Anime remakes are on the risefollowing the recent success of shows like 2019’sFruits Basketand 2024’sRanma 1/2, and projects like the plannedOne Pieceremake by Wit Studioprove the industry is eager to revisit its most popular titles. It’s likely that the iconicDragon Ballis one of the first potential candidates to come to mind for anime fans when thinking of a series that could use a modern coat of paint. As it turns out, a long-time animator of the series is open to the idea.
Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru was a young animator when hired to work on 1989’sDragon Ball Z, and more than three decades later, he sat down with theFrench YouTube channel DBTimesto discuss his work on the recently completedDragon Ball Daima. The artist credited with designing the fan-favorite Super Saiyan 4 transformation has given a significant portion of his life’s work to the franchise, and discussed topics like his own art style and least favorite characters to draw. The most notable section, however,had to do with the topic of remaking the series.
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The question regarding a potentialDragon Ballremake seemed sudden, but Nakatsuru was quick to respond about whether he would be interested, saying,“If I could contribute something or be useful in some way, I would love to.“In an interviewfeatured in the officialDragon Ball ZTV Anime Guidebook, Akira Toriyama raved about Nakatsuru’s work, revealing that he often had trouble telling their work apart and would need to really inspect certain drawings to know whether he or his trusted animator were responsible for them.
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If there’s anyone fans should be excited about working on a potential remake in the future, it’s Nakatsuru. ThroughoutDragon Ball’s anime history, the artist wastrusted by Toriyama to capture the spirit of the series and bring it to the screen. The most notable quote of the interview came later, however, when Nakatsuru said, “Since I think (a remake) will happen one day… I also think whether I participate or not is not that important.” From someone who has worked on the series for decades, this confidence in a future remake is undeniably exciting.
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As is the case withother remakes of popular shows, as long as the original is preserved, then a remake will be a welcome addition to theDragon Ballfranchise.There’s no need to replace the original outright, though an updated version of the series that closely follows Toriyama’s manga while adding modern visuals and sound is a worthwhile project for Toei to pursue. After all, a modernDragon Ballanime would likely usher in an entirely new generation of viewers to the fan base, as the original series did decades ago.
If there’s any reason for skepticism regarding a potentialDragon Ballremake, fans can sigh a breath of relief knowing Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru is on board with the idea. The famed animator has long dedicated his efforts to the franchise, and the studio leading a remakewould be wise to bring him along.
Source:DBTimes (translation by Venixys on X), TV Anime Guide: Dragon Ball Z (translation by Kanzenshuu)
Dragon Ball
From the creative mind of Akira Toriyama, Dragon Ball is a mega multimedia franchise that spans back to the 1980s. Dragon Ball expanded quickly, starting as a serialized manga for Weekly Shonen Jump in Japan. It made its way overseas via manga and an anime adaptation that is enjoyed worldwide. Dragon Ball was the initial starting animated series that followed the adventures of the young Son Goku as he sought after the Dragon Balls. These mystical orbs would grant the wish of any who gathered them together. Then, the series would branch off into the immensely popular Dragon Ball Z, which followed Goku as an adult and featured high-intensity battles and Goku’s never-ending search to be the strongest. The series has also enjoyed several popular video game adaptations and continues to release several new animated series and theatrical films up to the recent popular Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero.
