Akira Toriyama renowned Japanese manga artist also best known for creating the iconic series Dragon Ball, passed away at 68 due to a severe brain injury(acute subdural hematoma).
Akira Toriyama began his journey in the world of manga with the debut of Dragon Ball in Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in 1984. The series revolves around Son Goku’s adventures in martial arts, his pursuit of the mystical Dragon Balls, and his encounters with various characters. Years passed and Dragon Ball became a global phenomenon. The one that captivated the audiences with its thrilling storylines and memorable characters. For those unaware manga alone sold over 260 million copies worldwide and inspired numerous anime adaptations, video games, and even a live-action movie.
Beyond Dragon Ball, Akira’s creative works include other works such as Dr. Slump and Sand Land He also contributed to character designs in the popular Dragon Quest video game series. Following his passing, shares in Toei Animation Co., responsible for producing animated Dragon Ball films, saw a decline of 4.4%.
Reactions to Akira Toriyama’s death
Toriyama’s death got immediate reactions. And outpouring of grief and tributes from fellow artists and fans alike. Eiichiro Oda, creator of One Piece, described Toriyama’s ability to appeal to audiences of all ages through his manga. Similarly, Masashi Kishimoto, the mind behind Naruto, expressed how Toriyama’s stories served as inspiration for his journey as a manga artist.
Several fans of the franchise also took to social media to send condolence messages sharing heartfelt messages and memories of his work. One wrote on X, “This Dragon Ball Super outro feels like the perfect tribute to Akira Toriyama. I’m so sad.. thank you so, so much Akira Toriyama. Thank you for everything you gave to us. The magic, the wonder, everything.”
