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The importance of international comics, especially manga, has seen an unexpected rise in the West for the past few decades. While many believe that it might be the stories portrayed in the mangas that make them popular, Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama had a different opinion. He believed that the flaw lay in the American comic book publishers like Marvel and DC.
Dragon Ball By Akira Toriyama | Toei Animation
While Marvel and DC have grown in terms of digital entertainment like movies, TV series, games, etc., they have seen a tremendous decrease in their comic book popularity for some time. These publishing companies are almost centuries old, and although they might have grown with time, the content within them might still be the same.
Toriyama believed that comic books in America are mainly created for children, and when their readers grew older, they shifted their focus towards more mature and complex narratives, which they found in manga. Thus, the popularity of manga skyrocketed to the extreme and made it one of the most popular art forms in the world.
Akira Toriyama Revealed The Real Difference Between Japanese and American Comics
In 1997, Wired got an exclusive interview with the Dragon Ball creator, and this interview was translated by Kazenshuu. During the discussion, Toriyama was asked about the high ratings that Japanese manga like Dragon Ball were getting in other countries.
Focusing specifically on the West, Toriyama stated:
Let me see here…. For instance, in places like America, comics tend to be reading material for children, and have an extremely simple story, so that when [readers] become adults, it’s not something they would read anymore. Or rather, they all start watching movies, instead.
In that sense, I think there’s probably also an aspect of how people who would be making movies if they were in America draw comics in Japan, because in Japan, you can’t eat [on the money from] doing movies.
The Dragon Ball Universe | Toei Animation
According to the mangaka, as Marvel and DC transitioned towards making movies, their readers have also moved with them. But the content within the comics remained for children who outgrew them. However, the situation is different in Japan, as they are majorly focused on manga. Thus, the content within Japanese manga grew with time and thus gained popularity.
Creating Manga is like Making an Entire Movie on Your Own
Further talking about the international growth of the manga industry, Akira Toriyama pointed out that the situation in every country is different. While in America, the trend of movies and TV series got all the hype, the Japanese entertainment industry still favored manga, and thus it’s more profitable to work on manga in Japan.
Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball | Toei Animation
Toriyama explained:
I think that’s definitely the case. After all, if a cartoonist’s work is successful, he’ll make money, right? So I suppose it’s easy for talent to accumulate there, no matter what. At any rate, part of the charm is that you can do everything yourself, from the story to the art. It’s like making a movie all by yourself…. there’s no way you’ll have a difference of opinion, after all.
The Dragon Ball creator carried the opinion that while working on a manga, the creators tend to do everything on their own, be it writing a story, drawing the character, developing plots, etc. Thus, it feels like creating an entire movie all by yourself.
There are no artistic differences or disagreements that could hamper the thought process and the creative mindset of the creator, giving them full authority over their work.
You can watch Dragon Ball on Crunchyroll.
“}]] Akira Toriyama once revealed why manga like Dragon Ball gained so much popularity in foreign countries and beating others like Marvel and DC. Read More