Dragon Ball creator, Akira Toriyama passes away at the age of 68 on March 1st due to acute subdural hematoma. The official news came out on the official Dragon Ball website and it drew responses from many worldwide. Responses from other manga creators, Eiichiro Oda and Masashi Kishimoto, to many fans across the world. To see one of the most beloved and talented artists in this era touched so many people and laid the path for future series like One Piece and Naruto. Whether you were a fan or not of his work, you cannot deny the impact Toriyama has made to the entertainment industry.
Toriyama’s Brief Work History to Today
Toriyama’s work was something unique. His first success was Dr. Slump, a manga series that ran from February 4, 1980 to September 10, 1984 in 18 volumes. Three months later, Toriyama released Dragon Ball and it took the world by storm years ahead. During his tenure, Toriyama worked on projects with Enix and Square during the ‘90s (before the two companies merged in 2003). Toriyama helped design one of the most iconic video game monsters, the slime and many more for the Dragon Quest video game series. Additionally, Toriyama worked on character designs for the popular role-playing game for the Super Nintendo, Chrono Trigger. Toriyama also worked on designs for PlayStation’s Tobal No. 1 and Tobal 2.
Outside character designs and after the success of the Dragon Ball series, Toriyama continued to work on short stories such as Sand Land that launched in 2000. The short story didn’t get much recognition but an animated series and video game scheduled to launch in spring 2024. Toriyama did return to help out with the return of Dragon Ball when a few films were released starting with Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods in 2013. Years later, a new animated and manga series came out, Dragon Ball Super. However, Toriyama’s role was set differently as he helped with the story while Toyotarou created the art. The manga is still scheduled to release monthly on Shonen Jump.
Saying Goodbye to a Legend
The news of Toriyama didn’t spread till early morning of March 8, 2024. The surprise shocked many including the political world. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs representative Mao Ning gave a presentation about the death of Toriyama and the positive impact his work made to the people in China.
Former Mexican Foreign Affairs Minister, Marcelo Ebrard posted a graphic of Goku on his X account, mourning the passing of Akira Toriyama.
President of France Emmanuel Macron showcased his autographed illustration from Akira Toriyama after the reveal of the artist’s passing.
The Japanese voice actor of Goku in the anime series was speechless of the news (Source: DiscussingFilm):
I don’t want to believe it. My head is empty because I don’t want to think about it. Even so, every time I see Goku, I remember what Toriyama Sensei said to me, ‘You will take care of Goku, won’t you?’ I cherish that moment. It makes me think: ‘I will stay by Goku’s side until my strength runs out completely.’ Sensei, please watch over us from the heavens. We hope you depart in peace.
Companies, celebrities and millions of fans showcase their support of Akira Toriyama through social media. While it’s a sad goodbye, it’s also a celebration for what he has done for many. His work won’t be forgotten and continues to inspire many for generations ahead. Cheers and thank you Toriyama-sensei.