The Dragon Ball franchise is experiencing a significant change as its editor, Akio Iyoku, has decided to part ways.
The Dragon Ball franchise is currently experiencing a significant transformation with the departure of Akio Iyoku, a key figure in the series’ development.
Iyoku, who has been a longtime editor and right-hand man to the legendary manga creator Akira Toriyama was the head of the Dragon Room section at Japan’s largest publishing company, Shueisha. And, he has left his role, aiming to take the Dragon Ball Universe in a new direction.
Embarking on an independent journey, Iyoku has established the company, Capsule Corporation Tokyo, which is already generating buzz in the anime and gaming industry. This move has left the fan community concerned, as Iyoku has been a vital part of Toriyama’s team for a considerable period, contributing to various aspects of the franchise, from communication with the franchise’s animation studio, Toei, to writing scripts for recent movies. One of the major aspects of Iyoku’s departure is his request to push the Dragon Ball franchise to even greater heights by diversifying its projects. While Shueisha retains the rights to publish the Dragon Ball manga, Iyoku is reportedly eyeing the licensing for Dragon Ball games, anime adaptations, and more under his new banner.
According to a report from Bunshun Online, an anonymous source at Shueisha has hinted that Iyoku plans to bring his fellow Dragon Ball Room employees to the new company as Office Chief representatives and Deputy Office Chiefs. The report further claims that anonymous Shueisha staff members have called out Iyoku for having a possessive attitude towards the Dragon Ball franchise and that his frustration with Toei Animation’s handling of the series could have caused his exit. There was also talk in June 2022 of moving him to a non-Dragon Ball-related position, but Iyoku refused The lack of new anime content has left a void that Iyoku hopes to fill through his newly established company, hoping to meet the demands of the dedicated fanbase.
Iyoku’s desire to expand the franchise is evident from his previous contributions, such as suggesting the revival of the popular character Broly and making Gohan the lead character in the recent superhero movie. Negotiations between Shueisha and Iyoku’s Capsule Corporation Tokyo are still ongoing, and Shueisha remains cautious about finalizing any agreements. Though Shueisha has confirmed Iyoku’s departure, they’ve been tight-lipped about the specifics surrounding the transition.
When asked about the ongoing changes and possible future collaborations with Iyoku, Toriyama declined to comment on the matter citing legal agreements, but he did clarify that the name “Capsule Corporation Tokyo” was solely Iyoku’s brainchild. The company’s primary focus is to handle the development and distribution of intellectual property content for both individual creators and groups, signaling Iyoku’s ambitious intentions to create his own Dragon Ball empire.
Source: Bunshun, via Anime Explained
