The Japanese manga Dragon Ball, a global success whose universe continues to expand across all supports and media from animation to amusement parks, celebrates its 40th anniversary on Wednesday, a few months after the death of its author, Akira Toriyama.
The series recounting the adventures of Son Goku, a young martial arts prodigy who protects the Earth from evil enemies, saw the light of day on November 20, 1984 in the pages of the Japanese weekly Shonen Jump.
Loosely inspired by the 16th century Chinese novel “The Journey to the West”this epic story punctuated by numerous twists and turns and long battles and marked by its humor is first of all an undeniable success in bookstores: 260 million copies sold worldwide according to its publisher Shueisha.
Despite the death on March 1 of mangaka Akira Toriyama, who saddened millions of fans of his work around the world, the universe he imagined has never been in better shape, notably with the release on latest video game « Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO »bringing together 182 characters for nervous and pyrotechnic clashes.
A new animated series, « Dragon Ball Daima »was also launched in October, offering younger versions of the characters.
Et « Dragon Ball Super »a sequel to the best-selling manga of all time previously supervised by Akira Toriyama, will also have new chapters, to the joy of many Dragon Ball fans.
“It is an archetypal work celebrating victory achieved through friendship and effort. I think the simplicity of the story is an important factor in the success of the series”estimates Tsutomu Tanaka, a 19-year-old student recently interviewed by AFP in Tokyo.
“It’s a work that my father’s generation really liked, so we watched it as a family because they often came by at mealtimes”remembers Ayase, a thirty-year-old Japanese woman for whom the series “part of our life”.
Saudi Arabia also announced in March the construction of the world’s first amusement park inspired by Dragon Ball, the opening date of which is not yet known.
“The commercial machine is already in place”notes journalist and cartoon specialist Tadashi Sudo, for whom the short-term future of the franchise seems assured.
More “the challenge ahead will be to see if creativity can be maintained without Toriyama”.
Questions for Thematic Section 1: Origins and Legacy of Dragon Ball
1. Could you please tell us about the origin story of Dragon Ball and how it has impacted the global manga and anime community?
2. What do you think makes Dragon Ball such an enduringly popular franchise, even four decades after its creation?
3. How has the death of Akira Toriyama affected the continuation of the Dragon Ball series, and do you think it will have any long-term implications for its legacy?
4. As a long-time fan of Dragon Ball, what personal ties do you have to the series and how has it influenced your own life?
Questions for Thematic Section 2: Dragon Ball’s Current State and Future Prospects
5. With the release of Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero and Dragon Ball Super, as well as the upcoming Saudi Arabian amusement park, it seems that Dragon Ball’s commercial viability is stronger than ever. However, how do you think the series will fare in the long run without Akira Toriyama involved in its creative direction?
6. What are your thoughts on the new animated series Dragon Ball Daima and how it offers younger versions of the characters? Do you think this will appeal to new generations of fans?
7. As a student of media and entertainment, how do you see Dragon Ball evolving over time, and what challenges do you envision for the franchise as it continues to expand into different mediums and markets?
