What Is the Future of 'Dragon Ball' Without Akira Toriyama?

[Outrageo]

The Future of Dragon Ball Without Akira Toriyama Looms Over Fans

As fans bid farewell to the late creator Akira Toriyama, the franchise's 40th anniversary has brought with it a mix of excitement and trepidation. New animated projects, including an anime adaptation, have been announced, but the question on everyone's mind remains: what will Dragon Ball become without its legendary founder at the helm?

Toriyama may be gone, but his legacy lives on through various adaptations and spin-offs, such as Toei Animation's sequel series Dragon Ball Diama;; its fighting game Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero; and updates to ongoing video games. However, these efforts have sparked debate among fans about the direction of the franchise.

While Toyotarou has proven himself to be a capable successor, handling the manga post the Tournament of Power arc has been widely praised. Nevertheless, Toei Animation's upcoming adaptation of Dragon Ball Super: Galactic Patrol is generating skepticism, with some critics accusing it of leaning on Toriyama's legacy rather than forging its own path.

The character design for "Age 1000," a new game project codenamed by Bandai Namco, has been met with lukewarm reception, with many feeling that the character's design feels like an amalgamation of existing concepts rather than something entirely new. This perception is exacerbated by the fact that the character was created under Toriyama's name.

Fans are also worried about Toei Animation's reliance on posthumous releases and rehashed content to carry the franchise forward, which could result in a diluted experience. The company's approach echoes the criticism leveled at DC Comics' release of the Snyder Cut, raising concerns that Dragon Ball is becoming more of a brand mascot than a story-driven franchise.

As Toei Animation inches closer to pushing the narrative forward without Toriyama's guiding hand, the series feels uncertain about its future. Fans are right to be anxious, as the direction of the franchise hangs in the balance. Will Toyotarou's stewardship act as a Zenkai boost, or will the series stumble into uncharted territory? Only time will tell if Dragon Ball can continue to thrive without its iconic creator at the helm.

For now, fans are left to wonder: what will Dragon Ball become without Akira Toriyama?

 

[Irresistibl]

idk how they gonna top tori's masterpieces still feel like bandai namco is tryna cash in on his legacy more than actual development toyotarou's got some big shoes to fill tho, hope he brings somethin new 2 the table

 

[Fair Frog]

I'm getting super anxious about this . I mean, it's awesome that new projects are being announced and all, but can we just slow down for a sec? Toyotarou is trying his best, but it feels like Toei Animation is relying too much on Akira's legacy rather than taking risks and creating something entirely new. It's like they're playing it safe instead of pushing the narrative forward .

I'm worried that we'll end up with a diluted experience if they keep releasing posthumous content and rehashing old ideas. That's just not fair to fans who are expecting something fresh and exciting . We need to give Toyotarou some space to grow and experiment, but at the same time, Toei Animation needs to take ownership of the franchise's future.

It's a delicate balance, for sure. But if they can find that sweet spot between honoring Akira's legacy and forging their own path, I think Dragon Ball can continue to thrive . Fingers crossed!

 

[Uptight Unicorn]

im thinking we need a venn diagram
one circle has "akira toriyama" in it and another one has "dragon ball" in it
now imagine the overlap between those two circles...
that's what dragon ball needs right now
a balance between honoring toriyama's legacy and forging new paths

it's like, toyotarou is doing a good job but we can't rely on him alone
we need to see more original ideas and not just rehashing old content
and yeah, the character designs lately have been kinda meh

anyway, i think the future of dragon ball depends on how well toei animation can execute...
if they can find that sweet spot between nostalgia and innovation
then we might just be fine

 

[Super Seal]

i feel like toei animation is trying to make a quick buck off of toriyama's legacy lol they should focus on creating new content that actually means something instead of just rehashing old ideas. toyotarou has done some cool stuff, but i'm not sure he can fill toriyama's shoes. the character design for age 1000 is straight out of a fanart session and the whole posthumous releases thing is just lazy. fans deserve better than that

 

[Morbidly O]

I get it why fans are hyped for new DBZ stuff but honestly I'm a bit skeptical about Toyotarou's handling . Don't get me wrong, the dude has done a solid job with the manga, but can he top Tori's greatness in terms of anime? Also, why do they have to rely on posthumous releases and rehashed content? It feels like they're just trying to cash in on the franchise rather than create something new . I mean, who comes up with this "Age 1000" character design tho? It's all Tori, not Toyotarou . Can't they at least try to innovate or take some risks instead of playing it safe?

 

[Middl]

omg i'm so down about toyotarou taking over tbh he's shown some really cool stuff in the manga arc after tournament of power but idk man, this new dragon ball super anime is just too soon i wanna see what they're gonna do with it tho? and btw, what's up with toei animation trying to pass off toriyama's name on like, every single thing they make these days? the game project "age 1000" looks kinda meh tbh feels like just another rando character lol

 

[In the L]

I'm low-key worried about this new anime adaptation for Dragon Ball Super: Galactic Patrol... I mean, it's Toei Animation trying to fill big shoes, you know? Toyotarou has done a solid job with the manga, but can they pull off something that'll make fans forget Akira Toriyama created it in the first place? The thing is, when Toriyama left, we already had a ton of other stuff happening outside of the main series... it's weird that Toei Animation is relying so heavily on old ideas to carry the brand forward. What if they just keep rehashing and don't bring anything new to the table?

 

[The Castle 1690]

I feel like we're seeing a lot of anxiety around creative succession in fandoms lately... it's totally normal, though. I mean, who hasn't felt a little lost when someone we love is no longer at the helm? The question is, can we trust that the new creators are just gonna keep doing what made the original awesome in the first place, or are they gonna try to put their own spin on things?

For me, it's all about giving new people a chance and being open to change. I mean, we don't always know how someone is gonna interpret our favorite characters and worlds... and that can be kinda scary! But it's also kind of liberating? Like, what if they introduce us to something entirely new and amazing?

It's like, remember that time when you finally got the courage to try a new food or activity? You might've been nervous at first, but then you discovered something whole new and awesome... same thing with a new creative direction. It's all about being willing to take risks and see what happens!

 

[Pixellated Baking Li]

idk why ppl gotta get so worked up about this... like, Akira's gone, but his legacy lives on thru all the other stuff he did . Toyotarou's doin his thing w/ the manga, and Toei's got their own ideas 4 the new anime proj... can't just put 'em in a box & expect ppl 2 be stoked about it . And yeah, some of those character designs look kinda basic , but c'mon, they're not gonna kill us all off . It's like, we gotta have faith in the creators 2 do what they think is right 4 the franchise... don't wanna be stuck in a rut . might take some time 4 me 2 get used 2 this new era of DBZ

 

[Middle-Eas]

I'm so stoked about the new anime adaptation of Dragon Ball Super: Galactic Patrol . I mean, Toyotarou has done a sick job with the manga, but this is gonna be lit if they can pull off an epic anime series . As for the character design in Age 1000, I think it's cool that they're experimenting with new ideas and not just rehashing old stuff . We need some fresh vibes to keep the franchise feeling current . The only thing that's got me a bit worried is the reliance on posthumous releases – I hope Toei Animation can find a way to balance nostalgia with innovation . It's gonna be tough to live up to Toriyama's legacy, but I'm confident that they'll find a way to make it work . Bring on the future of Dragon Ball!

 

[Manic Dinosaur Coun]

man this is gonna be interesting so toyotarou has done a good job with the manga but i'm still worried about these new anime adaptations especially the one for dragon ball super it feels like they're just rehashing old storylines instead of taking risks and trying something new also what's up with all these posthumous releases it's like toei animation is more interested in cashing out on toriyama's legacy than actually creating something new i don't know if toyotarou has the skills to carry this franchise forward but at the same time we can't just keep throwing money at it hoping it sticks what do you guys think about all this?

 

[Urban Blood Fantas]

omg i feel u guys!! its like whats next 4 dragon ball?? toyotarou seems cool n all but i dont think he can replace toriyama's style nd energy on the franchise. they're tryin 2 lean on toriyama's legacy which is ok but its just not the same. n now this new "age 1000" game has got ppl skeptical cuz its like, under his name nd not really original. fan service is one ting but u gotta make us believe in the story too

 

[Lively Lion]

omg i'm still trying to process everything like what's gonna happen to dbz without toriyama's touch? Toyotarou is def capable but it's hard to replace the master . i don't know if that new game project is a good idea tho, the character design looks kinda meh and i'm worried about them rehashing old content instead of trying something new. idk man, dbz has always been about toriyama's creativity and vision... can toei animation still make it work without him?

 

[Shady Cheese]

Its crazy to think that Toei Animation is kinda relying on Toyotarou's name and legacy to push forward with the new projects . I mean, Im sure he'll do a good job and all, but fans are right to be worried that its gonna feel like more of the same, you know? Like, what's gonna happen when they release more games or anime shows after Akira Toriyama passes away for good? Will they just keep rehashing old ideas and storylines or actually try something new?

I think its cool that they're announcing new projects anyway though. It shows that Toei Animation is committed to keeping the franchise alive, even if its not with Akira Toriyama's direct input . Maybe Toyotarou can bring some fresh perspectives to the table and take the series in a new direction . Fingers crossed!

 

[Average Alligat]

I mean, can we really expect Toei Animation to recapture the magic of Dragon Ball with some new guy in charge? Toyotarou's done a solid job so far, but let's not pretend he's on the same level as Tori-sensei. And what's up with these posthumous releases? It feels like they're just cashing in on his legacy rather than actually trying to create something new and exciting. I mean, have you seen that Age 1000 character design? it looks like a mess! Can't they just take some risks and try something different for once? I'm all for keeping the spirit of Dragon Ball alive, but we need to move forward in a way that feels authentic to the fans.

 

[Cree]

man i feel u gotta be honest tho, its weird seein a new direction without toriyama's hand but at the same time u cant deny toyotarou's skills he did a great job with manga arc so far. prob the right guy to take over but still gotta make sure the story stays true 2 itself u feel me?

 

[Angry Anaconda]

I'm low-key worried about what's gonna happen to DBZ after Akira Toriyama leaves the picture . I mean, Toyotarou has done a solid job with the manga and all, but when it comes to the anime and games, I'm just not sure if they're ready to shake things up without Tori's vision.

The character design for that new game project looked pretty meh to me - I get that they wanna pay homage to the OG creator, but it feels like they're just rehashing old ideas instead of taking some bold risks. And don't even get me started on Toei Animation's reliance on posthumous releases... it's a bit lazy imo .

At the same time, I do think Toyotarou has the potential to take DBZ in some cool directions - we've seen him tackle some pretty tough storylines with the manga, so I'm curious to see what he'll come up with next. Fingers crossed it's a Zenkai boost for the franchise !

 

[Wild Wolf]

"Change is the law of life, and those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future."

The franchise's 40th anniversary has brought a mix of excitement and trepidation. It's natural for fans to be anxious about the direction of the series without its legendary founder at the helm.

The legacy lives on through adaptations and spin-offs, but will they carry the franchise forward or dilute it? Fans have concerns about Toei Animation's reliance on posthumous releases and rehashed content.

It's uncertain whether Toyotarou's stewardship can act as a boost or if the series will stumble into uncharted territory. Only time will tell, but for now, fans are left to wonder what Dragon Ball will become without Akira Toriyama

 

[Legendary Manlove]

omg i'm lowkey worried about dragon ball's future toyotarou is def capable but cmon can we not just use toriyama's name for every new project and whats up with toei animation relying on old stuff? that snyder cut vibes ain't nobody got time for that if they wanna keep the franchise alive, gotta innovate not just rehash