Creator Of The Famous DragonBall Z Franchise Akira Toriyama Dead At The Age Of 68

The Legend And Creator Of The Famous DragonBall Z Franchise Akira Toriyama Dead At The Age Of 68.

 

ABOUT AKIRA TORIYAMA

Born on April 5, 1955, in Nagoya, Japan, Toriyama’s career as a mangaka began in his early 20s, when he submitted work to the Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine. His first published work was Wonder Island in 1978, about a former World War II kamikaze pilot stuck on Wonder Island. The follow-up, Wonder Island 2, was published in 1979.

Akira Toriyama in 1982. Since he created “Dragon Ball,” in the 1980s, it has spanned 42 volumes, sold millions of copies worldwide and become one of the most famous manga.Credit…Jiji Press/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Toriyama made his name with the manga Dr. Slump, which was serialized by Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1980 to 1984. The series followed the adventures of a girl robot and her creator, who live alongside the bizarre inhabitants of Penguin Village. Dr. Slump was known for its silly, punny toilet humor and pop culture references and was a huge hit in Japan, selling over 35 million copies. It was later adapted into an anime series by Toei Animation that ran on Japanese TV from 1981 to 1986.

In the early 1980s, inspired by his love of Hong Kong kung fu films, particularly those of Jackie Chan, Toriyama created the Dragon Boy series, which tells the story of Tangtong, a young boy with martial arts skills who is tasked with escorting a princess back to her home country. Dragon Boy was first published in Fresh Jump in 1983 and would evolve into Dragon Ball the following year. Dragon Ball drew more heavily on kung fu and the martial arts, as well as the classical Chinese story of Journey to the West. The series tells the story of Son Goku, who is training in martial arts, who meets a girl named Bulma and joins her in her quest to find the seven Dragon Balls and to defend Earth against alien humanoids called Saiyans.

The cover of the first volume of Toriyama’s “Dragon Ball.”© Bird Studio/Shueisha/AP

 

Bird Studio, the company Toriyama founded in 1983, announced on Thursday that the author and artist died on March 1 from acute subdural hematoma. He was 68. But the legacy of his work is alive and well all over entertainment. After filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki, Toriyama is likely the most influential Japanese artist of modern times. He brought manga and anime into the global mainstream and broke down the walls that had once sealed off Japanese storytelling.

In a statement, Bird asked the public to “follow his wishes for tranquility” by allowing Toriyama’s family to mourn in peace, and to not offer any condolences. “It is our deep regret that he still had several works in the middle of creation with great enthusiasm,” the company said. “However, he has left many manga titles and works of art to this world. Thanks to the support of so many people around the world, he has been able to continue his creative activities for over 45 years.”

Toriyama’s most famous creation is the “Dragon Ball” series, the manga he began in 1984. It was inspired by the classic Chinese epic “Journey to the West,” but adapted with humor and a focus on martial arts. The animated TV show “Dragon Ball Z” made his work a global success.

Beyond TV, Toriyama lent his art and style to other fields. Just as “Dragon Ball” was starting, he was commissioned by a Japanese software company to draw up a fantasy land. With Enix, Toriyama would help create “Dragon Quest,” one of the most influential video games of all time. He was the lead artist of “Chrono Trigger,” a Super Nintendo role-playing game that’s often cited as one of the best games ever made.

Rest In Peace Akira Toriyama

You have been an influence on us all and a big part of our childhoods. You will be greatly missed but your art and contribution to the anime and manga world will live on forever.

Find out more about the legendary Akira Toriyama HERE

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