News Creator of Dragon Ball dies at 68

Akira Toriyama, the revered Japanese manga artist and creator of the iconic series "Dragon Ball," passed away at the age of 68 due to an acute subdural hematoma. His production studio announced the news on 1 March, leaving fans and fellow artists mourning the loss of a creative genius. "Dragon Ball" debuted in 1984 on the Weekly Shonen Jump magazine pages and became a global sensation. The saga follows the adventures of protagonist Son Goku, his martial arts training, and his quest to collect the seven mystical orbs known as the Dragon Balls. This franchise remains one of the most successful in Japanese media history, with the manga selling over 260 million copies worldwide. It has spawned numerous anime adaptations, video games, and a Hollywood-produced live-action movie.


Toriyama's artistic legacy extends beyond "Dragon Ball." Over his 45-year career, he also created other beloved works such as "Dr. Slump" and "Sand Land." Additionally, he lent his talent to designing characters for the top-rated "Dragon Quest" video game series by Square Enix Holdings. The impact of Toriyama's artistry resonates deeply with fellow creators. Masashi Kishimoto, the author of "Naruto," expressed how Toriyama's stories inspired him from grade school to college, fueling his journey as a manga artist. Similarly, Eiichiro Oda, the creator of "One Piece," praised Toriyama for demonstrating that manga could captivate children and adults, transcending borders and cultures.

Toriyama's first foray into the manga industry came when he entered a competition for up-and-coming writers in the Weekly Shonen Jump comic magazine. While his submissions did not win, they attracted the attention of Kazuhiko Torishima, who worked at the manga giant, and would later become Toriyama's editor, according to IT media. This led to Toriyama's debut in 1978 with "Wonder Island." Following his debut, he produced many popular works, such as "Dr. Slump" and "Dragon Ball" for Weekly Shonen Jump. In particular, "Dragon Ball," which began serialization in 1984, became an international phenomenon and one of the best-selling and highest-grossing manga series of all time, with over 260 million copies sold worldwide in over 20 countries. The anime adaptations of "Dragon Ball," including "Dragon Ball Z" and "Dragon Ball Super," became wildly popular overseas and have been broadcast in over 40 countries.

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This one hurts, rest in peace legend.

Had to believe that he was 68 and now that he is no more. Having read the complete series in Japanese, when I think of him as a person, I think of his letters to the readers. He came across as a great guy. I hope he gets to meet Songoku up there. And remember, in the Dragonball universe, death is not strictly the end. May Toriyama-san continue to have many great adventures, both epic and humorous. And not to be forgotten, of course...juvenile.

Interestingly, Toriyama initially needed a lot of guidance and convincing from Torishima Kazuhiko, an editor at the Weekly Shonen Jump magazine:

Akira Toriyama, the brilliant manga artist behind iconic works like "Dragon Ball" and "Dr Slump," initially harboured reservations when embarking on these projects. Despite this, both series took the world by storm. Toriyama's influence extended globally, with his works translated and published in 40 nations. Early in his career, he caught the attention of Kazuhiko Torishima, an editor at Weekly Shonen Jump magazine, who recognized his exceptional talent. Toriyama's unique manga style, particularly in "Dr. Slump," targeted male readers and introduced fresh storytelling. Interestingly, he initially considered killing off the robot girl Arale, the main character in "Dr. Slump," after the first segment. His impact on the world of manga remains profound, even after passing on 1 March.

When Torishima saw the draft for the second segment, he was stunned to find no hint of Arale in the manga. Torishima insisted that Arale be made the main character. Toriyama resisted at first, but Arale eventually became the main focus and the manga was a hit. An anime version that appeared in 1981 earned high TV ratings, cementing the popularity of "Dr. Slump." Toriyama also dragged his feet in the development of "Dragon Ball," which began serialization in 1984. He was having problems coming up with an idea for a new series in the weekly magazine. Torishima suggested a kung fu manga, but Toriyama told him, "I'm not very good doing fighting manga." Initially, "Dragon Ball" centered more on humorous gags and a fantasy world touch.

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And here's the heir to the Dragon Ball empire: