The Internet Mourns The Death Of Akira Toriyama: Shoes That Are Too Big To Fill

Manga is essentially the Japanese word for comics or graphic novels. But it's so much more than just ink on paper, because manga is a cultural phenomenon, a storytelling medium that encompasses a vast array of genres, styles, and themes.

And Dragon Ball is amongst the handful of titles that managed to survive and thrive for decades, thanks to its massive audience, all around the world.

In fact, Dragon Ball is one of the most merchandisable anime based media franchises of all time, and that it has an extensive online fanbase and is consistently one of the most frequently searched-for terms on Google, and some other internet search engines.

And this time, its creator has passed, and the internet mourned.

Akira Toriyama, the influential Japanese manga artist who created the Dragon Ball series, has died at the age of 68.

Born in 1955, Akira Toriyama died on 1 March, 2024, from an acute subdural haematoma.

This is a serious condition where blood collects between the layers of tissue that surround the brain. Toriyama passed away after the blood vessel tears, and blood pools between the layers, applying pressure to his brain.

Toriyama's death was confirmed by Bird Studio, the manga company that Toriyama founded in 1983.

"It’s our deep regret that he still had several works in the middle of creation with great enthusiasm," the studio wrote in a statement. "Also, he would have many more things to achieve."

The studio remembered his "unique world of creation."

"He has left many manga titles and works of art to this world," the statement read.

"Thanks to the support of so many people around the world, he has been able to continue his creative activities for over 45 years."

Bird Studio wrote in their statement that Toriyama had a small funeral with family and asked fans not to send flowers or other offerings.

“Future plan for commemorate gathering is not decided,” they wrote. “We will let you know when it’s confirmed.”

Toriyama's most notable work, Dragon Ball, includes all 519 chapters of the 42 volumes in the series.

It follows the life of the main character, Son Goku, an alien from the Saiyan race, coming from the Planet Vegeta, who happened to land on Earth.

The story of Goku, a pure-hearted, super-strong martial artist with a penchant for mischief and a bottomless appetite, starts with his quest to find the seven mystical Dragon Balls, powerful artifacts that, when gathered together, summon the wish-granting dragon Shenron.

Along the way, Goku befriends a colorful cast of characters, including the spunky Bulma, the wise Master Roshi, and the loyal warrior Krillin.

But the real action begins when Goku discovers his true heritage, which happens to be a warrior race.

Following this, he starts training even more heavily, and due to his ancestry, Goku as a Saiyan is gifted with incredible strength and powers. As Goku trains, battles powerful foes, and hones his skills, he embarks on a series of epic adventures that take him to distant planets, otherworldly realms, and beyond.

From the iconic battles against the villainous Saiyan prince Vegeta and the tyrannical Frieza to the epic showdowns with the androids, Cell, and the monstrous Majin Buu, Dragon Ball is packed with pulse-pounding action, jaw-dropping transformations, and unforgettable moments that have left fans on the edge of their seats.

But amidst all the explosive battles and larger-than-life villains, Dragon Ball is also a story about friendship, perseverance, and the power of hope.

It's about overcoming obstacles, forging bonds that transcend time and space, and never giving up, no matter the odds.

The success of Dragon Ball quickly led to the creation of three animated television series (Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, and Dragon Ball GT) by Toei Animation, feature-length animated movies, and video games.

Unlike Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT was not based on Akira Toriyama's original manga, instead being created by Toei Animation as a sequel.

In 2012, Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods was announced to be in development, with Toriyama involved in its creation. The film marked the series' first theatrical film in 17 years, and the first time Toriyama had been involved in one as early as the screenwriting stages.

He then got involved in Dragon Ball Super in 2015, when he returned to the franchise, providing the story and character designs for both the manga and anime. This series continues the story after the defeat of Majin Buu in Dragon Ball Z and introduces new concepts like the multiverse and godly transformations.

In 2022, Toriyama was involved as the screenwriter Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, and in January 2024, he designed a logo to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his hometown of Kiyosu, and created a new story arc for the 2024 original net animation adaptation of his manga Sand Land.

He also created the story and character designs for the upcoming Dragon Ball Daima anime series.

Long story short, Toriyama left and returned to the Dragon Ball series, but regardless, he continued consulting on and promoting the franchise, as well as working on much shorter projects, sometimes outside the world of manga, even right before his death.

Dragon Ball has quite the diverse fanbase, all around the world, no exception.

Despite Dragon Ball's enduring popularity and the continued release of new content like Dragon Ball Super, fans from younger generations are also jumping onboard the bandwagon, many of those who mourned the passing of Toriyama, are millennial and Generation X. This happens because many of these people grew up with the series in the late '80s and '90s.

The short decade was the peak of the Dragon Ball's series' popularity.

And apparently, both millennial and Generation X are making up most of the world's working-age population.

This is among the reasons why the internet literally mourned his passing.

Initially, fans and other acclaimed manga artists expressed their shock and condolences.

"I wanted to make manga like yours! I wanted to be like you!" said Masashi Kishimoto, author of the Naruto series, said of Toriyama.

"Not only manga artists, but creators active in all industries…the excitement and emotion of his Dragon Ball serialization is probably rooted in their childhood," said Eiichiro Oda, author of One Piece series.

Organizations all over the world also commemorated Toriyama’s passing with references to his works, like the Dragon Ball manga series or Dr. Slump, or the Dragon Quest series of video games.

Brazil vice president Geraldo Alckmin featured Son Goku, alongside other icons of Japanese animation like Pikachu and Naruto, in a social-media message thanking Toyota for a $2.2 billion investment in the South American country.

Alckmin posted condolences on Toriyama’s death on X on Friday. “A legacy that has marked generations with values of companionship and loyalty. Thank you very much, Akira Toriyama!,” he wrote.

Even China joined in.

Mao Ning, the spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry, expressed “sincere sympathies” to Toriyama’s family during a press conference.

"I noted that many Chinese have expressed condolences over his passing online," she said.

"We hope and believe that more people with vision in Japan will make [an] active contribution to the cultural exchange and friendship between China and Japan."

Toriyama was bestowed with the Lifetime Achievement Award honor in December 2023, and he was to accept the award in person over the weekend