Dragon Ball Celebrates 40th Anniversary with New Series and Record-Breaking Game Release

October 30, 2024
Dragon Ball Celebrates 40th Anniversary with New Series and Record-Breaking Game Release
  • Akira Toriyama launched 'Dragon Ball' in 1984, establishing it as one of the best-selling manga franchises globally, with a legacy that includes numerous anime series, films, and video games.

  • To celebrate the franchise's 40th anniversary, a new animated series titled 'Dragon Ball Daima' is set to debut, with Toriyama credited as the writer and creator.

  • Accompanying the new series, the video game 'Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO' is scheduled for release on November 1, 2024, featuring a record 182 playable characters.

  • In the wake of Toriyama's passing in March 2024, the franchise is poised for several new product launches, including the aforementioned game and animated series.

  • Since its inception, the 'Dragon Ball' franchise has sold over 260 million comic copies worldwide and has inspired more than 100 video games and five animated series.

  • The original 'Dragon Ball' series, published in Japan's Shonen Jump, follows the adventures of Son Goku, a monkey-tailed boy, blending comedy and martial arts with influences from the Chinese tale 'Journey to the West'.

  • Despite the franchise's lucrative prospects, industry experts like Tadashi Sudo warn that sustaining creativity without Toriyama's guidance will be a significant challenge moving forward.

  • Fans are eager to see if the upcoming products can uphold Toriyama's legacy, with younger fans like 19-year-old Tsutomu Tanaka expressing appreciation for the simplicity of the story and characters.

  • Maurice Fontaine, a product manager for Bandai Namco, expressed optimism about the game's success, emphasizing its importance for the company.

  • The franchise's enduring popularity is further highlighted by Saudi Arabia's plans to build the world's first theme park themed around 'Dragon Ball', showcasing its cultural impact.

  • Toriyama described 'daima' as an invented term meaning 'evil' in English, adding an intriguing element to the new series.

Summary based on 1 source


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