It really saddens me that just shortly after I named one of my chickens in my favorite cozy games; Coral Island that I hear of the passing of legendary mangaka – Akira Toriyama.
The passing of Akira Toriyama marks the end of an era for manga, anime, and the broader world of pop culture. His death on March 1, 2024, at the age of 68 due to an acute subdural hematoma sent shockwaves through the global fanbase. Toriyama wasn’t just a creator; he was a visionary who shaped how generations of people through the journey of self-discovery.
My First Encounter With Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball
I remember the first time I saw Dragon Ball way back in the early 90s. In fact, I started my very first business when I was 9 years old. I brought a copy of Dragon Ball to school and a classmate of mine wanted to borrow it. This was the very first spark that lit my entrepreneurial spirit.
Renting it out at 20 cents a day, my business slowly grew. I diversified into other titles such as Sailormoon, Yuu Yuu Hakusho and Dragon Quest. Then I expanded to selling holographic trading cards – anime, Pokemon, and many others. I even saved up enough for Marvel and DC comics.
Ah, what a time that was. Sadly it didn’t last very long – someone reported it to the principal and called my mother in. I got a harsh scolding about hustling in school. Oh well, at least it was a good experience. And the one that kicked it all off was the Dragon Ball series by Akira Toriyama.
Dragon Ball – The Manga That Spurred A Generation Globally
Dragon Ball‘s protagonist, Son Goku, was very similar to Sun Wukong from ‘Journey to the West’. Goku was relentless in his training, boundless optimism, and the way he always rose to the challenge felt like a mirror to our own struggles. Through Dragon Ball (wiki), Toriyama created a world where no obstacle was too great to overcome. Watching those epic battles inspired a whole generation to believe that hard work, resilience, and a good heart can make the impossible possible.
The franchise’s enduring popularity is a testament to Toriyama’s genius. Even now, Dragon Ball continues to be a global phenomenon, with new spin-offs like Dragon Ball Super and the upcoming Dragon Ball Daima, the latter of which Toriyama was working on up until his passing.
Source: Anime News Network.
Toriyama’s Other Great Works
1. Dr. Slump
However, Dragon Ball wasn’t Toriyama’s first great manga. Before, there was Dr. Slump (wiki), a wildly inventive and funny manga that gave birth to his career as a professional mangaka. (Yeah, I had 16 volumes of these😅). The quirky humor, eccentric characters, and the world of Penguin Village were unlike anything at the time. It’s easy to see how Dr. Slump helped shape the playful side of his later work.
2. Dragon Quest & Chrono Trigger (*Not* Cross)
His influence went even further in the gaming world, with contributions to Dragon Quest (wiki) – another beloved video game series. But my personal favorite JRPG? His character designs for Chrono Trigger are still hailed as some of the best in the RPG genre – Gematsu. Toriyama’s unique art style became iconic, with his expressive character designs becoming instantly recognizable across media.
I still remember trudging to the game center to play the SNES console with the save game card. Chrono Trigger was amazing back then. Akin to ‘Back-To-The-Future’, it featured time-travel, multiverse, and multiple points of views. It was also the first time I encountered an easter egg in a video game that was a personal message! 😂
Others
Beyond Dragon Ball and Dr. Slump, Akira Toriyama contributed significantly to various anime, manga, and video games:
Anime & Manga:
- Dragon Ball (1984–1995) and Dragon Ball Z (1989–1996) are his most famous works, followed by newer iterations like Dragon Ball GT, Dragon Ball Super, and the latest Dragon Ball Daima.
- Dr. Slump (1980–1984), a comedy manga that established his reputation in Japan.
- Sand Land (2000), a short manga about a post-apocalyptic world, recently adapted into a film.
Video Games
- Dragon Quest series: Toriyama designed the characters for this iconic RPG franchise, starting with the original Dragon Quest (1986).
- Chrono Trigger (1995): He was the character designer for this beloved role-playing game, considered one of the best of its genre. The sequel – Chrono Cross (1999) was set in the same world as Chrono Trigger.
While watching the anime Toriko, there was a notable Dragon Ball/Toriko crossover episode in 2013! It was an amazing crossover where characters from both series appeared together, along with One Piece. This 3-part special was part of the 2013 Dream 9 Toriko & One Piece & Dragon Ball Z Super Collaboration Special!!, celebrating these major Shonen Jump franchises.
Final Word 😭
Even in the final years of his life, Toriyama’s creative fire never dimmed.
In 2023, his lesser-known work Sand Land was adapted into an animated film, and it will be followed by a series and video game releases this year (Anime News Network). He remained committed to crafting new stories – leaving behind not only an incredible legacy, but also unfinished projects that remind us of the countless ideas he still had to offer.
He has touched an entire generation – globally. And will always forever be a legend in all our hearts. 😢😭
References
- Anime News Network – Announcement of Akira Toriyama’s passing and a detailed look at his legacy: Anime News Network
- Anime News Network.
- Gematsu – Coverage on Toriyama’s death and reflections from Bird Studio: Gematsu
- Wikipedia (Akira Toriyama) – The legendary mangaka’s profile and biography history: Akira Toriyama – Wikipedia
- Wikipedia (Dragon Ball) – Overview of Toriyama’s most famous work: Dragon Ball – Wikipedia.
- Wikipedia (Dr. Slump) – Information on his earlier, critically acclaimed work: Dr. Slump – Wikipedia.
- Wikipedia (Dragon Quest) – Details on his contributions to the Dragon Quest game series: Dragon Quest – Wikipedia.
