Would you like it if Toriyama revealed a canon?

[MarCas92]

Similar to what Lucasfilm did after Disney acquired Star Wars?

Personally, I think canon debates are silly and trivial. So although I don't personally care about what is canon and what isn't, I would really appreciate it if some official source came out and just gave us a list once and for all.

[TheDevilsCorpse]

They likely won't come out and directly reveal one. Given the material that Toriyama has just been outright ignoring though, it seems to be pretty clear that he is operating under the idea that only the stuff he's worked on matters to his stories. So at this point, I suppose it's Jaco the Galactic Patrolman, Dragon Ball, Battle of Gods, Resurrection F & most likely Dragon Ball Super as well. The Jump Super Anime Tour special with Tarble is a minor wildcard here. Toriyama gave Toei the original draft/idea for the special and Vegeta having a brother is referenced in Battle of Gods, but I'm not sure we could state it as a fact because it could turn out to be a Bardock TV Special vs. Minus situation.

Oh, also some of the random tidbits he gives out in interviews or guidebooks that he doesn't contradict again later, I guess. xD

[sintzu]

Toriyama has made it very clear in the last few years that the only thing he takes into account while writing new stories is what he previously wrote so if he didn't have some hand it it's story then it's not canon.

The Jump Super Anime Tour special with Tarble is a minor wildcard here.Toriyama gave Toei the original draft/idea for the special.

but I'm not sure we could state it as a fact because it could turn out to be a Bardock TV Special vs. Minus situation.

This is how Super is being done so it's safe to say it's part of the canon.

He had 0 to do with the TV special's story unlike the 2008 OVA so chances are it won't end up like it.

[Lord Beerus]

Would it really matter in the grand scheme of things? So one part of franchise is recognised by the author and another isn't. Big freakin deal. It won't in any way be a detriment to how much I enjoy that part of the franchise that the creator of it won't acknowledge. Just as long as I acknowledge it and appreciate it for it is, regardless of what the creator of the said franchise may say otherwise, is all that matters to me. Dragon Ball is Toriyama's creation and he can, one day, herald what he considers part of his own universe, and I'll accept that, but that won't stop me from appreciating everything else the franchise has to offer. Because after all, I'm a fan of Dragon Ball, as a whole.

[Demon of Light]

I don't think there's a point. People have been arguing about what's canon and what isn't for so long, nothing Toriyama says will change their minds now. I mean, people have been blowing gaskets over Dragon Ball Minus and the new movies, and Toriyama has been heavily involved in both of them. You mentioned Lucasfilm's Star Wars universe canon, but I know there are a lot of Star Wars fans who ignore that altogether because it omitted parts of the franchise they loved. It's the same with Dragon Ball.

With all the content and the timelines we've been given, I think fans should just pick what they like and go with that. We can't achieve a cohesive canon timeline, but as long as everyone is settled on their personal cohesive timelines, it's a good start for further conversation.

[ABED]

I don't think there's a point. People have been arguing about what's canon and what isn't for so long, nothing Toriyama says will change their minds now. I mean, people have been blowing gaskets over Dragon Ball Minus and the new movies, and Toriyama has been heavily involved in both of them. You mentioned Lucasfilm's Star Wars universe canon, but I know there are a lot of Star Wars fans who ignore that altogether because it omitted parts of the franchise they loved. It's the same with Dragon Ball.

With all the content and the timelines we've been given, I think fans should just pick what they like and go with that. We can't achieve a cohesive canon timeline, but as long as everyone is settled on their personal cohesive timelines, it's a good start for further conversation.

True, but it would still be interesting to know.

[sintzu]

We can't achieve a cohesive canon timeline.

We've always had one but a lot of fans want to act like we don't in order to keep everyone happy.

Would it really matter in the grand scheme of things ?

No cause we already know what counts and what doesn't but it would be nice to put an end to the "DB has no canon so everyone is right" comment that's always used.

To anyone who believes this,wouldn't that mean DB has no rules and whoever writes it is free to do whatever he wants with it ?

[Bullza]

I suppose so but it's already clear what the canon is.

[Demon of Light]

We can't achieve a cohesive canon timeline.

We've always had one but a lot of fans want to act like we don't in order to keep everyone happy.

Well, we pretty much do have one for the manga. The issue with the fandom is which parts of the extended canon (anime fillers, movies, games, Dragon Ball GT, Dragon Ball Online) they think should be included with it. And Dragon Ball Minus kinda puts a wrench in the 730s portion of the established timeline, if one chooses to take it as it is.

[MajinMan]

Hell yes I would. All the GT/Filler debates will be put to rest. It should be (in my opinion) Manga/BOG/ROF/Super. As simple as that.

[MarCas92]

Hell yes I would. All the GT/Filler debates will be put to rest. It should be (in my opinion) Manga/BOG/ROF/Super. As simple as that.

I agree with you 100% I would just add Jaco, DB- and 2008 Jump Special.

[Kamiccolo9]

Hell yes I would. All the GT/Filler debates will be put to rest.

Oh, to be young and naive again.

[Codarik]

If he did or not doesn't matter to me, though I like the idea of fans coming up with their own "personal canon".

[Payne222]

He's pretty much stated what it is already...it's not like we don't know.

[voltlunok]

To be honest. No. I think Dragon Ball leaving the continuity up to the individual fan is a much better idea then "Only this, this and this count." Leaving the continuity open allows for more debate and discussion over each individuals personal timeline for the series. Plus Toriyama himself can't really do that, he'd have to reach an agreement with Toei and Shueisha and I'm sure they each have their own things they'd like to see within continuity. Overall I think leaving the series with no "Official timeline of what actually happened." is a good idea and doesn't really alienate any fans.

In fact, having an official timeline/continuity would probably do more damage to the series then good. It would be another thing that Toriyama has to constantly remember and keep track of. It would also limit his creativity and that's bad, since a lot of the things he seems to being doing now are "What if this happened?" and just completely throwing continuity and such out the window. Creating a "Super official, only these events count lol!" continuity would basically be shackles on Toriyama's creativity for the series.

[sintzu]

Toriyama himself can't really do that.

He's already done it with the last 2 movies&Minus and will probably continue to do so in Super.

Leaving the series with no "Official timeline of what actually happened." is a good idea and doesn't really alienate any fans.

If alienating some fans is what it takes to make good stories then so be it and thankfully that's what Toriyama is doing right now.

[voltlunok]

Toriyama himself can't really do that.

He's already done it with the last 2 movies&Minus and will probably continue to do so in Super.

He is not the sole owner of Dragon Ball. He can fully speak about what he personally sees as his own timeline but he cannot declare an official franchise sweeping continuity.

[sintzu]

He is not the sole owner of Dragon Ball. He can fully speak about what he personally sees as his own timeline but he cannot declare an official franchise sweeping continuity.

He's made it very clear that as long as he's writing then the only continuity is what's written by him.

[ABED]

He is not the sole owner of Dragon Ball. He can fully speak about what he personally sees as his own timeline but he cannot declare an official franchise sweeping continuity.
It's his story, so yes he can.

To be honest. No. I think Dragon Ball leaving the continuity up to the individual fan is a much better idea then "Only this, this and this count." Leaving the continuity open allows for more debate and discussion over each individuals personal timeline for the series.

I've never understood this. For one, is the debate really so important to have? It's like when people say an ambiguous ending is better than definitive because people can debate its meaning. And second, the debate won't end if Toriyama comes out and says what is canon, the debate will simply change.

[Hellspawn28]

Toryiama already said that the older DBZ movies take place in a different dimension and yet fans still try to find ways to fit them into the timeline. No matter what Toriyama says, fans will always find ways to disagree with him. I don't think it matters if we have a official canon or not since know that not everything can fit in the same continuity without telling us what's canon or not.