Nothing in the world of manga and anime can equalDragon Ball’s success (except perhapsOne Piece) as a global entertainment powerhouse, so it’s normal to wonder what wasthe secret of the series' late creator, Akira Toriyama. A recent interview with the three legendaryWeekly Shonen Jumpeditors who worked onDragon Ballreveals some interesting behind-the-scenes secrets that shed light on Toriyama’s creative process.
KosoKoso is a podcast run byDragon Quest’s creator Yuji Hori and Kazuhiko Torishima, a legendaryShonen Jumpeditor who worked closely with Akira Toriyama. They talk about video games and manga as veterans of both sectors, and it’s a great listen for whoever understands Japanese. Recently,the podcast hosted the three editors who worked onDragon Ballduring the manga’s original run: Torishima, Yu Kondo, and Fuyuto Takeda.They discussed the late Toriyama’s creative processand his work on his most famous series, giving fans a great opportunity to learn Balland its creator.
Toriyama Never Liked Intricate Plots
The Revelation of Goku’s Saiyan Origins Was a Necessity, Not a Plan
The interview was translated into English and shared by@Venixyson X. Some of the most interesting bits concern the way that Toriyama approached storytelling. According to the editors, Toriyama was never inclined to create the intricate plots with elaborate twists that fans of modern manga may be used to. Instead, his storytelling was simple and direct to better resonate with a young audience. When the story needed a twist to get over a roadblock, Toriyama would introduce one organically, andsuch was the case with the revelation of Goku’s Saiyan origins.
According to the editors,spontaneity defined Toriyama’s entire creative process. Fans have known for a long time that there was no long-term planning inDragon Ball, and the story was shaped week by week by the author with the help of his editors. Still, the lack of intricate backstories or long-planned plot twists does not mean thatDragon Ballwas predictable.
Toriyama’s Storytelling Is More Nuanced Than It Seems
A common misconception tends to relegateDragon Ballto a lower tier of storytelling compared with modern shonen manga such asOne PieceorMy Hero Academia, which are defined by complexly woven storylines and long-term plot planning. However, as the editors admitted in the podcast,Toriyama had an uncanny ability to subvert expectationsand improvise solutions that made his storytelling always fresh and unpredictable. An example is how he would sometimes make the two strongest fighters match up in the first round of the martial arts tournament, subverting a classic trope with the confidence that “If I put the most epic fight up first, then I’ll just come up with something else.”
This fresh and unpredictable approach was only possible because Toriyama shied away from complex planning to let his spontaneity and creativity run free. It would be interesting to know if such an approach would still work today, and if manga authors (besides Eiichiro Oda) are still given the same amount of freedom and trust that letAkira ToriyamashapeDragon Ballinto a global cultural phenomenon.
