Recently, Toei Animation announced that they would be displaying a ‘larger-than-life’ portrait of the Straw Hat Pirates on Sphere Vegas from June 10-16 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of One Piece. However, this news has caused frustration among Dragon Ball fans as they feel that the Japanese studio has not shown the same level of support for Toriyama’s magnum opus.
Despite its prominent status in the industry and reputation as one of anime’s most recognizable franchises, many members of the Dragon Ball fandom feel that the series is not receiving the level of support and attention it deserves. In comparison to One Piece, Toei Animation has placed a greater focus on investing and promoting their production.
It is worth mentioning that Akira Toriyama’s renowned franchise has not produced a new anime since the conclusion of Super six years ago. Despite minimal advertising, the series continues to be Toei’s biggest source of income.
This article includes spoilers for the series.
Fans of Dragon Ball Express Frustration with Toei Animation’s Bias Towards One Piece
Despite being Toei’s main source of revenue, Akira Toriyama’s renowned franchise has not received the same level of attention as Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece, even though it was announced that One Piece’s anime would be shown on Sphere Vegas to celebrate its 25th anniversary. This news was not well-received by fans of Toriyama’s franchise. Although the franchise has not had an anime since Super ended in 2018, it still remains a significant source of income for Toei.
According to fans, in addition to a lack of marketing, there is also a perceived unfair bias in Toei’s handling of anime adaptations. However, fans have noticed a recent improvement in the animation quality of One Piece since the Wano arc. The Super Hero movie did not receive much support from Toei in terms of marketing, leading fans from all around the world to take matters into their own hands and promote the film through hashtags on social media to garner more attention from fellow anime enthusiasts.
Despite being a project meant to honor the 40th anniversary of the franchise and being the last work of writer Akira Toriyama before his passing on March 1st of this year, Daima has faced criticism for its lack of marketing.
Despite the fact that Daima is set to debut on screens in just five months, the lack of exposure and promotion it has received is disrespectful to a franchise that holds cultural significance in Japan and worldwide.
The future of the franchise
Despite the upcoming release of the Dragon Ball Daima anime in five months, the future of the franchise is currently unclear. The passing of Akira Toriyama is likely to have an impact on the public’s perception of any future projects related to the series. Additionally, the manga, which is now solely being led by Toriyama’s protege Toyotaro, is currently experiencing a combination of hiatus and sporadic chapter releases.
As a result, the absence of beloved figures such as Toriyama and Toei’s lack of assistance has greatly affected the fandom at present. Despite having material to adapt from the manga, including the Moro and Granolah arcs, there is currently no indication of a Super anime revival.
Conclusion
It is understandable that Dragon Ball fans feel disappointed about Toei’s preferential treatment towards One Piece, especially considering the former’s status as a highly successful franchise for the company. The lack of attention and support for Dragon Ball in recent years is a cause for concern for its dedicated fanbase.
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