Influential Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama (68 years old) has died suddenly | outside

It's hard not to encounter Akira Toriyama's art in popular culture. Watch any Marvel movie and you'll see action scenes directly inspired by the devastating planetary battles in “Dragon Ball Z.” Listen to a hip-hop track and you might hear a reference to it Super Saiyan Become. Even in the world of sports, where athletes profess their devotion to Goku, the hero of the Dragon Ball series, Toriyama's influence is evident.

After director Hayao Miyazaki, Toriyama is perhaps the most influential Japanese artist of our time. One American commentator said: “He brought manga and anime into the global mainstream and broke the boundaries that had long protected Japanese storytelling.”

Akira Toriyama died on March 1 from an acute subdural hematoma, a bleeding near the brain. The official statement said that his family and some friends attended his funeral.Dragon Ball website. “He still wants to achieve a lot. Fortunately, he has left the world with many titles. We hope that his unique creativity will remain loved by everyone for a long time to come.

Japanese-born Toriyama made his way into the world of comics in the early 1980s with “Dr.” “Slump”, which tells the story of the little robot girl Aralee and her scientist creator. “Dragon Ball” was his most famous work. Inspired by the classic Chinese epic “Journey to the West”, it emphasized humor and martial arts. The animated TV show was a worldwide hit.

The comedy series, which appeared in 1984, revolves around a boy, Son Goku, who goes in search of magical balls, the Dragon Balls. More than 230 million albums have been sold worldwide, including 150 million in Japan alone. The series' popularity has also led to animated series and feature films based on the original work. Some of them have also been shown on our TV, including “Dragon Ball Z” and “Dragon Ball Super.”.

As an artist, Toriyama had a sharp and distinctive style of depicting people. His faces were easy to recognize and his way of drawing hands was eye-catching. In a 2013 interview with Japanese newspaper Asahi, Toriyama said he had “no idea” how Dragon Ball would spread around the world. “When I drew the series, I just wanted to please the boys in Japan.”

Toriyama was still working on some projects when he passed away. The artist has already been buried. It is not yet known whether there will be a public farewell. His family asked his fans not to send flowers or funeral gifts “given his preference for calm.”

Artists and animators from various industries and around the world share their Toriyama-inspired works online. “He will always be remembered as an icon who influenced the youth of many creatives.”