Akria Toriyama's dragon ball The franchise is reportedly at the center of a complex battle for control following the mangaka's death.

While the series remains a global phenomenon, generating billions in revenue through anime, video games and merchandise, the behind-the-scenes fight for dominance has intensified.

According to a recent report from Toyo Kezai, at the heart of the conflict is the departure of Akio Iyoku, the former head of Shueisha. Dragon Ball Room.

Iyoku, known for his close relationship with Toriyama, played a pivotal role in shaping the dragon ball universe.

Internal turbulence:

Akio Iyoku went independent in May 2023, taking several subordinates with him to found a new company, Capsule Corporation Tokyo.

Named after a fictional company in the series, Capsule Corporation Tokyo was intended to manage creative activities and handle intellectual property rights. It was intended for the new company to handle the production and management of non-serialized manga for the Dragon Ball franchise, according to Kanzenshu report.

According to a Shueisha source, this change has caused great unrest within Shueisha, as Iyoku had been a key figure in the franchise since his 2016 appointment to the Dragon Ball Room.

This appointment came after his tenure as Editor-in-Chief of V Jump. However, problems began to arise in the long run.

“Without consulting his superiors, Mr. Iyoku unilaterally decided to adapt Toriyama-sensei's 'SAND LAND' into a film. His focus was always on serving the author, sometimes to a fault. Anime production companies and TV networks often criticized him for his condescending attitude.”, revealed the source.

This possessive attitude towards dragon ballcoupled with slow progress on planned collaborations involving the metaverse and AI, have led to talks of his transfer from the Dragon Ball Room in 2022.

Unhappy with its development, Iyoku went independent within a year. However, despite this, he continued to be Akira Toriyama's spokesperson and involved with the franchise. This is evident by the fact that he is the executive producer of the upcoming Dragon Ball Daima anime series.

The fallout from Iyoku's departure created significant challenges for Shueisha, Bandai Namco, and other stakeholders.

A battle for the rights to Dragon Ball:

Iyoku's departure and the establishment of Capsule Corporation Tokyo raised concerns that Shueisha would lose control over the rights to the dragon ball Intellectual property.

Toriyama's dissatisfaction with Iyoku's removal from Dragon Ball Room further complicated matters, with Shueisha president Marue Horiuchi unable to persuade Toriyama to remain aligned with his views.

This situation has even put Bandai Namco, which has profited greatly from the franchise, in a difficult position.

“Iyoku, who was Toriyama-sensei's spokesperson, became independent, but the manga rights were managed by Shueisha. It was unclear who to consult on matters related to the original work.”, said a source at Bandai Namco.

According to the source, the meetings in dragon ball were loosely organized, with Shueisha and Iyoku invited, making coordination extremely stressful.

Dragon Ball's Uncertain Future:

The situation became even more complicated after the passing of Akira Toriyama, whose final wishes regarding the future of the franchise remain unclear.

The discussions continued without the original author, and the disputes remain unresolved. A Shueisha official noted: “The disputes continue and have not yet been resolved.“

Industry executives are now looking to Toriyama's family for a possible resolution, with hopes that their feelings will guide the future of the franchise, stating: “it depends on how the family feels about it“.

Industry experts speculate that the battle for control over dragon ball is far from over.

Source: Toyo Kezai via Super Chronicles