One of the biggest debates people have had aboutDragon Ball Zhas always been when it was supposed to end. While the Majin Buu saga was the final arc, the thematic story beats of the Namek and Android sagas have made people feel that one of those arcs was the true finale before Akira Toriyama was pressured into extending the series, as is often the case with popular manga.
For decades, the idea thatDragon Ballwas meant to end anywhere other than when it did seemed to be nothing but a theory, but as it turns out, there was plenty of truth to it. Akira Toriyama’s old editors were all recently featured on a podcast hosted by Toriyama’s first editor, Kazuhiko Torishima, and in a surprise twist,Dragon Ball’s past editors revealed the truth about whenDragon Ballwas really supposed to end. It was a surprising reveal to get after so many years, and if anything, it makesDragon Ball Z’s ending all the more special.
Dragon Ball’s Creator Was Pushed To Keep The Story Going After The Android Saga
Dragon Ball Really Was Supposed To End With Gohan Saving The World
The latest episode ofYubo & Mashirito’s KosoKoso Broadcasting Station, a podcast hosted byDragon Questcreator Yuji Horii and Akira Toriyama’s first editor Kazuhiko Torishima, featured an interview with Yu Kondo and Fuyuto Takeda, Toriyama’s editors from the Namek saga until the end of the series. Naturally, they spoke about their history working with Toriyama, and when discussing the Android saga, it was revealed thatAkira Toriyama wanted to endDragon Ballwiththe Android saga, but was pressured to continue the story for a while longer.
Dragon Ballending with the Android saga was always a popular theory, of course. Between elements like the story bringing back some of Goku’s oldest villains in the Red Ribbon Army, Goku dying, and Gohan finally unlocking his full potential, there was always an air of finality to the Android saga, something made especially apparent by how largely inconclusive the Majin Buu saga came off as.The idea thatDragon Ballwas supposed to end with the Android Saga isn’t surprising when looking at how it was structured, and it’s great to finally have confirmation of such.
The Truth Of Dragon Ball’s Ending Makes The Majin Buu Saga Even Better
Why The Majin Buu Saga Deserves More Respect
Another big takeaway from the interview, of course, is what it says about the Majin Buu saga. Akira Toriyama was reportedly tired of writing serious stories with serious villains, so the Majin Buu saga went for a lighter tone and an increase in gags so Toriyama could enjoy himself more. Even Fuyuto Takeda, Toriyama’s editor through the Majin Buu saga, was confused by just how goofy the story got, but at the end of the day,the Majin Buu sagabeing as goofy and lighthearted as it was allowed Akira Toriyama to regain his love for writingDragon Ball.
As divisive as the Majin Buu saga isfor its lighter and wackier tone, that was the only way Akira Toriyama could keep writingDragon Ballafter years of creative burnout, sothe knowledge that the Majin Buu saga had to be the way it was for Akira Toriyama to keep having fun withDragon Ballmakes it far more respectable in hindsight, as does that tone persisting inDragon Ball Daima. Overall, the recent interview with Toriyama’s editors just adds more to Akira Toriyama andDragon Ball Z’s legacy, and it likely won’t be the last to do so.
