The last 1st of March marked the first anniversary of the death of Akira Toriyama. An artist who left an indelible mark on my childhood, as he did on many of my generation. When, a year ago, I heard of his death, I could not believe that the illustrator and narrator of such emblematic drawings of my childhood had left us.
I have so far not found a way to express the joys, laughter, memories and emotions that he gave to so many of us. He was an artist with a unique style as well as incredible creativity and a great communicator. Toriyama not only changed the manga industry, but also transformed the global landscape of comics and animation. An artist who leaves us with an overwhelming legacy filled with love for his passion.
I dedicate this post to him.
Who is Akira Toriyama?
Maybe some people still don’t know who Akira Toriyama is and what made him so influential. Therefore, I will briefly review his extensive career and the works that have made him a legend.
He was born on 5 April 1955 in Kiyosu, Nagoya, Japan. Before beginning his career as a mangaka in the early 1970s, Toriyama studied art and worked in a poster company. His professional debut as an illustrator was in 1978 when he published his first manga, Wonder Island in the famous V Jump magazine. But it was not until 1980 with the publication of Dr. Slump that he made his breakthrough as a national author. But it was not until the creation of Dragon Ball in 1984 that he achieved international fame and recognition.
He was an artist with clear influences from science fiction and American comics. Akira went on to develop his own unique style that quickly caught the attention of the industry. His ability to blend cartoon art, charismatic characters and action-packed plots catapulted him to the top. He often mentioned that he did not like to spend too much time on details and preferred to focus on the action and the most important moments of the plot.
Akira Toriyama is considered today as one of the most important and influential authors in the history of manga.
His most charismatic works
Akira Toriyama has given us an enormous legacy of fun, art, charisma, style and deep humanity. He is the author of a multitude of works. From single-volume manga, to short story manga, films, serialisation manga, spin-offs and other drawing publications. Here is a list of what I consider to be the highlights of his incredible, adventure-filled career.
1.- Dr. Slump (1980 – 1984):
I have to say that I got to know this work after Dragon Ball. It is a very funny, comical and endearing series that tells us about the curious adventures of a girl robot called Arale. This work brought Toriyama fame in Japan and allowed him to experiment with his visual and narrative style. With its absurd humour and quirky characters, Dr. Slump became a resounding success, allowing Akira Toriyama to establish himself as an artist to follow in the world of manga.
2.- Dragon Ball (1984 – 1995):
This is his most recognised and quintessential masterpiece. Dragon Ball began as an adventure inspired by the classic Chinese tale “Journey to the West” (initially called Dragon Boy), but quickly evolved into an epic tale of martial arts, unbreakable friendships and intergalactic fights. This manga marked the beginning of a worldwide franchise that is still alive today, with several sequels, films and spin-off series. It is unquestionably his most beloved work with 260 million copies sold (which is an understatement to say the least) and an essential part of popular culture. His iconic characters like Goku, Vegeta, Piccolo or Master Mutenroshi are now icons that transcend manga and anime.
I remember clearly when I was a kid, picking up these comics on a Saturday morning and starting to draw the different characters of the series and creating my own. The time just flew by…
3.- Dragon Ball Z (1989 – 1996):
Although Dragon Ball Z is a sequel to Dragon Ball, I feel it deserves a separate mention because of the huge impact it had. This series is known for taking the fights, plot and character development to another level (literally) with epic moments that will remain in the memory of fans all over the world.
4.- Kajika (1998):
It is a short work of three chapters, but it keeps Toriyama’s essence very much alive. It is the story of a young boy named Kajika who embarks on an epic adventure to rescue his kidnapped sister. Along his journey, he encounters a lot of weird characters and some pretty crazy situations.
This remains an interesting piece of work, with a fast-paced action narrative, in Toriyama’s career.
5.- Sand Land (2000):
After the resounding success of Dragon Ball, Toriyama decided to create a short but powerful story set in a desert world where humans struggle to survive. Although it did not have the same impact as Toriyama’s other works, Sand Land stood out for its originality and for delving into themes such as power and the environment.
6.- Cowa! (2001):
Another work by Toriyama that I would like to highlight was Cowa!, a lighter work aimed at a younger audience. Here the author invites us to immerse ourselves in a world and story of monsters and quirky little creatures with his unmistakable and unique style.
7.- Collaborations:
It is worth mentioning that he also participated in the design of characters for different video game franchises, giving them Toriyama’s typical visuals, humour and charisma. Some of these video games are: Dragon Quest (the first one in 1986), Chrono Trigger (1995), Tobal (1996), Blue Dragon (2006) or Sand Land (2024).
He was also involved in many other graphic and audiovisual projects, both charitable and social.
Awards and recognition
The award was given by him to each and every one of us who waited anxiously for the beginning of the month to be able to buy his next comic. His recognition is simply enormous, there is no need for it to appear in any publication or paper. The day his death was publicly announced, artists, illustrators, mangakas and actors from all over the world paid tribute to him and expressed the influence that Akira Toriyama had on all of them.
Even so, I would like to highlight three prestigious awards he received from the anime world that only a few can boast of.
- Shogakukan Manga Award (1981): best shōnen manga for Dr. Slump.
- Eisner Award (2002): for his contribution to comics and manga.
This award is considered one of the greatest achievements in the comics industry. - Cultural Osamu Tezuka Award (2011): for his impressive influence on manga culture.
This award is one of the most prestigious awards in Japanese manga.
Akira Toriyama’s impact on illustration and comics
Beyond awards and accolades, what really distinguishes Toriyama is his cultural impact. His unique drawing style with simple, clean lines, combining the detailed with the exaggerated, as well as his bright, saturated colours are distinctive elements of his work. His influence reaches thousands of people around the world. Toriyama’s way of designing characters with large, expressive eyes, his ability to create action sequences and his ability to balance drama and comedy are just some of the characteristics that have made him a reference without a doubt. Toriyama’s ability to build imaginative worlds and develop epic stories was overwhelming.
His works have not only been a reference for other mangakas, but have also been an inspiration for many Western artists, especially in the world of comics and video games, but also in a wide range of genres and formats. From science fiction to comedy in TV series and feature films.
Toriyama’s aesthetic and storytelling style has been imitated and paid homage to in many subsequent works, proving that his legacy knows no boundaries and continues to be a source of inspiration for new talents.
Conclusion.
Akira Toriyama was not just an artist and a creator, he is a cultural phenomenon. His influence knows no bounds and his impact lives on around the world. From the pages of his manga to anime screens and video games. While Dragon Ball is his best known work, he is a pioneer of modern manga and has left us with an enormous legacy, spanning a diversity of works that continues to inspire and entertain generations and remains a pillar of global pop culture.
Thank you for everything and goodbye, master! – – – 先生ありがとう！
* All the drawings in this post are the work of the master Akira Toriyama.
Hi, I’m Roberto Vidiella.
I am the founder and Creative Director of VIDI. I am passionate about graphic design, and through this blog, I try to deepen my knowledge and share what I have learned during my career. If you leave me a comment, you help me to keep learning and improving, and I’m really excited about it!