Akira Toriyama, the influential creator of the “Dragon Ball” manga and anime franchise, has died at the age of 68, it was announced Friday.
The franchise's official website states that Toriyama died on March 1 due to a blood clot in his brain.
A funeral service was held with members of Toriyama's immediate family. Dates for official farewell events have not yet been announced.
The message on the website expressed sadness and regret over Toriyama's sudden death, saying that he “worked passionately on many projects” and that “there was so much more to accomplish.”
The post also expresses gratitude to Toriyama's fans.
“He was supported by many people around the world who enabled him to continue his creative endeavors for over 45 years,” it reads.
“We sincerely hope that the world of Akira Toriyama's unique works will continue to be loved by everyone for a long time to come. Please accept our deepest gratitude for your kindness and friendship during his life,” the text added.
A woman has her photo taken with a statue of Dragon Ball character Son Goku in Tokyo on Friday. | AFP-JIJI
Toriyama's first foray into the manga industry came when he entered a competition for promising writers at the comic magazine Weekly Shonen Jump. Although his proposals were not accepted, they caught the attention of Kazuhiko Torishima, who worked at the manga giant and would later become Toriyama's editor-in-chief, according to IT media.
This led Toriyama to make his debut in 1978 with “Wonder Island.” After 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 most profitable manga series of all time, with over 260 million copies sold. in more than 20 countries.
Anime adaptations of “Dragon Ball,” including “Dragon Ball Z” and “Dragon Ball Super,” have become very popular overseas and have been broadcast in more than 40 countries.
The series has spawned a huge line of products, including action figures, trading cards, clothing, and video games, making it a mega-franchise. Video game titles based on the franchise have also achieved great popularity.
“Dragon Ball”, which began serialization in 1984, has become an international phenomenon. | AFP-JIJI
Toriyama was the illustrator and character designer for the franchise's video game series, and lent his creative mind to other video games as a character designer for the role-playing games Chrono Trigger and Dragon Quest.
Toriyama and “Dragon Ball” have been credited with influencing a host of renowned creators, and tributes began pouring in from around the world following news of his death.
Eiichiro Oda, the author of “One Piece”, credits Toriyama as a significant influence on his work and made a statement on the official Shonen Jump website lamenting the loss of one of the industry's giants.
“It’s too soon…sadness overcomes me when I think that I will never see him again,” he said in the statement. “May heaven be the joyous world he envisioned.”
Toriyama's impact on the creative sphere has extended beyond Japan.
French director Pierre Perifel cited “Dragon Ball” as inspiration for his work on the DreamWorks animated film “The Bad Guys”, and Ian Jones-Quartey, producer of the popular American animated series “Steven Universe “, expressed his admiration for both. “Dragon Ball” and “Dr. Slump”, stating that he uses Toriyama's vehicle designs as a reference for his own creations.
At a press conference on Friday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi commented on Toriyama's death, stating that “Toriyama created works that were appreciated not only by people in Japan, but also by those from overseas.
“We offer our deepest condolences on this day of mourning.”
Toriyama has received numerous honors throughout his illustrious career, including the Shogakukan Manga Award and a decoration as Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government in 2019.
He was set to receive a Lifetime Achievement Awards during the Tokyo Anime Awards Festival 2024, which kicked off on Friday.
Jiji and Kyodo information added