In a world where Superhero Cartoons and Disney features dominated the TV scene, Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball Z helped anime to make it into the mainstream. While anime and manga were already introduced in the United States, and shows like Astro Boy or Voltron were already popular, it wasn’t until Toriyama’s Dragon Ball successor came about that anime became a staple part of popular culture and helped lay the foundation of the current anime frenzy.
And as the series turns 35, fans remember the late Japanese manga artist and character designer, and hail Toriyama for forever changing the entertainment industry with his revolutionizing work.
Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball Z Turns 35
It was on April 26th back in 1989 that Dragon Ball Z first debuted on TV screens across Japan. While its journey from Japan to the USA and then across the world is a whole other tale, the series’ contribution to the landscape of anime and cartoons as a whole has been tremendously significant and long-lasting.
The successor to Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z is popular and successful not only because it is a continuation of the iconic Shonen anime but also because of its mature theme centered on an older Goku and his chilling galactic adventures.
Successfully building upon each standard that its predecessor series set, the anime took elements that fans loved and refined them further. From characters to storylines to villains, even at its weakest Dragon Ball Z was intriguing and worth watching.
However, what fans clearly loved were the many character arcs, martial-arts-infused storylines, and thrilling animation that continues to inspire several animes and cartoons even today. Even though it is hard to sustain a franchise for as long as it did, Dragon Ball Z made time its greatest weapon to fish out enticing narratives, wholesome character arcs, and time-traveling plots, making it stand out.
And as it turns 35, all praise goes to Akira Toriyama, who forever changed the game of anime and its cultural impact through his immense and glorious contribution.
Fans Remember Akira Toriyama as Dragon Ball Z Turns 35
While one can go on and on about the deep cultural impact that Dragon Ball Z has had, the sole praise for this goes to Akira Toriyama for creating an anime as revolutionizing and beloved as this. From its storytelling to its themes, it is because of Toriyama that the series has turned into a timeless classic.
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As the anime turned 35, several fans took to social media to celebrate Toriyama’s contribution and paid their respect to the late legendary Japanese artist.
Goku going super sayian for the first time changed my life
— Dividend Rob (@DividendRob) April 26, 2024
Thank you Akira Toriyama giving us this beautiful Anime ❤️ pic.twitter.com/9WK3wzu8xd
— NI𝕏N ✨ (@MrNixn) April 26, 2024
Most influential anime of all time. RIP to the goat Toriyama sensei
— 優木せつ菜 (@nljigakulove) April 26, 2024
The Greatest anime of all the.
Dragon ball started the anime era across the globe. pic.twitter.com/ScoxO69O9G— White knight 🦇 (@santhoshtiger14) April 26, 2024
I was 3 years old. I grew up watching X-Men and Batman, but this even influenced my childhood due to many of my classmates being huge fans. pic.twitter.com/eXI7pNh9cS
— Eric Pellinen (@EricPellinen) April 26, 2024
The impact this show had on my childhood cannot be put into words.
— MRO💥 (@officalmro) April 26, 2024
As fans celebrate the anime turning 35 and Akira Toriyama’s vision and creativity, it is an undeniable fact that Dragon Ball Z has truly left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry that will endure for generations to come.
Dragon Ball Z can be streamed on Crunchyroll.
