Dragonball Evolutionremains the biggest single stain on the legacy of Akira Toriyama’s iconic series. Released in 2009 and starring Justin Chatwin as Goku, the film wasa critical and commercial disaster that damaged theDragon Ballbrandand reinforced the belief that Western anime adaptations were doomed to fail. This was a shocking misstep for one of Japan’s most successful franchises, which has sold over 260 million manga copies worldwide and inspired decades of beloved anime. Yet, ironically, only recently—thanks to Netflix’s hitOne Pieceseries in 2023—has the perception around live-action anime adaptations begun to shift.
This cultural reassessment comes asDragonball Evolutionmarks its 16th anniversary—it was released in the U.S. on June 09, 2025—with fans now reflecting on the legacy of this infamous misfire. While widely panned at the time, the film’s failure may have sparked a creative resurgence from the late Akira Toriyama himself. In the years that followed, Toriyama returned to the franchise in a more hands-on role, helping launchBattle of Godsand eventuallyDragon Ball Super. In hindsight,what was once seen as a low point may have helped reignite the series—and turned failure into unexpected fuel for its revival.
Behind the Scenes: A Recipe for Disaster
Toriyama’s Rare Public Rebuke
WhenDragonball Evolutionpremiered in 2009, Akira Toriyama’s original manga had been finished for over a decade, though the franchise saw renewed interest withDragon Ball Kai—a refreshed version ofZthat debuted in April 2008. However, theKaianime only managed modest ratings in Japan, and while classic manga volumes continued selling steadily, newer hits likeOne PieceandNarutohad begun dominating the shonen scene.The live-action film was meant to revitalize the brand globally, but instead became a bomb.
The root ofEvolution’s problems lay inbehind-the-scenes creative struggles. The film went off the rails largely due to a lack of creative control from Japan. In a recent interview, formerShonen Jumpeditor Kazuhiko Torishima revealed that Shueisha could have retained final cut rights by investing around $50 million—but the company, still scarred from previous movie failures, declined. That decision leftDragonball Evolutionentirely in Hollywood’s hands. Despite warnings from U.S. legal advisors, Shueisha proceeded, hoping a live-action adaptation would helpDragon Ballreach a wider global audience.
Shonen Jump’s ‘Greatest Failure’
‘Not My Dragon Ball’: Toriyama’s Verdict
What emerged was a film that not only failed to capture the spirit of Akira Toriyama’s work, but also disappointed fans and underperformed financially—despite technically earning more than its $30 million production budget. Once marketing costs were factored in, the movie likely didn’t even break even. For editor Torishima, the experience remains “the greatest failure inShonen Jumphistory,” a cautionary tale about the dangers of adaptation without creator input.
Toriyama’s own reaction at the time of release spoke volumes. He didn’t hold back when talking aboutDragonball Evolution. In his 2009 blog post (which Japanese fans still reference), he basically said the movie completely missed what madeDragon Ballspecial. While he’d given some advice during production, it was pretty clear Hollywood didn’t really listen. Media outlets likeNikkan Sportspointed out how rare it was for Toriyama to publicly criticize anything—which is common for creators in Japan. His exact reaction was something like, “This doesn’t feel like myDragon Ballat all,” which fans took as the final verdict on the failed adaptation.
The Phoenix Rises From the Ashes
Redemption at the Box Office
The failure ofDragonball Evolutiontriggered an urgent summit in 2010 between production partners Toei and Shueisha to reassess the franchise’s direction. Soon after, Toriyama became personally involved inwhat would becomeDragon Ball Z:Battle of Gods, released in Japan in 2013—the first newDragon Ballfilm in 17 years. According toV-Jumpmagazine, he issued a handwritten note to the team: “Bring back true Dragon Ball!” The production committee took that to heart, triplingEvolution’s marketing budget and commissioning Toriyama to revise 17 character designs. The result was whatShonen Jump+would later call “The Dragon Ball Renaissance”—a bold comeback born from one of the franchise’s lowest moments.
Battle of Godsabsolutely crushed it whereEvolutionfailed—theBattle of Godsfilm raked in ¥3 billion ($29 million) in Japan alone, nearly doubling the live-action flop’s total earnings. Fans went wild, withCinema Todaypolls showing a 92% approval rating (compared toEvolution’s pathetic 24%), and theaters had to extend showings because lines kept selling out. Turns out all Toriyama needed to do was take back control—his revamped character designs and tighter script had critics calling it “a love letter to OG fans.” Even the theme song topped charts for over a month, provingDragon Ballcould still dominate when done right.
Toriyama’s Creative Renaissance
The Legacy Continues
Following the success ofBattle of Godsin 2013, Toriyama fully reimmersed himself in the world ofDragon Ball. He overhauled the script forResurrection ‘F’(2015), then took creative lead onDragon Ball Super(2016), designing major new characters like Beerus and Whis. He regularly joined monthly story meetings with Toei Animation—often sketching scenes on napkins to get his vision across. This era gave fans the Tournament of Power and a reimaginedBroly, provingToriyama wasn’t just supervising—he was rebuilding his universe.
Toriyama’s hands-on approach continued withDragon Ball Daima, a new animated seriesthat harked back to the original manga with a lighter, more nostalgic tone. He personally oversaw key creative elements—insisting on child-sized versions of the characters and providing direct input throughout production. The series aired from October 2024 to February 2025, marking the finalDragon Ballproject Toriyama worked on before his passing in March 2024.
Now, with its original creator gone,the future ofDragon Ballstands at a crossroads. AlthoughDaimahas concluded its run, the brand itself remains strong. TheDragon Ball Superanime has been on hiatus since 2018, but plans are in place to continue the series, honoring the original creator’s legacy. Would any of this have happened if Toriyama had walked away after the live-action debacle? Perhaps not. In the strangest twist of fate,Dragonball Evolutionmay have kicked off the real evolution ofDragon Ball.
