Akira Toriyama, creator of the iconic manga series Dragon Ball, has died at the age of 68.
It was announced on Friday, March 8, that the manga artist and artist passed away on Friday, March 1, from an acute subdural hematoma, a bleeding in the brain usually caused by head trauma. Toriyama’s death was announced on the Dragon Ball website.
Bird Studio announced Toriyama’s untimely death in a statement, saying, “We are extremely disappointed that he left behind some works that were still in progress. He could have accomplished so much more. However, he left behind many manga titles and works.” Bringing art to this world.
“Thanks to the support of many people around the world, he has been able to continue his creative career for over 45 years.
“We hope that Akira Toriyama’s unique creative world will continue to be loved by everyone for many years to come.We would like to make this unfortunate announcement to express our gratitude for his kindness during his lifetime.”
Toriyama first broke out in the industry with “Doctor Slump” and was also a character designer for games such as “Dragon Quest,” “Chrono Trigger,” and “Blue Dragon,” but Toriyama truly redefined the manga and anime industry. was his work in Dragon Ball.
Dragon Ball’s cultural influence
Toriyama first serialized the Dragon Ball manga in 1983, and although it wasn’t his first manga series, it quickly became his most famous work. Inspired by Journey to the West, Dragon Ball follows the adventures of Son Goku from childhood to adulthood as the Saiyan and his friend Bulma search for his seven powerful spheres known as the Dragon Balls.
Along the way, Goku meets new friends, faces formidable foes, and also learns to master martial arts training. This manga series was serialized from 1983 to 1997, first adapted by Toei into the anime series Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z, aired in Japan from 1986 to 1996, and then quickly released overseas. But it was aired.
The series has since been adapted into anime such as Dragon Ball Super, 21 movies, and several games based on the series.
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For many people, Dragon Ball was the gateway to learning about Japanese culture in the West, and due to its popularity, the anime broadcast was shown multiple times. This probably served as the perfect introduction to anime for multiple generations, and ultimately changed the entire industry.
Toriyama’s work also creates timeless moments both on page and screen, and the epic, expansive battle scenes he created were cause for celebration among viewers and influenced everything that followed. . For example, the Kamehameha stance is an iconic martial art that has been referenced and copied countless times, not just in anime and manga, but across cultural spaces.
Dragon Ball not only had a huge impact on viewers, but also countless Japanese manga artists. Goku became the prototype for the boy hero, with the creators of series such as One Piece, Naruto, and Bleach drawing inspiration from Toriyama’s work.
Andrew Partridge, CEO of anime distribution company Anime Limited, spoke to Yahoo UK about the impact that Toriyama’s work has had on the world, saying that his work “has brought Japanese animation to the English-speaking world. “This is the very foundation that brought us into the limelight,” he said.
“I think it has changed. [the West’s understanding of anime] “In many ways, there were other titles before it, but this was the first title that really defined an entire culture around anime,” Partridge said. It was the first movie where I really bonded with teenagers.
“It was the first big boys’ title to really make its way here, and it really defined the culture to this day. It was played in all kinds of places, from basketball to regular movie and TV culture as a whole. You can see that. It was shocking. It wasn’t just Toriyama-sensei’s “Dragon Ball.” For me, the first time I encountered Toriyama-sensei’s work was actually the game “Chrono Trigger.”
“His design work stands out everywhere, and so does his content. Quite frankly, he creates some of the most engaging content out there, and it’s amazing to watch. .”
Partridge added: “This concept is almost universal and has inspired so many people to work in and participate in their own spaces. Without it, we It literally wouldn’t exist today, especially in the UK space,” he added.
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”[Dragon Ball has] It’s unusual for a show that has been aired on TV so many times to be aired on BBC iPlayer or Dragon Ball Super even though it was once aired on a UK TV slot. If you think about it that way, this is a sign that this is a really, really irregular program. sense.
“Compared to current titles such as Attack on Titan, Jujutsu Kaisen, and Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, none of these titles would be in the position they are in today without what Dragon Ball brought to the market. And the same can be said for most productions in the theater.” [anime] movie. Similarly, “Dragon Ball Super: Broly” was the first movie in the United States to demonstrate that there was a market for theatrical animation that transcended regional boundaries. It was the crack in the door that paved the way for many subsequent films. ”
Anime Limited has “One Piece Film Red” and “Your Name.” Partridge added that it was because of Dragon Ball that movies like this were taken seriously for film release. When you look at movies, anime isn’t just a nice thing to bring a few teenagers to the screen, it can actually become mainstream. ”
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Following Toriyama’s death, many manga artists have expressed their condolences to Toriyama. Written by Eiichiro Oda: “He is one of the people who took over the baton from an era when reading manga made people stupid, to an era where both adults and children enjoyed reading manga. He showed us the dream that manga can do things like this and that we can go there. “To the world. He gave it to me. It was like watching a hero step forward.”
Masashi Kishimoto from NARUTO shared a touching tribute Toriyama explained how much he loved reading Dragon Ball from an early age and how it helped him get through difficult times. He further added, “I wanted to create works like him too! I wanted to be like him too!”
“Then, as I followed my teacher’s footsteps and became a manga artist, I gradually became less hesitant. That’s because I enjoyed creating manga. By following my teacher, I was able to find new ways to enjoy myself. Sensei was always my guide. Sensei was always my guide. He was my admirer.”
Regarding how Toriyama’s work has influenced other creators, Partridge continued, “That influence really kind of set the mold in terms of how tournament anime should be produced. Shonen Jump… If you look at it, it’s not like people copied it.” That came off, but people followed that format, and everywhere you look, you can’t say that people learned from it.
“I don’t mean they’ve made a copy of Dragon Ball, but a lot of the Shonen Jump titles we know today have a little bit of the spirit of Dragon Ball in them, and it’s really moving to see that. .
“It’s one of the few franchises in Japan in that sense, with new shows coming out one after another, and it has endured for a long time in Japan. You’re talking about a generation with Shonen Jump like this. , you’ll think Naruto, Bleach, One Piece, and you’ll think, “Demon Slayer, Jujutsu Kaisen, Chainsaw Man, but Dragon Ball applies to any generation you look at. ”
Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball Super, and several Dragon Ball movies are available to stream on Crunchyroll. Dragon Ball Super is also available on BBC iPlayer.