A Dragon Ball reference in Fairy Tail proves Hiro Mashima's admiration for Akira Toriyama

Modified Jul 30, 2024 10:30 GMT

Fairy Tail pays homage to Dragon Ball in a scene involving Erza (Image via A-1 Pictures and Toei Animation)

Fairy Tail and Dragon Ball fans have come together after netizens pointed out a certain detail from the fight that took place between Erza and her mother. This fight was quite entertaining to watch as the original series was being broadcast at that time.

Fans have reason to believe that the author of the Fairy Tail manga is a fan of Akira Toriyama’s magnum opus. These claims are further supported by one particular sequence in the anime series.

In the aforementioned fight, we can see Erza use a particular move that was quite similar to the time when Goku managed to attack King Piccolo.

How did the author of the Fairy Tail manga pay homage to the Dragon Ball series?

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Hiro Mashima, the author of the Fairy Tail manga series, wanted to be a manga artist from a young age. One title that inspired him was the Dragon Ball series. Akira Toriyama was a visionary since he created one of the most popular titles that defined an entire generation of shonen titles. In fact, Akira Toriyama’s manga played a huge role in the medium’s popularity and reach today. His works happened to be the gateway to this medium, and it also inspired Hiro Mashima to create his best work.

In the fight involving Erza and her mother, Irene, the former was quite wounded and worn out in battle. Despite reaching her limits, she mustered enough strength to pull off one last move that gave her a decisive win. She exploded off the ground with her hand, retrieved her blade, and lunged towards her opponent. The manner in which it was animated reminded fans of the time Goku attacked King Piccolo. Goku too exploded off the ground with one arm and advanced towards King Piccolo during that fight.

Both these sequences were quite similar. The respective fanbases have come together to see Hiro Mashima’s appreciation for the manga title that inspired him to create his best work so far.

How netizens reacted to Hiro Mashima’s homage to the manga that inspired him

Erza vs Irene as seen in the anime series (Image via A-1 Pictures)

"Love how he paid homage", said one fan.

"Goku had his arm and both legs busted up by King Piccolo and was only able to use one arm...Erza in volume 60 of Fairy Tail literally has all her bones broken except for her arm...Goku blasts himself into the air off one arm...Erza blasts herself into the air off one arm..", said another fan.

"Yes. Pretty clear homage", said one netizen.

It's quite clear that fans believe this to be the mangaka's appreciation for the Dragon Ball series. The similarities in the aforementioned sequences are quite clear. While some might make statements claiming that this is plagiarism, paying homage to different titles and having similarities is quite common in this medium.

While it is hard for shonen anime fans to get along with other fanbases, this is one of those rare cases. Both fanbases were happy to see the recognition and love that some of the best manga authors have for each other's works.

Stay tuned for more anime and manga news as 2024 progresses.

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Edited by Somava