuilding Daima continues to give us. This is a story taking place in a realm that, until now, we know almost nothing about. I, for one, want to learn as much as possible about the Demon Realm. If that means that the story takes its time to get where it wants to go, so be it. It will be worth it in the end.

I Give “Chatty” a 4/5

Masako Nozawa, Voice of Goku, to be Immortalized in AI

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Well, it’s official now. The voice of Goku shall be forever immortalized.

In recent years, the use of artificial intelligence has become increasingly widespread and controversial. Many people are pointing out how programs like ChatGPT and the like can easily be used to replace the jobs of actual people. Worse, many voice actors fear that their voices could be replicated and reused without them getting any form of compensation for it. So, it’s pretty controversial in the entertainment industry.

Now it could get even more controversial. A few days ago, the management agency for Masako Nozawa, the legendary seiyuu for Goku, has teamed up with a company that specializes in AI voice technology. Nozawa will be among a group of people who will permit their voices to be used for various voice-related technology across multiple different languages. In other words, we could hear the Japanese voice of Goku being used for an Alexa in the future. More importantly, though, that would give the owners of Dragon Ball the means to keep voicing Goku even after Masako has passed on.

And you know what? I’m okay with that.

I normally do not approve of companies making AI copies of famous celebrities voices. Especially when they do it without their consent or deciding not to pay them. However, the difference here is that Nozawa has consented to this. She’s agreed to let it happen! And she’s not the only celebrity I’ve talked about on here who has done so. A few weeks ago, I talked about how the late James Earl Jones, the voice of Darth Vader, had agreed to have his voice replicated by another AI company. He agreed to it, and so has Masako Nozawa. Thus, I have no right to complain.

If I’m being perfectly honest, I’m glad that she’s agreed to this. Masako is 87 right now, and as much as we may want it, she can’t keep playing Goku forever. I think that she understands this, and so she doesn’t want to see the character of Goku die with her. By doing this, she’s making sure that Goku can continue to be voiced by her for as long people want to keep making stuff for Dragon Ball. Some voices are too powerful to let them fade away, and this is a prime example.

Toriyama’s Last Gift in Dragon Ball Daima Starts Off Strong!

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Dragon Ball Daima Ep 1 Review

In memory of Akira Toriyama.

When Dragon Ball Daima was announced last year at NYCC, fans were thrilled. For the first time in years, Dragon Ball would be getting a new series, and Akira Toriyama was the one who wrote it. It felt like a dream come true!

Then, in the spring of this year, the world would end up losing Toriyama. Dragon Ball Daima would be the final work that he would contribute to the world that he had created. Suddenly, it became more important than ever that Daima was a huge success. And so, the world waited with bated breath for the day when it would premiere, ready to honor the memory of a man who inspired millions of its people. Th

I’m glad to say that Toriyama didnt disappoint with his final work. He cooked us a feast of thrills and laughs.

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Welcome Back, Dragon Ball

Since this is the first time Dragon Ball has had an anime in a while, a good portion of the premiere is devoted to getting everyone up to speed with events up to the defeat of Majin Buu. While some might see it as an issue, it’s essential for two reasons. Firstly, it establishes that this will take place before the events of Super, so no Super Saiyan God or Blue. Secondly, it introduces us to the leading antagonistic group.

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Meet Gomah, Degesu, and Dr. Arinsu, the new King of the Demon Realm, the Supreme Kai of the Demon Realm, and a Core Person of the Demon Realm. While much of the rest of Universe 7 and parts of the other Universes have already gotten fleshed out, the Demon Realm has remained notably unknown until now. I think Toriyama wanted to correct that by making the primary setting of Daima, and if that’s the case, I’m glad he chose to do so before he died. He even gave them their own Dragon Balls and guardians to protect them, and retconned the Namekians point of origin to be from the Demon Realm. So, congrats Piccolo. You’re now a slug alien demon!

The main plot of the episode is that Gomah has watched how powerful Goku and the others are and fears them to be a threat to his rule. So, he and Degesu (and another Namekian) travel to Earth to use the Dragon Balls to make Goku and everyone else kids so they won’t be a threat. In essence, it’s the plot of GT but on a larger scale. By the time the credits start to roll, we can already hear everyone beginning to shrink down to the size of kids. And the kids shrinking down to the size of babies!

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Toriyama Decided to do GT, but Better

I know that this is supposed to be serious, but I still can’t help but find it funny. Toriyama took the plot of GT, the series that was made without his direct involvement, and made it ten times better. That’s essentially him saying “You’re doing it all wrong, you guys. Let the master show you how it’s done!” Given how Daima is meant to celebrate the franchise 40th anniversary, though, it makes sense why Toriyama would want to tell a story like this. He tried to get the series back to its roots, and it glad he got to do so before he died.

This was an excellent start to what will likely be one of the most giant anime of the year. I have no clue how long Daima will run, but I know that I’m going to enjoy it every step of the way.

I Give Conspiracy a 4.5/5

Dragon Ball Daima Dub to Premiere in Theaters

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We would like to interrupt whatever it is you’re doing today to let you something important. And it’s about Dragon Ball.

Paying attention now? Good.

Earlier this month, Dragon Ball Daima, the newest chapter in the long-running franchise and the final contribution of its late creator, Akira Toriyama, premiered in Japan and on Crunchyroll worldwide. Taking place after the defeat of Majin Buu and before Super, the series sees Goku and most of his friends being reduced to kids thanks to a wish by the new King of the Demon Realm. This prompts Goku to go on a quest alongside Supreme Kai Shin to the Demon Realm in the hopes of setting things right.

Even if it wasn’t Toriyama’s last gift to the world, this series would still be hotly anticipated. It’s been years since the original Super anime ended, and it has yet to cover the events in the ongoing manga. So, it’s a pretty big deal. But many might be wondering when we can expect to hear the dub.

Guess what? Not only is the dub coming sooner than you think, but it’s also coming to the big screen.

In a recent press release, Toei Animation announced that it had teamed up with Fathom Events for something special. From November 10-12th, the first three episodes of Daima will be shown in theaters in all their dubbed glory. For three days at participating theaters, fans will get to hear the voice actors they grew up with playing their iconic roles once more. After that, it will likely be available on Crunchyroll.

Now, I don’t know about you, but I’m probably going to go see it in theaters if it’s in my area. I’m not passing up to see the dubbed anime on the big screen! If you want to see it, then I recommend checking Fathom events in the next few weeks.

Toriyama, Thank You for Everything

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A Fan’s Reaction to the Passing of Akira Toriyama

Hey, everyone. RJ Writing Ink here, writing on behalf of the D&A Anime Blog. Aaron and I aren’t in the best state of mind right now. You likely know this by now, but late March 7th, it was announced online that Akira Toriyama, the legendary creator of Dragon Ball and dozens of other works, had passed away more than a week ago. Aaron was the one who wound up telling me on Discord. And my reaction was one of shock and great sadness.

Over the next few hours, I watched the Internet cry out sorrowfully, including Aaron and me. So many people, fans, content creators, and those whom Toriyama inspired to do what they love for a living, all mourning the loss of the legendary mangaka. As for me, at Aaron’s behest, I wrote a post for this blog breaking the news for ourselves. It didn’t feel right not to say anything about Toriyama, especially since Aaron told me it was why he and Donte started this blog. Afterward, I went to bed and tried to sleep as best I could. But as I drifted off to sleep, still trying to process the death of the great mangaka, a realization came to me. While I had seen plenty of people, both idols and loved ones, die before, there was a reason why Toriyama’s passing hit me and everyone so hard. And it was more than the fact that he died at only sixty-eight years old. Truthfully, even if he died twenty years old, it still would have felt too soon.

My reason was that the culture we know today might not have existed without Akira Toriyama and what he created.

The Great Tree of Toriyama

Imagine what Akira Toriyama did when he created Dragon Ball forty years ago, like planting a tree in the middle of a field. He would then spend the next eleven years returning to it once a week to tend to it as it grew big and strong. Its trunk would start to reach for the heavens, its roots would burrow deep into the soil underneath, and its branches would become solid and sturdy. Eventually, it grew big enough to create seeds, and others would come and take them to grow their trees. Flash forward to the present day, and the original tree he planted will get big enough to tower in the skies, while the younger trees will grow just as big and potentially just as strong. If all goes well, then that field could become a forest generations down the line. But the man who planted the first tree would never live to see that. He would have to trust those who followed him to continue his work and make something unique out of it.

If you need clarification on this metaphor, then here’s the meaning. The tree itself is what Toriyama did throughout his entire career, with Dragon Ball primarily serving as the trunk. The branches represent everything that sprang forth from the popularity of the original manga: the anime, movies, video games, products, fan-made content, and all the people who found happiness, success, and more thanks to Dragon Ball. The roots are how the franchise has made its way into global culture. The younger trees represent the people who were inspired by reading Toriyama’s work to become mangaka themselves, giving us even more hit Shonen series like Naruto, One Piece, Bleach, Fairy Tail, and likely many more. When you put all of that together, the result should be clear. What Akira Toriyama managed to do was create something that managed to incorporate itself into human culture worldwide. Something that has come to unite people from all walks of life over their shared love of this man’s work. No matter how you look at it, that’s impressive.

Now imagine what life would be like if he had never made Dragon Ball or if it had never become as popular as it is. Suddenly, you might get a world where anime has never become more than a niche interest outside Japan. Where many of the series that you love reading never existed. The people whose lives Dragon Ball changed for the better never got that chance. Bonds that started thanks to that shared love never came about, people who never turned that love into their careers, and more. It would be like the alternate timeline from It’s a Wonderful Life, in which George Bailey was never born, and Toriyama is Bailey.

Toriyama’s Legacy Lives On

Toriyama may be gone now, but his legacy lives on, and it’s more than just Dragon Ball, Dr. Slump, Dragon Quest, or whatever else he helped create. It’s the millions of people worldwide whose lives he changed, often for the better. The mangaka like Masashi Kishimoto and Eichiro Oda. The people who got to work on his series, both in Japan and abroad. The people who can make a living doing fanworks of Dragon Ball like TeamFourStar, DevilArtemis, Daitomodachi, and more. Even fans like me and Aaron. We’re all part of the legacy that Akira Toriyama left behind, and it’s mind-boggling when you put that into perspective. How many people throughout history can say they’ve affected so many people in such a positive manner? Not many.

Am I sad? Yes. I hate that Toriyama died so soon. But Dragon Ball can live on. If we want to do right by Toriyama, we need to ensure that people can continue to enjoy Dragon Ball for generations to come. I know that we’re all mourning for his passing, but no one is genuinely gone, so the world continues to remember him. And with the impact that Toriyama had on the world? I don’t think he’s going to be forgotten for a long, long time.

Sayonara, Toriyama! World Mourns Death of Shonen Legend

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Legendary Mangaka Akira Toriyama, Creator of Dr. Slump, Dragon Ball, and modern Shonen, dead at 68

To anyone who grew up watching Dragon Ball Z, you’re going to want to get your tissues ready; you’ll need them. Akira Toriyama, the legendary mangaka that gave the world Dr Slump, the art for Dragon Quest, and most important of all, Dragon Ball, has died at the age of 68. And the entire world of anime is in mourning.

Akira Toriyama Made Shonen What it is Today

For those of you who don’t know who he was, Akira Toriyama is, for all intents and purposes, the godfather of the modern Shonen anime. Entering the world of manga at the age of twenty-three, Toriyama first made a name for himself as the creator of the popular gag manga, Dr. Slump. Running from 1980 to 1984, it proved to be a major hit. However, it wasn’t until 1984 when the man truly began the work that would cement his status as one of the greatest mangaka of all time: Dragon Ball. Inspired by the Chinese novel Journey to the West, Dragon Ball would wind up becoming one of the most important works in manga history. 

Spawning a media juggernaut that has continued to thrive to this day, Dragon Ball has multiple anime series, dozens of movies, and so many video game adaptations that I can’t even keep track of it. It’s no exaggeration to say that without Dragon Ball, the shonen genre of anime and manga as we know it today wouldn’t exist. By the time it had ended its initial run, Dragon Ball had already sewn the seeds for the shonen genre to thrive. It inspired the next generation of mangaka to create the likes of Naruto, Bleach, and One Piece, the last of which is the best-selling manga of all time. And none of that would be possible without Dragon Ball or Toriyama. 

And then there’s the impact that Toriyama’s creation has had on pop culture. When anime started to make its way to the West in the 90s and early 2000s, Dragon Ball was one of the series that paved the way. It was the gateway anime for countless kids the world over, and the love that it engendered can be found in the all the fan-based content it’s inspired. TeamFourStar, KishinPain, DevilArtemis, Daitomodachi, Slick Goku (RIP), Prince Vegeta. These are only a handful of the people I know of who have made amazing works based on the characters that Toriyama created. And there will likely be even more content coming out in the years to come. Sadly, fans will now have to live with the fact that the man who gave it all to us has departed for the Otherworld.

Toriyama’s Legacy Will Live On

While Toriyama may no longer be with us, he still left us with a few stories left to be told. Less than a month from now, Sand Land, a game adapting another one of Toriyama’s many works, will be released. In addition, Dragon Ball Daima, a spin-off/sequel to Dragon Ball that Toriyama was heavily involved in, will be releasing sometime in Fall 2024. Not much is known about it, but it seems like Daima will be returning Dragon Ball to its roots. However, the fact that it is likely the final project that Toriyama worked on before his death means its premiere will be a bittersweet one for fans.

I’ll be upfront about this: I didn’t grow up watching Dragon Ball on Toonami like a lot of anime fans did. I knew about it, but I didn’t get into it until I was in high school. Once I had, though, I regretted not trying it out sooner. These days, I’m a full-on fan of Dragon Ball. And while I may lack the nostalgia of watching it air on TV, I know how much it means to fans. And more importantly, I understand how much Toriyama’s death is hitting fan. I follow a ton of people who make Dragon Ball-related content, and right now, they’re pouring their hearts out online. Rest in Peace, Toriyama. May you join all the other great storytellers in human history as you deserve.