The manga and anime world is grieving the sad news that famous artist and writer Akira Toriyama has passed away at the age of 68.
Toriyama, known as the creative mind behind the globally popular Dragon Ball franchise, passed away on March 1 due to acute subdural hematoma according to official reports.
In a heartfelt message, Bird Studio and Capsule Corporation Tokyo, companies closely associated with Toriyama, sadly informed fans and partners that the legendary artist has passed away.
“We are deeply saddened to inform you that Manga author Akira Toriyama passed away on March 1 due to acute subdural hematoma. He was 68 years old,” the solemn message stated.
Toriyama’s pioneering work and imaginative storytelling have left an indelible mark on the manga industry and popular culture at large.
His first major serialized work, the comedy Dr. Slump, debuted in 1980 and paved the way for his most iconic work – the famous action series Dragon Ball.
First serialized from 1984 to 1995 in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine, Dragon Ball introduced the world to Saiyan warrior hero Goku and his adventures through surreal worlds filled with Powerful soldiers and colorful characters.
The Dragon Ball phenomenon has transcended the pages of manga, spawning an equally beloved animated series as well as numerous sequels and films that convey the ongoing story of Dragon Age Ball Z and Dragon Ball Super.
At the time of his death, Toriyama was actively involved in developing the story for the new Dragon Ball Daima anime series scheduled for release in 2024. His last original manga work, Sand Land, was adapted into an anime film in 2022 and a manga series is coming soon.
In addition to his iconic series, Toriyama’s creative influence also extended to the video game industry through his character designs for the main series. franchises such as Dragon Quest, Chrono Trigger and Blue Dragon.