“I wish I could buy this volume while Toriyama-sensei is still alive”: Eiichiro Oda’s Love For Dragon Ball Despite Decades Long Rivalry With One Piece Will Make You Cry
The minds behind the manga industry might have unspoken rivalries against each other but there’s one mangaka they all look up to: Akira Toriyama. The Dragon Ball series is the blueprint of a successful shonen manga. He also inspired many to pursue their own unique art style for their series.
One of them is none other than Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece. Despite being Toriyama’s rival and competitor for decades, the mangaka couldn’t help but love Dragon Ball. He was inspired by the first volume back when he was in school and continues to be a loyal fan.
So, to Oda’s surprise and delight, he got the opportunity to redraw the final volume of the original Dragon Ball manga series, Goodbye, Dragon World. The One Piece creator expresses his regret for not officially buying the physical volumes while Akira Toriyama was still alive, but his tribute more than makes up for it.
Eiichiro Oda speaks about his love for Dragon Ball and thanks Akira Toriyama
Akira Toriyama is the undefeated king of the shonen genre with few rivals that can truly threaten his status. Eiichiro Oda might be one of them but his respect for Toriyama might stop him from ever declaring the title for himself. The 42nd volume of the original manga for Dragon Ball was released in 1995 and everyone was ready for a new era of the series.
Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece, had the opportunity to redraw the 42nd volume’s manga cover for the 40th-anniversary project named Dragon Ball Super Gallery to honor the Dragon Ball series.
In the artist’s comment on this redrawn cover, Eiichiro Oda looks back on his love for Dragon Ball and the honor he felt being part of this project:
I bought the first volume of the Dragon Ball manga series when I was in elementary school, but I didn’t buy the second volume! I always read the chapters through WSJ magazine, and when the final volume 42 was released, I went to the bookstore and saw it, but I didn’t buy it!
I thank you for giving me this opportunity to redraw it! And now, I wish I could buy this volume while Toriyama-sensei is still alive
The artwork of One Piece also perfectly blends with the original Dragon Ball style which is more on the goofy side. It’s the unseriousness of it that makes it so iconic and Oda nailed it.
Other mangaka contribute to the 40th-anniversary project of Dragon Ball
Other mangaka in the industry gathered to redraw other volumes of the original Dragon Ball series. Legendary figures like Yoshihiro Togashi, Takehiko Inoue, Kohei Horikoshi, and many more contributed to the Dragon Ball Super Gallery.
Each redrawn version of every volume displays their unique art styles and how they see Dragon Ball and chooses to commemorate Akira Toriyama’s legacy.
It’s undoubted how much of an influence and legend the late creator of Dragon Ball is. In a competitive industry where art and storytelling come together, Akira Toriyama will always be remembered for his legacy and contribution.
Dragon Ball Z is available on Crunchyroll.
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