Did Toriyama recognize GT as canon?

[Edward Newgate]

A friend of mine claims that in a post-GT interview Toriyama recognized it as canon. True or false?

[dbzfan7]

False. Toriyama claims GT as a side story in the Japanese GT DragonBox description which can be found here on this website.

[Bussani]

Toriyama has never even said the word "canon" in an interview. I don't even know how one would say it in Japanese.

[Herms]

I love how all these stupid rumors are based on the idea that Toriyama has the exact same priorities and interests as fans. As if he's just going to rattle off fan jargon like it was second nature.

[Marco Polo]

He doesn't even recognize any part of anything as canon.

Plus, it's not like the term "side story" clears up anything anyway. Ask yourself what a "side story" is, and how that resolve or doesn't resolve your question. Was the "History of Trunks" special chapter of the manga considered a side story too?

[SSJ4_Zankuto]

I think he said Dragon Ball GT is "different universe" and "side story" to his manga work. I see Dragon Ball GT as an adaptation (anime), beyond adaptation (Movie/GT).

[DBZGTKOSDH]

I think he said Dragon Ball GT is "different universe" and "side story" to his manga work.

Didn't he say that for the movies? For GT, he only called it a side story.

[Barunks]

At the end of the day does it even matter? I don't see many Star Wars fans complaining about whether the upcoming Disney sequels are canon not being made directly by George Lucas and all. In fact, I usually hear them go on about how they wish the prequel movies (the ones he actually did make) weren't canon instead.

[Herms]

Didn't he say that for the movies?

Yes, in Daizenshuu 6 he says he thinks of the movies as another dimension (insert joke here).

Plus, it's not like the term "side story" clears up anything anyway. Ask yourself what a "side story" is, and how that resolve or doesn't resolve your question. Was the "History of Trunks" special chapter of the manga considered a side story too?

Well, with Trunks: the Story it's labelled a 番外編/bangai-hen, while when Toriyama refers to GT he uses the actual English term "side story" (サイドストーリー). Probably the same difference, really.

[Barunks]

Didn't he say that for the movies?

Yes, in Daizenshuu 6 he says he thinks of the movies as another dimension (insert joke here).

Does the whole "12 universes" thing I hear was mentioned in battle of gods refer to the movie/GT universes? In that case not only is EVERYTHING canon but Toei has the opportunity to do some crazy crossover stuff.

[DBZGTKOSDH]

Does the whole "12 universes" thing I hear was mentioned in battle of gods refer to the movie/GT universes? In that case not only is EVERYTHING canon but Toei has the opportunity to do some crazy crossover stuff.

No, universe =/= dimension.

[Herms]

Does the whole "12 universes" thing I hear was mentioned in battle of gods refer to the movie/GT universes?

Nothing in the movie suggests that, although they really say nothing besides that there are 12 universes, Beers is God of Destruction for No.7 (where Earth is), and Beers thinks there might be even more incredible people out in the other universes. Fans have been quick to assume these 12 universes must be some kind of DB Multiverse-style setup because...well, pretty much just because that's what they want it to be, rather than any actual evidence. I guess we still don't have enough information to definitively rule that idea out, but it seems a bad fit for what little we do know. In the movie, Earth is said to be "Planet M-[random numbers] in the Seventh Universe", which would be an odd way to label it if each of the 12 universes contained their own alternate version of Earth. And Beers just says there might be even more incredible people out there, and nothing about there being alternate versions of Goku and co. (or alternate versions of Beers and Whis, for that matter).

[Barunks]

Fans have been quick to assume these 12 universes must be some kind of DB Multiverse-style setup because...well, pretty much just because that's what they want it to be, rather than any actual evidence.

You can't help but see why, that would be awesome! One can still dream though.

[B]

You're never going to see "canon" used officially, but considering the new film is heavily hyped as "overseen by Toriyama" and "a part of Dragon Ball's official history", there's a clear hierarchy where the original manga is given some amount of clout over just about anything else.

[Dabooyaka]

That's ridiculous. It's a side story, nothing more. It's in the same level as the movies.

[Hellspawn28]

I don't think Toriyama cares about GT. It's not even his official work and the show fits better with the DB/Z anime then the manga.

[AnimeMaakuo]

Sure he does! On what medium though, nobody really knows.

-Shenlong Times #7-

First, about Dragon Ball GT

Interviewer: I'm sorry to bother you when you're so busy today...

Toriyama: I'm not busy at all. I've finished my work on the Dragon Ball Daizenshuu for now, so I'm not working anymore (laugh).

Interviewer: Then you must be getting a nice rest.

Toriyama: Well, after I take my son to school each morning, I finally get to sleep. Right now, I'm building a new work area. So when I think about plans for it, I eventually end up pulling an all-nighter. I'm having more all-nighters than I had during weekly serialization (laugh).

Interviewer: The new anime series is Dragon Ball GT, but how involved in it are you?

Toriyama: I'm only a little involved. I checked the stories given by Toei Animation, and I gave a little advice. After that, I just drew a few characters and illustrations. But it's fun! It's a feeling of "Aah, so this was a possibility." Everyone at Toei Animation has really racked their brains. I really appreciate it. Wow, Gokuu turning little again. With that story, I could continue the manga serialization again... or so I say, but I actually don't have the will to draw it at all (laugh).

Interviewer: Then, Toriyama-sensei would recommend GT!

Toriyama: Yes! I would recommend it. As a normal viewer, I also enjoy it.



-Akira Toriyama Super Interview-

Interviewer: What is your personal stance on Dragon Ball’s theatrical films, Sensei?

Toriyama: I take the movies as “stories in a different dimension from the main story of the manga”. I’m entirely just an audience member for them.

[Saiyan Prince Vegeta]

EDIT:

Akira Toriyama

"The TV anime people wanted to continue for just a little bit more, but I [just couldn't do] any more than that… And so, I left the Dragon Ball anime completely up to the anime staff, story and all. That was “Dragon Ball GT“.

"For GT, all I did was just come up with the title, design the initial main cast and some of the machines, and also do a few images."

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.”

He seemed to like GT, was it just to promote it so he could get money though? I really don't know.

[Marco Polo]

The thing that always catches me out with this though, is that he says "For people who dont want it to be the real end to the dragon ball story, it is just a side story", and then goes on to say "If you are able, along with me, to enjoy watching the original Dragon Ball's grand side-story Dragon Ball GT". It seems like he's saying he doesn't accept it as the end by calling it a side story in the context he did, but at the same time, he basically says you can follow whatever the hell you want even if he doesn't follow it himself I guess.

Technically, "side story" just means "a story that happens on the side". Anything that happens in the same universe as the main story but that isn't a direct sequel or direct prequel can be called a side story. For example, if Toriyama suddenly decided to make a new manga depicting Yajirobe's life between the end of the Cell Saga and the end of the Buu Saga, it could be described as a side story to Dragonball, regardless of its status in canon, because it's supposed to happen on the side of the the main story.

So basically Toriyama is just being very vague because he doesn't care about the concept of "canonicity".

[Saiyan Prince Vegeta]

EDIT: I made a mistake.