Interview: Dragon Ball Super's Toyotaro

[Grimlock]

Dragon Ball Super is a big step for Akira Toriyama's vast and influential action series. It's the first major follow-up to the original Dragon Ball Z storyline in a long time, and it's the first Dragon Ball TV anime series since Dragon Ball GT to continue the story. In manga form, Dragon Ball Super runs on plotlines and oversight provided by Toriyama himself, but the artwork comes from Toyotarō, a manga creator who started off drawing Dragon Ball because he was a big fan.

Toyotarō visited New York Comic Con this month, and we interviewed him to find out what it's like to take on a manga powerhouse like Dragon Ball.

Your manga is being published in English now. How does it feel to be part of a series as internationally recognized as Dragon Ball?

It's been incredible working on such a large and internationally well-known title. It has such value for fans around the world, so I feel a lot of responsibility to create something that won't let them down. It's something I think about every day.

Did you ever think you'd be working for Shueisha on the official sequel to Dragon Ball? Was that ever the goal?

Not really. I just loved Dragon Ball. It never mattered where my work would be displayed. I just kept drawing it for years!
It sounds like you have a pretty close working relationship with Akira Toriyama. He gives you the outline and you make changes. What is the most interesting thing about working with him?

Every month, I'll create a storyboard for him to review, and then he'll give me input and suggest changes. When I'm working with Toriyama, there are many portions he gives me props for coming up with, but he is very particular about other things and always points them out for me to correct. And when he corrects me, I think “Wow, I guess I don't completely understand the way he looks at things,” so his corrections and feedback are incredibly accurate and helpful. It's a lot of fun to be able to get closer to his way of thinking.

What surprised you the most about working with him?

First of all, to be honest, I'm surprised that he's okay with someone like me carrying on his work! The other thing…I thought Toriyama would be more particular about the story, but he's actually more particular about the gags and the comedic moments! I can tell that he really loves those parts.

Are there specific details of his art that you really admire and reference often?

I'm very confident in reproducing what Toriyama has created with the characters and their subtleties, but when it comes to robots and mecha, that's something I never really tried to mimic myself, and I realized that I really need to study up on them!
When did you first start reading Dragon Ball?

I think it was when I was in grade school. My introduction to Toriyama's world was Dr. Slump, and then it was Dragon Ball. So it was Dr. Slump, then the Dragon Ball anime, and then the manga! I was a grade-schooler, so I don't have exact memories of it, but my first memories are of being obsessed with it.

Did you have a favorite character when you were a kid?

Goku! And he's still number one.

And do you have a favorite character to draw?

The Pilaf gang! They're small and I can move them around as I want, and their comedic expressions are really fun to draw!

You have a little freedom to suggest changes to Toriyama's outline, so what's the biggest alteration you've made?

Fundamentally, I don't deviate from the major plotlines that Toriyama's laid down. As far as the plot getting from A to B, that's written as Toriyama it lays down. But as far as the details between those plot points, I'm free to fill them in myself. The Trunks arc within Dragon Ball Super will hit the U.S. soon, and while a certain reveal is the same in the manga, anime, and Toriyama's outline, both the anime and manga have different ways of getting there, each taking advantage of the unique aspects of their medium, so I hope everyone enjoys comparing them. The parts I really want my fans and readers to look at are the comedic gags, because I'm pretty free to create those!

Is there pressure to find the right balance between new characters and fan favorites?

Well, you have favorite characters, and those are pillars that can't change and everyone loves them. So it's really hard to create new characters who rise to that level!

Between getting the outline and the final phase, what is the most difficult part of making the manga?

What I receive from Toriyama is literally words on paper, without drawings or anything. So when I'm reading it, I have to fill in the blanks as far as the specifics are concerned. I think of what kinds of expressions the characters wear, which way they're looking when they say a certain line. Many times, Toriyama-sensei doesn't give me specific feedback on the details that I fill in, so I put a lot of thought into those aspects, knowing that my interpretation is what the readers will see.

I would love to have Toriyama just sit next to me so I could ask him questions all the time, but unfortunately, I can't!

What is your relationship with the Dragon Ball Super anime?

At this point, I'm not very involved with it. I think going forward, I'll be more involved, but at this point in time, I actually receive more information from the anime team than I give to them. The anime is a little bit further along than I am, but in the near future I'll be ahead, so the information will be going back to them. Regardless, we'll continue to support one another as we go forward.

If you weren't drawing Dragon Ball Super and made an original comic, what would you make?

I've never drawn anything original of my own! It's all been Dragon Ball spinoffs. I've maybe had a thought about doing something original, but I gave up on it almost immediately.

Are there any manga that inspire you?

I draw more inspiration from movies! Toriyama's visuals are closer to being a movie than manga-like, so I like action films with straightforward good-versus-evil heroes. I like Disney and the Marvel films. I do love Pixar!

Among the gags in the manga, do you have a favorite one?

In the upcoming Trunks storyline, there's a part where Trunks' tutor explains a certain important part of the story…and I can't go into more detail. So keep an eye out for that!

Source.

[Bansho64]

The anime is a little bit further along than I am, but in the near future I'll be ahead, so the information will be going back to them. Regardless, we'll continue to support one another as we go forward.

YES!!! That means the story's about to start picking up more in the manga!!!

Either way, the interview was great. Toyotaro seems pretty chill and his manga's doing pretty good.

[Baggie_Saiyan]

The anime is a little bit further along than I am, but in the near future I'll be ahead, so the information will be going back to them. Regardless, we'll continue to support one another as we go forward.

YES!!! That means the story's about to start picking up more in the manga!!!

Either way, the interview was great. Toyotaro seems pretty chill and his manga's doing pretty good.

It probably means like U6 he'll jump ahead and the Black arc likely will be rushed... Like the U6 arc.

[Bansho64]

It probably means like U6 he'll jump ahead and the Black arc likely will be rushed... Like the U6 arc.

Nah, I thought it was paced well, just like the rest Black arc is probably gonna be.

[Will]

When the Black arc ends, we will probably get "slice of life" or a mini-arc like potaufeu in the anime that won't be in the mangas.
The mangas will probably jump directly to the next arc from Toriyama.

[LightBing]

When the Black arc ends, we will probably get "slice of life" or a mini-arc like potaufeu in the anime that won't be in the mangas.
The mangas will probably jump directly to the next arc from Toriyama.

I think so to. 2 months of "filler" episodes awaits us.

[Bullza]

I can see the Black saga in the manga being a lot shorter than in the anime. I can't see them taking three different trips into the future. That entire second trip where Trunks eventually became Super Trunks will likely not happen.

Them going to Universe 10 a second time to kill Zamasu shouldn't happen either.

Combined with the anime surely getting some filler arc for 1-2 months. Then yeah I can see it pulling ahead.

[Saikyo no Senshi]

Nice interview! Toyotarou seems like a cool guy. Toriyama focussing more on gags than the plot itself was so typical of him. As expected Toyotarou's favorite character is Gokuu.

The main talking point is of course going to be the comic getting ahead of the cartoon in the future. I think the Gokuu Black stuff in the comic will wrap up by December or maybe January. Then we'll get the new story arc straight away, which is exciting.

The cartoon meanwhile will produce filler and maybe Toei will outsource it entirely so that it can fix the production schedule and plan ahead.

So, yeah it looks like a good sign for Super to improve even further. I have no problems with anime original content or filler for 2 months, if the new story arc is done with proper pre-planning. It will benefit the animation and the overall quality.

- Travis

[Grimlock]

I have no problems with anime original content or filler for 2 months, if the new story arc is done with proper pre-planning. It will benefit the animation and the overall quality.

- Travis

I agree but the problem is that whether it will be cool or boring. That "Potaufeu arc" was boring as hell, for example.

[SansrivaaL]

So another arc is almost certain to happen, quite happy but also doubting if they can do a better arc than Black arc, then again we are talkin about Toriyama, who knew the guy still had an awesome story like this up his sleves.
So he likes Goku out of all the characters, that explains why Goku's somewhat awesome in the manga whereas the anime makes him a total fool most of the darn time.

[8000 Saiyan]

This was a good interview.

[Big Black Sayian]

So Toyotaro might work closer with the anime team? That's neat.

[Baggie_Saiyan]

So another arc is almost certain to happen, quite happy but also doubting if they can do a better arc than Black arc, then again we are talkin about Toriyama, who knew the guy still had an awesome story like this up his sleves.
So he likes Goku out of all the characters, that explains why Goku's somewhat awesome in the manga whereas the anime makes him a total fool most of the darn time.

It was confirmed a few days ago actually will be announced what it is in Jump Festa in December.

So Toyotaro might work closer with the anime team? That's neat.

I think he's talking about just now this Black arc since the anime has always been ahead I think the previous U6 he was working closely as Ajay said some shots in the anime was 1:1 from the Manga. So I think he means they're going back to that relationship (until the anime overtakes the Manga again).

[Lord Beerus]

What I receive from Toriyama is literally words on paper, without drawings or anything. So when I'm reading it, I have to fill in the blanks as far as the specifics are concerned. I think of what kinds of expressions the characters wear, which way they're looking when they say a certain line. Many times, Toriyama-sensei doesn't give me specific feedback on the details that I fill in, so I put a lot of thought into those aspects, knowing that my interpretation is what the readers will see.

Damn. This really emphasises how bare-bones the plot outline is from Toriyama if a monthly manga that has 35-40 pages to work with still has to be very creative and fill in the blanks from one major plot point to another

[kinisking]

What I receive from Toriyama is literally words on paper, without drawings or anything. So when I'm reading it, I have to fill in the blanks as far as the specifics are concerned. I think of what kinds of expressions the characters wear, which way they're looking when they say a certain line. Many times, Toriyama-sensei doesn't give me specific feedback on the details that I fill in, so I put a lot of thought into those aspects, knowing that my interpretation is what the readers will see.

Damn. This really emphasises how bare-bones the plot outline is from Toriyama if a monthly manga that has 35-40 pages to work with still has to be very creative and fill in the blanks from one major plot point to another

I don't think it means that it's bare bones. It's just that he has difficulty thinking about how the scenes look when they happen. Not that he has to think up the whole scene.

[Beyond]

How many pillars are there really? Goku and Vegeta, Trunks(for now), and Bulma are the only real fan favorites left. Gohan is in a sort of hell zone, and the rest have been systemically destroyed in terms of relevancy. If Hit was in two arcs in a row, he would have more fans than everyone not named Goku and Vegeta(and Trunks if they keep pushing him).

Pilaf and gang seem to have potential to be more important than everyone not named Goku, Vegeta, Bulma(and future trunks if he stays), and that bothers me.

Also how is he going to catch up without abridging the arc grossly or the anime going through hiatus hell.

[Cipher]

I don't think it means that it's bare bones. It's just that he has difficulty thinking about how the scenes look when they happen. Not that he has to think up the whole scene.

My reading of that answer was that it was not incredibly bare-bones, as he has to imagine "which way they're looking when they say a certain line," implying there are snippets of specific dialogue included in the outline.

[bjh13]

Gohan is in a sort of hell zone, and the rest have been systemically destroyed in terms of relevancy..

If they have any intention of sticking even sort of close to the ending of Dragon Ball Z, it kind of makes sense. Gohan was clearly a scholar and no longer a fighter, Goten got beaten up by a four year old Pan (or at least that's what the montage thing at the end suggested), Vegeta had to threaten Trunks allowance to get him to fight.

[Miracles]

It sounds like you have a pretty close working relationship with Akira Toriyama. He gives you the outline and you make changes. What is the most interesting thing about working with him?

Every month, I'll create a storyboard for him to review, and then he'll give me input and suggest changes. When I'm working with Toriyama, there are many portions he gives me props for coming up with, but he is very particular about other things and always points them out for me to correct. And when he corrects me, I think “Wow, I guess I don't completely understand the way he looks at things,” so his corrections and feedback are incredibly accurate and helpful. It's a lot of fun to be able to get closer to his way of thinking.

You have a little freedom to suggest changes to Toriyama's outline, so what's the biggest alteration you've made?

Fundamentally, I don't deviate from the major plotlines that Toriyama's laid down. As far as the plot getting from A to B, that's written as Toriyama it lays down. But as far as the details between those plot points, I'm free to fill them in myself. The Trunks arc within Dragon Ball Super will hit the U.S. soon, and while a certain reveal is the same in the manga, anime, and Toriyama's outline, both the anime and manga have different ways of getting there, each taking advantage of the unique aspects of their medium, so I hope everyone enjoys comparing them. The parts I really want my fans and readers to look at are the comedic gags, because I'm pretty free to create those!

Is there pressure to find the right balance between new characters and fan favorites?

Well, you have favorite characters, and those are pillars that can't change and everyone loves them. So it's really hard to create new characters who rise to that level!

Between getting the outline and the final phase, what is the most difficult part of making the manga?

What I receive from Toriyama is literally words on paper, without drawings or anything. So when I'm reading it, I have to fill in the blanks as far as the specifics are concerned. I think of what kinds of expressions the characters wear, which way they're looking when they say a certain line. Many times, Toriyama-sensei doesn't give me specific feedback on the details that I fill in, so I put a lot of thought into those aspects, knowing that my interpretation is what the readers will see.

I would love to have Toriyama just sit next to me so I could ask him questions all the time, but unfortunately, I can't!

What is your relationship with the Dragon Ball Super anime?

At this point, I'm not very involved with it. I think going forward, I'll be more involved, but at this point in time, I actually receive more information from the anime team than I give to them. The anime is a little bit further along than I am, but in the near future I'll be ahead, so the information will be going back to them. Regardless, we'll continue to support one another as we go forward.

Source.

Thank you.
Just more evidence that Toriyama pretty much runs Dragonball Super.

[sintzu]

Just more evidence that Toriyama pretty much runs Dragonball Super.

This was announced with Super, he writes the basic plots and designs the characters.