A Dragon Ball reference in Fairy Tail proves Hiro Mashima’s admiration for Akira Toriyama

The fight between Erza and her mother has brought together fans of both Fairy Tail and Dragon Ball, as netizens have pointed out a specific detail. This highly enjoyable battle occurred during the original series’ broadcast.

There is evidence to suggest that the creator of the Fairy Tail manga is a fan of Akira Toriyama’s iconic work. This notion is reinforced by a specific scene in the anime series.

In the previously mentioned battle, Erza utilized a move that bore a striking resemblance to Goku’s attack on King Piccolo.

How the Fairy Tail Manga Paid Homage to the Dragon Ball Series

From a young age, Hiro Mashima, the creator of the Fairy Tail manga series, aspired to become a manga artist. One of his biggest inspirations was the Dragon Ball series by Akira Toriyama, who is known for creating one of the most iconic titles that defined an entire generation of shonen manga. Toriyama’s visionary storytelling played a significant role in the popularity and widespread reach of the medium today. In fact, his works served as a gateway for many to discover and appreciate manga, including Hiro Mashima, who was inspired to create his own masterpiece.

In the intense battle between Erza and her mother, Irene, Erza sustained serious injuries and was exhausted. Despite being pushed to her limits, she summoned the remaining strength within her to execute a final move that secured her victory. In a strikingly similar fashion to Goku’s iconic attack on King Piccolo, Erza launched herself off the ground with one arm and charged towards her opponent, leaving fans in awe of the resemblance.

The two sequences shared many similarities. The fanbases of each have united to witness Hiro Mashima’s tribute to the manga that inspired him to create his most outstanding work yet.

How Netizens Responded to Hiro Mashima’s Tribute to the Inspirational Manga

Erza vs Irene as seen in the anime series (Image via A-1 Pictures)

“Love how he paid homage”, said one fan.

“Goku had his arm and both legs busted up by King Piccolo and was only able to use one arm…Erza in volume 60 of Fairy Tail literally has all her bones broken except for her arm…Goku blasts himself into the air off one arm…Erza blasts herself into the air off one arm..”, said another fan.

“Yes. Pretty clear homage”, said one netizen.

It is evident that fans view this as the mangaka’s way of showing appreciation for the Dragon Ball series. The resemblances in the aforementioned scenes are unmistakable. While some may argue that this is plagiarism, it is not uncommon for works in this medium to pay tribute to other titles and share similarities.

Despite the difficulty shonen anime fans often face in finding common ground with other fanbases, this was a unique situation. Both groups were delighted to witness the mutual admiration and appreciation shared between some of the top manga creators.

Keep an eye out for further updates on anime and manga news as we continue through 2024.

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