The concept of “filler” divides fans of Japanese animation. While they allow studios to buy time to prevent the anime from catching up with the manga, they are often criticized for their lack of impact on the main plot. However, Akira Toriyama, the emblematic creator of Dragon Ballhad a very different opinion on the matter.
What is a filler and why is it controversial?
Concretely, a filler, or “filler episode”, is a narrative addition intended to slow down the progression of the anime. In large series like Dragon Ball, Naruto or One Piecethese episodes arise when the anime adaptation comes too close to the events of the manga. Thus, adapting several chapters into a single episode can quickly exhaust the available content. To avoid putting the series on pause, the studios then create original plots or develop secondary elements of history.
However, this practice has its detractors. Many viewers view fillers as unnecessary, even frustrating, interruptions. Some fans even go as far as look for guides to know which episodes to skip.
A nuanced position on the part of the creator of Dragon Ball
Against the grain of these criticisms, Akira Toriyama has always supported this practice. When publishing Dragon Ballhe even expressed his admiration for the work of the animation teams. According to him, the fillers are not a betrayal of the original work, but a complement allowing spectators to enjoy more of their favorite characters.
In an illustration made at the time, Toriyama wrote:
The thirty-minute episodes quickly catch up to the manga, so the staff inserts original content to avoid this. They draw much more than me. Enjoy both versions of Dragon Ball.
The fillers of Dragon Ball are a successful exception
Unlike other series where the fillers are sometimes considered “boring”, those of Dragon Ball seemed quite natural. Among the most memorable episodes, we find for example the famous driving competition between Goku and Piccolowhere the two heroes try to get their driver's license at Chi Chi's insistence. This episode, although not canonical, remains a classic for fans.
Other fillers allowed the development of secondary characters like Gohan during his training with Piccolo or the Z Fighters during their time on King Kai's planet.
