Torishima's overall influence was what I was mostly referring to as well, but not only that. Think of the Buu arc and how different it feels from the Saiyan/Freeza/Cell arc - it coincides with him starting to work with an editor that was apparently more lenient. Makes me feel like he would've had the previous arcs in that tone as well had it not been for his editors, and they were strictly focused on what makes a story more popular.Cipher wrote:It wasn't an all-the-time, all-or-nothing thing, but I do think it's an attitude that colors the series. It's also worth noting that Torishima was a major influence in shaping Toriyama's craft, so giving weight to his ideas is in some ways part and parcel of its idiosyncratic/personal bent. Toriyama wasn't writing in a vacuum, but he also didn't seem to be catering to pressures he greatly disagreed with in respect to where the series needed to go.Michsi wrote:And yet: #17/#18, Cell, the focus on fighting even though he himself didn't like it. There are some contradicting statements regarding his obstinacy.
(What ABED said above.)
I also think he was all-in on the fighting, even if he found drawing it irksome. And he nevertheless managed to invent more or less a whole new visual language to sell it, adapting his style to fit.
Toriyama's approach towards his work, specifically DB, had always struck me as somewhat detached, as in it was more of a job rather than a passion, so it would make sense for him be more receptive to guidance and input. I actually find it more admirable that despite taking a direction he himself did not fancy that much, he still managed to churn out something so great.