What does toriyama mean by 'grand-side story'?

[DBSQA]

Dragon Ball GT is a grand side-story of the original Dragon Ball, and it’ll make me happy for us to watch and enjoy it together.

http://www.kanzenshuu.com/translations/ ... ama-intro/


Some people says it means that GT is Canon while others just says it means that GT is an alternate timeline.

What is the meaning of the Japanese word that was translated into side-story?

[Bryesque]

It's up for interpretation, I think... though I believe it's accepted that "side story" means something outside of the main narrative, and potentially out of canon entirely.

I believe "Reborn as Yamcha" is called a side story as well, so... make of that what you will.

[successoroffate]

Kinda unrelated but is this the one that includes the message + SS4 Drawing by Toriyama?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dragon-Ball-GT- ... Sw6DtYWVss

[VegettoEX]

What is the meaning of the Japanese word that was translated into side-story?

He literally used the English words "side-story" (サイドストーリー saido sutōrī) in this case (as opposed to something like 外伝 gaiden, which itself is typically translated as "side story").

It's worth noting that there may not be any kind of "canonical" meaning or intent with a lot of these statements (and I'd argue there is never a "canonical" meaning intended). What the writers and producers are generally getting at is simply, "Oh, and while this is Dragon Ball (because of course it is), it's not the Dragon Ball that Toriyama himself wrote." And there's nothing inherently derogatory or disparaging with THAT kind of statement, either; it's just a statement of fact. I forget where this was, but it was something in reference to if Super Saiyan 4 would be in Super, and the answer was something along the lines of, "Well, no, that [GT] wasn't Toriyama's work." No hidden meaning, no ulterior motive, no agenda... just a statement of fact.

I believe "Reborn as Yamcha" is called a side story as well, so... make of that what you will.

Yes, it's ドラゴンボール外伝 ("Dragon Ball Gaiden"), "The Case of Being Reincarnated as Yamcha". We also had Dragon Ball Gaiden: Saiya-jin Zetsumetsu Keikaku ("Dragon Ball Side-Story: Plan to Eradicate the Saiyans") for another "Gaiden-in-DB" example.

Kinda unrelated but is this the one that includes the message + SS4 Drawing by Toriyama?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dragon-Ball-GT- ... Sw6DtYWVss

Yes.

[successoroffate]

What is the meaning of the Japanese word that was translated into side-story?

He literally used the English words "side-story" (サイドストーリー saido sutōrī) in this case (as opposed to something like 外伝 gaiden, which itself is typically translated as "side story").

It's worth noting that there may not be any kind of "canonical" meaning or intent with a lot of these statements (and I'd argue there is never a "canonical" meaning intended). What the writers and producers are generally getting at is simply, "Oh, and while this is Dragon Ball (because of course it is), it's not the Dragon Ball that Toriyama himself wrote." And there's nothing inherently derogatory or disparaging with THAT kind of statement, either; it's just a statement of fact. I forget where this was, but it was something in reference to if Super Saiyan 4 would be in Super, and the answer was something along the lines of, "Well, no, that [GT] wasn't Toriyama's work." No hidden meaning, no ulterior motive, no agenda... just a statement of fact.

Kinda unrelated but is this the one that includes the message + SS4 Drawing by Toriyama?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dragon-Ball-GT- ... Sw6DtYWVss

Yes.

Thank you.

I agree with the statement of fact as to GT and all that but we don't have to go that far away to find out that in Super, there is a small possibility that the Future Trunks Arc was inspired by some of the events that took place in Toyotaro's AF. While obviously AF is not Toriyama's work, it seems at least some of the ideas were borrowed from Toyotaro's concept. For Example:

1. The Evil Goku character, which is arguably inspired by Xicor. (And I know that Toyotaro is not the father of the Xicor Character, but he did use the character for his fan comics)
2. A Kaioshin turned Evil at the side of Evil Goku.
3. The Mafuba technique used to try to seal Zamasu/Xicor.

My point is that just because an idea is not from Toriyama's work, I wouldn't say it's excluded from application. There is a chance that Toriyama may give us his own take at SS4, although I must say that it is highly unlikely.

The way I see GT is like this: "GT is to the DB, what Fear The Walking Dead is to The Walking Dead."

[Black Hawk]

I have always interpreted Toriyama's calling other works such as GT "side stories" as his way of perhaps saying "Despite the fact that I was not heavily involved with these projects, they are not any less Dragon Ball than my own works, and more Dragon Ball is a good thing, so I hope everyone enjoys it!" That's just my interpretation, though.

[Jinzoningen MULE]

I see a few interpretations here, but that's not necessarily useful for dissecting what he actually meant. Let's just break it down to the most fundamental level we can:

• -Grand: Large in scale, good, great.
  -Side: Secondary, Tertiary.

Therefore, we can assume the he meant it's a "Great secondary story" or a "Secondary story, grand in scale!".

Either way, it doesn't have any canonical implications. It was more of an acknowledgement that it exists than anything else, I don't know why people put so much stock in that vague, tiny statement.

[Bryesque]

What is the meaning of the Japanese word that was translated into side-story?

He literally used the English words "side-story" (サイドストーリー saido sutōrī) in this case (as opposed to something like 外伝 gaiden, which itself is typically translated as "side story").

It's worth noting that there may not be any kind of "canonical" meaning or intent with a lot of these statements (and I'd argue there is never a "canonical" meaning intended). What the writers and producers are generally getting at is simply, "Oh, and while this is Dragon Ball (because of course it is), it's not the Dragon Ball that Toriyama himself wrote." And there's nothing inherently derogatory or disparaging with THAT kind of statement, either; it's just a statement of fact. I forget where this was, but it was something in reference to if Super Saiyan 4 would be in Super, and the answer was something along the lines of, "Well, no, that [GT] wasn't Toriyama's work." No hidden meaning, no ulterior motive, no agenda... just a statement of fact.

I believe "Reborn as Yamcha" is called a side story as well, so... make of that what you will.

Yes, it's ドラゴンボール外伝 ("Dragon Ball Gaiden"), "The Case of Being Reincarnated as Yamcha". We also had Dragon Ball Gaiden: Saiya-jin Zetsumetsu Keikaku ("Dragon Ball Side-Story: Plan to Eradicate the Saiyans") for another "Gaiden-in-DB" example.

Aha!! Good to know! I didn't realize there was a different phrase and a difference in meaning there. Thanks.

[floofychan333]

I interpret it as being literally a side story to the main timeline as well as being a what-if scenario, similar to the original Dragon Ball's movies.

[sintzu]

What I think he meant is that the manga is the main story because it's written by him while GT (and the movies) are side stories to that.

[nickzambuto]

Is Toriyama fluent in English? He seems to use English words more often than you'd expect.

[Jinzoningen MULE]

Is Toriyama fluent in English? He seems to use English words more often than you'd expect.

Given the context he used it in, it's probably a well-known phrase.

[SingleFringe&Sparks]

The "Grand" aspect of it to me, I assume is just in regards to its length as an intended sequel series as opposed to just a usual contemporary Toei film or filler arc. That and maybe its side-story status is in his disregard for it due to its reception, despite its accepted use in the series' overall external media market.

[Robo4900]

I see it like many people see it: Toriyama's original work is the Dragon Ball manga. GT is a side story in the same way filler like the Gohan meets the weird robot guy is a side story; it wasn't made by him, but it's a story within Dragon Ball that's enjoyable as its own thing. Canon has never really meant much in Dragon Ball anyway, so I wouldn't read too much into it beyond "I didn't make it, but it's Dragon Ball, and I like it.", sort of like what he said about the Bardock special way back.

[RedRibbonSoldier#42]

Is Toriyama fluent in English? He seems to use English words more often than you'd expect.

Nah, it's just that Japanese itself is filled with loanwords, mostly from English nowadays.

[UltimateHammerBro]

The way I see GT is like this: "GT is to the DB, what Fear The Walking Dead is to The Walking Dead."

That's actually a great comparison. It's a simple statement and it doesn't add or substract anything from the "canon / non canon" debate. I bet this was the intended meaning.

[Kamiccolo9]

It's almost like I made a big thread about this that everybody read and liked and immediately forgot about.

[TheDevilsCorpse]

It's almost like I made a big thread about this that everybody read and liked and immediately forgot about.

You could try a more helpful attitude and at least contribute to the current discussion by linking your old topic for people to read through ...?

[Totamo]

Some interpret it as toriyama calling GT noncanon, since he would have said sequel, since that was GT was supposed to be and what toei called it.

Some say toriyama is simply acknowledgeing GT and that's it nothing more or less.


Personally, Super makes GT literally impossible unless you do some massive head canon logic to twist it.


I mean it already messes with the end of z, but that can still happen. GT can't.

[Kid Buu]

I interpret it as being literally a side story to the main timeline as well as being a what-if scenario, similar to the original Dragon Ball's movies.

Same. I always just took it literally - that it isn't his work/part of the manga, but is an official DB product.