Akira Toriyama, the creator of famous manga like Dragon Ball and Dr. Slump, passed away at the age of 68. He was the true titan of the manga industry, who gained fame in the 1980s. His most famous creation Dragon Ball series has sold millions of copies worldwide and has inspired TV, film, and video game adaptations.
Dragon Ball is often hailed as one of the best manga series ever made. Lots of manga artists have also cited it as a source of inspiration for their own successful works.
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Besides exciting fights, epic transformations, and compelling plots the franchise has some of the best characters in anime history. But this particular character was the favorite of the creator himself.
Akira Toriyama’s Surprising Favorite Character in Dragon Ball
Among the many fan-favorite characters in Dragon Ball, Goku and Vegeta stand out the most. Goku’s immense popularity from the series made him one of the most iconic manga/anime characters globally.
Apart from the Dragon Ball franchise, Goku has appeared in cameo roles in Toriyama’s self-parody series Neko Majin Z, as well as in various parodies and special events.
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His versatile personality, which seamlessly shifts from fun-loving to serious, is a big reason why he’s considered one of the best characters in anime history.
After Goku, then comes Vegeta. Known as the Prince of Saiyans, Vegeta began as a ruthless villain in the early stages of Dragon Ball Z but later underwent a transformation, becoming a member of the Z-Fighters and fighting on the side of good.
Goku and Vegeta may be fan favorites, but the creator’s personal favorite character was Piccolo. Like many characters in Dragon Ball, Piccolo started as an enemy before transforming into a key ally.
He played a crucial role in the series, fighting alongside Goku against threats like Raditz and guiding Gohan to unlock his full potential.
While he’s an important member of the Z-Fighters, Piccolo’s true strength lies in his role as a mentor. That’s why he’s Akira Toriyama‘s favorite character in the Dragon Ball universe.
Akira Toriyama’s Last Project was Dragon Ball Daima
Dragon Ball Daima is a new anime series, that is coming in Fall 2024 (most probably in October). Crafted by none other than Akira Toriyama, the show centers on Goku and his companions who unexpectedly find themselves transformed back into kids. Together they team up to figure out why this happened.
The series was announced during the Dragon Ball Special Panel at New York Comic Con 2023. It was confirmed to premiere in Fall 2024.
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Toriyama was responsible for the story, settings, and many of the designs in Dragon Ball Daima. The term ‘Daima’ is a made-up word that translates to ‘Evil’ in English.
Watch Dragon Ball on Crunchyroll.
