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On the morning of March 8th, 2024 in Japan, the official website and social media accounts of the Dragon Ball franchise had posted that Akira Toriyama, the creator of the Dragon Ball franchise, has passed away on March 1st at the age of 68 due to acute subdural hematoma.
Bird Studio, Toriyama’s design and production studio has noted that Toriyama’s family had held a private funeral with his closest family members and relatives. They also request fans and the general public that “Following his wishes for tranquility, we respectfully inform you that we will not accept flowers, condolences gifts, visiting, offering and others. Also, we ask you to refrain from conducting interviews with his family.” but are looking into hosting a commemorative gathering to honor his legacy in the future.
Toriyama was a regular contributor to Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine since 1978, creating hit works including Dr. Slump, which ran with 236 chapters from 1980-1984, Dragon Ball, which saw 519 chapters from 1984-1995 and a sequel in Dragon Ball Super, which has run since 2015; and Sandland, a 14-chapter series released in 2000. Toriyama was also a video game character designer, contributing his talents to many popular JRPGs including Dragon Quest, Chrono Trigger, and Blue Dragon.
Toriyama’s biggest success no doubt comes from the Dragon Ball franchise, which since the original Dragon Ball anime aired in Japan from 1986-1989, has spawned many sequel anime television series, films, and other adaptations. This includes Dragon Ball Z (1989-1996), Dragon Ball GT (1996-1997), Dragon Ball Super (2015-2018, plus two movies), the web series Super Dragon Ball Heroes, and much more.
Prior to his death, Akira Toriyama was working on the next Dragon Ball anime series, titled Dragon Ball Daima. Daima is scheduled to launch in Japan this Fall 2024, which will coincide with the 40th Anniversary of the release of the original manga.
The Dragon Ball franchise has played a major role in anime’s mainstream success, ever since Toonami partnered with Funimation (now part of Crunchyroll) to bring Dragon Ball Z to television back in 1999. The success of DBZ alongside other hit anime programming on Toonami, helped bring about the 90’s-2000’s anime boom and the overall popularity of anime in the Western Hemisphere today.
Jason DeMarco, co-creator of Toonami, credits Dragon Ball as a major reason for the block’s success, saying: “Without Dragon Ball, Toonami would not have been what it became. Without his work, Anime would not be the global phenomenon it is today.”
NUNEKIN KAMUI DEMARCO on Twitter: “RIP to one of the greatest mangaka to ever do it. Line work and character design were legendary. His work changed my life and so many others. Without Dragon Ball, Toonami would not have been what it became. Without his work, Anime would not be the global phenomenon it is today. https://t.co/eUJq02TpRP / Twitter”
RIP to one of the greatest mangaka to ever do it. Line work and character design were legendary. His work changed my life and so many others. Without Dragon Ball, Toonami would not have been what it became. Without his work, Anime would not be the global phenomenon it is today.
Update 3/8 @ 12:00 p.m. EST: Toonami just posted a tribute to Toriyama on their Facebook page, simply saying: “Rest in peace, legend. None of us would be here without you.”
Who knows where the Dragon Ball franchise, Toonami, and anime as a whole would have gone if DBZ never aired on the block. But for millions of anime fans, myself included, we’re glad that it did. With the impact that Dragon Ball has had on popular culture overall, Akira Toriyama’s works and legacy will continue to inspire anime fans to for many years to come.
One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda and Naruto creator Masashi Kishimoto, both friends and colleagues of Toriyama’s, released statements regarding his passing.
One Piece US on Twitter: “Eiichiro Oda’s statement on Akira Toriyama’s tragic passing pic.twitter.com/0cImqdBvug / Twitter”
Eiichiro Oda’s statement on Akira Toriyama’s tragic passing pic.twitter.com/0cImqdBvug
Naruto Uzumaki on Twitter: “Masashi Kishimoto just shared his response about Akira Toriyama’s passing. pic.twitter.com/4ExHGYEZzZ / Twitter”
Masashi Kishimoto just shared his response about Akira Toriyama’s passing. pic.twitter.com/4ExHGYEZzZ
Many voice actors and other figures that have been involved in the Dragon Ball franchise, also took to Twitter to send their condolences:
https://twitter.com/JustChrisSabat/status/1765945376400388333
Goku on Twitter: “Just received word from King Kai. Legendary manga creator and the father of Dragon Ball, Akira Toriyama, has passed through the Other World Check-In Station. / Twitter”
Just received word from King Kai. Legendary manga creator and the father of Dragon Ball, Akira Toriyama, has passed through the Other World Check-In Station.
Kara Edwards on Twitter: “I’m stunned. We never met and yet you shaped my entire life. I’ll find better words with time, but for now I’ll simply say Thank You. For a story that brought a world together and made us a family. Thank you. https://t.co/LEOxsYGnr4 / Twitter”
I’m stunned. We never met and yet you shaped my entire life. I’ll find better words with time, but for now I’ll simply say Thank You. For a story that brought a world together and made us a family. Thank you. https://t.co/LEOxsYGnr4
ChRiS rAgEr on Twitter: “A sad day. Just honored to ever have been a part of what he has created. He will be greatly missed. https://t.co/4zUu8svXd5 / Twitter”
A sad day. Just honored to ever have been a part of what he has created. He will be greatly missed. https://t.co/4zUu8svXd5
https://twitter.com/childishgamzeno/status/1765942936406196702
Justin Rojas on Twitter: “Akira Toriyama has passed away. Thoughts to all his family and friends. This hits hard, personally and professionally. https://t.co/VzjPkqjH2G / Twitter”
Akira Toriyama has passed away. Thoughts to all his family and friends. This hits hard, personally and professionally. https://t.co/VzjPkqjH2G
Mike McFarland on Twitter: “Thank you, Toriyama-sama, for sharing your mind, heart, and stories with the world. The number of lives you have touched, shaped, and forever changed is astronomical. And certainly includes my own. Rest in peace. https://t.co/9nMXmSzCTf / Twitter”
Thank you, Toriyama-sama, for sharing your mind, heart, and stories with the world. The number of lives you have touched, shaped, and forever changed is astronomical. And certainly includes my own. Rest in peace. https://t.co/9nMXmSzCTf
KYᄂΣ ΉΣBΣЯƬ on Twitter: “A legend whose creations catapulted straight to the hearts of generations of fans worldwide. I have a career thanks to his amazing storytelling. His work not only entertained me but literally changed my life. #riptoriyama pic.twitter.com/8dQObMaU5g / Twitter”
A legend whose creations catapulted straight to the hearts of generations of fans worldwide. I have a career thanks to his amazing storytelling. His work not only entertained me but literally changed my life. #riptoriyama pic.twitter.com/8dQObMaU5g
Alan Lee on Twitter: “He’s had such an impact on so many of us. I can’t believe I’m reading this. Rest in peace…Man, I know I’m getting old now… https://t.co/WQ4l2g6WKC / Twitter”
He’s had such an impact on so many of us. I can’t believe I’m reading this. Rest in peace…Man, I know I’m getting old now… https://t.co/WQ4l2g6WKC
https://twitter.com/DamanMills/status/1765973974377250906
Ricco Fajardo on Twitter: “Oh, what a strange feeling? Toriyama’s art has been around my whole life and- almost mystically- has appeared at my most formative moments.Ever-present, foundational.Thank you #AkiraToriyama for sharing your gifts.Here is my favorite & a character I had the honor to voice ❤️ https://t.co/8yJv3MCzYk pic.twitter.com/PW2jDAMEOV / Twitter”
Oh, what a strange feeling? Toriyama’s art has been around my whole life and- almost mystically- has appeared at my most formative moments.Ever-present, foundational.Thank you #AkiraToriyama for sharing your gifts.Here is my favorite & a character I had the honor to voice ❤️ https://t.co/8yJv3MCzYk pic.twitter.com/PW2jDAMEOV
Eric Vale on Twitter: “Without you, many of us have little. But because of you, we all have joy. Safe passage and thank you. #RIPAkiraToriyama pic.twitter.com/iKNonG2X0L / Twitter”
Without you, many of us have little. But because of you, we all have joy. Safe passage and thank you. #RIPAkiraToriyama pic.twitter.com/iKNonG2X0L
Chris Cason on Twitter: “R.I.P. to a beloved storyteller and artist. He enriched my life along with many others and will not be forgotten. pic.twitter.com/gVvQGRh9KD / Twitter”
R.I.P. to a beloved storyteller and artist. He enriched my life along with many others and will not be forgotten. pic.twitter.com/gVvQGRh9KD
J Michael Tatum on Twitter: “And the artist laid down his pen. Rest in peace, Akira Toriyama. Our debt to you is unfathomable. / Twitter”
And the artist laid down his pen. Rest in peace, Akira Toriyama. Our debt to you is unfathomable.
Christopher Bevins on Twitter: “Thank you for everything, Sensei. #RIPAkiraToriyama / Twitter”
Thank you for everything, Sensei. #RIPAkiraToriyama
https://twitter.com/MrJasonDouglas/status/1766092240521241066
Colleen Clinkenbeard on Twitter: “I was so full of stress over my travel woes, then woke up this morning to the news of Toriyama’s passing. Everything slowed down and my perspective shifted. Take a moment to breathe in the gift of a creative legend. What a legacy. Thinking of the DBZ family across the globe today pic.twitter.com/5EgoU7uGAo / Twitter”
I was so full of stress over my travel woes, then woke up this morning to the news of Toriyama’s passing. Everything slowed down and my perspective shifted. Take a moment to breathe in the gift of a creative legend. What a legacy.
Clifford Chapin on Twitter: “Deeply saddened to hear of Toriyama-sensei’s passing. Dragon Ball Z was the first anime I ever watched. I’ve been trying to collect all of his works for years. To say the man’s stories influenced my life’s path is an understatement. Thank you for everything, Toriyama-sensei. https://t.co/L6FwS8HTSD pic.twitter.com/ep4hIHJb9B / Twitter”
Deeply saddened to hear of Toriyama-sensei’s passing. Dragon Ball Z was the first anime I ever watched. I’ve been trying to collect all of his works for years. To say the man’s stories influenced my life’s path is an understatement. Thank you for everything, Toriyama-sensei. https://t.co/L6FwS8HTSD pic.twitter.com/ep4hIHJb9B
We here at Toonami Squad join our fellow Toonami Faithful, the Dragon Ball community, and anime fans worldwide in sending our thoughts to his family, friends and fans. Toriyama-san, may you rest in peace in the Other World and thank you for everything.
