Akira Toriyama, the legendary manga artist and creator of the Dragon Ball franchise, died on March 1, 2024, at the age of 68. He suffered an acute subdural hematoma, a type of bleeding near the brain, according to his studio, Bird Studio.
Toriyama was born in Nagoya, Japan, in 1955. He was inspired by the manga Astro Boy and began his career as a manga artist in the late 1970s. He achieved his first success with Dr. Slump, a comedy series about a girl robot and her inventor. He became internationally famous for his masterpiece, Dragon Ball, a martial arts adventure series that started in 1984 and ran for 11 years. Dragon Ball has sold over 300 million copies worldwide and has been adapted into several anime series, movies, video games, and spin-offs. It is widely regarded as one of the most influential and popular manga and anime series of all time.
Toriyama was also a prolific character designer for video games, such as Dragon Quest, Chrono Trigger, and Blue Dragon. He published many other manga works, art books, and illustrations. He received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to the manga and anime industry, such as the Shogakukan Manga Award, the Inkpot Award, and the Guinness World Record for being the most influential person in anime history.
Toriyama is survived by his wife, Nachi Mikami, and his two children, Sasuke and Kiyomi. He was a private person who rarely made public appearances or gave interviews. He was passionate about all things mechanical, especially cars, and he incorporated his love for machines into his work. He was also known for his humor, creativity, and originality, which captivated millions of fans and inspired generations of artists.
Toriyama’s funeral was attended by his family and close friends. His studio said that he had uncompleted works at the time of his death and that they hoped that his unique world of creation would continue to be loved by everyone for a long time to come. Fans and fellow manga artists have expressed their condolences and gratitude for Toriyama’s work, which has touched their lives and shaped the culture of manga and anime. Toriyama may be gone, but his spirit lives on in Dragon Ball and in all of us who love his work.
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