From GT to Evolution, There's a Real Reason Some of Dragon Ball's Projects Failed

Akira Toriyama, the creator of Dragon Ball, was a visionary manga artist and storyteller whose work reshaped the industry and left a lasting mark on global pop culture. However, after the iconic series concluded, follow-up projects like Dragon Ball GT and the live-action film Dragon Ball Evolutionfaced widespread critical disappointment.

New insights from Toriyama’s closest editors reveal that there was a period when he had little to no involvement with the franchise and lost his drive to create something new. Online translations of an interview with editors Kazuhiko Torishima, Yu Kondo, and Fuyuto Takeda on the KosoKoso_hoso podcast shed light on how the creator experienced this creative slump—but also how he reignited his passion.

Toriyama’s Editors Say He Lost His Spark After Dragon Ball Ended

Fuyuto Takeda Observed The Creator Closely Throughout The Years

Fuyuyo Takeda is a Japanese editor for Shueisha and became the third editor for Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball manga, taking over Yu Kondo's position during the Perfect Cell Saga. He stayed until the end of the manga, and he also served as editor for Toriyama's post-Dragon Ball works. After the series ended, Takeda believes Toriyama became convinced he could never create anything better and stopped proposing new projects. All initiative toward the series--from Dragon Ball GT to the much-maligned Dragon Ball Evolution--was met with a passive “go ahead, do as you like” from Toriyama with no direct involvement.

None of the three editors had seen Dragon Ball DAIMA as of the podcast recording.

Kazuhiko Torishima, Toriyama’s first editor, says the decision left him with mixed feelings, being one of the first to recognize Toriyama’s potential and being instrumental in developing Dragon Ball into a lucrative franchise. However, despite Toriyama’s feelings, Torishima hoped he would go on to create something new. But when he would suggest that Toriyama draw a new manga, he would reply that he could no longer draw manga panels without sneezing uncontrollably, or because he lost his special pen nib he’d used for drawing. It was then that Torishima lost all hope of Toriyama creating a new series.

How Toriyama Got His Groove Back

The Dragon Ball Creator’s Passion Was Reignited

However, Toriyama's interest was sparked by emerging technology, especially Apple computers, which captivated him. He started experimenting with digital screen tones for manga and, swept up in the excitement, drew purely for the joy of exploring the new tool. After Dragon Ball’s conclusion, Toriyama continued creating manga, primarily one-shots and short serials ranging from 100 to 200 pages, including Cowa! (1997–1998), Kajika (1998), and Sand Land (2000).

Dragon Ball Super Super Hero Goku shouting as he reels back to deliver a punch on an alien planet.

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One year after Akira Toriyama’s passing, Dragon Ball’s future remains uncertain yet full of potential, blending nostalgia with new possibilities.

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Jaco the Galactic Patrolman (2013) was his final fully self-written and illustrated work. Toriyama also collaborated with fellow manga artists like Masakazu Katsura and Eiichiro Oda on one-shots and crossover specials. In 2015, he launched Dragon Ball Super alongside illustrator Toyotarou and remained involved with the series until his passing in 2024. Toriyama's influence on manga and pop culture remains immeasurable, with his stories continuing in Dragon Ball DAIMAand inspiring generations of creators and fans to come.