Akira Toriyama’s passing on March 1st, 2024, has had a profound impact on fans and the anime and manga industry. As the creator of the Dragon Ball franchise, which is now valued at over $23 billion, Toriyama dedicated four decades to his beloved series. He was involved in the production of Dragon Ball Daima until his death.
With Toriyama’s death, the future of the Dragon Ball franchise is uncertain, and disputes over who will inherit it are causing turmoil in the industry.
Several potential successors have been mentioned, including Toyotarou, who was chosen by Toriyama to continue the manga, and Shueisha, the holder of the publishing rights. Akio Iyoku, head of Capsule Corporation Tokyo and Toriyama’s former right-hand man, is also a contender.
Toriyama’s family, including his wife and two children, could legally inherit the franchise if no specific will is in place. The industry is concerned about a potential power struggle among inheritors, which could delay the production of new Dragon Ball content. The priority should be to respect Toriyama’s legacy and ensure his family’s welfare.
Nevertheless, Dragon Ball Daima, which is said to be Akira Toriyama’s final unfinished project, is expected to hit streaming platforms in October 2024.
Despite the lack of promotion for Daima, Bandai Namco UK’s Brand Manager affirms that the new series will have many surprises in store for both new and old fans alike. Dragon Ball Daima was first announced at New York Comic Con 2023, where the first trailer was revealed. The second trailer was revealed at the DRAGON BALL Game Battle Hour 2024 event in January 2024.
According to rumors, Dragon Ball Daima will run for around 20 episodes, and Hiroki Takahashi, who performed the opening theme for Dragon Ball’s first series, “Makafushigi Adventure!”, will sing the opening theme song for the upcoming series.
Dragon Ball is a manga created by Akira Toriyama. It first began serialization in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in 1984.
