Former Dragon Ball Editor Explains Dragonball Evolution’s Failure
Dragonball Evolution is widely regarded as one of the biggest failures in live-action anime adaptations. The 2009 film, produced by 20th Century Studios (formerly 20th Century Fox), received harsh criticism from fans and experts alike. Now, Kazuhiko Torishima, former editor of the Dragon Ball manga, reinforces this view, calling it “the biggest failure in Shonen Jump history.”
The statement was made on the Japanese podcast KosoKoso, which Torishima co-hosts with Yuji Horii, creator of Dragon Quest. The episode, published on YouTube on March 20, 2025, also featured animator Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru, artist Kazuo Enokimoto, and DJ Naz Chris.
Former Dragon Ball Editor Explains Dragonball Evolution’s Failure
Torishima believes that Dragonball Evolution failed because Japan had no creative control over the American production. According to him, if Shueisha had invested five billion yen (approximately $50 million USD) to secure the rights to the final edit, the outcome might have been different.
However, the publisher avoided this kind of investment due to a previous failure: Daijoubu, My Friend, a 1983 live-action film starring Peter Fonda, which resulted in financial losses and discouraged further cinematic projects.
The decision to approve a live-action Dragon Ball movie was part of a global expansion strategy, tied to the launch of the North American edition of Shonen Jump. However, both projects failed. With no decision-making power, Japan couldn’t prevent controversial changes, such as the Westernization of characters—including Son Goku being played by an American actor—and the reinterpretation of the story within an American high school setting.
For Torishima, Dragonball Evolution is the worst movie ever produced in Shonen Jump history, and it’s unlikely that anything will surpass its failure.
The Impact of Dragonball Evolution on Toriyama’s Return
Despite the negative reception, Dragonball Evolution had an unexpected effect: it motivated Akira Toriyama to return to the franchise. Dissatisfied with the film’s outcome and the fact that his suggestions were ignored by the American team, Toriyama resumed work on the saga, releasing the 2013 film Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods.
The film’s failure had such a profound impact that even Justin Chatwin, the actor who played Goku in the live-action adaptation, publicly apologized to Toriyama after the franchise creator’s passing in March 2024.
