Mar 8, 2024
Aakanksha Sharma
End of an era
Akira Toriyama, the creative genius behind the beloved ‘Dragon Ball’ manga and anime series, died on March 1, 2024. He was 68 years old. According to his production team, the cause of his death was acute subdural hematoma. Here we list some lesser-known facts about the artist.
The best manga artist
Akira Toriyama was one of the most famous Japanese manga artists and character designers, who gained widespread recognition for his creations.
Claim to fame
Even before the ‘Dragon Ball’ series received him widespread fame and recognition, it was Dr. Slump who put his name in the manga market.
First award
Toriyama’s artistic brilliance earned him the 1981 Shogakukan Manga Award for best shonen manga. His ‘Dr. Slump’ series sold over 35 million copies in Japan alone.
The iconic Dragon Ball series
His claim to fame, the iconic ‘Dragon Ball’ series, sold over 260 million copies worldwide, and solidified Toriyama’s status as one of the most successful manga creators in history.
A versatile artist
Toriyama was not just a Manga artist but his talents also included character design in popular video games. Video games such as the Dragon Quest series, Chrono Trigger, and Blue Dragon had his characters.
You may also like
10 life lessons to learn from ‘The Secre…
AutHer Awards 2024 Longlist for Non-Fict…
Manga to Anime
His first superhit, the ‘Dr. Slump’ series, was adapted into not one but 2 anime series. The second series came out in 1997, years after the manga series ended.
Manga fame
But, Toriyama will forever be known for the ‘Dragon Ball’ series, its popularity, and its anime conversions. Dragon Ball became immensely popular worldwide and in some way introduced others to Manga.
An award from France
Being an international icon, Toriyama also received the Chevalier of the French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2019 by the French government.
His other interests
In addition to his manga endeavours, Toriyama was also very fond of automobiles. He was known for his interest in car collecting, and also showed his love for cars in his crafts and arts.
Thanks For Reading!
Next: 10 life lessons to learn from ‘The Secret’ by Rhonda Byrn
Read Next