Akira Toriyama, the man behind the wildly successful “Dragon Ball” manga and anime cartoons in Japan, passed away on Friday at the age of 68, according to a statement from his production crew.
“We are deeply saddened to inform you that Manga creator Akira Toriyama passed away on March 1st due to acute subdural hematoma,” said a statement posted on the official X account of the “Dragon Ball” franchise.
“It’s our deep regret that he still had several works in the middle of creation with great enthusiasm,” the statement attributed to Toriyama’s Bird Studio said.
“He would have many more things to achieve. However, he has left many manga titles and works of art to this world,” it added.
“We hope that Akira Toriyama’s unique world of creation continues to be loved by everyone for a long time to come.”
“Dragon Ball” is one of the best-selling and most influential manga titles of all time.
Since its 1984 debut as a serial, it has inspired innumerable anime programs, motion pictures, and computer games.
It tells the story of a young boy named Son Goku who gains abilities by gathering magical balls that contain dragons. These balls aid him and his companions in their battle to keep bad forces away from Earth.
Publishing house Shueisha said in a statement that it was “greatly saddened by the sudden news of his death”.
Eiichiro Oda, creator of Japan’s major “One Piece” manga franchise, said in a statement that Toriyama’s death was “too soon” and left “too big shoes to fill”.
“To think I’ll never see him again… I’m overwhelmed by sadness,” Oda said.
Subdural haematoma is a serious condition where blood collects between the skull and the surface of the brain.
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