Akira Toriyama, Creator of Dragon Ball, Passes at 68
The Facts
Japanese artist and anime creator Akira Toriyama, best known for creating the popular manga Dragon Ball, passed away on March 1 at the age of 68, according to Bird Studio.
His studio announced his death one week later on Friday, revealing that the iconic creator died from an acute subdural hematoma. A small funeral for his family and a few close friends was held for Toriyama, according to the Dragon Ball website.
The Spin
Narrative A
Akira Toriyama's death is a gut-wrenching tragedy for millions of manga fans worldwide, and we should use this time to honor the brilliance of Toriyama and celebrate what he has meant to the world of anime and media as a whole. Dragon Ball completely transformed Japanese comics and media, turning the beloved genre into a global phenomenon. Toriyama was an unprecedented genius. His creativity and storytelling created a limitless universe that has united people from opposite ends of the world, and his work remains extremely popular to this day. Toriyama's brilliance will never be forgotten, and his legacy will continue to live on.
Narrative B
Akira Toriyama meant a lot to many people, and his death is deeply saddening to everyone in the manga community. While he was one of the most famous manga creators, unfortunately, much of his work became stale as he tried to adapt to a broader audience. After reaching pop culture icon status, Dragon Ball jumped the shark, and Toriyama did little to save his creation from becoming just another over-commercialized production. We can honor the life and legacy of Toriyama while also recognizing the trajectory of his creative process.