All of which begs the question: what will Dragon Ball become without Toriyama? The anime industry after the passing of Toriyama hasn’t been bereft of Dragon Ball projects by a long shot. In the time since his passing in 2024, fans have enjoyed Toei Animation’s sequel series, Dragon Ball Diama; its kick-ass fighting game Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero; a myriad of updates to ongoing video games; and new chapters of the Dragon Ball Super manga, penned by his successor and longtime fan, Toyotarou. From what those in the know are saying, this news will heartily feed Dragon Ball fans once it releases. It’s a move that works in the comic‑book world, and Dragon Ball fans are nothing if not fiercely loyal to the father of shonen, but it sets a worrying precedent.