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scans_dailySad news from the world of manga, that legendary mangaka Akira Toriyama has died at the age of 68.
He died on 1st of March, though details were only announced today, so his family could mourn in private.
After starting work as a commercial artist, which he found unsatisfying, Toriyama made several forays trying to become a manga artist, and after some rejections and failures (though he was encouraged to keep trying) launched Dr Slump in 1980, the story of a scientist who constructs a perfect android in the form of a little girl, named Arale, and the comedy adventures that ensure when a small naive robot with a vast intellect and prodigous strength tries to make her way through life.
In 1984 Dragon Ball was first published, and the world of manga and anime hasn't been the same since, as the series has consistently achieved staggering levels of global success ever since.
I mean, hands up anyone who just KNOWS how to pose to make a "Kamehame-Ha!"?
Multiple generations have grown up knowing of Goku, and Bulma, and Vegeta, and Piccolo, and Trunks, and Krillin... and the ever expanding cast of eccentric characters orbiting a goofy, well-meaning young boy with a monkey's tail grew into the goofy, well-meaning martial arts champion across multiple realities with a seemingly endless series of power ups and skills (Which are undeniably handy for the marketing of variant action figures), and whose stories struck a chord with many kids growing up not quite following the world that was going on around them, but trying to do their best as they made their way through it.
He also branched out into videogames, doing character design work for the Dragon Quest and Chrono Trigger videogames.
Other, more knowledgable, fans of his series (I'm a latecomer to Dragonball, having been distracted by Saint Seiya at the time I was becoming more aware of anime and manga, especially in a Britain where neither were big names) will hopefully, make posts offering more insight than I can.
But even a passing fan must acknowledge the enormous impact his work has had in popularising multiple media formats across the world, and being the gatewway anime and manga for many fans for the past 40+ years.
So we offer our thanks for his work, and send our sincere condolences to his family, friends and the many fans around the world who will be feelign his loss today.
RIP Akira Toriyama
He died on 1st of March, though details were only announced today, so his family could mourn in private.
After starting work as a commercial artist, which he found unsatisfying, Toriyama made several forays trying to become a manga artist, and after some rejections and failures (though he was encouraged to keep trying) launched Dr Slump in 1980, the story of a scientist who constructs a perfect android in the form of a little girl, named Arale, and the comedy adventures that ensure when a small naive robot with a vast intellect and prodigous strength tries to make her way through life.
In 1984 Dragon Ball was first published, and the world of manga and anime hasn't been the same since, as the series has consistently achieved staggering levels of global success ever since.
I mean, hands up anyone who just KNOWS how to pose to make a "Kamehame-Ha!"?
Multiple generations have grown up knowing of Goku, and Bulma, and Vegeta, and Piccolo, and Trunks, and Krillin... and the ever expanding cast of eccentric characters orbiting a goofy, well-meaning young boy with a monkey's tail grew into the goofy, well-meaning martial arts champion across multiple realities with a seemingly endless series of power ups and skills (Which are undeniably handy for the marketing of variant action figures), and whose stories struck a chord with many kids growing up not quite following the world that was going on around them, but trying to do their best as they made their way through it.
He also branched out into videogames, doing character design work for the Dragon Quest and Chrono Trigger videogames.
Other, more knowledgable, fans of his series (I'm a latecomer to Dragonball, having been distracted by Saint Seiya at the time I was becoming more aware of anime and manga, especially in a Britain where neither were big names) will hopefully, make posts offering more insight than I can.
But even a passing fan must acknowledge the enormous impact his work has had in popularising multiple media formats across the world, and being the gatewway anime and manga for many fans for the past 40+ years.
So we offer our thanks for his work, and send our sincere condolences to his family, friends and the many fans around the world who will be feelign his loss today.
RIP Akira Toriyama
