Legendary manga artist and creator of the popular franchise Dragonball, Akira Toriyama, has passed away at the age of 68. According to the The Hollywood Reporter, the cause of his death was an acute subdural hematoma, and the official Dragonball website revealed his funeral was held by closed ones. A statement on the website read, “he has left many manga titles and works of art in 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 legacy is undeniable. Dragon Ball, which debuted in 1984, became a global phenomenon. It tells the story of the Saiyan, Goku, as he trains to protect the Earth from enemy forces. According to The Hollywood Reporter,in the early 1980s, Toriyama was inspired by kung fu movies, which aided him in creating the Dragon Boy series in 1983, but then evolved into the iconic series the following year. Dragonball is still considered popular anime, having several different series According to previous mxdwn post, NYCC has release a trailer for the upcoming installment in the franchise, which has been titled Dragon Ball Daima.
The Dragonball has sold over 150 million copies in Japan, and then Toei Animation(One Piece), look into adapting the manga into an an anime, in which the first episode aired on 1986. According to The Hollywood Reporter, outside the mana, and anime, Akira has collaborated with game designer, Yuji Horii (Chrono Trigger), composer Koichi Sugiyama (Godzilla vs. Biollante) and publisher Square Enix on the Dragon Quest, with the first role playing game being released in 1986.
Akira Toriyama leaves behind a monumental body of work that has entertained millions for generations. While his passing is a profound loss, his stories and characters will continue to inspire and be cherished by fans around the world.