Attack on Titan Made Lot of Noise but Failed to Succeed, Says Former Dragon Ball Editor
Carlos Mendoza 
Key Takeaways
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- Torishima, former Dragon Ball editor, criticizes Attack on Titan for lacking the enduring impact and sustained appeal compared to manga like Dragon Ball and Naruto.
- Torishima believes character-centric manga offer a more engaging experience as readers journey alongside characters through a straightforward structure.
- He suggests that Attack on Titans narrative complexity and challenging nature may risk alienating some readers, despite its commercial success and critical acclaim.
- Torishimas editorial philosophy, honed during his work with Akira Toriyama, emphasizes reader engagement for a dynamic akin to Tom and Jerry, focusing on entertainment, accessibility, and maximizing reader enjoyment and impact.
Former Dragon Ball Editor Disputes Attack on Titan’s Lasting Impact vs. Character-Centric Manga Appeal
Kazuhiko Torishima, former chief editor of Weekly Shonen Jump and a key collaborator on Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball, has shared a critical perspective on Attack on Titan. Despite Attack on Titan’s status as one of Japan’s most significant comic and animation hits in recent years—boasting over 140 million copies sold and widespread acclaim for its dark, mature storytelling—Torishima contends it was “just noise” that lacked the enduring impact and sustained appeal he associates with top titles. Torishima argues that manga like Dragon Ball and Naruto are remembered because they allow readers to explore their worlds through the characters’ perspectives, rather than simply presenting a narrative. He believes this approach takes readers on a journey alongside the characters, a straightforward structure that captivates audiences of all ages. This focus on reader engagement, a cornerstone of his editorial philosophy honed during his work with Toriyama, aimed for a dynamic akin to Tom and Jerry: entertaining, easy to follow, and focused on maximizing reader enjoyment and lasting impact. In Torishima’s opinion, Attack on Titan’s narrative complexity and challenging nature risk alienating readers, despite its considerable commercial success and critical reception.
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Ahmed Hassan 
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