Former Dragon Ball Editor Criticizes Daima and Requests Anime Focused on Vegeta: Understand the Controversy
The community of Dragon Ball was caught by surprise with the statements of Kazuhiko Torishima, former editor of Akira Toriyama and a crucial figure for the franchise’s success. In a direct and unfiltered statement, he classified the awaited Dragon Ball Daima as a “trash anime”, arguing that the true golden opportunity for the saga would be a series focused entirely on Vegeta.
This harsh criticism from someone with so much influence behind the scenes of the original work raises an important debate: is the new direction of the franchise pleasing fans?
O que este artigo aborda:
- Torishima’s Harsh Criticisms of Dragon Ball Daima
- Who is Kazuhiko Torishima?
- The Idea That Excited Fans: A Solo Anime for Vegeta
- The Protagonism That Vegeta Never Had
- Possible Stories for the Saiyan Prince
Torishima’s Harsh Criticisms of Dragon Ball Daima
Kazuhiko Torishima has never been known to mince words. Known for his strong opinions, such as that the saga should have ended at Freeza, he now directs his target at Toei Animation’s newest production.
According to the former editor, the problems of Dragon Ball Daima are clear and undermine the epic potential of the franchise. The critique is mainly based on the following points:
- Slow Pace and Little Action: The plot would be developing in a dragged-out way, without delivering the battles and intensity that are hallmarks of Dragon Ball.
- Excessive Nostalgia: The series would rely too much on nostalgic elements, such as the heroes transforming into children, instead of innovating and presenting a genuinely new and impactful story.
- Childish Tone: The tone of the production displeased part of the audience expecting a more mature and epic continuation, aligned with the more serious moments of Dragon Ball Z e Super.
For Torishima, these elements turn Daima into a work that does not do justice to the grandeur of the universe created by Akira Toriyama.
Who is Kazuhiko Torishima?
To understand the weight of these statements, it is necessary to know who Torishima is. He was Akira Toriyama’s editor during the most iconic arcs of Dr. Slump e Dragon Ball. His influence was so great that he is credited with suggesting that Goku grow up and even for creating memorable villains. His opinion, therefore, is not that of a mere viewer, but of someone who helped shape the story we know.
The Idea That Excited Fans: A Solo Anime for Vegeta
Despite the harsh criticism, the most interesting part of Torishima’s statement was his suggestion: Vegeta deserves his own anime. This idea immediately resonated with a large portion of fans, who for years have seen the Saiyan Prince as one of the most complex and well-developed characters in the saga, but who almost always ends up as a side character to Goku.
A spin-off focused on Vegeta would not only give the character the protagonism he never had, but also open a range of narrative possibilities.
The Protagonism That Vegeta Never Had
Since his introduction, Vegeta lives in Kakarot’s shadow. He trains relentlessly, surpasses his limits, but at the decisive moment, it is almost always Goku who defeats the main villain. A series of his own could finally break this cycle, showing Vegeta as the main hero of his own journey, facing threats where he, not Goku, is the ultimate hope.
This would allow an even deeper exploration of his personality, exploring the internal conflicts of a warrior marked by:
- Pride of his Saiyan lineage.
- Ego wounded by being constantly surpassed.
- Redemption and his transformation into a protector of Earth and his family.
Possible Stories for the Saiyan Prince
A series focused on Vegeta could explore narrative arcs that the main series never had time to develop. Some possibilities include:
- The Past Under Freeza’s Rule: Showing in detail Vegeta’s years as a soldier in Freeza’s army, his missions, and the dynamic with Nappa and Raditz.
- Post-Super Adventures: Exploring what Vegeta does between the major sagas of Dragon Ball Super, perhaps traveling the universe or training with Bills and Whis.
- An Exclusive Threat: Creating a villain whose story is directly tied to Saiyan history or to Vegeta, forcing him to be the absolute protagonist.
