WELL THIS NEWS IS DEPRESSING (Patreon)

Really long time subscribers of my channel know I've made it almost a recurring joke of complaining that any Dragon Ball videos I've made haven't performed well lmao - BUT ITS BECAUSE IVE ALWAYS LOVED THIS SERIES SO MUCHHHHH</3 My history with Dragon Ball is really nothing out of the ordinary from most americans in that I first experienced the series as a child on Toonami, over time became a huge fan and have remained one ever since. It's a story that's influenced so many hits from Weekly Shonen Jump and other action and adventure stories both within and outside the confines of the shonen demographic - not to mention outside of media in japan altogether.   

Dragon Ball DAIMA was and remains my most anticipated anime ever since its announcement trailer because to me it highlights everything about Akira Toriyama as a storyteller and character architect that I've always loved, from the dynamic fight choreography performed by a lovable cast of characters to the goofy ass humor and emotional beats woven into a story infinitely more wholesome than promo imagery would let you believe - a love that was reinforced (dare i say FORTIFIED?!) when I actually rewatched Dragon Ball, Z and GT a few years ago between 2021 and 2022.   

I encourage everyone regardless of personal tastes in media and despite what you may think about the series cosmetically (or assume thematically) to experience the entire story at least once either by way of the anime or by consuming it in its purest form in the original manga because despite what the loudest section of Dragon Ball fandom may have you believe, its a story who's greatest strength isn't its use of fighting techniques and power levels but the care put into its characters. Dragon Ball GT for those unaware was a direct sequel to Dragon Ball Z (at the time of its airing) but with Toriyama's minimal involvement (he did some character designs, the Toei staff were in charge of the story) and during my rewatch of GT in particular it really hit home that you can have all the new Super Saiyan forms you want - none of that matters if there's no heart behind the character screaming Kamehameha.  

Apparently Toriyama was in the middle of multiple projects at the time of his passing which makes this all the sadder to see such a prolific creative gone so soon when he still had so much more in the tank BUT HIS LEGACY WILL LIVE ON because Dragon Ball is, has been and will always be the most visibly known anime across the world. There are few people on this planet - anime fans or otherwise - who are completely unfamiliar with terms like "Super Saiyan" or "Goku" and I think that's not only a testament to how popular Dragon Ball has become but that it never would have reached this peak without the creative foundation laid by Akira Toriyama.  

The second image is the last sentence from a creator comment Toriyama gave for the trailer premiere of Dragon Ball DAIMA at NYCC last Fall that has stuck with me since I first read it. This man said CUTE AND POWERFUL BATTLES FTW AND I WILL ALWAYS LOVE HIM FOR IT LMAO.   

REST IN PEACE TO AKIRA TORIYAMA