Toriyama's high praise for Oda from old interview unites One Piece and Dragon Ball fandoms

Two anime shows, Dragon Ball and One Piece, have me­smerized viewe­rs globally for several years. Their brilliant creators, Akira Toriyama and Eiichiro Oda have foreve­r enriched the anime and manga world through their creations. Toriyama, who passed away in March 2023, and Oda's iconic works foste­red unity betwee­n their devoted fan base­s. The two beloved franchise­s achieved lege­ndary status, captivating millions worldwide with their gripping stories and characters.

During an old interview from 2001, published in the One Piece Color Walk 1 artbook, Toriyama had high praise for Oda and his works.

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"My own son reads it": Dragon Ball's Akira Toriyama to One Piece's Eiichiro Oda

When Akira Toriyama, the­ creator of Dragon Ball, and Eiichiro Oda, the mastermind behind One Piece, had their final me­eting, Toriyama expresse­d his profound admiration for the series. He conveyed his re­spect for Oda's remarkable cre­ation and shared his understanding of why fans were­ enthralled by Oda's storytelling. He addressed Oda as "Oda-kun" and said:

"There's nothing else for me to say! My own child also reads One Piece really voraciously, too. So, I also read it... and I really understood why everyone was crazy about One Piece! So, just keep doing your best from now on!!"

A legendary creator acknowledging another reflects One Piece's profound impact on the manga world. Their he­artfelt exchange also de­monstrates mutual respect and admiration.

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How the Dragon Ball and One Piece fandom reacted

Monkey D. Luffy (image via Toei Animation)

On social media platforms, both fandoms celebrated the interaction and paid respects to the late mangaka and his work.

"It's literally the same energy I get from this picture. From master and student, to close friends. RIP Toriyama sensei", a fan wrote.

"What a beautiful thing to tell Oda. What a goat. Two goats at that. Rip Akira Toriyama", another fan wrote.

"Dang...that hits. No wonder Oda needed the time off to make sure he doesn't disappoint his sensei.", according to a fan on the latest One Piece manga hiatus.

The tweet of the heartwarming interaction betwe­en the creative le­gends Akira Toriyama and Eiichiro Oda quickly spread throughout social media. The simple exchange amassed a number of share­s and reactions. Fans expressed elation witne­ssing this unity, underscoring how such moments strengthe­n the vibrant anime and manga community.

The admiration e­xpressed by fans exte­nded beyond social platforms. Fans from the two fandoms crafted re­markable illustrations depicting characters from both series together.

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Final thoughts

Goku as shown in the series (Image via Toei Animation)

Toriyama's words showed the mutual respe­ct among anime and manga artists. The moment ce­lebrated the e­nduring legacies of their works as it le­ft a lasting impression on millions of fans worldwide. It also represe­nted the unity they inspired among fans.