As far as live-action adaptations of anime are concerned, Dragonball: Evolution is right up there with M. Night Shyamalan's The Last Airbender in terms of historical infamy. Justin Chatwin, who played Goku in the film, is well aware of its legacy, even going so far as to apologize to Dragon Ball Z creator Akira Toriyama following his unexpected death at 68.
"Rest in peace, brother. And sorry we messed up that adaptation so badly," Chatwin wrote in a story posted to Instagram.
The actor who played Goku in Dragon Ball Evolution just posted this about Akira Toriyama. pic.twitter.com/hYiuXgaMtF
— Extra (@Extralongdokkan) March 9, 2024
Chatwin's post was one of the many numerous messages posted by creators after news of Toriyama's death broke, which included tributes from the creators of Dragon Quest, One Piece, and more. But Chatwin's apology stood out among the many moving testimonials, not the least because it recalled a movie that Toriyama himself said "couldn't really be called a Dragon Ball."
Released in 2009, Dragonball: Evolution was panned by fans and critics alike. The film was shot in an abandoned jeans factory and featured dramatic changes to the core story, including sending Goku to high school.
We wrote in our review at the time, "Right off the bat, hardcore fans will undoubtedly find things to pick apart with the adaptation, arguing that there's simply no way the movie could match the original anime. And you're right. It doesn't. And, really, what live-action movie ever could?"
In the years since, Dragonball: Evolution has become an infamous part of Dragon Ball's storied legacy. In fact, Chatwin isn't even the first creator to apologize for it. Back in 2016, screenwriter Ben Ramsey issued an apology to the Dragon Ball fandom, saying that the movie "marked a very painful creative point in my life."
"I went into the project chasing after a big payday, not as a fan of the franchise but as a businessman taking on an assignment. I have learned that when you go into a creative endeavor without passion you come out with sub-optimal results, and sometimes flat out garbage," Ramsey wrote at the time.
But while Dragonball: Evolution was a failure, there are plenty of positive aspects to remember about Toriyama's legacy, including his work on Dragon Quest, Chrono Trigger, Dr. Slump, and more. Today, Toriyama is remembered both as a pioneer who helped shonen manga and anime reach their final form and a JRPG legend.
If you want to revisit some of his work, Toonami is planning to host a marathon in his honor. You can also check out our list of the best shonen anime of all time, on which Dragon Ball unsurprisingly has a big presence.
Kat Bailey is IGN's News Director as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.
