Summary
Though the anime industry is filled to the brim with iconic stories, memorable characters, and encapsulating adventures, there are only a few that stand above all the rest. Those who have come to write these tales have found themselves immortalized in not only their work but also in the words of others, as their legacy has been so influential that they have changed the landscape of their industry.
One such name is Akira Toriyama,the man behind innumerable worksthat have stood the test of time, chief among them beingDragon Ball. Due to the rich world, vibrant characters, and unique approach to writing and storytelling, this series has propelled Akira Toriyama to becoming one of the Godfathers of the anime industry. In this article, let’s see how his magnum opus,Dragon Ball, transformed Shonen anime forever.
Early Life Before Dragon Ball
Born in Nagoya, Japan on the 5th of April 1955, Akira Toriyama began his career as a budding artist looking to create stories through his art. Since his youth, he was inspired by many works, such asAstro Boyby Osamu Tezuka as well as citingOne Hundred and One Dalmatiansas one of his earliest inspirations, being blown away by the incredible art style and animation of the series.
After high school, Toriyama began his work in an advertising agency, designing posters for three years in the same town that he was born in. However, he eventually quit the job and, needing money, he began to enter manga contests which saw him gain some success, although there were many flops as well.Eventually, he createdDr. Slump, which made him a household name and led to Toriyama sticking with being a mangaka, eventually creating his most famous series,Dragon Ball.
Dragon Ball, Chapter 1, “Bulma and Son Goku”
Debut Date
July 15, 2025
After Akira Toriyama’s editor, Kazuhiko Torishima, suggested that he should make a Shonen series that stems from his love of Kung Fu films and Martial Arts, Toriyama created a story calledDragon Boy, which was published in August and October of 1983. This short story was very well received, causing Toriyama to change its name toDragon Balland serialize the series in 1984. The rest is history.
Dragon Ballwould go on to become a world-spanning franchise and one of the most successful comics of all time, selling 159.5 million copies in Japan alone. Starting as a funny, action-adventure series but later transforming into a fighting series with its main focus being on action,Dragon Ballis often dubbed asthe ‘most influential Shonen manga of all time’. From the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s, manga circulation was at the highest it had ever been, andDragon Ballwas considered to be one of the main reasons for this.
Dragon Ballwas not only famous in Japan, but also in the rest of the world, having sold 300-350 million copies all across the globe. The series eventually continued withDragon Ball Z, which had even greater success with its anime and several full-length featured films. The success of the series carried on to video games, asDragon Ballremains a franchise with some of the most video game releases under its label.
AfterDragon Ball Zended, the demand for the series would not die down. Despite the anime and manga both having ended after the Buu Saga, Toei Animation kept the franchise going with their own creation in 1996,Dragon Ball GT.ThoughGTwas met with heavy criticism, the love for the series remained with the continual release of even more video games and the eventual revival of the canon storyline withDragon Ball Superin 2015.
How Dragon Ball Influenced The Shonen Genre
Many believe that the Shonen genre would not be the same had it not been forDragon Ball. This is quite true, as the series had many aspects that were replicated many times over in not only anime but also in Western media. Although there were many things thatDragon Ballitself adopted from other sources, their use within the franchise eventually became synonymous with it, so let’s see what some of these things were.
A greater focus on action:
Dragon Ballwas not the first series to put such a great focus on action, but the way that this series implemented it was unique. This is because the action itself was such an integral part of the series,making the fights extremely memorableand the stakes of every confrontation with a villain were higher than ever before. This sort of tone was one that has been echoed by many Shonen series since.
Transformations:
The transformations inDragon Ballare some of the most recognizable in all of anime, and they have had a massive influence on the genre. This is because, despite transformations being a thing even before the series, they were never before so integral to a franchise.Goku’s first transformation into Super Saiyanwas a cultural moment that has either been replicated completely or has inspired almost all other kinds of anime transformations.
Character designs:
Anime, as a genre of entertainment, has always had a very distinct style in terms of how different series depict their characters.Dragon Ballis one of the most unique, as the characters and Akira Toriyama’s art style are instantly recognizable, greatly influencing various other masters of the craft, such as thecreators ofNaruto,One Piece, andOne Punch Man, to name a few.
Themes:
Many themes that are explored inDragon Ballare those that all kinds of stories have been telling for centuries. However, very few have had such potent storytelling and the same representation of thesethemes quite likeDragon Ball, as people from all around the world view the Z-Fighters as a symbol for never giving up. Toriyama wrote themes of hard work, family, love, and forgiveness into this series in a way that is incredibly unique and in a way that only a few others have achieved.
Akira Toriyama was a master at his craft. The worlds he created and the characters that he wrote have become a mainstay of pop culture, inspiring millions of children and adults across the globe to never give up.
Dragon Ball
Goku, a young, powerful boy with a tail, spends his days hunting and living off the land. His life changes when he meets Bulma, a teen genius on a quest to collect seven magical Dragon Balls that summon a dragon capable of granting any wish. Together, they set off on an adventure filled with powerful martial arts battles, formidable foes, and unlikely alliances.
