Chikashi Kubota has once again made it clear that he has no interest in letting fan rumors take down Toei Animation’s reputation. According to the animation director, the studio is far more dedicated than people give it credit for, and saying anything else would just not feel right.
Chikashi Kubota says Toei Animation is an ‘incredibly serious and earnest’ studio
Speaking about his time working on the franchise, Kubota said his experience proves that the studio isn’t just coasting. He explained that his years at the company gave him a look at how hard the staff actually works behind the scenes.
“I’ve been working on Dragon Ball with no breaks at my former company, Toei Animation, and based on my long experience there, it’s an incredibly serious and earnest studio,” Kubota explained.
He added that even if fans get loud online, it doesn’t change the truth of what’s happening in the office. “Even though people may have different opinions,” Kubota said. “The answer is that they are serious.”
For Kubota, the series is inseparable from the work ethic of the animators who have kept it going for decades. He has repeatedly said he has no interest in letting people trash the studio’s name without standing up for his former coworkers. In his view, any fan theory about the studio being lazy simply falls short of reality.
Kubota has also become more outspoken about protecting the franchise’s legacy. He and other lead staff reportedly have a level of respect for the original material that prevents them from just doing a sloppy job on new movies or series.
Recently, Kubota joked that his answer to people constantly complaining about the animation quality is to just look at his own track record. Despite the humor, he said he truly believes that too many fans ruin their own enjoyment by looking for things to get mad at rather than trusting the studio.
Instead, Kubota believes the work they did on Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero remains the perfect proof that they know what they are doing.
Although he has other projects now, Kubota has continued helping the franchise in other ways. He still talks about his time at the studio as a companion to his current career rather than something he wants to forget.
Kubota is also reportedly working on new designs for a retrospective book, which is expected to be released in 2026 and look back at the making and legacy of the series.
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