5 Best Manga By Akira Toriyama That Have No Anime

Highlights

Toriyama’s work extends beyond Dragon Ball, showcasing his exceptional talents in creating educational manga like Hetappi Manga Kenkyujo.
Kajika blends action, humor, and adventure in a captivating narrative that reflects Toriyama’s signature storytelling style and artistic prowess.
Neko Majin is a self-parody filled with satire, highlighting Toriyama’s humor and crossovers, making it an amusing exploration of his skill.

As someone who has been an avid fan of Akira Toriyama‘s work for decades, I have been consistently impressed by his impeccable skill in satire and storytelling. Toriyama’s ability to blend humor with deeper themes is truly unique and unparalleled in the world of manga.

Akira Toriyama is well-known for his long association with the Dragon Ball series, which achieved immense popularity and critical acclaim both domestically and internationally throughout its broadcast. Yet, it’s important to note that this prolific artist has a diverse portfolio beyond Dragon Ball. His works encompass various manga titles like Dr. Slump, which also garnered significant attention, as well as contributions to video games, anime, and various other media.

In the world of manga, Toriyama stands out as an exceptional visual storyteller and character designer, with his expertise in paneling and comedic timing leaving a lasting impact on countless other manga creators. Not limited to the popular series like Dragon Ball and Dr. Slump, Toriyama has also produced several standalone stories and short series that have yet to be adapted into anime. Here are some of those lesser-known works by him:

5 Akira Toriyama’s Hetappi Manga Kenkyujo

An Educational Guide On The Art Of Creating Manga

5 Best Manga By Akira Toriyama That Have No Anime

Original Run	October 1982 to March 1984
No. Of Volumes	1
Published In	Fresh Jump

In collaboration with game designer Akira Sakuma, “Akira Toriyama’s Clumsy Manga Laboratories” stands out among the list due to its educational nature. This series serves as a comprehensive tutorial on various aspects of manga creation, including drawing techniques, character design, story development, and editing. The curriculum is divided into four segments: Hetappi Manga Institute, Bird Mountain Manga School, Hetappi Manga Report, and an additional part.

In the initial segment, we delve deeply into the technical aspects of Toriyama’s manga creation process. Subsequently, the second part shares Toriyama’s personal views on manga art and his creative methods, as observed by Sakuma. The third part is dedicated to a teaching section where Toriyama critiques and advises upcoming manga artists. Lastly, the fourth part provides instructions for drawing five characters from Dr. Slump, along with interviews with other esteemed manga artists conducted by Yusuke Murata during his remake of the series (2008-2011).

4 Kajika

Features A Thrilling Fantasy Adventure With A Dash Of Humor

Original Run	July 7, 1998 to September 29, 1998
No. Of Volumes	1
Published In	Weekly Shonen Jump

Toriyama’s talent for creating action-packed and adventurous stories is key to what makes Kajika appealing. The narrative follows the quest of its main character, Kajika, who aims to break a curse and restore his normal appearance. A member of the Kawa Tribe, Kajika possesses great strength and unique powers, but his playful past has led him into trouble, resulting in him being transformed into a human-fox hybrid after he unintentionally killed an innocent fox.

In this manga, Kajika is faced with the challenge of preserving the lives of 1,000 creatures, brought upon him by the ghostly spirit of a fox named Gigi, in order to regain his human form. Despite his best efforts for five long years, he only manages to reduce the number to just ten more lives remaining. It’s during this time that he comes across a girl called Haya, who pleads with him to assist her in her mission: returning a precious Dragon egg back to its nest. This captivating manga beautifully showcases Toriyama’s distinctive artistic and narrative abilities, making for an engaging read that is effortlessly comprehensible throughout.

3 Neko Majin

Conceived As A Self-Parody With Major Connections To Dragon Ball

Original Run	May 1999 – January 2005
No. Of Volumes	1
Published In	Weekly Shonen Jump, Monthly Shonen Jump

In this fantasy comedy, Toriyama, known for his self-referential humor and crossovers, playfully makes fun of his own work in Dragon Ball. Over a span of six years, Neko Majin unfolds, centering around cat-creatures who love martial arts and practical jokes. This series is primarily a humorous comic strip, packed with satirical jabs aimed at Toriyama’s most renowned creation, Dragon Ball.

The second part of the series, titled “Neko Majin Z,” clearly follows suit with the latter half of the original Dragon Ball manga, known as Dragon Ball Z when it was transformed into anime. Towards the end of this series, numerous characters from Dragon Ball make an appearance, such as Goku, Vegeta, Majin Buu, and Kuriza (Frieza’s son). In essence, Neko Majin offers a hilarious and insightful showcase of Toriyama’s exceptional talent for satire.

2 Jaco The Galactic Patrolman

Light-Hearted Sci-Fi Comedy With Links To Dragon Ball

Original Run	July 29, 2013 – October 14, 2013
No. Of Volumes	1
Published In	Weekly Shonen Jump

Title character Jaco, an alien cop on a mission to Earth to prevent a harmful extraterrestrial menace, is the focus of “Jaco: Galactic Patrolman,” a series penned by Toriyama as one of his initial works after concluding “San Land.” At the story’s outset, Jaco lands unintentionally on Earth during his assignment and encounters Omori, a retired scientist, and Tights, an aspiring science fiction author, with whom he forms bonds.

The opening chapters of the tale seemed independent with their own unique setting. However, the concluding part functions as an introduction to the beginning of “Dragon Ball,” subtly expanding the series’ background and mythology. Jaco has since emerged as a character in “Dragon Ball Super,” securing his position within the franchise’s established storyline.

1 Cowa!

Caters To All Age Groups Using Themes From Fables

Original Run	1997 – 1998
No. Of Volumes	1
Published In	Weekly Shonen Jump

Originally titled “Bubul of Demon Village“, the expanded and revised version of what was initially a standalone work by Toriyama was named “Cowa!“. This series was created as a breather for Toriyama after he had been working on both Dr. Slump and Dragon Ball for over a decade without any breaks in serialization. During this period, his old editor Kazuhiko Torishima supervised the process, allowing the comic to be drawn with more pauses between installments.

Without the help of any assistants, Cowa! was created almost entirely by himself. This engaging tale introduces three monchildren named Paifu, José, and Arpon, who embark on a journey with the human Maruyama to find a cure for a deadly flu in their village. With a perfect blend of humor and wisdom, Cowa! is essentially a heartwarming fable about acceptance and understanding that resonates with readers of all ages.

2024-07-30 06:33