The Dragon Ball Store’s Art Controversy Was Always Overblown

by

Despite the current break in the Dragon Ball Super manga and no new anime announcements, there’s still plenty for Dragon Ball fans to look forward to. With the anime celebrating its 40th anniversary soon, some really promising things are starting to happen.

Big news for Dragon Ball fans! We can expect some exciting announcements – likely about a new anime – at a major event next year. A Dragon Ballthemed park is also being built in Dubai. And today, November 14, 2025, marks the opening of the first official Dragon Ball Store in Japan, which is a huge moment for the franchise. Unfortunately, some negativity surrounding the store is overshadowing what should be a celebration for Dragon Ball* fans.

The Dragon Ball Store’s Art Has Garnered Way Too Much Unnecessary Hate

The new Dragon Ball store in Tokyo is a big deal because it shows just how popular and long-lasting Akira Toriyama’s manga has become. It gives fans a real-life place to connect and show their support for the franchise, which is more impactful than just sharing online. While fans were initially excited about the store’s announcement, they became disappointed when they saw a preview of the artwork that would be displayed.

The artwork featured four pictures of Goku showing off some of his most famous looks and transformations. These included his SSJ4 form from DAIMA, his white-haired True Ultra Instinct form, and him charging up a Kamehameha wave in his Super Saiyan Blue form, plus a classic image of Super Saiyan Goku using his signature attack. Despite how great these images could have been, fans weren’t very impressed with how they turned out.

The artwork sparked immediate backlash from fans, who described it as looking unprofessional, poorly made, and even created by artificial intelligence. Many online comments criticized the art as disrespectful to Akira Toriyama, and posts dissecting even the smallest details gained widespread attention. The negative feedback became so intense that fans began directly criticizing the official Dragon Ball store on X (formerly Twitter), prompting the account to add a disclaimer stating they wouldn’t respond to comments. Notably, neither the franchise creators nor the store addressed the AI accusations directly when the art was first released.

While some criticism of the artwork was fair, the strong negative reaction to the store before it even opened, based on just a few sketches, felt excessive. It’s easy to forget that real people work hard on art, especially now that AI is so prevalent. Although the artist behind those initial four Goku drawings hasn’t been identified, it’s important to remember that they were only a small part of what the store offered. The store actually features exclusive art by Akira Toriyama himself, alongside work from other well-known Dragon Ball artists. These sketches were just one piece of promotional material, but unfortunately, they received the vast majority of the attention.

The Dragon Ball Store Might Be Exactly What Chronically Online Fans Need

The much-discussed Goku artwork wasn’t just a standalone piece – it was created for use throughout the Dragon Ball Store. Four illustrations were made, and they’re featured both as wall decorations in the store’s staircase and as impressive, life-size statues. While fans were right to question the initial art’s quality, the finished statues themselves are undeniably well-done.

The strong negative reaction to the artwork at the Dragon Ball Store highlights a bigger problem with how online communities behave. We recently saw this with the backlash against a certain project, where online negativity became so intense that the anime’s director deleted all his social media to protect his well-being. This isn’t a good outcome for anyone involved.

Sharing your honest opinions about art is normal and can be helpful, even if it’s negative feedback. But it’s also crucial to be mindful of when that criticism crosses the line and starts to hurt the artists who made it.

It’s more enjoyable when fans can simply relax and appreciate things without overanalyzing them. This recent issue unfortunately overshadowed what should have been a thrilling and celebratory event for Dragon Ball fans. Now that more photos from the Dragon Ball Store opening are circulating, it’s clear that people overreacted and created unnecessary drama.

It’s easy to appreciate something after you’ve seen it, and the Dragon Ball Store is truly impressive. For any dedicated fan, seeing large, vibrant images of Goku adorning the walls feels like a dream realized. Honestly, a visit to the Dragon Ball Store would probably solve a lot of disagreements among fans – it’s something everyone needs to experience in person instead of just arguing about it online.

Read More

2025-11-15 00:42