The future of Dragon Ball might not be as bright as most would hope, according to an interview with the series' creator, Akira Toriyama. It has been just over a year since the mangaka behind the legendary Dragon Ball series has ed away, and while Dragon Ball Super's manga is still being created, it looks like the sequel series might not hit the same heights as its predecessor.

The best parts of Dragon Ball are all directly connected to Akira Toriyama. He's played a major role in each part of the story, bar Dragon Ball GT and the non-canon movies. His genius is seen in everything he's involved in, and Dragon Ball Z might be the series' absolute peak. Dragon Ball Z is so good because of how involved Toriyama was, and with his ing, it looks like the Dragon Ball franchise will miss out dearly on input from its mastermind of a creator.

The Dragon Ball Franchise Is Massive

There Aren't Many Anime Series As Big As Dragon Ball

Out of every anime franchise, there are few that rank higher than Dragon Ball. It's one of top ten highest-grossing from Japan. The series has grown exponentially since its beginnings: fans of the original series might have a hard time even recognizing the series now if they weren't keeping up.

Goku's story started simply. At first, he was a boy with a tail who landed on Earth, curious to learn about the world around him, fighting, and much more. Now, he's one of the strongest mortals in the multiverse, tresing into the domain of the Gods through sheer dedication and otherworldly abilities.

The series has grown to become one of the greatest anime series of all time. Even after several decades, the series is still showing off amazing fights and breathtaking transformations like it always has. Goku's transformation into the Ultra Instinct state proved that even after all these years, Dragon Ball still has it.

Akira Toriyama Is The Best Part Of Dragon Ball

It Might Be Obvious, But The Series' Creator Is Responsible For The Best Bits Of Dragon Ball

Dragon Ball is exceptional for a number of reasons, but one stands out more than the rest: Akira Toriyama. Dragon Ball is Toriyama's magnum opus, and Dragon Ball Z shines as his crown jewel. He started writing the original Dragon Ball manga way back in 1984, and somehow, over 40 years later, Dragon Ball is still one of the biggest franchises around.

He took a lot of inspiration from Journey to the West, a novel about a Chinese Monk's titular journey to the west. Journey to the West has become the base of Dragon Ball, and Toriyama expanded the story into something that stands on its own as a titan of the art form. Toriyama is one of the most beloved mangaka in history. He's become a figure other amazing mangaka have looked up to, showing that even his peers have a hard time seeing him as anything other than a figurehead.

In an interview between the creator of One Piece, Eiichiro Oda, and Akira Toriyama, the mangaka behind Monkey D. Luffy, had wonderful things to say about Toriyama. "Q: Let us begin, Oda-sensei, please explain how you feel about Toriyama-sensei? Oda: Of course, he's god! He is in an entirely different dimension. All in all, he's just too good at drawing!".

Dragon Ball GT Is A Good Example Of A Toriyama-Less Series

GT Flopped Because Toriyama Wasn't Really Involved

Dragon Ball isn't without its faults, but it's clear to see that Dragon Ball is at its lowest when Akira Toriyama isn't involved. Out of every entry in the Dragon Ball universe, there isn't a series with more problems than Dragon Ball GT. It was supposed to serve as a sequel to Dragon Ball Z but flopped heavily when fans didn't respond to it like they did with the original Dragon Ball or Dragon Ball Z.

There are a lot of reasons to like Dragon Ball GT, but one of the biggest reasons it flopped was because Akira Toriyama wasn't involved nearly as much as he was with his other series. The production companies behind Dragon Ball wanted to continue the series because it was a massive hit and essentially created the series themselves with minimal input from Toriyama.

Toriyama created a lot of the character designs, drew some promotional illustrations for the series, and that was about it. Dragon Ball GT doesn't feel like a true Dragon Ball story, and that's almost entirely because Toriyama didn't create the story himself. Now that Akira Toriyama has ed, it's hard to see any other Dragon Ball series reaching the massive levels of success that Dragon Ball Z achieved.

Dragon Ball Peaked With Dragon Ball Z

Dragon Ball Z Was The Culmination Of Everything Great About Dragon Ball

There is no entry in the Dragon Ball universe greater than Dragon Ball Z. It took everything the original Dragon Ball series put forward and ran with it, showing just how good shōnen anime series could be. Dragon Ball Z is so good that most other shōnen series use it as a source of inspiration. Dragon Ball Z was one of the first series to create amazing, genre-defining transformations, a main character who would never quit, and some of the best fights in anime.

In an interview from Daizenshuu 6, a collection of everything Dragon Ball, Akira Toriyama revealed what exactly made Dragon Ball Z the amazing series that everyone knows it as. Toriyama says he's lucky to create amazing sequences, "I’m always crossing perilous bridges like that. (laughs) But, just as I’ve been driven into a corner, it’s like my brain waves go taut, and some sort of idea bubbles up. Also, I’m good at forcing things to stretch. (laughs)".

In the interview, Toriyama talks about how when his back is against the wall, he somehow comes up with some of the best moments in the series. He writes at such a rapid pace with such strict deadlines that he's been in these moments more than once. He knows the overall direction the series needs to go in, and with his editors' help, he's able to identify the bits of the story he can enhance.

No Matter What Comes Next, It Won't Be Better Than Dragon Ball Z

Akira Toriyama's ing Means No More Fresh Ideas For The Franchise

Dragon Ball has its best moments when creator Akira Toriyama is at the helm. In an interview from Daizenshuu 6, he talked about how lucky and spontaneous these moments are, showing that no other mangaka can come up with the same ideas as Toriyama. Even though Toriyama named his successor when he chose Toyotarou, even his favorite pupil doesn't have the same mind or perspective as his teacher.

No other Dragon Ball series will reach the heights of Dragon Ball Z. Dragon Ball DAIMA and Dragon Ball Super, the latest entries in the series, have a ton of strengths in their own right. Without the improvisational nature that Toriyama brought to the table, however, it's hard to imagine that either one of these series will reach the same heights as Dragon Ball Z.