Akira Toriyamathe highly influential Japanese mangaka who created the medium franchise “Dragon Ball» in the 1980s and who led its growth into a global phenomenon, died on March 1 from an acute subdural hematoma. He was 68 years old.
Toriyama's death has been confirmed by the official “Dragon Ball” website, which released a statement Thursday evening honoring the creator.
“It is our deep regret that he still has several works being created with great enthusiasm. Besides, he would have a lot more things to accomplish,” reads Bird Studio’s statement, which includes the disclaimer that it has been machine translated. “He left many manga titles and works of art to this world. Thanks to the support of many people around the world, he was able to continue his creative activities for over 45 years. We hope that the unique world of Akira Toriyama's creation will continue to be loved by everyone for a long time to come.
Toriyama found early success in the manga industry with the creation of the popular “Dr. Slump” in the late '70s, winning a Shogakukan Manga Award in 1981 and overseeing two subsequent anime adaptations. However, that success was nothing compared to “Dragon Ball,” a sequel to his kung fu film-influenced one-shot “Dragon Boy.” First published as a serial in 1984, “Dragon Ball” has become one of the best-selling manga series of all time. He is also credited with popularizing manga across the world, bolstered by the enduring audience for its various anime adaptations in Western countries.
An artist who worked largely outside of the public spotlight, Toriyama's work expanded beyond “Dragon Ball” throughout his life, especially after taking on a smaller creative role on the property in the 1990s. 90. His other credits include various one-shot manga series, as well as character design for video game classics like “Chrono Trigger” and the “Dragon Quest” series.
Toriyama returned to “Dragon Ball” in the 2010s, with the mangaka receiving a screenplay credit for the film “Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods”, then the first adaptation of the “Dragon Ball” feature film in almost 20 years. He had remained involved with the property throughout its recent string of film productions, including the most recent, 2022's “Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero.”
A private funeral service has already been held for Toriyama's family. He is survived by his wife, Yoshimi Katō, and their two children.