Akira Toriyama, the renowned Japanese manga artist behind the global phenomenon Dragon Ball, has passed away at the age of 68. Toriyama’s studio confirmed that he died on 1 March 2024, due to an acute subdural hematoma.
Toriyama began his manga career in the late 1970s and achieved early success with the series ‘Doctor Slump’. However, it was Dragon Ball in 1984 that brought him international acclaim.
The story of a young martial artist named Goku and his quest to collect the mystical Dragon Balls captured the imaginations of readers and viewers worldwide. Dragon Ball’s anime adaptations, particularly Dragon Ball Z, helped popularize the medium in the West.
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In addition to Dragon Ball, Toriyama contributed character concepts and designs to iconic video games like Dragon Quest and Chrono Trigger. He remained actively involved in the Dragon Ball franchise, overseeing the development of Dragon Ball Super and its continuation manga from 201 5onwards. Even at the time of his passing, Toriyama was working on new projects like Sand Land and Dragon Ball Daima.
In a statement released by the official Dragon Ball website, Toriyama’s team expressed: “We inform you this sad news, with gratefulness for your kindness during his lifetime. Thanks to the support of so many people around the world, [Toriyama] has been able to continue his creative activities for over 45 years. We hope that Akira Toriyama’s unique world of creation continues to be loved by everyone for a long time to come.”
Fans worldwide have taken to social media to pay their respects and offer condolences, acknowledging Toriyama’s extraordinary impact on their lives and the indelible mark he has left on the world of manga and anime.