Dragon Ball is one of the most iconic franchises in anime history. Breaking down barriers and delivering the art form to mass popularity in the West during the '90s and early 2000s, Akira Toriyama's masterpiece series has inspired countless generations of anime and manga fans. Following its initial run in the United States, however, which concluded in 2003, the series was largely dormant for the better part of a decade. And it was during that time the franchise experienced one of its biggest missteps ever.

Dragonball Evolution, the 2009 live-action American film directed by James Wong, released to audiences in theaters around the world with a thud. Though it ended its theatrical run profitably, fans and critics alike expressed a strong disdain for the film, questioning everything from its casting choices, acting, directing, and a story that entirely misunderstood the magic of Dragon Ball.

Perhaps more disappointed in the film than anyone else was the one person who truly understood the franchise, its creator, Akira Toriyama. The legendary artist put his final touches on the masterpiece manga in 1995, and though he remained somewhat involved in creations beyond that point, like the divisive Dragon Ball GT anime, he mostly stayed away from the franchise following its initial conclusion. However, Toriyama did step in to offer caution to the team behind Dragonball Evolution. Unfortunately, his input was largely ignored.

Akira Toriyama Expressed Concern to the Creators of Dragonball Evolution

Dragon Ball's Creator Tried to Salvage the Live-Action Adaptation

Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods, Akira Toriyama touched on the revival of the series and his involvement in the creation of the film. For the first time in well over a decade, the artist got fully hands-on with a Dragon Ball product, and the movie would go on to spark the creation of Dragon Ball Super only two years later. Though he listed a few reasons for his increased involvement in the creation of Battle of Gods, a major one had to do with Dragonball Evolution.

Toriyama stated, "At the time of the Hollywood movie, the live-action Dragon Ball, the script had too little of a grasp on the world and its characteristics, and on top of that, it had conventional content that I couldn’t find interesting." He wasn't the only viewer to not find the film very interesting, though he was likely the one person the filmmakers should have wanted to impress. However, he continued, saying, "I cautioned them and suggested changes, but they seemed to have a strange confidence and didn’t really listen to me."

The lack of concern for Toriyama's advice is glaringly apparent in Dragonball Evolution, which fails to characterize the franchise's most important cast member properly. Turning Goku into what Hollywood believed to be a relatable 2000s teen and having him take the time to fight some bullies at a high school party, the film comes off more as a parody of Dragon Ball than a faithful adaptation. Fans might want to be thankful for its existence, though, as the film would play a major role in the franchise's 2010s revival.

Dragonball Evolution Drove Akira Toriyama to Become Involved in Battle of Gods

The Legendary Artist Wanted to Make Up for the Movie's Shortcomings

When asked what drove the series' creator to become so heavily involved in Battle of Gods, he brought up Dragonball Evolution, and the problems he had with the film. Adding to his previous statements, he said, "What came out in the end was a movie I couldn’t really call a Dragon Ball that lived up to my expectations," before adding, "that being the case, there were parts where I wanted to show some spine, with a world and story only the creator could draw."

Though Dragonball Evolution would go down in history as a failed live-action adaptation of one of anime's most beloved properties, it directly inspired the franchise's creator to revive Dragon Ball, leading to something of a renaissance for the series. Battle of Gods and the subsequent Dragon Ball Super TV anime catapulted the franchise back into the spotlight for the first time in over a decade, and added several memorable characters to an already iconic cast.

In its own way, Dragonball Evolution is a success if only for being the first misstep towards a prosperous future for Dragon Ball. Without its creation and filmmakers being entirely dismissive towards the advice of the series' creator, there's no telling what Battle of Gods might have become, or whether the film would kick-start the decade of success to follow. Though if Toriyama felt the need to rewrite nearly the entire script, chances are fans might not be as happy with Battle of Gods as they are today.

Dragon Ball Must Once Again Face a Future Without Its Creator at the Helm

The Future Is Uncertain for Dragon Ball Without Akira Toriyama

In March 2024, Akira Toriyama sadly ed away, and fans all over the world expressed their iration and gratitude to the one-of-a-kind artist. Later in the year, Dragon Ball Daima, Toriyama's final vision for his iconic series, premiered to a fan base eagerly looking forward to Goku's latest adventure. The anime has been a simultaneously nostalgic yet fresh return to the franchise's adventurous roots, and is set to conclude later in February 2025.

Moving forward, however, Dragon Ball will have to continue without the watchful eye of its creator. The series has a rocky history without Toriyama at the wheel, highlighted most of all by Dragonball Evolution's frankly strange take on the universe and its characters. Dragon Ball Super has been left in the hands of series illustrator, Toyotarou, and is set to return in 2025 with an all-new one-shot chapter. The latest entry will be the first look at the story without Toriyama's involvement, and will likely give a short peek at its future direction.

Dragon Ball is arguably anime's most recognizable franchise, but its live-action adaptation, Dragonball Evolution, is a notorious misstep in its overall timeline. The film might have turned out a bit better had the crew taken Toriyama's warnings seriously, though the resulting Battle of Gods is a fine enough consolation prize for the movie's failures. The iconic series will now, once again, have to continue without its author at the helm into an uncertain future.

Source: Asahi Shimbun Digital (translated by Kanzensuu)