Musings

Remembering Akira Toriyama

It was announced today, March 8, 2024, that Akira Toriyama had passed away on March 1st, at age 68. For many, Toriyama's name is as synonymous with manga and anime as Tezuka's or Otomo's. He was a truly amazing creator, one only needs to say Dragon Ball once to understand, and that alone is a titanic achievement. Dragon Ball has delighted fans all over the world for 40 years, a remarkable achievement nut just for manga and anime, but for the entertainment world at large. In the United States, Dragon Ball's anime adaptation was a staple of television in the late 90's and early 00's, and continues to create fans today.

Toriyama was also a character designer for the Dragon Quest series of games. You've certainly seen his iconic design for the Slime enemy featured in every Dragon Quest game. He had a remarkable talent for making things appealing for everyone. You've also certainly seen his work in the forever classic game Chrono Trigger, of which he was part of a sort of 'Dream Team' of unbelievable talent that included Yuji Hori and Hironobu Sakaguchi. Toriyama worked on the Dragon Quest series in some capacity with nearly every installment, doing character designs, package artwork, and things like ships or other mechanics.

It's impossible to overstate his influence and popularity, and how sincerely he will be missed by everyone. Anyone who has seen Toriyama's work, be it in a game, animation, or manga, falls in love with his storytelling and charming art. His work will live on in the hearts of fans forever, and I have no doubt new fans will be made long after this sad day passes.

Thank you for everything, Toriyama Akira. Let's tackle our lives with as much energy as Goku!

-James