When I suddenly discovered that the famous creator Akira Toriyama had stopped drawing the beloved manga Dragon Ball, many questions arose in my mind, such as: Why did he stop drawing after spending 11 years on it? What is the reason behind it? Why does he not write until the last chapter? And I think these kinds of questions are also raised in your mind. Today, we’re here to address and answer all your queries that will help you understand why Akira Toriyama stopped drawing Dragon Ball.
Additionally, as his decision was not merely a career shift, we will also mention some of his best manga works after he stepped back from the world that made him famous.
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Akira Toriyama Stopped Drawing Dragon Ball: Reasons

Dragon Ball is one of the longest-running mangas, and Toyotarou continues to draw it even after Akira Toriyama stops. Here we’ve mentioned some reasons that explain why he ended his Dragon Ball drawing journey:
1- Beloved Pen Holder Lost
One of the most notable reasons Toriyama decided to give up drawing the Dragon Ball is that he lost his beloved wooden pen holder. He misplaced it during the production of Sand Land, making it increasingly difficult for him to draw without it. This pen holder was not just a tool; it served as his companion throughout his manga drawing journey and even before that.
2- Fatigue
After spending almost a year doing the same thing without taking breaks, anyone can feel fatigued, and this happened to Akira Toriyama. However, when he started writing the manga, he didn’t know it might demand so much from him. He had already pushed his writing limits, but the original editor of Weekly Shōnen Jump didn’t want him to end his series yet. So, he decided to quit writing any more chapters for Dragon Ball and instead chose to explore a new world.
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These two significant reasons explain why he stopped drawing Dragon Ball. Mainly, losing his pen holder affected him deeply, leading him to feel that continuing to write was right now. Additionally, he reached his work limit and could no longer contribute to Dragon Ball.
Best Manga Drawings by Akira Toriyama After Stopped Drawing the Dragon Ball:

Manga | Genre | Original Started | Anime Series |
Cowa! | Adventure, Comedy, and Supernatural | 1997 | Not available |
Sand Land | Adventure, Science fiction comedy | May 9, 2000 | Streaming on Disney+ Hotstar |
Go! Go! Ackman | Comedy and Science fiction | July 7, 1993 | Film available on YouTube |
Neko Majin | Adventure and Fantasy comedy | May 1999 | Not available |
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