Akira Toriyama pens script for new film depicting "origin" of strength of Saiyans

Toei Animation revealed on Saturday at the Jump Festa 2018 event that it is developing the 20th anime film in Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball franchise. The film is slated to open in Japan in December 2018.

The film's theme will be "Saiyans: The strongest fighting race in the universe," and will depict the "origin" of the strength of the Saiyan race. Toriyama is credited with the original work, script, and character design.

The first Dragon Ball film, Dragon Ball Movie 1: Curse of the Blood Rubies, opened in Japan in December 1986. A new film opened once a year between 1986 and 1989, and then two films opened each year between 1990-1995. One more film then opened in 1996.

The film franchise then took a 17-year break, and the Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods film opened in Japan in March 2013. The film earned 2.99 billion yen (about US$26.5 million by today's conversion) in Japan. In 2015, the Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F' film opened, and it earned 3.74 billion yen (about US$33.1 million) in Japan.

Image © Bird Studio / Shueisha・Toei Animation

© Toei・Shueisha・Toei Animation

© Bird Studio / Shueisha

© "2013 Dragon Ball Z" Production Committee

© "2015 Dragon Ball Z" Production Committee