The entire manga industry respects and loves Akira Toriyama. Dragon Ball didn’t just change our lives. The authors behind our favorite Shonen manga and anime were influenced by it too. His writing became the blueprint of every Shonen and nobody loved him more than Eiichiro Oda.
The One Piece creator has been a fan of Akira Toriyama ever since he encountered the second episode of Dragon Ball. It convinced him to explore the original manga, and he had a newfound respect for him ever since.
Many akin the Dragon Ball creator to a God in the manga industry and they are absolutely right. The manga changed the formula for others significantly, making stronger, relatable characters like Goku. The influence is quite obvious in One Piece too.
Eiichiro Oda gushes about Akira Toriyama and how highly he regards Dragon Ball
Upon closer inspection, Son Goku and Monkey D. Luffy are the same archetype of anime protagonists. They both are fairly simple-minded and combat-oriented, not thinking before acting on their instincts. This can often lead them into major trouble as seen in the events of their respective manga.
They even share the same animal motif, the monkey, since the Dragon Ball protagonist is based on Sun Wukong, the Monkey King. It’s undeniable how much love Eiichiro Oda has for Dragon Ball and respect for Akira Toriyama. He isn’t shy about expressing it to the late mangaka either.
In a long interview featured in the One Piece artbook, Color Walk 1, the two Shonen mangaka discuss their careers. However, before the more professional talk, Oda is asked how he feels about Toriyama. He states:
Of course, he’s God! He is in an entirely different dimension. All in all, he’s just too good at drawing!
Toriyama gets embarrassed by this expression of respect, jokingly saying it’s awkward to be called a God. Oda continues:
To tell the truth, I never read Arale-chan. (Note: Although Dr. Slump is the name of the manga, many Japanese people refer to it as Arale-chan)
How I first encountered Toriyama sensei’s manga was the second episode of Dragon Ball, regardless [of when it was] I fell in love at first sight.
I thought, “He’s too good!” At that time, I loved Disney, but I was thinking, “This is even better than Disney stuff!”
Comparing Disney’s works to Dragon Ball is like comparing apples and oranges but it’s high praise either way. The One Piece creator has never stopped his support of Toriyama and the series, contributing to many tributes towards the late mangaka and anniversaries.
Oda continues to honor Toriyama’s legacy as his greatest fan in the industry
Eiichiro Oda, of course, isn’t the only author who respects Toriyama. Masashi Kishimoto, Yoshihiro Togashi, Tite Kubo, and many more have expressed their own love. However, the One Piece creator cherishes every interaction with the late mangaka.
Despite their rivalry, Oda has confirmed he regrets not buying physical copies of Dragon Ball before Toriyama’s unfortunate death.
He had the honor to redraw the 42nd volume cover for the 40th-anniversary project, Dragon Ball Super Gallery.
Dragon Ball Volume 42 cover by Eiichiro Oda pic.twitter.com/pifrXFWOBz
— Hype (@DbsHype) December 26, 2024
So while Toriyama’s Dragon Ball might be over, others continue his legacy. The franchise and its influence will be felt for decades and more, through his successors and other authors in the manga industry.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
