The entire anime world was devastated just last March, whenDragon Ballcreator and legendary artist, Akira Toriyama, unexpectedly passed away. The weeks that followed were filled with an overflowof mourning and gratitude fromDragon Ballfans around the world. Not long afterward, the ongoingDragon Ball Supermanga was put on an indefinite hiatus, whileDragon Ball Daimawent through the final months of preparation before airing in October of the same year.
The future ofDragon Ballwithout its creator at the helm was uncertain, and once the initial shock of Toriyama’s passing began to wear off, fans became concerned about how the franchise might progress from that moment forward.Dragon Ball Daima, Goku’s latest adventure and the IP’s first TV anime series in nearly six years,is now approaching its finale, and once again, the worried fan base has been left to wonder what’s next. Fortunately, series' producer Akio Iyoku recently did an interviewto let everyone knowDragon Ballisn’t going anywhere, even if challenges arise.
Dragon Ball Producer Discusses the Future of the Series
Iyoku Insists Dragon Ball “Will Continue for Decades to Come”
Dragon Ballhas a somewhat complicated history without Akira Toriyama. Following the conclusion ofDragon BallinWeeklyShōnen Jump, the manga master took on more of a backseat role to his creation. What resulted was a lengthy dormant period, bookended by two of the most controversial productions tied to the IP. The first, 1996’sDragon Ball GT, is a mixed bag, featuring incredibly high highs and disastrous lows. Toriyama lent his talents to some of the character and world design, but largely stayed uninvolved in the story.
The other, 2009’sDragonball Evolution, is generally known asone of the worst live-action adaptations of anime ever created. The film so horrendously failed to capture the spirit ofDragon Ball, thatit directly inspired Toriyamato become heavily involved in 2013’sDragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods, kickstarting the franchise’s 2010s revival. Now,Dragon Ballis once again faced with a future in which its creator will not be around to steer the ship. Akio Iyoku, however, is ensuring the series will continue properly.
In an interview with MANTANWEB, Iyoku was asked aboutDragon Ball’s future, and said, “Anime and games can’t be made that quickly. It takes time, but we’re steadily preparing for the future,” before adding,“There’s no doubtDragon Ballwill continue for decades to come.“Fans will undoubtedly be ecstatic to know there will be moreDragon Ballin the future. However, though the series' producer is excited about and believes in what’s ahead, he also knows there will be challenges to come.
Dragon Ball Faces an Uncertain Future Without Its Creator
The Series Must Ensure the Right Steps Are Taken Going Forward
In addition to his comments concerning what is currently in the works forDragon Ball,Iyoku also mentioned the challenges that come when planning ahead. In reference to the currently ongoingDragon Ball Daima, he discussed attempting to create something entirely new, while remaining loyal to the spirit of a franchise which has been active for the better part of four decades. That task now becomes even more difficult without the guiding light of Akira Toriyama, who became heavily involved in his original creation once more forDaima.
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He said, “Dragon Ballhas been going on a long time… If it keeps doing the same thing, it’ll get boring.It’s hard to adjust to change, we must continue to take on new challenges.“Dragon Ball Daimahas thus far been a successful attempt atcapturing the adventurous spirit ofDragon Ball, while taking its familiar characters into new settings. From this point forward, however, Iyoku and the staff will need to continue keeping the series fresh and exciting in upcoming projects without Toriyama’s help.
Dragon Ball Is In Good Hands
The Series Has Been Left in the Care of the Right People
While some may be filled with apprehension at the idea of aDragon Ballwithout Akira Toriyama, fans should be comforted that the series has been left in good hands. Akio Iyoku worked with Akira Toriyama for quite some time, and he trusted the producer in overseeing the franchise. This trust ran so deep, in fact,it started a rights war over the IP, when Toriyama decided he wantedDragon Ballmanaged by himself and Iyoku separate from Shueisha.Together, they started Capsule Corp. Tokyo, the current rights owner of theDragon Ballanime.
The manga, over which a rights dispute is still currently ongoing, is now left withDragon Ball Superillustrator Toyotarou.The artist worked alongside Toriyama throughout the entirety of the manga’s serialization, and was picked by him to continueDragon Ball’s story. Both the anime and manga will be looked after with care, and should continue full-steam ahead as long as ownership of the series can be sorted out.
What Might Be Next for Dragon Ball?
There Is More to Come from the Long-Running Series
Though clear challenges are ahead,Dragon Balldoesn’t appear willing to slow down. On top of its large and successful presence in the gaming world, with incrediblyprofitable titles likeSparking! Zero, andDragon Ball Z Dokkan Battle, the franchise promises more to come regarding anime and manga as well. Nothing has been officially announced as of yet, though inan interview from earlier in 2025, Akio Iyoku hinted at a mysterious announcement coming sometime this year.
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A report from Toei Animationalso revealed two unnamed anime movies in the works,which many suspect might beDragon BallandOne Pieceprojects. Fans will want to keep a close eye on the series for any developments going forward. Challenges lie in wait for Akio Iyoku andDragon Ball, now that the legendary Akira Toriyama will no longer be overseeing the series. However, the IP is seemingly being left in good hands, and fans should be optimistic about what is still to come for Goku and friends.
Source:MANTANWEB
Dragon Ball
From the creative mind of Akira Toriyama, Dragon Ball is a mega multimedia franchise that spans back to the 1980s. Dragon Ball expanded quickly, starting as a serialized manga for Weekly Shonen Jump in Japan. It made its way overseas via manga and an anime adaptation that is enjoyed worldwide. Dragon Ball was the initial starting animated series that followed the adventures of the young Son Goku as he sought after the Dragon Balls. These mystical orbs would grant the wish of any who gathered them together. Then, the series would branch off into the immensely popular Dragon Ball Z, which followed Goku as an adult and featured high-intensity battles and Goku’s never-ending search to be the strongest. The series has also enjoyed several popular video game adaptations and continues to release several new animated series and theatrical films up to the recent popular Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero.
