Hong Kong Comic Master

Arale means rice flower or rice cake in Japanese, which is in line with the characteristics of Toriyama’s naming.

Toriyama has always been lazy if he can be lazy.

Why are there more rural and wild scenes than urban scenes in Dragon Ball? It’s because cities are difficult to draw, while rural areas are blank!

This is also why Vegeta and Nappa had to destroy the city they landed in when they came to Earth, because Toriyama didn’t want to draw it!

In terms of naming, Toriyama’s lazy naming method is even more lazy and regular.

Take "Dragon Ball" as an example, it can be roughly divided into food, underwear and others.

For example, Vegeta’s name is taken from the first half of the English word vegetable. In addition, Kakarot is carrot, Ginyu is milk, and Frieza is refrigerator. Even Saiyans are actually formed by reading vegetables (wild vegetables) backwards.

In addition to food, there is also a naming method for underwear, which is mainly aimed at the Bulma family. For example, Bulma is a female shorts, her father Dr. Brief is a men's underwear, and her son Trunks is a men's boxer shorts, etc. ...

Old perverts are yes!

As for others, all of Piccolo's subordinates are musical instruments, such as Shinbaru is a cymbal, Doram is a drum, and as for Piccolo, think about it, why is some Chinese versions translated into Piccolo?

However, although Toriyama's naming is very casual, the plot and achievements of the comics are not casual at all.

"Arale", as Toriyama's famous work, has set off an uproar in Japan, with readers from all walks of life. The animated version even created a 36.9% ratings in Japan.

Li Wannian once thought about copying "Arale", but considering that many of the plots are inseparable from Japanese culture, plus there are too many adult elements, he was worried that the review would not pass, so he gave up.

At this time, Li Wannian got this short comic, and the story was different from what Li Wannian thought.

The protagonist is not Arale, but the middle-aged doctor who created Arale. The whole story revolves around him and the villagers. The various hilarious stories he tells.

The whole story is very much in the usual funny style of Toriyama, and the story is also mature. It seems that the rejection of the manuscripts in the past two years has really changed Toriyama.

"How is it? How is it?"

Seeing Li Wannian put down the comics, Toriyama asked excitedly.

"Not bad, the plot is quite smooth, and the jokes are also dense!"

"Really? Then do you think I can submit this comic and it will be accepted this time?"

Toriyama asked again.

"It should be possible! However, there is a small problem. If you can solve it, there will be no problem with serialization!"

"What problem?"

Toriyama asked puzzledly.

"The protagonist is not good! Who would like an ugly and sloppy uncle who reads comics?"

"This..."

Toriyama scratched his head and felt that what Li Wannian said made sense, but he also had his own ideas. ♦♦  ♦♦

In his opinion, funny comics should be similar to comedies, and the protagonist should not be too good-looking, otherwise it will be difficult for readers to laugh.

"What do you think the protagonist should look like? A handsome uncle?"

"Why should it be an uncle? Isn't the little robot girl you drew good?"

Li Wannian pointed to a little girl in the draft and said.

"Use a little girl as the protagonist?"

Nowadays, most Japanese comics have little boys or high school students as the protagonists, and rarely use little girls as the protagonists.

This is because the audience of comics is mainly boys, and choosing a male protagonist is generally more immersive.

"It's better than your middle-aged uncle, right?"

"Let me think about it, let me think about it!"

Toriyama fell into deep thought.

"Come on, let's eat first!"

At this time, Toriyama's mother came out of the kitchen with rice.

Since this is a rural area, and it is also a rural area in Japan, the "sumptuousness" of dinner can be imagined.

In addition to the three main dishes of eel rice, tempura, and miso soup, there are also various side dishes such as pickles, boiled beans, and stir-fried vegetables.

In general, it is still very rich, at least more rich than the dinner of a certain kimchi "kingdom".

Li Wannian naturally wouldn't care about these. After all, Toriyama hadn't made any money at this time, and the main expenses of the family still depended on Toriyama's parents' farming, and they were not rich.

The dinner was a happy one for both the host and the guests, and everything seemed harmonious, except Toriyama, who was absent-minded throughout the dinner.

It seemed that the body was here, but the soul had already flown away.

Five days later, in a cafe near the Shueisha building.

Torishima Heyan was looking at Toriyama's new work, while Toriyama sat opposite Toriyama Heyan and rubbed his hands awkwardly.

He didn't know how many times he had submitted his work to Toriyama Heyan. He usually mailed it by mail, after all, the travel expenses were too expensive.

But this time, because of Li Wannian's previous words, Toriyama had a premonition that he needed to come here anyway.

"Well drawn!"

At this time, Torishima Heyan put down the comic in his hand, and a rare smile appeared on his face.

"Really?"

Looking at Torishima Heyan's appearance, Toriyama looked at him with an unbelievable look.

"Of course! It's really well drawn!"

"Yeah!"

The usually heartless Toriyama shouted excitedly, attracting the attention of customers around him.

Although he was always optimistic, it would be hard for anyone to have his manuscript rejected thousands of times.

Moreover, he was already 24 years old, but he still had to be supported by his family. The key point was that his family was not rich, and no one knew how much pressure he was under!

After noticing the gazes of the people around him, Toriyama quickly shrank back and pretended to be calm.

"Then when can it be serialized?"

"It can't be serialized!"

"It can't be serialized? But you just said..." Hearing that it can't be serialized, Toriyama immediately became anxious.

This time is different from the previous rejections. After all, the most tormenting thing is not despair, but hope!

"There is a small problem. This protagonist is not good. No one will like an ugly middle-aged uncle. Replace him with..."

"Replace him with that little robot girl?"

Although Toriyama interrupted Torishima Heyan's words, Torishima was not angry, but looked at Toriyama with interest.

I didn't expect that this not only opened my mind, but also answered the question quickly!

"Yes, do you know why you still draw like this?"

Toriyama didn't say anything, but took out another stack of manuscript paper from his bag and placed it in front of Torishima Heyan.

"Because I want to try!"

I didn't expect that after working so hard for so long, I was still not as good as Li Wannian's words.

It was not until now that Toriyama really discovered why Li Wannian could easily serialize comics, but he was rejected.

"Is this the gap between me and the genius?"