Japanese manga artist Akira Toriyama, the creator of the smash hit Dragon Ball Z, has passed away. His studio, Bird Studio, announced his demise on March 1.
Akira is renowned for his work on the manga Dr. Slump, the Dragon Quest games, and as the creative force behind numerous manga, films, and TV shows within the Dragon Ball Z franchise. Top manga creators have responded to the news, expressing their condolences regarding his death.
Akira Toriyama passes away at 68
Akira Toriyama’s studio, through a press release, announced his passing at the age of 68 due to an acute subdural hematoma, resulting in a blood clot in his head. The statement mentioned his active involvement in numerous works without specifying the titles.
The studio expressed the hope that the world would continue to enjoy his creations “for a long time to come.” Dragon Ball Z made its debut in 1984 as a weekly shonen jump, featuring Son Goku as the protagonist on a quest for seven magical orbs to summon a dragon granting wishes. The story drew inspiration from a 16th-century Chinese novel.
Akira Toriyama, creator of the Dragon Ball series has passed away at the age of 68. He is a legend in anime and gaming, his work includes Dr. Slump, Dragon Quest, Chrono Trigger, and other classic works. https://t.co/G9wzWHWHLP pic.twitter.com/xy2rqJQ5h9
— IGN (@IGN) March 8, 2024
It quickly captivated audiences all over the world and has since sold over 260 million copies. There were TV shows, video games, and even Hollywood movies based on it. Kakarot was the latest video game to be released based on the popular franchise.
However, Dragonball was not Akira Toriyama’s first contact with stardom. He found success by writing the Dr. Slump of comics. It was released on the same weekly Shonen jump. Its popularity made him stand out among young manga artists of his time.
One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda reacts to Akira Toriyama’s passing
Another popular manga creator, Eiichiro Oda, has responded to the news, stating that Akira Toriyama’s passing has left “shoes too big to fill.” Akira, who made manga popular worldwide, coined the idea that ‘manga can travel’ around the world.
Akira served as the inspiration that led Eiichiro Oda to follow in his footsteps and create One Piece. In the earlier days, manga was often considered catering only to a younger audience. However, with Toriyama’s vision and writing abilities, he altered that perception, allowing a broader audience to enjoy them.
ONE PIECE creator Eiichiro Oda reacts to Toriyama's passing.
— SUPER クロニクルス (@SupaChronicles) March 8, 2024
"It is too early.
The hole is too big. Sadness washes over me when I think that I will never see him again.
I have admired him so much since I was a child. I remember the day he called me by name for the first time,… pic.twitter.com/UmA8kjAcSm
Eiichiro even refers to the Dragon Ball Z creator as a large tree under which innumerable manga artists and audiences worldwide have taken solace. He feels the TV cartoon is particularly rooted in his childhood, which made him believe he could create something on a similar level.
Another popular name, Masashi Kishimoto, also shared a similar message, referring to Dragon Ball Z’s characters as the spark that made him create Naruto.
