Akira Toriyama loved Dragon Ball; the mangaka took immense pride in his work, which stands tall as one of the pillars of the anime and manga industry. He has helped the community become one of the many mainstream forms of entertainment. However, taking the industry to new heights is not what makes it so loved among the fans.
The Shonen series features Son-Goku, a Saiyan who is obsessed with the idea of getting stronger and always breaks past his limits. However, that’s not all, because Toriyama-Sensei loved showcasing him in new Super Saiyan forms to establish the character’s growth over time.
In Dragon Ball Super, the growth of Kakarot and The Prince of All Saiyans is undeniable, and the duo has significantly powered up compared to DBZ. Regardless, the mangaka got candid about letting the two Saiyans reach a power level that potentially can’t be achieved by any other character featured in the series.
Akira Toriyama Debunked A Power Scaling Method For Goku and Vegeta
Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball is more than just flashy battles; the series depicts growth, perseverance, and strength through trials and tribulations.
Dragon Ball Super is a true testament to that notion, as Son-Goku and Vegeta have unlocked great amounts of power. SSJ God Ki, Super Saiyan Blue, Ultra Instinct, and Ultra Ego are some of the new levels that the Saiyans have achieved so far.
To make the situation all the more interesting, the two Saiyans are trained on Lord Beerus’ planet directly by the God of Destruction and Whis. Hence, achieving new powers never felt so easy. Hence, Toriyama-Sensei decided that he would ensure to hold the idea of breaking past to higher limits.
During an interview, the mangaka, along with Toyotarō-Sensei, translated via Kanzenshuu, shared his thoughts on how he does not intend to make the two Saiyans pass Beerus and Whis. He said,
Well… First off, right now I don’t have any plans for Goku and Vegeta to surpass Beerus and Whis.
Toyotarō-Sensei added, “Ever since Battle of Gods, Beerus and Whis have become central figures.” Following the comments, the mangaka emphasized how these two characters were vital for the progress of the series, or else the show could not have progressed.
Hence, he would prefer things to remain the way they are. Toriyama-Sensei said,
If it hadn’t been for those two, making any more story after that would have been a nightmare. There wouldn’t have been anything to expand upon. That’s why I’m so glad to have them around. And their voices are good, too! Those voice artists are so talented!
Not only did the two characters aid in expanding the series but they became fan-favorite characters as well. Lord Beerus’ fight against Goku early on in the series, remains one of the key highlights of the show, elevating the show’s popularity to a whole new level.
Akira Toriyama on Why He Denied Gohan To Be The Protagonist of Dragon Ball
After the events of the Cell Games Saga, fans believed that Son-Gohan was going to be the new protagonist of the age-old series. The mangaka even considered putting the character as the lead, but later changed his mind. In the same interview, the interviewer asked the mangaka about Gohan not carrying on the legacy of the show.
The Dr. Slump author answered that at one point in time, he felt that it was time to “switch over to the next generation.” However, while working on the series, he realized that he was not fit for the job. Akira Toriyama said,
Yeah! I figured Goku was getting old, and it was time to switch over to the next generation. But drawing Gohan’s daily life made me gradually realize he likes studying more than fighting (laughs). Later on he even lost his dōgi (laughs).
Even Toyotarō-Sensei added, “That’s what Goku himself said in the Majin Boo arc.” However, the character is now excelling at other parts of life, where he fulfilled his mother’s dream of becoming a fine scholar and starting a sweet-loving family of his own.
Dragon Ball Super can be streamed on Crunchyroll.
