Akira Toriyama has a number of works listed under his name. However, if there’s one title that would set him apart from other mangakas of not just his time but also in this generation, it would be his Dragon Ball. Initially, the Shonen series struggled to find its footing, but once it did, it became the most popular anime of all time.
Following the infectious popularity of the series, the title received a sequel, Dragon Ball Z, which introduced Son-Goku as an adult who would save Earth from bigger threats. Naturally, the series embedded itself in the hearts of the fans.
However, one question always loomed around the minds of the fans, namely, “What does the ‘Z’ in DBZ mean?” Some believed there would be some deeper meaning behind it, but Toriyama-Sensei cleared their doubts as he explained what made him add the ‘Z’ in the anime series.
The Significance of ‘Z’ in Dragon Ball Z
There’s no denying that Akira Toriyama’s DBZ is full of iconic moments that are still remembered by ardent fans with vivid detail. From Goku and Vegeta’s iconic standoff to the ultimate battle against Kid Buu, the series is filled with high-octane scenes, making the fans bite their nails with anticipation.
They would speculate on what would happen in the next episode of the show. Following the popularity that transcended borders, a persistent question always lingered in the fans’ minds. They failed to understand the significance of ‘Z’ in the title. Well, most fans believed that it was an index to separate the two titles.
However, that’s untrue because the mangaka has shed light on the title’s significance and what it meant. In an old interview with Toriyama-Sensei via Neoseeker, the author was asked, “What does the Z in Dragonball Z stand for?”
The mangaka replied,
I was starting to run out of things for Dragonball and I really wanted to finish the series. So I thought that if I put a Z at the end of Dragonball, people would think that it was going to end soon!
Well, the series had a total of 291 episodes, which also included 13 movies and 2 TV specials.
Nevertheless, the mangaka emphasized that the animation series was in “one dimension” with reference to the manga and called it the “canon” series that continues to showcase the tale of Kakarot and his friends.
Akira Toriyama Made Kakarot Different Based on One Aspect
In Toriyama-Sensei’s magnum opus, many believe that Son-Goku is the perfect protagonist, and his popularity speaks for him. One intriguing aspect of the Saiyan Warrior is how he has an insatiable hunger for power and constantly wants to fight stronger opponents.
However, the protagonist does not harbor any evil intentions in his heart because this is a dormant trait of the Saiyans. The author further justified this notion in an interview translated exclusively by Kanzenshuu, where he talked about the nature of the protagonist. He said,
Goku’s basic rule isn’t defeating an enemy, but “winning”, so he doesn’t mind whether it’s a good guy or a bad guy.
Kakarot is always interested in taking part in a battle to refine his skills and unlock a new technique or two in the process.
Furthermore, the primary objective of the show is to inspire its viewers that they should not remain stagnant and should continue to work harder to become the best version of themselves.
Dragon Ball Z can be streamed on Crunchyroll as of August 19, 2024.
