***This article originally appeared in the 35th Anniversary issue of Animation Magazine (June-July ’22, No. 321)***
Dragon Ball Super: SUPER HERO, directed by Tetsuro Kodama, ranks among the year’s most eagerly awaited features. Akira Toriyama’s landmark blend of male bonding, martial arts training, slapstick comedy and all-out slugfests is even more popular now than it was when the broadcast series debuted in 1986.
Originally scheduled for an April release, SUPER HERO premiered in Japan on June 11 following delays due to a ransomware attack on the studio in March, and is now rolling out internationally through Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures.
Producer Norihiro Hayashida discussed making the film in a recent interview conducted via email. Like much of the film’s audience, he grew up on the TV adaptations of Toriyama’s beloved comedy-adventure manga. “I watched it every week without fail. I couldn’t wait for Wednesday, which was the day of the broadcast,” he recalls
A True Calling
“I never thought I would be involved in the creation of a Dragon Ball film — it still feels strange to work with Goku and his friends,” Hayashida continues. “I think the key to success in the entertainment industry lies in how much you love the work you are in charge of. I’m confident that my love for Dragon Ball is stronger than anyone else’s in the company; I feel this is truly my calling.”
Super Hero, which takes place after the events in Dragon Ball Super: Broly (2018), brings back the Red Ribbon Army, which Goku destroyed in episodes 29 through 45 of the original Dragon Ball series. It’s been rebuilt, and two formidable foes have been added: Gamma 1 and Gamma 2. Previous Dragon Ball films focused on Goku and his frenemy Vegeta; Super Hero centers on Goku’s son Gohan and his sensei, the alien Piccolo.
“Gamma 1 and Gamma 2 are self-proclaimed superheroes with a kind of good-old look, but they are incredibly strong,” Hayashida explains. “The difference between the personalities of Gamma 1 and Gamma 2 is well expressed in the animated movements and voice acting. How will Gohan and Piccolo fight them? That’s one major point of the story.”
At the annual Jump Festa exposition in Tokyo in December, 2021, voice actor
Mamoru Miyano, who plays Gamma 2, could barely contain his enthusiasm: “I’m in Dragon Ball! When I was in elementary school, I watched the video of the Red Ribbon Army every day when I went home. Piccolo is my favorite character — it’s like I was raised by him. Gamma No. 2 is full of Akira Toriyama’s view of the world. He is a superhero who is in a better condition than No. 1!”
The first Dragon Ball series were made cheaply, and hardcore fans remain devoted to the original 2D look. The new film is considerably more lavish. The reclusive Toriyama issued a statement saying, “We’ll be charting through some unexplored territory in terms of the visual aesthetics to give the audience an amazing ride.”
Hayashida adds, “I am well aware that some fans have a negative impression of CG animation — hand-drawn animation has its own beauty. I believe fans of 2D animation will accept our new technique, which is CG-based but incorporates many hand-drawn elements. It took us eight years, including development, to reach this point.”
True to Toriyama’s Vision
Toriyama also wrote the story and has been closely involved in its development.
“The scenario as well as the main characters and mechanics are designed by Toriyama-sensei: He’s been involved in more areas than ever before,” Hayashida says. “I work with the directors every day to find the best way to express his ideas in the movie. This process is both enjoyable and tough, and I find it very rewarding.”
Many of the people lining up to see Super Hero will be the sons, daughters and grandsons and granddaughters of the original fans who watched the earlier films and series. When asked what accounts for the enduring popularity of the property, Hayashida replies, “The Dragon Ball worldview is universal. The clothing, buildings and other visuals could exist in any time and any region. Also, I believe children in any time and any region want to be strong, like Goku. This universality is a major factor in maintaining the popularity of the series.”
Toei Animation’s Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero arrives in North American theaters on Friday, August 19 through Crunchyroll.
