Akira Toriyama, who created the Japanese anime series Dragon Ball Z, has died aged 68. The Manga creator passed away on March 1 from an acute subdural haemorrhage, according to official Dragon Ball account on X. Toriyama’s funeral attended by relatives and close kin, the statement said. Toriyama “still had several works in the middle of creation with great enthusiasm” at the time of his passing, his team said.
Information ; Dear Friends and Partnershttps://t.co/85dXseckzJ pic.twitter.com/aHlx8CGA2M— DRAGON BALL OFFICIAL (@DB_official_en) March 8, 2024
Fans from all across the world have now paid tribute to Toriyama. Here are some online reactions:
Akira Toriyama thank you for giving us Dragon Ball Z rest up goat ❤️ pic.twitter.com/wY46bxFEhP— a✰ (@destroynectar) March 8, 2024
TODAY I STARTED WATCHING THE SERIES WITH MY SON AND WE HAVE 7 EPISODES OF DRAGON BALL ZTHANK YOU FOR MAKING ME HAPPY IN MY CHILDHOOD AND NOW TO MY SONRIP pic.twitter.com/NG0M2gBobt
— RUSH OFICIAL (@rushtoroblanco) March 8, 2024
Dragon Ball Z was the first ever anime I’ve ever watched and it stuck with me deeply through my childhood to adulthood. Thank you Toriyama for creating such a masterpiece. Your legacy will always be remembered. ️ pic.twitter.com/VZM70SVv5U— PridefulSin (@ReignOfPride) March 8, 2024
Akira Toriyama. This hurts man.You made my childhood.You enhanced my adulthood.You will forever be a goat.Thank you and Rest In Peace.(Reply to this with your favorite Dragon Ball moments. I’m tryna sob and feel nostalgic. This is one of mine.☹️)pic.twitter.com/mz4mTSi5gZ— (@visecs) March 8, 2024
Rest in peace my forever goat Akira Toriyama, till we meet again. pic.twitter.com/kn138nmu3T— hyde (@hydenotkido) March 8, 2024
I hope he knows just how special him and his work was. Never will be seen again. Thank you for showing it to us. Thank you for making my childhood. Thank you for giving me Dragon Ball. Thank you for giving me Gohan. Rest in peace, Akira Toriyama pic.twitter.com/LEa4j5pMLZ— Detective Gohan️♂️ #ThankYouToriyama (@GohanPrivhan) March 8, 2024
There’s a reason Dragon Ball/Z is called one of the best anime series of all time. We need to thank Akira Toriyama more for his influence on modern shonen and storytelling. To have diehard and new fans 35+ years later is nothing but iconic. pic.twitter.com/n0OdUQnvto— Nyne (@nyne_tailed_fox) March 8, 2024
Dragon Ball Z first premiered in Japan during the 1980s and later gained popularity worldwide. According to IGN, the creator also worked on video games like Dragon Quest and Chrono Trigger.
IGN reported that he started his career at 23 after entering a manga creator contest in Kodansha’s Weekly Shōnen Magazine. One of his recent rumoured projects was a Dragon Ball Z spin-off series called Dragon Ball Daima, focusing on characters Goku and Vegeta.
At New York Comic Con 2023, Daima’s executive producer Akio Iyoku reportedly discussed Toriyama’s deep involvement in the series, overseeing its story, character design, and more, beyond his usual role.
Dragon Ball Z centres on Son Goku, a young child on a mission to gather mystical dragon balls in order to protect Earth from Saiyans, alien humanoids. However, it was more than just an anime to a lot of fans. Son Goku’s transformation from a young child who struggles with martial arts lessons to a daring hero who is capable of firing electrical bolts from his hands is a reflection of their own battles with self-doubt as they mature.
Fan fiction authors and cosplayers who wear their hair in a manner reminiscent of the characters’ pointed, spiky locks were influenced by Dragon Ball.
The animated version has been dubbed in a variety of languages, and Dragon Ball action figures are widely available in toy stores in Japan, China and Southeast Asia.
Speaking to the Japanese newspaper Asahi in 2013, Toriyama stated he had “no idea” how Dragon Ball got to be so well-known all across the world.
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