Akira Toriyama, the creator of the Dragon Ball franchise and an renowned creative visionary, has died at the age of 68.
The artist succumbed to acute subdural hematoma last Friday 1 March, according to a statement issued by his studio late Thursday night.
Fans and followers were shaken by the loss of the 68-year-old visionary, who had several works in progress at the time of his passing.
“Thanks to the support of so many people around the world, he has been able to continue his creative activities for over 45 years. We hope that Akira Toriyama’s unique world of creation continues to be loved by everyone for a long time to come.”
Bird Studio in a statement on the official Dragon Ball franchise website
Toriyama, known for his unparalleled creativity and passion, leaves behind a rich legacy of manga titles and artworks that have captivated audiences worldwide.
His unique works in Dragon Ball and Dr. Slump, and contributions to numerous role-playing games like Dragon Quest, has earned the admiration of countless individuals in the Sonic the Hedgehog community.
The Super Saiyan transformation, a core pillar to Toriyama’s Dragon Ball series, was widely seen by Sonic fans as a major inspiration to the Super transformations exhibited by Sonic, Shadow, and Silver the Hedgehog over the years.
“If it weren’t for the great Mr. Toriyama, [Super Sonic], which was influenced by him, would never have been introduced to the world,” said Yasushi Yamaguchi, the character designer of Miles “Tails” Prower, on social media.
Sonic Symphony producer Shota Nakama added, “Dragon Ball had an immense influence on me when I was growing up. I wouldn’t be exaggerating if I said it was the biggest inspiration of my childhood,” He continued, “Rest in Peace, Toriyama Akira sensei. Thank you for everything you have done. You rocked and changed the world forever.”
Ben Schwartz, the voice actor of Sonic in the Paramount films, replied that Toriyama had “an incredible and inspiring career.” He replied, “Chrono Trigger is quite possibly my favorite video game of all time and Dragon Quest was one of the first RPGs I had ever played. A huge loss to gaming and anime.”
“I just hope he understood what a giant he was,” said Sonic series writer Ian Flynn. “How much he influenced the world, but more so, touched so many lives. I hope he knew how much joy and inspiration he brought into the world. I hope he knew he was a legend in his own time.”
“Your work meant that and so much more to millions of people of all ages,” musician Tee Lopes posted. “It’s timeless, iconic, and influential, and it opened so many doors and hearts to anime around the planet. I believe it will live on for generations to come, as will you in so many of our hearts.”
YouTube personality Cybershell said, “He was legendary and his work was so influential it’s not even possible to comprehend all the ways he’s affected culture.”
Sonic Paradox, the fan-run animation community, also replied, “Without you, Sonic wouldn’t be what it is today. An inspiration to so many.”
A private funeral service was held with close family members in attendance, in accordance with Toriyama’s wishes. His family requested privacy and refrained from engaging in interviews, but the studio promised a plan for a commemorative gathering to honour Toriyama’s life and work.
Editor’s note: Story updated with new details and quotations.
