MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Akira Toriyama was nothing less than an artistic powerhouse. The manga artist and illustrator died on March 01 due to an acute subdural haemotoma and the news was released to the wider world on March 08 by his studio via social media.
Akira started as an illustrator for an advertising agency in Nagoya, Japan before quitting to make the jump to manga artist. He found initial success with Weekly Shounen Jump with his manga Dr Slump in 1980 before getting critical acclaim for the series Dragon Ball in 1983.
Dragon Ball is one of the most influential media series in the entire world. Even if you don’t know anything about the plot, most people will recognize iconic characters like Goku, Trunks, and Frieza at a glance. The series is hugely popular, having debuted in 1984 and has gone from strength to strength ever since with several animated series, films, merchandise and a Hollywood live action adaptation. It draws from an eclectic mix of pan Asian influences – from kung fu films to Journey to the West to various Asian mythologies.
Akira’s art style brims with energy with sharp angles and strong action lines, and his stories bear consistent internal world-building. The reader follows the journey of Son Goku on a journey to collect the seven Dragon Balls. He is small and diminutive at the start of the series, as if inviting readers to underestimate him. But throughout the series, he develops both martial prowess and personal strength. The series is known for its over the top fights with the energy move “Kamehameha” being a phrase yelled by children on playgrounds the world over.
Dragon Ball’s cultural impact can be found in the most unexpected places. The characters and logo are often depicted on the side of jeepneys in Manila. The series has a religious following in Latin America, with Goku drawn on the side of taquerias and murals all over Mexico. During the release of Dragon Ball Super in 2015, the final fight between Goku and antagonist Jiren was advertised in the same style as a real life prize, with posters and advertisements for it. When Toei Animation opened its studio in the Philippines, artists vied for a chance to animate the series that had influenced them growing up.
The announcement of Akira’s death was followed by an outpouring of grief on social media from fans the world over. Santos FC, one of the most established football clubs in Brazil, offered their condolences and proudly showed Goku wearing the club uniform for popular fan holiday Goku Day. The French Embassy in Japan acknowledged his contribution to promoting manga in France as he was awarded the Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters in 2019 by the French government. Creators who have worked with him such as Hironobu Sakaguchi (Final Fantasy/Dragon Quest), Masashi Kishimoto (Naruto) and Toyotarou (current Dragon Ball manga artist for Shonen Jump) expressed their grief and condolences towards his family.
Filipino artist Kevin Eric Raymundo, known for his comic and internet persona Tarantadong Kalbo, also shared his own tribute to the celebrated artist.
Dragon Ball’s manga can found published in English by Viz Entertainment. Many versions of the anime can be streamed via Crunchyroll online.
