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Translations Archive

Dragon Ball Super Volume 1 (Manga)

Tori-Toyo Free Talk

(Book Version)

 

Now that Dragon Ball Super Volume 1 illustrated by Toyotarō-sensei is in stores, I wanted to interview the two of you. Thank you both for your time.
Toriyama:
Thank you.

Toyotarō:
Thank you, this is an honor!

This manga mostly consists of the “Universe 6 Arc”. How did you come up with this story?
Toriyama:
With the “Battle of Gods Arc” and “Revival of ‘F’ Arc” it was one tense story after another, so this time I wanted to have something relatively simple and cheerful… That was what got the ball rolling. I figured I should change up the pace.

Toyotarō:
The “Universe 6 Arc” is Dragon Ball‘s first tournament in a long time!

Toriyama:
I had tournaments for a little bit at the very start and end of the “Majin Boo Arc”, but I pretty much left those hanging (laughs).

Toyotarō:
In that last one, Goku took off with Oob in the very first match.1

Toriyama:
Yeah (laughs). Whenever I go re-read my own manga volumes to think up new story ideas, I’m always amazed at how much I’ve forgotten (laughs).

Toyotarō-sensei, in your opinion what makes Toriyama-sensei‘s artwork so appealing?
Toyotarō:
I’m not sure I can put it into words, but, well… His characters are perfectly stylized, and his objects are very detailed. With a single image he paints a picture of an entire world… But words just can’t do it justice. There’s an indescribable sense of excitement that pulses through me whenever I read his work!
You’ve loved Dragon Ball since you were a child, so how does it feel to be drawing it yourself now?
Toyotarō:
But I’m not! Not at all… The more I draw, the clearer the gap between me and Toriyama-sensei becomes (sweat).

Toriyama:
That’s not true! You might be the closest person to match my art style, even counting the animators.

Toyotarō:
No way!

Toriyama:
You’re really good at composition! It looks so cool; these days there’s no way I could draw such energetic artwork! Whenever I supervise anime and whatnot, there’s always something that bugs me and that I’ll ask to have fixed. But when I look at your storyboards, I can just take it easy. I can give it the OK in no time flat; it really makes things convenient (laughs).

Toyotarō:
Oh no… This whole time I was afraid of adding to your frustrations. Since the original story you give me is text, I constantly have your manga by my side as I draw. I don’t want readers to say it doesn’t feel like Dragon Ball… But at the same time, I also want to stretch my imagination and come up with brand new action and different kind of expressions.

Toriyama:
Just go wild! I won’t mind a bit (laughs).

Toriyama-sensei, what advice do you have for Toyotarō-sensei?
Toriyama:
Frankly… I’m perfectly satisfied with things the way they’re going (laughs).

Toyotarō:
U-Um… Really? There’s nothing you think needs to be fixed or thrown out? Don’t hold back for my sake… (sweat).

Toriyama:
Hahahaha (loud laughter). Not really… (thinks about it a little bit). Nope, not a thing! Well OK… If I have to say something, then I guess your compositions would be even better if you utilized more diverse angles. Also, I think it would be great if you included more of your own original ideas. I’m really grateful to you. I never thought an artist like you would come along to draw the continuation of my story!

Finally, could you tell us just a little bit about where the story of Dragon Ball Super is heading?
Toriyama:
I’ve got an idea for a story about the “future” of “a certain somebody”. And I’m thinking of combining that together with a new “universe”. It’ll be simple enough for kids to enjoy… hopefully (laughs).

Toyotarō:
“A certain somebody”…It’s someone I’m a huge fan of! I’m really looking forward to it!!

The following translator notes are included for the benefit of the reader as supplemental information and were not originally published in the book.

1 Actually the second match.
English Translation: Herms