Akira Toriyama's Shocking Confession: Forced to Continue the 'DRAGON BALL' Story Despite Wanting to End It at the Cell Saga

Kapanlagi.com - Akira Toriyama, a genius mangaka, has changed the face of the manga and anime industry with his phenomenal work, Dragon Ball. Widely known as the creator of iconic characters, Toriyama was born on April 5, 1955, and left an unforgettable legacy after passing away on March 1, 2024. From 1984 to 1995, Dragon Ball became one of the best-selling and most influential manga series in the world.

Dragon Ball is not just a story, but also a global phenomenon. Starting from a serialized manga in Weekly Shōnen Jump, this tale was then adapted into several anime series that dominated television screens, such as Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, and Dragon Ball Super. Its extraordinary popularity has changed the world's perception of manga and anime.

The inspiration behind Dragon Ball is quite fascinating. Toriyama drew many elements from the classic Chinese novel, Journey to the West, as well as Hong Kong action films starring Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan. The fighting style in Dragon Ball combines various East Asian martial arts, creating dynamic and entertaining battles.

1. The Amazing Adventures of Son Goku

The story of Dragon Ball follows the journey of Son Goku, from childhood to adulthood. In his quest for the seven Dragon Balls that can summon the wish-granting dragon, Goku meets many friends and foes that make his adventures even more exciting.

2. Unique Characters that Bring Dragon Ball to Life

Dragon Ball is filled with iconic characters like Bulma, Yamcha, and Oolong. Each character has a unique background and personality, making viewers feel connected to their stories.

3. Unquestionable Success

With over 260 million copies sold worldwide, Dragon Ball has become one of the best-selling mangas of all time. Its anime adaptation has also been very successful, airing in over 81 countries with millions of fans.

4. The Great Contribution of Akira Toriyama

Not only known for Dragon Ball, Toriyama also created other popular mangas, such as Dr. Slump. In addition, he served as a character designer for famous video games like Dragon Quest and Chrono Trigger, expanding his influence in the entertainment industry.

5. Editorial Pressure that Changed the Story Direction

Did you know? Akira Toriyama initially wanted to end Dragon Ball at the Cell saga, but due to pressure from editors, Goku and friends' story had to continue! This was revealed in the KosoKoso podcast aired on February 22, 2025, where three former Dragon Ball editors—Kazuhiko Torishima, Yu Kondo, and Fuyuto Takeda—discussed the behind-the-scenes story of this legendary manga.

6. Toriyama's Pressured Desire

In the conversation, they confirmed that Toriyama had actually expressed several times his desire to end the story when the Cell saga was nearly finished. However, the editorial team felt that Dragon Ball could still continue, and the pressure to continue the story grew stronger.

7. The Struggle to End the Story

Takeda was among those who supported Toriyama in ending the story. He tried to find ways to lighten the workload of the mangaka, but still, the pressure from the editorial team outweighed Toriyama's wishes.

8. A Satisfying Ending in the Majin Buu Saga

Finally, after various considerations, Toriyama and Takeda agreed that Dragon Ball should end after the Majin Buu saga. The manga officially concluded in 1995, marking the end of a long and impressive journey.

Since its debut, Dragon Ball has become a global phenomenon. With a total of 519 chapters compiled into 42 volumes, the manga has sold over 160 million copies in Japan and reached a fantastic figure of 260 million copies worldwide. The anime adaptations of Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z also achieved great success in Japan and abroad.

So, even though Toriyama initially wanted Dragon Ball to end sooner, the pressure from editors and the success of the franchise caused the story to continue. What do you think? Was this decision good, or should Dragon Ball have really ended at the Cell saga?

(kpl/gtr)