Summary
What happens when an author dies and a series is uncompleted? Most of the time, it depends on the author’s ability toplan for their inevitable death. In the case of Robert Jordon, his notes were so extensive thatThe Wheel of Timeseries was able to have three more books written by Brandon Sanderson after Jordon’s untimely death. On the other hand, theRedwallseries came to an end when Brian Jacques passed away, and a book he was working on was never completed as a result.
We don’t even want to get into the fears fans have withA Song of Ice and Fireseries (AKA:Game of Thrones) and George R.R. Martins’s age. Sadly, fans of Dragon Ball have had to face this reality with the passing of the series creator Akira Toriyama. While fans are still processing the news, the question of what happens withDragon Ball Superhas inevitably come up. What will happen to the franchise now that the creator is walking this Earth no more? Let’s discuss some of the potential paths forward to one of the greatest action cartoons of all time.
What is Dragon Ball Super?
Dragon Ball Superis an anime series that takes place before the final episode ofDragon Ball Z(making it a bit of a mid-qual series). Created by Akira Toriyama, it follows Goku and his companions as they encounter new adversaries, unlock powerful transformations, and explore various universes through tournaments, battles, and adventures. The series delves into themes of friendship, determination, and the endless pursuit of strength, captivating audiences with its action-packed fights and colorful characters.
Not to mention dozens of movies and TV specials!
How Much Involvement Did Akira Toriyama Have withDragon Ball Super?
Akira Toriyama was heavily involved in the development ofDragon Ball Super. While he wasn’t directly responsible for the day-to-day production of the anime, Toriyama provided the original story, character designs, and overall direction for the series.He contributed significantly to the plot, character development, and the introduction of new elements such as universes, transformations, and characters.
Nothing in the series got produced or went forward without Toriyama’s blessing and full approval. This is one of the reasons why years could go by before moreDragon Ball Supermaterial would be produced. His involvement ensured that Dragon Ball Super stayed true to the spirit of his original manga while also introducing fresh concepts and adventures for fans to enjoy.
The Inspiration for Dragon Ball Super
Inspiration forDragon Ball Supercame from an unlikely source. Toriyama ended up seeing the live-action adaptationDragonball: Evolution. In interviews, he mentioned that he felt the movie did not capture the essence of his original manga and that he was disappointed with the final result. Toriyama stated that he had little involvement in the movie’s production and that he was not consulted much during the process. The experience was so negative that he startedwriting newDragon Ballmaterialshortly afterwards, so that the live action adaptation would not be the final word on the franchise.
What Happens Now that Toriyama Has Passed Away?
On Jun 17, 2025, the world found out that Akira Toriyama passed away at the age of 68. While the world still mourns his passing, ultimately the question of what will happen to theDragon Ballfranchise going forward will be. Considering how hands on he was with the new anime, is the anime effectively over, or will it continue without him? First of all, let’s discuss some instances of anime and manga that have continued beyond the authors death:
Despite this, it should be noted that there are many series that remain unfinished due to the authors death. Series that remain incomplete after the creator died include:
There are, of course, many more examples we could use, but you all get the point. The future ofDragon Ball Supercould go either way. As of the moment, theDragon Ball Supermanga has been put on indefinite hiatus. That means that there are currently no plans to continue producing new material. Not only was this likely done to give staff members and family members a chance to mourn properly, it also gives Toei Animation a chance to see what their options are. We have no idea whether or not Toriyama has produced scripts and storylines beyond what wecurrently have published.
If there is some material that Toriyama gave his blessing to, that will almost certainly be produced into anime and manga down the road, so we wouldn’t be surprised to see at least another movie or two. Now whether Toei decides to proceed with more material without Toriyama’s involvement is another matter. They already tried to produceDragon Ballmaterialwithout Toriyama withDragon Ball GT. Considering the poor reception that series received, there may be the thought that Toei would rather the series end with Toriyama, so that the “last word” on the franchise is from him. Ultimately, it seems unlikely that we won’t see moreDragon Ball Superanime (and video games and merchandise could certainly continue without Toriyama’s involvement), but when that is or how much it will be is still a huge question mark at this stage in the game.
