Dragon Ball might be one of the biggest anime franchises around, but if one major voice had their way, it would have been dead in the water.
Dragon Ball is, without a doubt, one of the biggest anime in history, and much of that can be owed to Akira Toriyama’s former editor, Kazuhiko Torishima.
As is to be expected from an editor, Torishima helped guide Toriyama since the early days of his career, even being the one who got him started at Weekly Shonen Jump, and it was many of Torishima’s decisions that pushed Dragon Ball to be the series it is today, the most notable example being his part in shaping the legendary Android Saga.
As great an editor as Kazuhiko Torishima was, he was also infamous for being highly critical of people’s work and something of a tyrant, and it was to the point that many authors in the 70s and 80s made fun of him by basing villains on him, with Akira Toriyama even using him as a base for Dr. Slump’s Dr. Mashirito and Dragon Ball’s King Piccolo. That went even further than most people realize, though, and if things had played out differently, it could have meant the end of Dragon Ball as we know it.
Why Dragon Ball's Biggest Editor Never Wanted Goku To Grow Up One of the most unique aspects of Dragon Ball is that, unlike most stories, Goku ages with every new story arc, with him being introduced as a child, a young adult by the time of Dragon Ball Z, and being a full-grown adult for the past 40 years or so of the franchise. Surprisingly, though, that was something Kazuhiko Torishima objected to, as when Torishima spoke at Napoli Comicon, it was revealed that Kazuhiko Torishima was against making Goku an adult because he thought it would kill Dragon Ball’s sales.
Obviously, that was something Akira Toriyama managed to fight Kazuhiko Torishima on, and he was right to do so. As fun and iconic as the original Dragon Ball is, it was in the Dragon Ball Z era that the story’s action, writing, and worldbuilding truly became legendary, and much of that is owed to Goku being an adult for it all.
If Goku had never grown up and allowed the scope of Dragon Ball to change, then that’s likely what would have killed the series, and at this point, that’s pretty hard to deny. Related Legendary Dragon Ball Icon Officially Declares One Piece Trash Dragon Ball editor criticizes modern manga and anime, calling out popular titles like One Piece, Demon Slayer, Jujutsu Kaisen, Chainsaw Man, and more.
Posts 10 By Nicolas Ayala Things would have been especially bad for the American anime fandom if Torishima had his way. The reason most networks aired Dragon Ball Z before Dragon Ball was that over-the-top action was an easier sell than goofy comedy at the time, and because of that, Dragon Ball Z became one of the defining anime in America and the wider world.
As such, without Dragon Ball Z, anime never would have taken off outside Japan, and that makes Torishima’s objection to Goku becoming an adult even worse in hindsight. Why Goku Becoming An Adult Made Dragon Ball Great Kazuhiko Torishima’s idea not to have Goku grow up in Dragon Ball would have been a disaster, and not just because of sales and popularity.
In addition to allowing the scope of the series to expand as Goku could take on new responsibilities, watching Goku grow up in tandem with the viewers adds a sense of relatability to Goku, like he’s someone who will always be part of your life, which is probably why most Dragon Ball stories end on the note of Goku just continuing his adventures like nothing’s ever changed. ScreenRant.com | KI Power Level Scanner Personality Quiz ScreenRant/ Anime/ Dragon Ball/ Personality Quiz Dragon Ball · Character Profile Which Dragon Ball Character Are You?
“Power comes in response to a need, not a desire. ” 👊 Goku The Fighter 👑 Vegeta The Prince 🧘 Piccolo The Mentor POWER UP → QUESTION 1 / 8PERSONALITY 01 A powerful new enemy appears. What’s your first reaction? AThis is amazing!
I can’t wait to fight them and see how strong they are! BI’ll defeat them myself. No one else is worthy of the challenge. CWe need a plan.
Rushing in blindly is how people get killed. NEXT → QUESTION 2 / 8INSTINCTS 02 How do you train for an upcoming battle? AFind the strongest sparring partner I can and push myself past my limits every day BTrain alone in isolation — I don’t need anyone holding me back CMeditate, study the enemy’s weaknesses, and train the younger fighters so they’re ready too NEXT → QUESTION 3 / 8TEAMWORK 03 Your team is losing a fight.
What do you do? AJump in front of everyone — I’ll take the hits so my friends can regroup BGet angry. I refuse to lose — my pride won’t allow it. I’ll surpass my limits right here.
CFall back and coordinate — someone needs to think clearly while everyone else is panicking NEXT → QUESTION 4 / 8CONFLICT 04 A rival challenges you to a one-on-one fight. How do you respond? AAbsolutely! Let’s go right now — no holding back!
BFinally, a chance to prove I am the strongest. I accept — and I will crush you. CIf it serves a purpose, fine. But pointless fighting is a waste of energy.
NEXT → QUESTION 5 / 8TRUST 05 An old enemy offers to join your side. What do you do? AI don’t trust them — once an enemy, always an enemy. They’ll betray us.
BSure! Everyone deserves a second chance. The more friends the better! CI’ll allow it, but I’m watching them closely.
Trust is earned, not given. NEXT → QUESTION 6 / 8WEAKNESS 06 What’s your biggest weakness? AI’m too trusting and sometimes let enemies power up just for the thrill of the fight BMy pride — I’d rather die than accept help from someone else CI keep everyone at arm’s length — caring about people is a liability I struggle with NEXT → QUESTION 7 / 8APPROACH 07 You sense a massive power level approaching Earth. What’s your move?
AFly straight toward it — I want to meet them first and see what they’re made of BPrepare myself — if this threat is real, I’ll be the one to destroy it CGather the fighters, assess the threat, and make sure the people I protect are safe first NEXT → QUESTION 8 / 8VALUES 08 What drives you more than anything?
AProtecting those who can’t protect themselves — someone has to be the responsible one BThe thrill of getting stronger — there’s always a new level to reach, a new challenge to find CProving my worth — I am the Prince of all Saiyans, and I will surpass everyone REVEAL MY CHARACTER → Power Level Scanned Your Dragon Ball Identity 👊 Goku “I am the hope of the universe. I am the answer to all living things that cry out for peace.
” You’re a pure-hearted warrior who lives for the thrill of the fight. Every challenge is an opportunity, every enemy a potential friend, and every defeat just fuel to come back stronger. People are drawn to your infectious optimism and unbreakable spirit, even when your naivety drives them crazy.
You’d give your last Senzu Bean to a stranger and charge headfirst into a battle you can’t win — not because you’re reckless, but because you genuinely believe that pushing past your limits is the only way to grow. Like Goku, your greatest power isn’t your ki — it’s your ability to inspire everyone around you to be better. Pure-Hearted Fearless Limitless Inspiring 👑 Vegeta “I do not fear this new challenge.
Rather like a true warrior, I will rise to meet it. ” You carry yourself with the pride of royalty and the ferocity of a born warrior.
Second place is not in your vocabulary, and you’d rather break your body than your spirit. People might call you arrogant, but beneath that iron exterior lies someone who has learned to fight not just for themselves, but for the people they’ve quietly grown to love. Your journey is one of evolution — from cold-blooded conqueror to Earth’s fiercest protector — and every scar you carry is proof that pride and love can coexist.
Like Vegeta, you don’t just want to be the strongest — you need to earn it on your own terms. Proud Relentless Fierce Evolving 🧘 Piccolo “Sometimes, we have to look beyond what we want and do what’s best. ” You’re the one everyone depends on when things fall apart — the calm center in the middle of chaos.
While others charge in recklessly or let their ego do the talking, you see the bigger picture and make the hard calls that need making. You didn’t choose to care about people, but somewhere along the way it happened, and now you’d sacrifice everything for those you’ve taken under your wing. Stoic on the surface, deeply loyal underneath, you’re the mentor, the strategist, and the last line of defense all in one.
Like Piccolo, your true strength is wisdom — and the courage to do what’s right even when no one is watching. Wise Tactical Protective Stoic ↻ PLAY AGAIN Dragon Ball Z had everything it needed to appeal to American fans, and because of that, it wasn’t long before it became the most popular and iconic anime in America, which still stands at the cornerstone of anime decades later.
None of that would have happened had Kazuhiko Torishima had his way with Dragon Ball, and it proves that as much of a boon as he was for the series, even he was the furthest thing from infallible. 126 9.0/10 Dragon Ball Z 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed TV-14 Action Adventure Fantasy Animation Release Date 1989 - 1996 Network Fuji TV Directors Daisuke Nishio, Shigeyasu Yamauchi, Osamu Kasai Writers Akira Toriyama, Neil Bligh, Hiroshi Toda, Katsuyuki Sumisawa, Aya Matsui, Keiji Terui, Reiko Yoshida, Toshiki Inoue Franchise Dragon Ball Cast See All Main Genre Animation Producers Kōzō Morishita, Kenji Shimizu, Koji Kaneda Seasons 9 Number of Episodes 291 Creator Akira Toriyama Streaming Service Crunchyroll Studio Toei Animation Based On Manga MyAnimeList Score 8.19 Powered by Expand Collapse
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