The Name Behind Our Favorite Series

Akira Toriyama, born April 5, 1955, is the name behind the well loved series Dragon Ball Z. Toriyama tragically died on March 1st from a head injury, however despite his death his legacy lives on. He became one of the most beloved Japanese manga creators, but where did he start?

Toriyama was born in Nagoya, Japan, where in his early years he expressed interest towards art and design. He was fascinated by sci-fi and comics, which would become a great inspiration to his later work. In his adolescent years, he attended an arts and design school in Nagoya. This experience gave him exposure to various styles, which set the foundation for his career.

Following graduation, Toriyama took on a graphic design job. However, he was not satisfied with it; and began searching for other opportunities to express his creativity. In his free time, he found the hobby of creating manga. He submitted his work to several publishers, starting his pursuit of a manga career. His submissions caught the eye of one of the largest manga publications in Japan. They offered him a contract to work on a new series, which successfully launched his career.

His first success was a series called “Dr. Slump,” a comedic manga which became a nationwide hit, leaving Toriyama largely recognized in the manga industry. Following Dr. Slump, Toriyama created “Dragon Ball.” Taking inspiration from sci-fi adventure series, the manga was unique to the industry and left a significant mark on the backbone to many series to come. 

Dragon Ball captivated audiences worldwide, renowned for its intricate storylines, defined characters, and a creative use of world building inspired by his love for sci-fi. Later the series was turned into “Dragon Ball Z,” which made an even bigger achievement worldwide. 

All three previously mentioned series were adapted on TV, which spread to an even bigger audience. Toriyama received many awards for his work, including the Shogakukan Manga Award and the Eisner Award. Many believe his work to be the foundation of modern manga and anime, such as Anton Martin, 11. “Most tropes come from Dragon Ball, it is like the grandfather of all anime.”

Toriyama kept his life private, wanting to let his work speak for itself, however let's not forget the creative genius behind his extraordinary work. “I'm flying by the seat of my pants, never creating with a thought to what's up ahead!” - Akira Toriyama.