Late 'Dragon Ball' creator Akira Toriyama's final draft correction revealed by artist

[Enter Stage Rite]

 

In a bittersweet development for Dragon Ball enthusiasts, the artist behind the Dragon Ball Super manga, Toyotarou, recently shed light on what may be series creator Akira Toriyama's final creative contribution. The news comes as Dragon Ball Super enters a hiatus following Toriyama’s passing.

 

Toyotarou’s revelation, reported by Anime News Network, centers on a suggestion Toriyama provided for a potential final chapter, entitled “A Legacy Toward The Future.” This chapter serves as the epilogue to the 2022 film, “Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero,” and features thrilling Saiyan battles. However, the chapter's core theme revolves around Goku entrusting the future safety of Earth to the next generation of heroes.

 

Toyotarou shared a side-by-side comparison of his draft and Toriyama’s tweak for the chapter’s final page on X (formerly Twitter).

 

Turns out, Toyotaro originally planned for Piccolo and the gang to simply fly off into the sunset, leaving the readers with a sense of closure. However, series creator Akira Toriyama, a self-proclaimed Piccolo superfan, had a different vision.

 

 

 

 

Originally, Toyotaro envisioned the story concluding with Goku, Gohan, Piccolo, and a spirited Pan soaring off into the sky, with their backs facing the reader. Toriyama’s poignant take, on the other hand, saw Piccolo turning to wave goodbye to Pan’s kindergarten teacher, Janet, before regrouping with the Saiyans. This arc was eventually woven in.

 

Seeing as how Piccolo was Toriyama’s favorite character, it’s almost as though Akira Toriyama were speaking to us through him.

 

 

• https://www.ign.com/articles/dragon-ball-super-artist-reveals-akira-toriyamas-final-suggestion
• https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-03-21/dragon-ball-super-manga-goes-on-indefinite-hiatus/.208985

 

 

Image: Igor Georgiev | Dreamstime.com