A Tribute to Akira Toriyama

This one is going to hurt.

On March 1st, 2024, Akira Toriyama passed away due to acute subdural hematoma. At 68, he’d put his pen to countless creative works, from his original gag manga Dr. Slump to providing artwork for iconic video games like Dragon Quest and Chrono Trigger to, of course, his most famous work of all: Dragon Ball.

It’s difficult to put into words just how influential his work truly was. Namely because that influence is everywhere! Name a shounen manga debuted post 1979, and there is a 100% chance the mangaka will site Toriyama as an inspiration. Countless references and homages to Dragon Ball can be found in western cartoons through the decades. Super Saiyan was such an iconic transformation that even Sonic the Hedgehog got in on it! That’s not even touching on his work in Dragon Quest; man drew a slime and it became one of the most recognizable and beloved monsters in video game history!

Even the real world couldn’t escape it. Be honest: you’ve tried to go Super Saiyan at least once in your life. If not that, you’ve tried to do a Kamehameha. If you claim to have done neither, you’re either lying or your childhood was exceedingly boring.

His influence doesn’t stop at the playground. Goku VS Jiren was such a big event that the Mexican government organized massive watch parties, in which thousands of people attended to watch the fight on the big screen! That’s just one example; Dragon Ball is so huge in the Spanish community that they name food joints after the characters!

I first discovered Dragon Ball when I was thirteen. In the summer break between school years, I didn’t have much to do; my friendships at the time started and ended at the school doors. On a whim, I went to a totally legal and not at all shady website to watch the first episode of the original Dragon Ball anime.

I proceeded to binge all 153 episodes in one week. After which, I binged through Z. Then GT. Then every single movie. My middle-school brain was addled with thoughts of golden clouds and transforming pigs and martial arts tournaments and copious amounts of screaming.

It’s fairly safe to say that Dragon Ball had a big impact on my life. It changed so much of my life it’s honestly kind of scary. I made friends because of this series. I got my little brother into it, which brought us closer as siblings. Dragon Ball Fighterz made me a fighting game fan just as the show made me an anime dork. I’ve written countless blog posts about the series, from reviews to character analyses to general rants. Goku’s story is one that will always be near and dear to my heart.

Cheesy as it might sound, I owe a large part of my life to Toriyama-sensei and his work. I’ve struggled with depression for a long time; it would leave me feeling drained and hopeless for days on end. When things got really bad, Dragon Ball became a comfort series for me. It entertained me when I needed it, and more than that, it inspired me. Goku was always giving it his all, training hard, fighting harder, and loving life. I know it sounds corny, but it gave me strength to do the same when I needed it.

One of the last times the series did that for me was when the Super: Broly movie dropped. One night, I got home from a particularly shit shift at work. So I bought my brother and I tickets and we went to see a late showing of the film. We walked out of that theater rejuvenated and bouncing with joy and energy like we were kids again.

I could go on and on for days, but it would never be enough. Toriyama’s work has done so much for countless people over countless years, and I’ve no doubt it will continue to do so for countless years to come. The man is nothing short of legendary. There will never be another mangaka like him.

Thank you for everything, Akira Toriyama. Rest in peace.