Wall Street Journal covering Dragon Ball, 1999...
By the late 1990s, Dragon Ball Z had become one of the most influential animated series in the world, but not everyone welcomed its arrival. This 1999 Wall Street Journal article reflects the concerns many American parents and educators expressed as the show exploded in popularity on Cartoon Network. Critics pointed to its intense battles, fantasy violence, and themes they believed were too mature for children, while supporters argued it was no different from the action cartoons many previous generations had enjoyed.
Originally created by Akira Toriyama, Dragon Ball began as a manga in 1984 before evolving into Dragon Ball Z in 1989. The series introduced millions of Western viewers to Japanese anime and helped transform it from a niche interest into a mainstream entertainment industry in North America.
Despite the controversy, Dragon Ball Z became one of Cartoon Network's highest rated programs and played a major role in the success of the network's Toonami programming block, inspiring an entire generation of fans and future creators.
Dragon Ball is one of the best selling manga franchises in history, with more than 260 million copies sold worldwide. Its creator, Akira Toriyama, is widely credited with influencing countless artists, filmmakers, and game developers across the globe.
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