Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama has passed away aged 68
Akira Toriyama, the legendary manga artist best known for creating Dragon Ball and his iconic art style, has passed away.
The details:
Toriyama's death was announced in a joint statement by Bird Studio and Capsule Corporation Tokyo, which revealed that the artist died on March 1 due to acute subdural hematoma, a bleed near the brain. "It's our deep regret that he still had several works in the middle of creation with great enthusiasm. Also, he would have many more things to achieve," the statement reads. "However, he has left many manga titles and works of art to this world. Thanks to the support of so many people around the world, he has been able to continue his creative activities for over 45 years. We hope that Akira Toriyama's unique world of creation continues to be loved by everyone for a long time to come."
Toriyama has had a significant impact not only in the manga and anime space but also in gaming, with his artwork prominently featured in Square Enix's Dragon Quest series, which became a cultural phenomenon in Japan upon its release. He also served as a character designer on Square’s Chrono Trigger.
Many industry figures have paid tribute to Toriyama, including Nintendo's Masahiro Sakurai, Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii, and Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi. Fans have also begun to share more of his work, including a hidden message in Chrono Trigger intended for his children.
Bandai Namco is currently developing an action RPG adaptation of Toriyama's Sand Land, which is set to be released on consoles and PC on April 26.
