Tori-Toyo Free Talk

Toyotarō:
Since at first glance Toriyama-sensei‘s pictures are so simple, back when it was running in Jump all us kids felt like we could draw them. But when you actually try, it turns out totally different. No matter what you do, you can’t draw a “real” Goku…

Toriyama:
I suppose that’s true. Heck, even when professional animators draw it, I sometimes feel like they get it wrong (laughs). My style is simple, but I guess that’s actually what makes it so tricky. Perhaps only I truly understand it.

Toriyama:
Well… Even I’m hopeless at imitating other people’s styles (laughs).

Toriyama:
I’m glad to hear it! I’ll have to thank them if I ever get the chance. Speaking of reproducing my style, Toyotarō-san is amazing at it!

Toyotarō:
No no, not at all! Seriously… The more I draw, the more I realize the gap between us… (sweat).

Toriyama:
Don’t be so hard on yourself! You might actually be the closest to my style. There aren’t many people who can manage that! Well, maybe there are people who can imitate my pictures, but not many artists can pull off an entire chapter the way you can! Your storyboards are really tight!

Toriyama:
That’s right.

Toyotarō:
Since Chapter 1 I’ve used Toriyama-sensei‘s plot as a basis, but have been allowed to expand on it.

Toriyama:
It’s better that way.

Toriyama:
Oh, that’s good! That should keep them on track!

Toyotarō:
Really?… I still can’t believe I lucked into this job (sweat).

Toyotarō:
My question’s so trivial I’m kind of ashamed, but… why does Super Saiyan Blue have blue hair?

Toriyama:
In Battle of Gods it was red, so I figured for Revival of “F” I should go with blue. That’s all (laughs). Well, actually I was thinking about having it be white, but then it would color-clash with the “next enemy”… so I figured I should save it for another occasion (laughs).

Toyotarō:
… I get the feeling I’ve just heard something amazing (laughs). Lord Beerus and Whis turn up in Dragon Ball Super, and have become an unsurpassable wall for Goku and the gang. What do the two of them mean to you?

Toriyama:
Well… First off, right now I don’t have any plans for Goku and Vegeta to surpass Beerus and Whis.

Toyotarō:
Ever since Battle of Gods, Beerus and Whis have become central figures.

Toriyama:
If it hadn’t been for those two, making any more story after that would have been a nightmare. There wouldn’t have been anything to expand upon. That’s why I’m so glad to have them around. And their voices are good, too! Those voice artists are so talented!

Toyotarō:
Beerus is voiced by Kōichi Yamadera, and Whis is voiced by Masakazu Morita.

Toriyama:
Yeah, in the early version he did all kinds of bad stuff.

Toyotarō:
But ultimately he changed into being someone who’s still scary, but not actually hateful. More in keeping with the spirit of Dragon Ball, one might say.

Toriyama:
Yeah, thanks to those two the world has expanded out to include other universes. I’m really grateful to the screenwriter who came up with the whole “God of Destruction” idea.

Toyotarō:
I’ve read the plot for the new story, and I’m really happy a certain future-related character is going to be involved. I’m a huge fan!

Toriyama:
That’s a pretty popular character! Hopefully the kids will be happy.

Toyotarō:
I really like the very start of the Majin Boo arc, when Gohan is attending Orange Star High School. I guess because it was so laid back.

Toriyama:
Yeah! I really liked that part too… (laughs)

Toyotarō:
Had you already come up with Majin Boo when you were drawing that part?

Toriyama:
… Nope (laughs). I’m pretty sure I just kept on drawing without a clue Majin Boo was going to turn up. I enjoyed working on that part, but eventually I figured it was time to come up with a new enemy… Even though I would have liked to just go on with the “slice of life” stuff… (laughs)

Toyotarō:
Peace is good, too (laughs). I really liked the laid-back outlook of your Savings Warrior Cashman manga that ran in V-Jump, and other things from that period.

Toriyama:
They sure did (laughs).

Toyotarō:
While enjoying the everyday stuff, they’re waiting for the battles to come (laughs).

Toriyama:
Yeah! I figured Goku was getting old, and it was time to switch over to the next generation.

Toyotarō:
That’s what Goku himself said in the Majin Boo arc.

Toriyama:
But drawing Gohan’s daily life made me gradually realize he likes studying more than fighting (laughs). Later on he even lost his dōgi (laughs).

Toyotarō:
Now he’s fulfilled his childhood dream and become a fine scholar.

Toriyama:
Good idea!! I bet it’ll make it more interesting to include Toyotarō-sensei‘s original ideas.

Toyotarō:
T-That’s so much pressure… (sweat). But I think it’ll be really cool to help Dragon Ball someday reach its final chapter.

Toriyama:
Oh, that’s good! People will go “Wow, Toriyama-sensei planned it all out from the beginning!” and I’ll look really cool (laughs).