PETALING JAYA: When two countries disagree, it is usually due to serious issues such as political disputes, territorial disputes, or societal tensions. However, in a surprising turn of events, a diplomatic incident almost occurred between two countries over an anime (Japanese animation).
Did something like this actually happen? Yes, attempts to screen Dragon Ball Super in several Mexican cities led to a diplomatic incident between Japan and Mexico.
VERDICT
True
The incident took place in 2018 when the first season of Dragon Ball Super was wrapping up with over 100 episodes. Mexican fans wanted to show the last few episodes in public spaces and sought approval from their municipal councils.
However, before the screenings could take place, Toei Animation, the studio behind Dragon Ball Super, issued a statement. They clarified that they had not authorized these public screenings and did not endorse any unapproved events.
“Toei Animation supports copyright laws and wants fans to enjoy their titles through official platforms, not through illegal screenings that promote piracy,” the statement read.
The Japanese Embassy in Mexico also got involved, sending a letter to the governor of Coahuila expressing the same concerns and requesting the cancellations of the screenings.
While some screenings were called off, the mayor of Juarez City, Armando Cabada, managed to negotiate a permission with Toei Animation and Crunchyroll to screen the episode publicly. Eventually, an estimated 15,000 people gathered in Plaza de la Mexicanidad to watch the second-to-last episode of the series.
Unfortunately, the creator of Dragon Ball series, Akira Toriyama, passed away recently. The official Dragon Ball account confirmed that Toriyama died on March 1 due to an acute subdural hematoma.
“It’s a great loss as he still had many works in progress,” stated Toriyama’s Bird Studio, praising his enthusiasm and leaving behind a legacy of manga titles and works of art.
Toriyama’s impact on the manga and animation scene worldwide since the 1990s has been significant, bringing joy and imagination to people globally.
References:
https://www.bbc.com/news/
https://sea.ign.com/dragon-
https://twitter.com/armando_
https://www.thestar.com.my/
