Summary

Authors' deaths can impact unfinished series, like with Dragon Ball's creator Akira Toriyama's passing.
Opinions on continuing Dragon Ball Super vary - some franchises continue post-author death, others don't.
The future of Dragon Ball Super is uncertain, with the manga on hiatus and potential new material in limbo.

What happens when an author dies and a series is uncompleted? Most of the time, it depends on the author's ability to plan for their inevitable death. In the case of Robert Jordon, his notes were so extensive that The Wheel of Time series was able to have three more books written by Brandon Sanderson after Jordon's untimely death. On the other hand, the Redwall series came to an end when Brian Jacques passed away, and a book he was working on was never completed as a result.

We don't even want to get into the fears fans have with A Song of Ice and Fire series (AKA: Game of Thrones) and George R.R. Martins's age. Sadly, fans of Dragon Ball have had to face this reality with the passing of the series creator Akira Toriyama. While fans are still processing the news, the question of what happens with Dragon Ball Super has inevitably come up. What will happen to the franchise now that the creator is walking this Earth no more? Let's discuss some of the potential paths forward to one of the greatest action cartoons of all time.

What is Dragon Ball Super?

A promotional Dragon Ball Super image featuring Goku, Vegeta, Beerus, and other characters against a blue background.

Dragon Ball Super is an anime series that takes place before the final episode of Dragon Ball Z (making it a bit of a mid-qual series). Created by Akira Toriyama, it follows Goku and his companions as they encounter new adversaries, unlock powerful transformations, and explore various universes through tournaments, battles, and adventures. The series delves into themes of friendship, determination, and the endless pursuit of strength, captivating audiences with its action-packed fights and colorful characters.

The Rest of the Dragon Ball Universe

Aside from Dragon Ball Super, other installments in the Dragon Ball franchise include:

Dragon Ball
Dragon Ball Z
Dragon Ball GT
Super Dragon Ball Heroes

Not to mention dozens of movies and TV specials!

What is the History Behind the Dragon Ball GT 'Lost Episodes?'

Uncover the history behind Dragon Ball GT's 'Lost Episodes.' Explore the changes, controversies, and fan reactions in this intriguing anime saga.

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By Kevin T. Rodriguez

How Much Involvement Did Akira Toriyama Have with Dragon Ball Super?

akira-toriyama-goku — Akira Toriyama with his character Goku

Akira Toriyama was heavily involved in the development of Dragon Ball Super. While he wasn't directly responsible for the day-to-day production of the anime, Toriyama provided the original story, character designs, and overall direction for the series. He contributed significantly to the plot, character development, and the introduction of new elements such as universes, transformations, and characters.

Nothing in the series got produced or went forward without Toriyama's blessing and full approval. This is one of the reasons why years could go by before more Dragon Ball Super material would be produced. His involvement ensured that Dragon Ball Super stayed true to the spirit of his original manga while also introducing fresh concepts and adventures for fans to enjoy.

The Inspiration for Dragon Ball Super

Inspiration for Dragon Ball Super came from an unlikely source. Toriyama ended up seeing the live-action adaptation Dragonball: Evolution. In interviews, he mentioned that he felt the movie did not capture the essence of his original manga and that he was disappointed with the final result. Toriyama stated that he had little involvement in the movie's production and that he was not consulted much during the process. The experience was so negative that he started writing new Dragon Ball material shortly afterwards, so that the live action adaptation would not be the final word on the franchise.

What Happens Now that Toriyama Has Passed Away?

On March 1, 2024, the world found out that Akira Toriyama passed away at the age of 68. While the world still mourns his passing, ultimately the question of what will happen to the Dragon Ball franchise going forward will be. Considering how hands on he was with the new anime, is the anime effectively over, or will it continue without him? First of all, let's discuss some instances of anime and manga that have continued beyond the authors death:

Lupin III - New anime continues to be produced long after the death of original creator Monkey Punch.
Doraemon - New Doraemon anime and movies have been produced since the authors death.
Shin-chan - Shin-chan continues with new anime and manga even after the author tragically died.
Yu-Gi-Oh! - While the original manga was completed when Kazuki Takahashi passed away, spin-off anime, games, and cards continue to be produced.

Despite this, it should be noted that there are many series that remain unfinished due to the authors death. Series that remain incomplete after the creator died include:

Phoenix by Osamu Tezuka
Itazura Na Kiss by Kaoru Tada
With the Light: Raising an Autistic Child by Keiko Tobe

There are, of course, many more examples we could use, but you all get the point. The future of Dragon Ball Super could go either way. As of the moment, the Dragon Ball Super manga has been put on indefinite hiatus. That means that there are currently no plans to continue producing new material. Not only was this likely done to give staff members and family members a chance to mourn properly, it also gives Toei Animation a chance to see what their options are. We have no idea whether or not Toriyama has produced scripts and storylines beyond what we currently have published.

If there is some material that Toriyama gave his blessing to, that will almost certainly be produced into anime and manga down the road, so we wouldn't be surprised to see at least another movie or two. Now whether Toei decides to proceed with more material without Toriyama's involvement is another matter. They already tried to produce Dragon Ball material without Toriyama with Dragon Ball GT. Considering the poor reception that series received, there may be the thought that Toei would rather the series end with Toriyama, so that the "last word" on the franchise is from him. Ultimately, it seems unlikely that we won't see more Dragon Ball Super anime (and video games and merchandise could certainly continue without Toriyama's involvement), but when that is or how much it will be is still a huge question mark at this stage in the game.

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Release Date: 2015 - 2018
Network: Fuji TV
Showrunner: Tatsuya Nagamine
Directors: Ryota Nakamura, Masanori Sato, Kenichi Takeshita, Takao Iwai, Hideki Hiroshima, Masato Mitsuka, Kazuya Karasawa, Ayumu Ono, Takahiro Imamura, Tatsuya Nagamine, Kôjiro Kawasaki, Kouji Ogawa
Writers: Ryu King, Hiroshi Yamaguchi
Franchise(s): Dragon Ball