Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama dies at age 68

The world of manga loses one of its most illustrious representatives.

Sad news. Akira Toriyamathe father of Dragon Ball, died on March 1, we learned in a press release published this Friday by Bird Studio, the entity founded by the mangaka in the early 1980s, and relayed on social networks. The announcement of his death was deliberately postponed in order to respect the peace of his family who had already held his funeral in privacy.

“We are sincerely saddened to inform you that manga creator Akira Toriyama died on March 1 from an acute subdural hematoma. He was 68 years old. To our great regret, he worked with great enthusiasm on several projects that were being created. However, he leaves behind many manga titles and works of art. Thanks to the support of so many people around the world, he has been able to continue creative pursuits for 45 years. We hope that his unique work will continue to be appreciated by all for a long time to come.”

Akira Toriyama leaves a huge void for the manga universe. Dragon Ball will of course remain his most famous creation. With nearly 260 million copies sold worldwide, it is one of the best-selling manga of all time. And it has rocked several generations through its countless adaptations, on television or in the cinema. The latest film, Dragon Ball Super: Super Herowas released in France in October 2022.

Dragon Ball is a host of cult characters who have influenced our childhood and pop culture. Son Goku of course, the hero we see growing up before our eyes. But also Bulma, Vegeta, Krillin, Frieza, his wife Chichi with whom he will have two sons, Son Gohan and Son Goten, Piccolo, Cell, Trunks and many others.

It was with another cult manga, but less popular, that Akira Toriyama began to make himself known: Dr Slumpwhich tells the story of the android Arale and his creator, published from 1980. His very first publication, The wonderful island (Wonder Island)had not enjoyed great success but had already established the foundations of her recognizable style.

Eiichiro Oda, creator of the manga One Pieceregretted in a press release the death “too early“by Akira Toriyama, who leaves”a big void“.”To think that I will never see him again… I am overwhelmed by sadness“.