It has long been rumored that Akira Toriyama intended to end his iconic Dragon Ball manga with the conclusion of the Cell Saga, and thanks to an all-new interview with series' editors by Japanese podcast KosoKoso, the rumor has been confirmed true. The ing of the torch from father to son would have left readers with Gohan fully inheriting the role as Earth's greatest defender, but after strong pressure from the editorial team, it was decided Dragon Ball would continue.

Toriyama wished to speed through the final section of the series in a period of about six months, when one character unexpectedly reignited his ion for the manga, and kept Dragon Ball running for over two more years. The Majin Buu Saga has always been somewhat divisive among the countless fans of the franchise, but without it, many of the series' greatest inclusions would never have come to exist. And the character responsible for making it all happen was none other than Majin Buu himself.

Majin Buu Inspired Toriyama to Continue Dragon Ball Further Than Planned

The Series' Creator Enjoyed Drawing Characters Like Majin Buu

During the interview, it was revealed that Toriyama was asked if he enjoyed deg new characters, and he responded by saying he liked drawing "rounder, cuter figures with a humorous touch". This question led to the creation of Majin Buu, who would take over the series following Gohan's peaceful high school days. Later, Kazuhiko Torishima, who was the legendary artist's editor for both Dr. Slump and Dragon Ball, claimed he felt the series should have ended much sooner, but Toriyama really began enjoying himself after Buu's introduction.

Knowing the series would soon be coming to a close, Toriyama brought more creativity and quite a few more gags than the series ever had before, explaining the many comedic elements of Dragon Ball's closing arc. Moments like Gotenks' Ghost Kamikaze Attack in particular shocked the editor, and reminded him of what he dubbed "early Toriyama". While many in the fandom have criticized the Buu Saga's distinct shift in tone, the arc was responsible for a couple ultimate fan-favorite techniques.

Dragon Ball Wouldn't Be the Same Without the Buu Saga

The Arc Introduced Long-Time Fan-Favorite Techniques

Modern Dragon Ball would not have been the same had Toriyama ended the series with Cell. The arc not only served as the resolution of Vegeta's long-running inner conflict, but also introduced fan-favorite additions to the franchise. The first, Super Saiyan 3, is an underutilized form which has just recently made a comeback in Dragon Ball Daima. The most important, however, is fusion. Vegito is one of the most beloved characters in anime and manga history to have had such little screen time.

Later, Gogeta would be introduced to a similar reception in Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn. The Majin Buu Saga is likely the most divisive section in Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball manga, but without it the series would look much different than it does today. And without the creation of Majin Buu, the series' creator might not have had the motivation to continue. Many of the Buu Saga's core themes are revisited in Dragon Ball Daima, and fans can get their fix of magic and majins from the franchise's latest anime adventure.

Source: KosoKoso (translations and summary by Venixys on X)