Anime, the attractive Japanese form of hand-drawn animation, has captured hearts worldwide with its unique storytelling and vibrant visuals. Among the luminaries of this art form, manga artist Akira Toriyama stands tall, having gifted the world with iconic creations like Dr. Slump and his magnum opus, Dragonball.
Toriyama’s masterpieces have not only graced the pages of manga but have also successfully transitioned to anime. Dragon Ball, in particular, transcended cultural boundaries to become a global sensation, attract audiences far beyond Japan’s shores. Its popularity led to various adaptations, including cartoons and the ill-fated live-action endeavor, Dragonball Evolution.
However, Hollywood’s attempt to translate Toriyama’s rich and intricate world onto the silver screen fell short of expectations, much to the artist’s dismay.
The film, chronicling the adventures of the beloved character Goku, failed to resonate with audiences and drew sharp criticism from Toriyama himself. The creator lamented the apparent misrepresentation of his meticulously crafted universe, expressing profound disappointment with Hollywood’s treatment of his cherished creation.
Akira Toriyama’s Disappointment with Hollywood’s Attempt
In 2009, 20th Century Fox took a bold leap by bringing the beloved anime Dragon Ball to the silver screen. However, the outcome fell short of expectations, casting a shadow over Hollywood’s attempts at adapting anime.
Dragonball Evolution, the resulting film, faced widespread criticism from both critics and devoted fans of the original series. Despite a few supporters attempting to give the film some leeway, Akira Toriyama, the visionary creator of Dragon Ball, remained steadfast in his disappointment.
Initially, Toriyama had harbored genuine excitement about the prospect of seeing his creation come to life in a live-action format. He even urged fans to approach the film with an open mind, hoping it would stand on its own merits.
However, his optimism was shattered upon witnessing the finished product. Toriyama expressed horror at what he saw, finding the adaptation severely lacking in capturing the essence of his meticulously crafted world.
In an interview with Asahi Shimbun Digital, Toriyama disclosed his involvement with the film adaptation. Despite his efforts to provide guidance and suggestions, the studio seemingly brushed aside his input, forging ahead with their own vision. Toriyama lamented that the script failed to encapsulate the essence of his creation, leaving the content feeling flat and disconnected from the spirit of Dragon Ball.
“I cautioned them, and suggested changes; but in spite of that, they seemed to have a strange confidence, and didn’t really listen to me. What came out in the end was a movie I couldn’t really call a Dragon Ball that lived up to my expectations,” Toriyama conveyed, reflecting the profound disappointment he felt towards the final product.
When Dragonball Evolution was in its conceptual stages, the studio envisioned it as a blockbuster, allocating a hefty budget of $120 million. However, revelations from James Marsters, the actor portraying King Piccolo, shed light on a starkly different reality.
Marsters disclosed that the production costs were actually around $30 million, a far cry from the initially touted budget. Adding to the unexpected backdrop, the film was shot in an abandoned jeans factory, highlighting the unconventional circumstances surrounding its creation.
Behind-the-scenes discrepancies were not the sole contributors to the film’s failure. As Akira Toriyama lamented, the portrayal of his cherished world diverged significantly from his original vision.
In Dragonball Evolution, fundamental elements from the manga and anime underwent substantial alterations for the live-action adaptation. For instance, Goku’s backstory underwent a significant transformation, depicting the protagonist as an oozaru, a departure from the source material where Goku’s origins remained distinct.
Additionally, the portrayal of Goku attending school contradicted his uneducated persona in the original narrative. These deviations, among others, drew severe criticism from fans, further exacerbating the film’s shortcomings.
The fallout from Dragonball Evolution’s underwhelming reception tarnished Hollywood’s reputation for handling beloved anime properties with the reverence they deserve.
As the film failed to resonate with audiences and incurred the wrath of dedicated fans, hopes for future adaptations of Akira Toriyama’s works or other anime remain tempered. Nevertheless, there is optimism that future endeavors will learn from past missteps, striving to honor the source material while delivering compelling cinematic experiences.
