THE manga legend Akira Toriyama, father of the absolutely cult license that is Dragon Ball, has died. A real shock that leaves no one unscathed.
Goku, Gohan, Vegeta and the whole clique are in mourning and now orphans. Last night, heartbreaking news surfaced on the web. Akira Toriyama, legendary manga artist and father of Dragon Ball, has died at the age of 68. A drama.
Akira Toriyama has died, Dragon Ball is an orphan
“We are sincerely saddened to inform you that manga creator Akira Toriyama passed away on March 1, 2024 from a subdural hematoma”as we can read in the official press release announcing the sad news.
Born in Nagoya in 1955, Akira Toriyama is best known for having created Dragon Ball, an absolutely legendary manga that appeared in 1984. Very loosely inspired by the Chinese tale “Journey to the West”, the success was immediate. At the time, he was one of the rare manga artists to cross the Pacific to settle down in France, notably with his anime.
More than 260 million paper copies sold, hundreds of episodes of anime, more than ten films, video games in every direction and derivative products that you no longer know what to do with. Dragon Ball is an arch-cult, it is even A cult for many. Akira Toriyama was also working on the sequel to Super, with Dragon Ball Daïma which will arrive soon. The Dragon Ball fighting game Sparking Zero is also expected in the coming months.
It’s a legend that has died out. Beyond Dragon Ball, the mangaka is also known for his work on other works and above all for having an artistic touch of his own. Dragon Quest is living proof of this, or Sand Land, an action RPG that we will be able to discover soon.
Touching tributes, the creators of One Piece and Naruto also reacted
There are already numerous tributes on the web. Another manga legend, Eiichiro Oda, creator of One Piece, also wanted to speak. “I am overcome with immense sadness when I realize that we will never see each other again. I admired him since I was a child”he declares. “His work is not limited to manga. The emotions felt through the Dragon Ball series will forever take root in new generations of creators in this industry […] I pray from the bottom of my heart, with respect and gratitude, that he rests in peace. May the paradise he imagined be a most joyful place for him. » (translation from Japanese to English by @aitaikimochi via
For his part, Masashi Kishimoto, Naruto’s father, describes Toriyama as his master, “a god of manga”« “I have just received the news of the death of my master “. Very sad, he says that this news leaves him “a huge sense of loss”A “hole in the heart” that he doesn’t know how he will be able to fill. “ If only a Dragon Ball wish could truly come true… […] I pray that Mr. Akira Toriyama rest in peace », he finishes.
Touching words from two great artists born from the work of Akira Toriyama. Two men who could have been friends with the one they admired for many years. Akira Toriyama will certainly be missed, but his artistic mark will never disappear. A great man, an immense artist.