Key Takeaways:
• Akira Toriyama returns to the anime industry after negative reactions to the first live-action adaptation of Dragon Ball.
• The creator then took an active role in scriptwriting for Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods and subsequent Dragon Ball projects.
• Akira Toriyama was inspired by the unique storyline of Battle of Gods, initiating his deeper involvement.
• Disappointment in Dragon Ball Evolution prioritized Toriyama’s commitment to the world of Dragon Ball.
• Dragon Ball Super was born out of Toriyama’s renewed interest and active involvement, rejuvenating the series.
Diving into Dragon Ball’s Unfortunate Live-Action Endeavor
Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball series has witnessed resounding success in manga, anime, and gaming. However, the franchise’s success hit a road bump when it tried to go live-action. The series’ only live-action adaptation, Dragonball Evolution (2009), didn’t manage to capture the essence of the original series, which left fans disappointed. The film foundered, starting an unfortunate trend of anime adaptations not translating well to the live-action medium.
Turn of Events – The Genesis of Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods
Interestingly, the movie’s failure sparked a turning point in Akira Toriyama’s involvement with Dragon Ball. Toriyama’s frustration over the movie’s poor execution triggered him to return to the franchise and take control of all future projects. This redirection led him to work on Dragon Ball Super, rejuvenating the series. It was around this time, Akira Toriyama was brought onboard for the Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods project. In an interview with Asahi Shimbun, the creator shared his experiences with scriptwriting.
Expressing his early impressions, Toriyama said, “while the beings “Beerus, God of Destruction” and “Super Saiyan God” were interesting, the themes were heavy, and I felt that the world was a bit different from Dragon Ball.” Sensing the need for improvements, Toriyama saw a speedier resolution in handling the script himself. This undertaking led him to write almost everything in the movie, from the plot to the dialogues, marking his inaugural venture as a scriptwriter.
Toriyama’s Leap of Faith and the Birth of Battle of Gods
Toriyama’s brave leap allowed him to fill in plotholes and add depth to the Battle of Gods narrative. What drove him towards this proactive role was his dissatisfaction with Dragon Ball Evolution. He stated, “the script had too little of a grasp on the world and its characteristics, and on top of that, it had a conventional content that I couldn’t find interesting.” Toriyama revealed that he suggested changes to the Dragon Ball Evolution team, but his advice was sadly overlooked, leading to an outcome that didn’t live up to his, or the fans’ expectations.
The Next Chapter: Dragon Ball Super
Rejected advice and disappointment from Dragon Ball Evolution encouraged Toriyama to plunge deeper into the Dragon Ball domain, even though he had retired from the manga world in 1995. As he navigated the path of Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods, Toriyama saw potential for the story to unfold further, thus giving birth to another sequel, Dragon Ball Super.
In the wake of these adaptations, fans have witnessed a revival of the Dragon Ball universe, all thanks to Akira Toriyama’s strong commitment to his creation after a disappointing live-action attempt. Now, Dragon Ball can be streamed globally on Crunchyroll, and fans eagerly await what Toriyama will bring to the table next.
