Dragon Ball and One Piece fans often participate in fierce debate on social networks about which series better. The results of the discussions are not very related to TOEI Animation, because these are the two “products” that bring the most profits to the company, with the most recent financial profit in Japan exceeding 240 million dollar.
Eiichiro Oda is 18 years younger than Akira Toriyama. He grew up with the Dragon Ball series, an inspiring series for the most important mangaka today. Therefore, the relationship between the two stories is very tight.
There is a Dragon Ball story cover, one of the covers that honor Akira Toriyama, designed by Eiichiro Oda.
And One Piece is also the only anime (not written by Toriyama) with the intersection between Goku and some Z.
However, these two series may have a new, stronger link than any link we have seen before.
Toriyama archive, the illustrations that the official website of Dragon Ball published over time, revealed an old Dragon Ball cover, 39 years ago, in which Goku, Krillin and Bulma appeared in costumes. Pirates. Is this a great inspiration for Eiichiro Oda to create One Piece?
Akira Toriyama Archive February 4, 2025 – Goku, Bulma and Krillin as pirates
Goku pirates
According to the official website of Dragon Ball, this image was originally released on May 20, 1986. Described information:
“Goku and his friends penetrate a pirate base to search for dragon balls. I, disguised as pirates, seeking ways to win the treasure. “
There is no official information that Eiichiro Oda is inspired by this work. But when the photo was released, the author of One Piece was only 11 years old. It is not crazy to think that it may have a certain effect on his development as a manga artist.
