Current:Home > MyAkira Toriyama, legendary Japanese manga artist and Dragon Ball creator, dies at 68-InfoLens
Akira Toriyama, legendary Japanese manga artist and Dragon Ball creator, dies at 68
View Date:2024-12-23 15:00:38
Akira Toriyama, a Japanese manga artist and creator of the influential Dragon Ball franchise, has died. He was 68.
Toriyama's death was confirmed on Friday by his manga and design production studio, Bird Studio, and Capsule Corporation Tokyo. The studio said Toriyama died on March 1 due to acute subdural hematoma, a condition where blood collects between the skull and the surface of the brain.
Only his family and very few friends attended his funeral, according to a statement from the studio.
"He has left many manga titles and works of art to this world," the studio wrote in the statement. "Thanks to the support of so many people around the world, he has been able to continue his creative activities for over 45 years."
"We hope that Akira Toriyama's unique world of creation continues to be loved by everyone for a long time," the statement continued.
Born on April 5, 1955, in Nagoya, Japan, Toriyama began drawing at a young age and entered the manga industry in his early 20s when he submitted his work to the Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine. He later received mainstream recognition for creating Dr. Slump, a highly successful manga that was published in the 1980s.
In 1984, Toriyama created Dragon Ball, which has since been regarded as one of the greatest manga series ever made and has become a major pop culture influencer. The series, which was inspired by the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West and martial arts films, follows the now well-known character Son Goku and his adventures as a martial arts trainee searching for seven dragon balls.
The initial manga was serialized in 519 chapters in Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine from 1984 to 1995 and sold over 150 million copies in Japan by 2008. The series then grew into a multimedia franchise and became one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time, spawning several animated series and spin-offs; over 20 films; and various video games.
By the 1990s, Toriyama's popularity grew outside of Japan as the animated series, Dragon Ball, and its sequel, Dragon Ball Z, received international acclaim. The series, especially its protagonist Goku, has been referenced by artists, athletes, and celebrities around the world.
Toriyama also worked as a character designer for numerous popular video games, such as the Dragon Quest series, Chrono Trigger and Blue Dragon. At the time of his death, Bird Studio said Toriyama had "several works in the middle of creation with great enthusiasm."
“Also, he would have many more things to achieve," the studio wrote in the statement.
veryGood! (5)
Related
- Bankruptcy judge questioned Shilo Sanders' no-show at previous trial
- Regan Smith, Phoebe Bacon advance to semis in women's 200-meter backstroke
- Horoscopes Today, August 1, 2024
- Olympic gymnastics live updates: Simone Biles wins gold medal in all-around
- Democrat George Whitesides wins election to US House, beating incumbent Mike Garcia
- 4 Las Vegas teens agree to plead guilty as juveniles in deadly beating of high school student
- 50 Cent addresses Diddy allegations and why he never partied with the rapper
- Man gets prison for blowing up Philly ATMs with dynamite, hauling off $417k
- Army veteran reunites with his K9 companion, who served with him in Afghanistan
- Why do Olympic swimmers wear big parkas before racing? Warmth and personal pizzazz
Ranking
- Mariah Carey's Amazon Holiday Merch Is All I Want for Christmas—and It's Selling Out Fast!
- Dwyane Wade's Olympic broadcasts showing he could be future of NBC hoops
- An 'asymmetrical' butt? Why Lululemon pulled its new leggings off shelves
- Pregnant Cardi B Puts Baby Bump on Display in New York After Filing for Divorce From Offset
- Republican David Schweikert wins reelection in affluent Arizona congressional district
- Can I afford college? High tuition costs squeeze out middle-class students like me.
- USA women’s 3x3 basketball team loses third straight game in pool play
- Illinois sheriff whose deputy shot Sonya Massey says it will take rest of his career to regain trust
Recommendation
-
John Krasinski Details Moment He Knew Wife Emily Blunt Was “the One”
-
Horoscopes Today, August 1, 2024
-
As a historic prisoner exchange unfolds, a look back at other famous East-West swaps
-
2024 Olympics: Suni Lee Wins Bronze During Gymnastics All-Around Final
-
The Masked Singer's Ice King Might Be a Jonas Brother
-
USA women’s 3x3 basketball team loses third straight game in pool play
-
How high can Simone Biles jump? The answer may surprise you
-
Legislation will provide $100M in emergency aid to victims of wildfires and flooding in New Mexico