who is TOYOTARO?

Oyotarō, real name Toyotarō Toyble, is a Japanese manga artist widely recognized for his work on Dragon Ball Super. Born on April 12, 1976 in Aichi, Japan, he gained a reputation for his incredible ability to replicate Akira Toriyama’s iconic art style, a skill that has made him an essential part of the Dragon Ball universe.

Toyotarō’s journey began like that of many passionate artists: drawing as a hobby and entering manga contests as an amateur. His talent quickly stood out and he caught the attention of Shueisha, the publisher of V Jump magazine. But what truly changed his life was when Akira Toriyama himself chose Toyotarō to illustrate the Dragon Ball Super manga. With Toriyama providing the story and overall supervision, Toyotarō took on the enormous responsibility of continuing one of the most beloved franchises in the world. Since its serialization in V Jump in 2015, Dragon Ball Super has been embraced by fans, who praise Toyotarō’s ability to mix nostalgia with new, fresh elements.

Toyotarō’s Work

Toyotarō’s contributions to the Dragon Ball series and its spin-offs include:

• Dragon Ball Heroes: Victory Mission (2012–2015) – Serialized in V Jump.
• Dragon Ball Z: Fukkatsu no F (2015) – Adaptation of Toriyama’s story, also serialized in V Jump.
• Dragon Ball Super (2015–present) – The official continuation of the Dragon Ball Z manga.
• Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 The Manga (2016) – A bonus manga included in the collector’s edition of the video game.
• Super Dragon Ball Heroes: World Mission (2019) – He designed the character Sealas.

Fun Facts About Toyotarō

• Toyotarō has been a fan of Dragon Ball for as long as he can remember. As a child, he would draw Dragon Ball characters every day after breakfast, and his school notebooks were always filled with doodles inspired by the series. This lifelong passion helped him develop his style and eventually become the artist who continues Toriyama's legendary work.
• When it comes to Super Saiyan transformations, Toyotarō has a special love for illustrating them. While he enjoys drawing Super Saiyan 3 and Super Saiyan 4, he admits that the original Super Saiyan form is what he does best. However, his favorite to illustrate is Super Saiyan Blue.
• One scene from the original Dragon Ball manga that Toyotarō holds close to his heart is when Frieza kills Krillin, triggering Goku's first Super Saiyan transformation. That moment, for many fans and Toyotarō himself, symbolizes the emotional power of the series.
• A particularly poignant detail about Toyotarō is that he carries a title card from the release of the sixth volume of the Dragon Ball Super manga. On the card, Akira Toriyama left a positive comment about his work, something Toyotarō appreciates and uses as motivation.
• For those curious about the little quirks: Toyotarō is left-handed and has blood type A, a fun little fact often shared on Japanese media profiles.
• Toyotarō’s journey from a young Dragon Ball fan to the artist helping shape its future is a testament to his dedication, talent, and deep respect for Akira Toriyama’s legacy. Fans around the world continue to enjoy his work, knowing that the spirit of Dragon Ball is in good hands.