On Friday, the world mourned the loss of Akira Toriyama, the visionary creator behind Japan’s beloved “Dragon Ball” manga and anime series.
Toriyama, aged 68, passed away on March 1, with his production team confirming the sad news. The iconic “Dragon Ball” franchise, which debuted in 1984, became a cultural phenomenon, boasting high manga sales, numerous anime adaptations, films, and video games.
Toriyama’s influence extended beyond “Dragon Ball,” as he also left his mark with the earlier work “Dr Slump” and contributed significantly to “Dragon Ball Z” and the successful “Dragon Quest” games. His passing, attributed to a brain blood clot, left several ongoing projects unfinished, underscoring the impact of his creativity on the entertainment industry.
Born in 1955 in Japan’s Aichi region, Toriyama embarked on his manga career in his early 20s, bringing his unique vision to life after studying design and gaining experience in advertising.
Despite describing himself as a “difficult” person, Toriyama’s profound impact on manga and anime resonates, and his death deeply saddened Shueisha, the publishing house known for serializing “Dragon Ball” in its “Shonen Jump” magazine.