One Hour Toriko/One Piece/DBZ crossover to Air April 7

[Chuquita]

Yeah, like that; because I like the art in Hokuto no Ken, but not the art in Toriko.

[Wobbuffet]

But that's a good point. Toriko uses a serious, 80s style in a funny and colorful world.

Dragon Ball also played with styles. It was an action series with an art style that was used only on comedy series until then. Of course, since Dragon Ball was a huge success the characters from action series became less bulky.
And Toriko is "innovative" in this point, bringing back the bulky characters in an adventure manga.

[Brad Redfield]

I found what I've read of Toriko to be really enjoyable. It's a really neat throwback to older comics where characters had actual muscle mass.

It's also the only piece of fiction to make me hungry every time I read it. It's like extreme food porn.

Toei's TV series is pretty lame, though. Awesome opening and voice acting but there's just too much censorship. Toriko is a pretty violent comic at times and Toei's adaptation literally lacks blood of any kind and it comes off as just... weird, especially when you consider that this airs alongside One Piece, a TV series that is nowhere near this censored.

[DragonBalllKaiHD]

Are you kidding me? Dragon Ball Kai didn't damage the franchise. The TV ratings in Japan for Kai had been constantly in top 5, so it was quite popular, just not as popular as it was back then when DBZ was originally broadcasted. Also not to mention merchadises have been selling well ever since Kai first debuted. So how exactly did Toriko save the Dragon Ball franchise from an embarassment, aside from the Yamamoto scandal?

Yeah, it did. Dragon Ball Kai (and the cross medium marketing) tossed twelve years of build up out the window. Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods is a Hail Mary if I've ever seen one; a desperate attempt to show audiences "Okay, yeah, sorry, we screwed up" without actually exhausting their already stretched resources.

We can also assume that by the time the Cell arc ended, Toei Animation had already met one of its lofty goals for the series: acquiring new fans. The TV ratings indicate they had in fact acquired new fans, and more importantly, younger fans that might someday invest in the series for nostalgia reasons as they become older (similar to all of the series’ original fans that paid thousands of dollars for collector edition DVD box sets in the mid-2000s). However, it does not appear that the other part of their goal was ever quite met: a resurgence in the series’ popularity.

Also based on the article, One Piece actually was the one that caused Kai to decline shown on the chart on 2011 Fiscal year. The year prior, Kai had been pretty close to One Piece. In the end, Kai wasn't an embarrassment. It just declined because the fans had to choose One Piece over Kai. Not to mention Toei had met their goal of creating a new generation of fanbase. By making Movie 14, it will gain popularity back. Toei isn't in desperation mode.

[DragonBoxZTheMovies]

By making Movie 14, it will gain popularity back.

Stop calling it Movie 14. Please.

[DragonBalllKaiHD]

By making Movie 14, it will gain popularity back.

Stop calling it Movie 14. Please.

I can't tell if you are being sacrastic or not. Movie 14 comes after Movie 13. Battle of Gods is Movie #14 in DBZ numberical order. Not sure why you are complaining about it.

[DragonBoxZTheMovies]

By making Movie 14, it will gain popularity back.

Stop calling it Movie 14. Please.

I can't tell if you are being sacrastic or not. Movie 14 comes after Movie 13. Battle of Gods is Movie #14 in DBZ numberical order. Not see why you are complaining about it.

Well, I'm really nit-picky in the sense that you refer to it as "Movie 14" without a DBZ in front. Don't worry, everyone does it but people tend to forget that there are 17 movies, not 13. I also like to think of Battle of Gods as separate to the previous films just because it's being produced outside of the series' original run; that and it's in a completely different format.

[Ringworm128]

BOG, Buu saga for Kai and now this? 2013 is the year of Dragonball!

[Choujin Daizenshuu]

I'm really not seeing what all the hatred is about in terms of this crossover featuring Toriko. In my opinion, this is a phenomenal marketing tactic and can really build up some excitement in terms of how each of the 3 big JUMP heroes will interact with one another to help save the world. Hell, I'm prepping the popcorn for this!

Don't disappoint me, Toei.

[Super Sonic]

Since Funimation does all three series, would you guys say it's possible for this to come to America? Don't really read the Toriko manga and due to having to save money for 2 cons won't be buying any anime except Magical Index for the next month or so, haven't seen the anime. But am kinda curious about this.

[SaiyanZ]

Toriko has been on a tear lately. This arc is turning out to be on Marineford level (for those of you who read One Piece). And the latest chapter...my god

[JulieYBM]

According the the ANN article, "The "Dream 9 Toriko & One Piece & Dragon Ball Z Chō Collaboration Special!!" will air in two parts: the first part will be titled "Hashire Saikyō Gundan! Toriko to Luffy to Goku!" (Run, Strongest Army! Toriko, Luffy, Goku!), and the second part will be titled: "Shijō Saikyō Collaboration vs. Umi no Taishokukan" (History's Strongest Collaboration vs. Glutton of the Sea)." I wonder how Kanzenshuu will list these episodes? They appear to be Toriko and One Piece episodes, so I guess they'd fall under the Movie Guide like the other specials...?

Since Funimation does all three series, would you guys say it's possible for this to come to America? Don't really read the Toriko manga and due to having to save money for 2 cons won't be buying any anime except Magical Index for the next month or so, haven't seen the anime. But am kinda curious about this.

I don't know if these episodes will be a part of the regular episode orders from Toei, but it's certainly possible a separate contract could be reached for home video release.

[Chuquita]

Those episode titles have me interested; an army and a sea glutton, huh?

I'm curious about this now, but not nearly as curious as I am for BOG. I'm sure ads and screenshots will appear leading up to the special.

[MugiMikey]

Dragon Ball and One Piece are my top two favorites, and I really love Toriko too! I'm looking forward to this.

I don't understand all the Toriko hate, though. It's actually a really cool series. If you like DB and OP, I think you should really give it a chance. The anime makes way too many changes from the original story, so I would advise you read the manga instead. Also, the main character isn't a usual shonen hero, either; he's made a big name for himself by the time the story begins, he's very smart, isn't in the "coming of age" years, etc... And he can eat even more than any other shonen hero out there.

[JulieYBM]

Those episode titles have me interested; an army and a sea glutton, huh?

I'm curious about this now, but not nearly as curious as I am for BOG. I'm sure ads and screenshots will appear leading up to the special.

I'm not sure, but I think the 'Strongest Army' is just Gokuu, Luffy, and Toriko. Although the enemy makes me think of Gurumes from the first Dragon Ball movie.

[Chuquita]

Those episode titles have me interested; an army and a sea glutton, huh?

I'm curious about this now, but not nearly as curious as I am for BOG. I'm sure ads and screenshots will appear leading up to the special.

I'm not sure, but I think the 'Strongest Army' is just Gokuu, Luffy, and Toriko. Although the enemy makes me think of Gurumes from the first Dragon Ball movie.

So they're a 3-man army then? If that's so, my guess about the sea-glutton that they'll be fighting is someone who wants hoard all the food in the world for themself.

I don't remember Gurumes outside of what he looked like; will have to go check the site itself to find out.
EDIT: Checked the movie guide and yes, this does sound like that.

[ThunderPX]

Dragon Ball and One Piece are my top two favorites, and I really love Toriko too! I'm looking forward to this.

I don't understand all the Toriko hate, though. It's actually a really cool series. If you like DB and OP, I think you should really give it a chance. The anime makes way too many changes from the original story, so I would advise you read the manga instead. Also, the main character isn't a usual shonen hero, either; he's made a big name for himself by the time the story begins, he's very smart, isn't in the "coming of age" years, etc... And he can eat even more than any other shonen hero out there.

The characters are boring, the art is ugly and the premise is utterly wretched. Take your pick.

[Mewzard]

Dragon Ball and One Piece are my top two favorites, and I really love Toriko too! I'm looking forward to this.

I don't understand all the Toriko hate, though. It's actually a really cool series. If you like DB and OP, I think you should really give it a chance. The anime makes way too many changes from the original story, so I would advise you read the manga instead. Also, the main character isn't a usual shonen hero, either; he's made a big name for himself by the time the story begins, he's very smart, isn't in the "coming of age" years, etc... And he can eat even more than any other shonen hero out there.

The characters are boring, the art is ugly and the premise is utterly wretched. Take your pick.

But, the characters are awesome (especially Toriko), the art is far better than most of the crap Jump shuffles out these days (You can keep your bishonens, I'll take the overmuscled hulk tearing monsters apart with his fists), and the premise is glorious (and certainly original...or at least more original than some series I could name).

This is going to be awesome. New DB is always good in my book, and Toei is in their crossover phase (Kamen Rider x Super Sentai x Space Sheriff: Super Hero War Z is coming out soon, after all). A more fitting crossover to tie into fighting gods would have been Dragon Ball x Saint Seiya, but I'll wait until after the movie for that one (Toei is pimping out both franchises as hard as is physically possible).

To me, I can't be satisfied until Goku, Luffy, and Toriko sit down together for a meal. It won't end well for whatever poor soul has to pay for it (though, if it's in Toriko's World, Goku may never leave after seeing a planet full of powerful monsters he can fight then eat *aka, Goku's Heaven*).

[DBZGTKOSDH]

I'm starting thinking to start watching & reading Toriko now. To those who are reading the manga, do you see it going on for many, many years? Do you think that One Piece (manga) will finish first, or after Toriko?

[Choujin Daizenshuu]

UPDATE ON ANN!
Well people, looks like the theme of the special is Wacky Races!

Pray that you don't see cameos from Penelope Pitstop, Dick Dastardly or Muttley!