The manga and anime world is in mourning. Master Akira Toriyama has passed away at the age of 68 due to an acute subdural hematoma. This is one of those pieces of news that, when you read it, you hope it’s fake like so many circulating on the internet. But no, sadly, this time the news is true. A genius is gone. The creator of Dragon Ball, the most popular manga in history and responsible for hours and hours of entertainment in our childhood, leaves having left a legacy that will endure forever in the hearts of millions of fans around the world. If only his Dragon Balls were real to bring him back to life. Rest in peace, Toriyama sensei.
The Legacy of Akira Toriyama and Dragon Ball
They say one doesn’t truly die as long as they’re remembered. In this case, Akira Toriyama will never die. After his departure, the mangaka leaves an indelible legacy that will endure forever. Creator of “Doctor Slump,” “Sand Land,” which was set to premiere anime this year, and a collaborator in video games like “Dragon Quest” or “Chrono Trigger.” However, the work for which the world will always remember him is “Dragon Ball.” Since its debut in 1984, the “Dragon Ball” manga has sold 260 million copies worldwide. It became the most-watched anime on the planet, dubbed in over 40 languages. Akira Toriyama’s work has inspired hundreds of mangakas, including Masashi Kishimoto (Naruto), Eiichiro Oda (One Piece), Tite Kubo (Bleach), or Hiro Mashima (Fairy Tail). “Dragon Ball” laid the foundation for Shonen, influencing many other works to this day. Power scales, power-ups, and transformations are elements we’ll always owe to Akira Toriyama and “Dragon Ball.”
The Future of Dragon Ball Without Akira Toriyama
After learning the sad news of Akira Toriyama’s death, thousands of fans are asking the same question, “What will happen now with ‘Dragon Ball’?” The mangaka has left his work unfinished, and all eyes are now on his pupil, Toyotaro. While it’s true that in recent years, with “Dragon Ball Super,” Akira Toriyama didn’t have as prominent a role as in “Dragon Ball” and “Dragon Ball Z,” he still was responsible for the story and manga script, while Toyotaro handled the artwork. But during the last sagas, Toyotaro had an increasingly significant role in the story, even being responsible for one of the best sagas in recent times in “Dragon Ball,” the Granola saga. The question is: Did Toyotaro know Toriyama’s plans for the future of “Dragon Ball”?
Toyotaro Leading Dragon Ball
Formerly known under the alias “Toyble,” Toyotaro started as the artist for the fanfic manga “Dragon Ball AF.” His talent for portraying Akira Toriyama’s characters didn’t go unnoticed, and he was soon hired by the Japanese publisher Shueisha to work as an artist on the manga “Dragon Ball: Victory Mission” and collaborate with Toriyama in creating character sketches for the “Dragon Ball” manga. Later, the publisher decided that he would illustrate the new “Dragon Ball Super” manga under the supervision of Akira Toriyama. The mangaka gave his consent because age and health prevented him from dedicating the hours that a manga like “Dragon Ball” required. Now Toyotaro faces the biggest challenge of his life. However, given his excellent work in the Granola saga, the future of “Dragon Ball” is in good hands.
