“I had no idea this sort of world existed”: Fans Should Thank Akira Toriyama’s First Editor for Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero
Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball series influenced generations even decades after its release, inspiring anime creators to produce a healthy number of animes modeled after the legendary shonen series. Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is a testament to the fact that the shonen series has survived the test of time and is still relevant today.
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is a highly-anticipated title for fans of the franchise and a sequel to the beloved Budokai Tenkaichi series. Bandai Namco’s upcoming title is going to be a hit among fans, but this wouldn’t have happened had it not been for Kazuhiko Torishima, Akira Toriyama’s first editor.
Torishima Is Behind Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero
According to an interview with Daizenshuu 6 – Akira Toriyama Super Interview, the person behind Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is not Akira Toriyama himself, but his first editor, Kazuhiko Torishima. According to Toriyama:
“The impetus was Torishima-san (my first editor), I suppose. At first, I did it grudgingly, but as a result, it really came in handy, like, “I had no idea this sort of world existed”“
Had it not been for Torishima, who nudged Toriyama to create video game characters, there wouldn’t have been any Dragon Ball games.
Former Chief Shonen Editor, Torishima is the man who practically raised Toriyama, helping him develop his illustration and writing skills on Dr. Slump and Dragon Ball. Torishima also had a major hand in the shaping of game series like Dragon Quest.
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero Confirms Roster
Four fighters have been confirmed for the roster of Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero, all classic members of the usual roster. The roster will also feature one-armed Future Gohan, which fans are super-excited about since the character does not receive much screen time.
Also Read: Dragon Ball Theory: Majin Buu is Akira Toriyama’s Allegory for American Greed
Several new fighters were confirmed for Sparking! Zero. The new fighters include members of the Ginyu Force from the Namec Saga, Jeice and Burter, to the Pride Troopers from the Tournament of Power arc, Dyspo and Toppo. Four characters were revealed in a bilibili post by Bandai Namco for the game’s roster: Master Roshi, Yamcha, Piccolo, and Kid Gohan.
Bandai Namco confirms that Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero allows you to learn and master a roster of playable characters, each with signature abilities, transformations, and techniques. Although no release date has been confirmed yet, several trailers have been released for the game. The game will be available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam.
