Akira Toriyama, a Japanese artist also known as a ‘Mangaka,’ was famous for creating Dragon Ball, a manga that has gained worldwide recognition and success. Additionally, he was a well-known character designer for video games, having worked on popular titles such as the Dragon Quest series and Blue Dragon.
Unfortunately, the creator of one of the most impactful and top-selling manga series in Japan passed away at the age of 68 on 8th March 2024.
According to his studio, Toriyama suffered an acute subdural hematoma, a form of brain hemorrhage, on Friday. The global popularity of Dragon Ball has led to the creation of animated and live-action adaptations of the comic series.
Akira Toriyama’s Early Years
Akira Toriyama was born in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan on April 5, 1955. His father was the owner of an auto repair shop and had a passion for motorbike racing. Toriyama shares this same affection for cars and motorbikes passed down from his father.
During his time in elementary school, there were limited options for entertainment, so he and his friends turned to draw anime and manga. He joined in on the trend and won a prize at a nearby art studio for his rendition of 101 Dalmatians, sparking his interest in the craft.
After enrolling in high school in 1974 to pursue his passion for art, he focused on publicity. However, in 1977, he switched to cartoon drawing and left school. He then secured a position at an advertising agency in Nagoya, where he designed posters for 3 years before leaving to pursue his dream of becoming a manga artist.
Career
Akira Toriyama submitted his manga to a beginner’s competition in ‘Jump’ magazine. While he did not emerge as the winner, his work caught the attention and admiration of Kazuhiko Torishima. Torishima later became the editor for Toriyama’s manga.
Akira Toriyama entered the world of manga in 1978 with the publication of his story ‘Wonder Island’ in ‘Weekly Shōnen Jump.’ The following year, he unveiled his next manga, ‘Highlight Island.’
The sitcom ‘Dr. Slump,’ which aired in the 1980s, earned him significant recognition and popularity. The series ran from 1980 to 1984 in the magazine ‘Weekly Shōnen Jump’ and follows the adventures of a scientist and his robot companion, ‘Arale.’
This manga was honored with the ‘Shogakukan Manga Award’. in 1981. In Japan, ‘Dr. Slump’ has achieved sales of over 35 million copies. The manga was also made into an anime series, which aired on television from 1981 to 1986 and was met with great acclaim. A new version of the series was broadcast from 1997 to 1999.
In 1984, Toriyama’s Dragon Ball manga was released in the ‘Weekly Shōnen Jump’ and quickly became a hit. With over 156 million copies sold in Japan, it is now known as the most influential Shōnen manga. Its success also contributed to the magazine’s circulation reaching 6.53 million in 1995.
The initial concept of ‘Dragon Ball’ was an adventure-based manga but eventually evolved into a martial arts-focused series. It enjoyed a prosperous 11-year run from 1984 to 1995, with author Toriyama producing a total of 519 chapters over 42 compiled volumes.
The manga series achieved great success and was transformed into 5 anime series, numerous animated films, and video games. While 2 of these anime were not directly based on the manga, Akira Toriyama personally created the characters for them.
The manga series Dragon Ball gained widespread popularity not only in Japan but also in Europe and North America, with 240 million copies sold globally. In 1986, Yuji Horii, a video game designer and creator, enlisted Toriyama to provide character design and artwork for ‘Dragon Quest.’
Toriyama’s most notable contribution to the world of video games is his character design for the popular RPG series ‘Dragon Quest.’ This game brought computerized role-playing games to the forefront of the Japanese market.
Additionally, Toriyama has also designed characters for other well-known video games, including ‘Dragon Warrior,’ ‘Super Famicom,’ ‘Chrono Trigger,’ and the ‘Tobal’ series.
In 2009, Akira Toriyama was involved in the creation of a manga titled Delicious Island’s Mr. U for a non-profit environmental organization based in Anjō.
The purpose of this manga was to educate children on the significance of nature and agriculture. Additionally, Toriyama collaborated with ‘Shōnen Jump’ to produce a video aimed at raising awareness and support for those affected by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.
Akira Toriyama was responsible for both the animation and screenwriting of the first installment in the series, Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods, which was released on March 30, 2013. He also played a role in the development of its sequel, Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection F, which hit theaters on April 18, 2015.
Personal Life
On May 2, 1982, Toriyama tied the knot with Yoshimi Kato, who previously worked as a manga artist using the pseudonym ‘Nachi Mikami’. She occasionally assisted Toriyama with his manga projects. They welcomed a son in March 1987 and a daughter in October 1990.
Since he was young, he had been a passionate animal enthusiast and owned numerous pets. Additionally, he had a strong interest in crafting plastic models and had designed numerous ones for the ‘Fine Molds’ company.
Net Worth
To say that Akira Toriyama is only one of the most influential mangakas in Japan would be an understatement. His Dragon Ball series has sold over 300 million copies, solidifying his position as a powerhouse in the manga world.
Despite his immense impact and influence, Akira Toriyama’s net worth is only approximately $55 million, which may seem surprisingly low given that he was the mastermind behind Dragon Ball. However, it is not uncommon for creators to be undervalued and not receive the compensation they truly deserve.
