Photo/Illutration The cover of the final volume of “Dragon Ball” ((C) Bird Studio/Shueisha Inc.)

“Dragon Ball” and “Dr. Slump” took the world by storm but their creator, manga artist Akira Toriyama, initially harbored deep reservations when starting out on the projects.

Toriyama died March 1 at age 68. His works were translated and published in 40 nations.

An early major influence was Kazuhiko Torishima, an editor at the Weekly Shonen Jump magazine. Toriyama submitted an entry to a contest organized by the magazine and although he did not win anything, Torishima sensed outstanding talent.

Toriyama brought a new style of manga to the magazine that targeted male readers when he began serializing “Dr. Slump” in 1980.

At first, Toriyama made Senbei Norimaki, the inventor of the robot girl Arale, the main character of “Dr. Slump.” Toriyama intended to kill her off after the first segment.

When Torishima saw the draft for the second segment, he was stunned to find no hint of Arale in the manga. Torishima insisted that Arale be made the main character.

Toriyama resisted at first, but Arale eventually became the main focus and the manga was a hit. An anime version that appeared in 1981 earned high TV ratings, cementing the popularity of “Dr. Slump.” 

Toriyama also dragged his feet in the development of “Dragon Ball,” which began serialization in 1984.

He was having problems coming up with an idea for a new series in the weekly magazine. Torishima suggested a kung fu manga, but Toriyama told him, “I’m not very good doing fighting manga.”

Initially, “Dragon Ball” centered more on humorous gags and a fantasy world touch.

But reader reaction was anything but positive, so the production team had to come up with a new angle.

One change was to make the main character, Son Goku, a more simple one whose main purpose was to improve his fighting skills. The character was also drawn in a more masculine manner in place of the soft lines used initially.

In later years, Toriyama would reflect on those two manga and said, “If I am asked about my own preference, those two are far from what I like.”

He said he preferred a plainer, lighter tone in his manga.

“I much prefer drawing low humor rather than fighting scenes,” Toriyama said.

Toriyama worked for an advertising agency before he branched out as a manga artist. That experience instilled a work ethic in which Toriyama dutifully met the publication deadlines for his manga series. He also strove to create manga that anyone could readily understand.

“I believe the role of my manga is to be thoroughly entertaining,” Toriyama once said. “I even feel that nothing need remain behind if the reader can simply enjoy a brief time with my manga.”

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