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A legend passed away this month, and the world felt a ripple effect of the shock left behind. Akira Toriyama, creator of Dragon Ball, Dr. Slump, Kajika, Neko Majin, and more, left us on March 1, 2024. The news broke causing fans and fellow creators in the manga industry to feel the impact of his passing. However, the impressive tributes flowing in for Akira Toriyama through social media showcase the grief felt by the entertainment industry in his wake.
Popular Mangaka Grieve A Passing Idol in Akira Toriyama Tribute Posts
Akira Toriyama worked in the manga industry for nearly 46 years until his death. His fans were not simply consumers; in many cases, his work would influence future titans in the industry. Tributes included Akira Toriyama tribute statements issued by Naruto creator Masashi Kishimoto and One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda:
In these statements, you can find two men, born only months apart from one another, who grew up admiring Toriyama’s prolific work and wanting to emulate his success. Both of them talk about the honor of having met this legend, and even being considered a friend.
In these tributes, Toriyama is referred to by Kishimoto as the god of salvation and the god of manga. Oda saw Toriyama as the one who bridged the gap between adult and children readers for the medium. They’re both right, as the iconic creator infused action with gag manga in his prolific decades of content. His legacy is felt not just by mangaka and anime creators, but creative types around the world.
Legendary Video Game Creators Mourn Toriyama’s Loss
Akira Toriyama’s art style was so memorable that he was often requested for high-profile projects like Dragon Quest. He was the crucial artist and member of the Dream Team assembled for the greatest game of all time, Chrono Trigger, alongside Nobuo Uematsu, Yūji Horii, Kazuhiko Aoki, and Hironobu Sakaguchi. Yūji Horii, who worked with him on Chrono Trigger and was the creator of Dragon Quest, issued this statement:
In it, there’s a common thread like with other tributes to Akira Toriyama, such as when Horii was a video game columnist at Weekly Shonen Jump where Toriyama worked. Additionally, he referred to the legend as a colleague and a friend, much like other creative legends.
Naoto Ohshima, the prolific longtime artist who designed Sonic the Hedgehog and Dr. Eggman, issued a short but sweet message as well. His reverence for the creator is well-documented, and many creators noted the influence that series like Dragon Ball had on the Sonic series. It’s also an important reminder that they were also coworkers, with Ohshima serving as an executive producer for 2006’s Blue Dragon, for which Toriyama was the principal artist.
But fans were also quick to note this memorable moment from one of Chrono Trigger’s many endings:
Despite Toriyama creating so many wonderful worlds and making amazing work connections, he loved his family above all else. He did it for Sasuke and Kikka, as much as he did for all of us.
Celebrities, Companies, and Governments Grieved His Loss
Toriyama-sensei’s loss was felt even by those not typically associated with the manga industry. Such moments include this statement from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
Even massive corporations in the gaming sphere couldn’t help but raise their hands for Goku’s Spirit Bomb:
It’s genuinely delightful to see so many people who were touched or moved by Toriyama’s legacy. It’s sad to see how devastated they are by his passing, but it also means I can carry a little of him with me anywhere I go. This includes statements from Crush 40’s Johnny Gioeli, once again noting Dragon Ball’s influence on Sonic:
But above all, it reminds us that no matter how big of a star or company you are, Toriyama’s star power was impossibly incandescent. Here is a statement from Jackie Chan:
But the community will only continue to issue their statements of grief, so I will conclude with this:
Toriyama-sensei, your creative influence has resulted in a multimedia empire for your works. Dragon Ball is now in the cultural zeitgeist and a poster child for popular anime, and your imprint on Chrono Trigger and Dragon Quest will be felt forever. Your creations continue to be adapted, with new Sand Land and Dragon Ball games coming soon. But there’s a more important truth.
You allowed manga and anime fans to feel accepted. For that, I lower my freak flag to half-mast and wish you and your family the best at this time.
