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Akira Toriyama, the legendary creator of the immensely popular Dragon Ball manga and anime series, passed away at the age of 68. His untimely death has left a profound impact on the world of manga and anime, as fans and fellow artists mourn the loss of a visionary storyteller.
Toriyama’s journey began in the early 1980s with his comedy manga Dr. Slump, but it was the creation of Dragon Ball in 1984 that catapulted him to global fame. Inspired by Chinese-style kung fu movies, Dragon Ball follows the adventures of Son Goku, a young boy who embarks on a quest to collect magical balls containing dragons, all while fighting alongside his allies to protect the Earth from evil forces.
The manga’s success is unparalleled, with over 260 million copies sold in Japan and worldwide, making it one of the best-selling manga franchises of all time. The series’ popularity led to numerous anime adaptations, including the beloved Dragon Ball Z in the 1990s, which further expanded the franchise’s reach and cemented its place in the hearts of fans across the globe.
Toriyama’s creative genius extended beyond the realm of manga and anime, as he also contributed to the design team for the massively successful Dragon Quest video game series. However, not all spin-offs were met with equal success, as evidenced by the critically panned live-action movie Dragonball Evolution in 2009.
Despite his immense success, Toriyama remained humble and often attributed the popularity of Dragon Ball to a “miracle.” In a 2013 interview with Japan’s Asahi newspaper, he expressed surprise at the series’ global appeal, stating, “Dragon Ball is like a miracle, given how it helped someone like me who has a twisted, difficult personality do a decent job and get accepted by society.” He added, “When I was drawing the series, all I ever wanted to achieve was to please boys in Japan.”
The impact of Toriyama’s work on his fans is immeasurable. Many, like 20-year-old Rua Kimura, found inspiration in the growth and evolution of the characters in Dragon Ball. “Since I was a child, I’ve sometimes felt weak or haven’t been good at interacting with others, so watching Dragon Ball made me want to try harder,” she said.
Toriyama’s influence extends far beyond his own creations, as he served as a role model for countless manga artists. Eiichiro Oda, creator of the popular One Piece manga franchise, expressed his sadness upon learning of Toriyama’s death, saying, “To think I’ll never see him again… I’m overwhelmed by sadness.” Anime journalist Tadashi Sudo noted that Toriyama had a keen understanding of what readers wanted — adventure and character growth — and his works epitomized the pinnacle of entertainment. “Toriyama knew exactly what everybody wants to read — adventure and the growth of characters,” Sudo said. “Many people — not only creators in Japan, but those abroad — saw in his works the culmination of what entertainment should be like.”
As news of Toriyama’s passing spread, fans took to social media to express their grief and pay tribute to the beloved creator. Artwork depicting Son Goku ascending to the sky with angel wings and a halo flooded the internet, accompanied by messages of gratitude for the joy and inspiration Toriyama brought to their lives. “Thank you for making my childhood awesome,” one fan wrote.
The manga and anime world has lost a true icon in Akira Toriyama, but his legacy will undoubtedly live on through the enduring popularity of Dragon Ball and the countless lives he touched with his storytelling. As his production team at Bird Studio stated, “It’s our deep regret that he still had several works in the middle of creation. He would have many more things to achieve. However, he has left many manga titles and works of art to this world. We hope that Akira Toriyama’s unique world of creation continues to be loved by everyone for a long time to come.”
With AFP