Akira Toriyama- creator of Dragonball and Dr. Slump passed away

[Coola Yagami]

Random sucker punch out of nowhere. Akira Toriyama passed away at age 68, March 1st but it was just revealed today. As you know, he created Dragonball, Dr. Slump and other series and also did the character designs for the Chrono Trigger series.

[Cowabung-Gal]

Dragonball Z was a huge part of my childhood. I remember my brother and I watching Gohan defeat Cell and jumping out of our seats in joy as though we were watching a football game. Such great memories.

w3cd07ItxgY

Rest In Peace, Toriyama-sama

[Barkworm]

I wasn‘t a fan of a lot of his work but he was a legend. His influence on the manga industry was out of this world.

[Anarchistguy]

The only other news that would shock me as much would be if Eastman or Laird passed away...

My goodness...I always dreaded the day this would happen and now, the nightmare came true...

RIP, good sir...

[ZariusTwo]

Thankyou for an incredible journey Akira. May the sagas now never end.

[BornAgain]

DBZ took me by storm as a kid. Totally fell in love and made it my main thing for a few years and had a friendship essentially based on it. I have to thank Akira Toriyama for the endless inspiration to my imagination. I’ll always love Dragon Ball.

[neatoman]

https://cdn.donmai.us/original/2e/9a/__toriyama_akira_original_drawn_by_toriyama_akira_ _2e9a3996b3900d0c270d5f62688de6d0.png

[tmntpower1988]

RIP Akira Toriyama :( Thanks for the years of fun with Dragon Ball Z.

Dragonball Z was a huge part of my childhood. I remember my brother and I watching Gohan defeat Cell and jumping out of our seats in joy as though we were watching a football game. Such great memories.

w3cd07ItxgY

Rest In Peace, Toriyama-sama

Gohan's Super Saiyan 2 transformation was amazing. I must get round to watching all the episodes again. Felt like Dragon Ball Z started going downhill a bit with the Buu saga but it still had it's moments. Wasn't a fan of Majin Buu but liked Super Buu though and Kid Buu was a bit nuts. After Kid Buu blows up Earth, regenerates and then when he goes looking Goku and Vegeta, seaching for warriors with high power levels on the different planets he just starts blowing them up laughing his head off.

[Coola Yagami]

I was fortunate enough to have been living in Mexico during peak Dragonball. While in the US, DBZ was this random 'wtf am I looking at' kind of 'Japanimation' show for the kiddies not used to anime storytelling, in Mexico DBZ was the continuation of a beloved series and beloved characters. While DBZ really did propel the series to almost religious status in Mexico, Goku was still a rather well-known and beloved character before the first episode of Z ever aired over there. When Dragonball ended we thought that was it, even though thanks to the internet we saw images of Goku with blonde hair for some reason and other characters we didn't know. I think the entire country flipped their **** the day that first ad aired that showed that Goku's adventures were going to continue with a 'new' show called Z. It's one of those 'you just had to be there' kind of moments and see if from the perspective of someone living in Mexico at the time.

Rest in Peace Toriyama. At least he accomplished three things he wanted, among many others I'm sure.

1- He got to finish his original story. Dragonball ended with the Buu Saga. Regardless what people think of GT, Super or even Daima, he did conclude his original story.

2- He made new content that went beyond Dragonball Evolution. He was so disappointed with that movie, it actually made him sought out to make Battle of Gods just so that if the series truly ends, Evolution wouldn't be the last memory on people's minds. Regardless what people might think of Super Saiyan Blue, Ultra Instinct and the 4 DBZ/Super movies released in theaters in recent years, they were way better than Chatwin Goku.

3- He went out working on something he was passionate about. Not sure how Daima was going to play out but after a lot of Dragonball burnout, he sure seemed excited and passionate about that project.

I'll never forget seeing the new episodes on TV back then, hitting the theaters to see the movies with friends, the videogames, the action figures, collecting the manga and even shaving my head a few times to cosplay as Kuririn. You inspired so many to create their own long-running action packed series and franchises. The KameHame Ha will forever be referenced and homaged for years to come. Characters like Goku, Vegeta, Freeza and Cell will remain in public memory for decades to come and beyond.


Rest in Peace, Akira Toriyama.

[Andrew NDB]

And like all of Dragon Quest.

[XERO]

Not how I wanted to spend my birthday... mourning.

The Dragon Ball series practically changed my life and introduced me into the world of anime. Rest in peace, legend.

[IMJ]

1st, it's good to see you back after your wind-down break, Coola. 8)

As for Akira, this is ashame. It feels early to die at 69. I only recently had my first real experiences with Dragonball in animation, but after watching one fairly decent pick from the franchise I can say that I understand why it is special and fun and ongoing for people who love it.

He created something neat.

[neatoman]

And like all of Dragon Quest.

Which makes wonder, who'll be the new character designer? Koji Inada maybe?

[CyberCubed]

I first saw the news all over twitter, reddit, etc. A whole bunch of other manga artists, videogame developers, voice actors, etc. are all posting their tributes on twitter.

Akira Toriyama was basically the Stan Lee of Japan. He's probably the biggest influence of Japanese manga/anime and Dragon Ball in particular influenced almost the entire medium that came after it. Funnily enough Dragon Ball started in 1983/1984 which is the exact same time Peter Laird/Kevin Eastman created TMNT in the west, so in some ways Dragon Ball was as huge in Japan as TMNT was in the US. at literally the exact same time.

[hypered1]

With a legacy as vast and as far reaching as his, he will never be forgotten and we'll always treasure the memories we gained thanks to him.

[Mad Dog McMutt]

I bet Akira is already on Snake Way and on his way to see King Kai.

[neatoman]

I bet Akira is already on Snake Way and on his way to see King Kai.

https://cdn.donmai.us/original/66/32/__toriyama_akira_dragon_ball_and_1_more_drawn_by_k awaindex__6632fcbeec1077b72b445cc7921cfd29.png

[CyberCubed]

This one got me:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Dragonballsuper/comments/1b9vry0/credit_goes_to_dbznewhope_on_ig_rip_toriyama_the/

[Cowabung-Gal]

Toriyama’s final contribution to Dragon Ball:

https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/pe5mhxqBXLmJ7Ok5uwOZkA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTE4ODI7aD0yNzAy/https://media.zenfs.com/en/gamesradar_237/45de5fa83099b29a739e652de68677d3

In the original draft for chapter 103 of Dragon Ball Super, illustrator Toyotarou drew the last scene of Piccolo following Goku, Gohan, and Pan with his back to the audience and fading into the distance. But Toriyama edited it with Piccolo turning to Pan’s teacher (and the audience) and waving goodbye before flying off.

Toriyama passed away after that. :cry:

https://qph.cf2.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-e5eae75862a197d3a17007c8b50458ec-lq

[Coola Yagami]

Toriyama’s final contribution to Dragon Ball:

https://scontent.fjbr1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/435154602_3892545184307373_1890868610883488308_n.j pg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=5f2048&_nc_ohc=EZxvmHk6qykAb4Z5JEa&_nc_ht=scontent.fjbr1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBlYTrtJWJq58sfF2a68r1Z2bEV3hD_XZCWXjI7T9HS pw&oe=661FC8EF

In the original draft for chapter 103 of Dragon Ball Super, illustrator Toyotarou drew the last scene of Piccolo following Goku, Gohan, and Pan with his back to the audience and fading into the distance. But Toriyama edited it with Piccolo turning to Pan’s teacher (and the audience) and waving goodbye before flying off.

Toriyama passed away after that. :cry:

https://qph.cf2.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-e5eae75862a197d3a17007c8b50458ec-lq

This hits hard on several levels when you consider that Piccolo was always Toriyama's favorite character.

[CyberCubed]

At this point after Daima ends (I think it was confirmed to only be 20ish episodes, so it'll be a short series), they should just do one final arc post-DBZ after Goku trains with Uub, and have them, Gohan, Trunks/Goten, Broly, Vegeta, etc. all defeat Freeza for good as a "final saga" thing.

Then after that I dunno, show Goku finally be able to match up to Beerus in a fight, and then the series should end.

Now that Toriyama is gone, and Goku's Japanese VA is 87 years old (!), she may not be around much longer either. The series really should not go on much longer at this point. They just have to kill off Freeza once again for good and then wrap it up.

[Coola Yagami]

At this point after Daima ends (I think it was confirmed to only be 20ish episodes, so it'll be a short series), they should just do one final arc post-DBZ after Goku trains with Uub, and have them, Gohan, Trunks/Goten, Broly, Vegeta, etc. all defeat Freeza for good as a "final saga" thing.

Then after that I dunno, show Goku finally be able to match up to Beerus in a fight, and then the series should end.

Now that Toriyama is gone, and Goku's Japanese VA is 87 years old (!), she may not be around much longer either. The series really should not go on much longer at this point. They just have to kill off Freeza once again for good and then wrap it up.

Apparently, Masako lent her voice to AI in case the unthinkable happens.

[Cowabung-Gal]

Now that Toriyama is gone, and Goku's Japanese VA is 87 years old (!), she may not be around much longer either. The series really should not go on much longer at this point. They just have to kill off Freeza once again for good and then wrap it up.

Apparently, Masako lent her voice to AI in case the unthinkable happens.

https://y.yarn.co/bed79071-a3f3-4840-afa0-f4d9470abd34_text.gif

I’ve always assumed that the Japanese VA for Goku was just a guy with a high-pitched voice. :lol:

[Cowabung-Gal]

Doc Harris, the narrator of Dragon Ball Z, has passed away at the age of 76.

“Don’t miss the next exciting episode of DRAGON BALL Z!”

eiHu_wmZT-o

[neatoman]

Doc Harris, the narrator of Dragon Ball Z, has passed away at the age of 76.

“Don’t miss the next exciting episode of DRAGON BALL Z!”

eiHu_wmZT-o

Speaking of, the narrator as a... character? I guess? Is he meant to be the same character as Kaio? Kaio was voiced by Joji Yanami until he retired and was replaced by Naoki Tatsuta, who also took over the role of narrator.

[oldmanwinters]

Doc Harris, the narrator of Dragon Ball Z, has passed away at the age of 76.


I'm thinking Harris did the early Ocean dub (showed up on the Funimation US Saiyan Saga & Namek Saga DVDs and Toonami), but the narrator was recast as Kyle Herbert (teen-adult Gohan) after they went with the Texas-based cast for English-dub episodes 54 and following. That said... the Ocean cast continued the dub for those episodes in other countries too, so maybe Harris did a lot more than I've been able to hear.

[Anarchistguy]

Doc Harris, the narrator of Dragon Ball Z, has passed away at the age of 76.

“Don’t miss the next exciting episode of DRAGON BALL Z!”

eiHu_wmZT-o

Mr Harris was the narrator in the Ocean Dub. The one you're referring to is Dale Kelly, the Original FUNimation DBZ narrator.

[ResidentEvil7]

This news of Akira's death just came to me now. I never saw Dragon Ball Z, but I did wear the anime t-shirts back in high school hoping to fit in with my school peers, because after a childhood friend of mine (my half brother's other half brothers from a different father) introduced me to anime, I thought that Anime is awesome. So I wore anime shirts, like DragonBallZ even though I didn't know it. The graphics on the shirts were cool and I felt if I wore them, I would fit in better.