Dragon Ball Celebrates 40th Anniversary with New Series and Record-Breaking Game Release
October 30, 2024Akira 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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Source
Jordan Times • Oct 30, 2024
Creator’s death no bar to new ‘Dragon Ball’ products