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There are few creators in any medium who have left as big an impact on the world as Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama. Dragon Ball’s status as one of the most iconic anime of all time speaks for itself, but when taking his work on Dragon Quest and Chrono Trigger into , as well, he easily ranks among the most influential people in the entertainment industry of the past century.
Akira Toriyama was an influential talent unlike any other, and sure enough, he had his own share of stories he ired throughout his life. Over the years, it’s become well-documented that Akira Toriyama’s signature art style was inspired by Osamu Tezuka’s Astro Boy and Disney’s One Hundred and One Dalmatians, and he liked watching Ultraman and Gamera, as well. What most people don’t know, however, is that Akira Toriyama had one mangaka whom he felt stood out more than any other, and with how great one of their works was, it’s easy to see why.
Dragon Ball’s Akira Toriyama Loved The Creator Of Anime’s Most Iconic Film
What Akira Toriyama Thought Of Katsuhiro Otomo
In 1987, Shueisha released Dragon Ball: Adventure Special, the first official Dragon Ball guidebook, and as would be the norm with them, it included a multitude of Dragon Ball trivia and an interview with Akira Toriyama himself. With how early into Dragon Ball the book was released, there wasn’t much information about the series, but as for Toriyama’s personal life, it was revealed that the mangaka Akira Toriyama thought was the most incredible at the time was Akira fame.
One Of Anime’s Biggest Sci-Fi Creators Might Have Helped Inspire Dragon Ball
Did Katsuhiro Otomo Secretly Influence Dragon Ball?
It should be noted that the Akira movie came out in 1988, so since Dragon Ball: Adventure Special came out in 1987, Akira Toriyama wouldn’t have been talking about the movie when talking about Katsuhiro Otomo. That being said, not only was the Akira manga already running, but Otomo was already famous for writing Domu, Fireball, and over a dozen short stories since the early 1970s. Because of that, Akira Toriyama likely ired Katsuhiro Otomo well before Akira came out, and that’s why he singled him out as an incredible mangaka.
Akira Toriyama’s iration of Katsuhiro Otomo might even go deeper than people think. Otomo is one of the premier science fiction mangaka, and even before Dragon Ball made the full transition into a science fiction story, its world was full of random sci-fi elements like flying cars and the Capsule technology, not to mention how much Toriyama liked to draw fancy vehicles on volume and chapter covers. There’s a chance that Dragon Ball’s sci-fi aesthetic was inspired by Katsuhiro Otomo’s work, and while that’s purely hypothetical, it’s nonetheless fun to think about.
Dragon Ball’s Creator iring Akira’s Creator Makes Both Of Their Works Even More Iconic
What Makes Dragon Ball And Akira's Connection So Special
Even if Akira Toriyama didn’t say that he specifically liked Akira, the fact that he liked Katsuhiro Otomo still adds to its iconic status. While initially a cult classic at best, Akira has since gone on to become one of the most famous anime films of all time, thanks to its gorgeous animation and direction and how well it complements a thrilling, dystopian narrative. Everything from the overall aesthetic to the iconic “Akira slide” has made its way into stories all around the world of every medium, and with how great the film is, it’s easy to see why.
Taika Waititi's Akira Movie Is Still Happening and Finally, It Is About to Drop a Big Update
The long awaited live-action Akira movie is still being made, and it will get an update within the next few months so fans need to stay tuned.
Much like Akira, Dragon Ball is one of the most iconic and influential anime of all time, although to an even higher degree than Akira, so if Toriyama saw fit to praise Otomo to such a high degree, then Akira Toriyama’s praise of Katsuhiro Otomo can be seen as elevating both Dragon Ball and Akira through mutual respect, something that’s more than warranted by how iconic and overall great both stories are. Few anime fans need to be told why they have to watch Akira, and since Dragon Ball’s Akira Toriyama loved Akira’s Katsuhiro Otomo, that’s never been more true.
Source: Kanzenshuu.
- Created by
- Akira Toriyama
- First Film
- Dragon Ball: Curse of the Blood Rubies
- Latest Film
- Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero
- First TV Show
- Dragon Ball
- First Episode Air Date
- April 26, 1989
- Cast
- Sean Schemmel, Laura Bailey, Brian Drummond, Christopher Sabat, Scott McNeil
- Video Game(s)
- Super Dragon Ball Heroes: World Mission, Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z, Dragon Ball Xenoverse, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot
