Akira Toriyama, the creator of the internationally beloved Dragon Ball series, passed away on March 1st, 2024 due to acute subdural haematoma at the age of 68.
First appearing in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1984, Dragon Ball has gone on to sell more than 260 million copies worldwide and spawned various anime, video game, and live-action spin-offs based on Toriyama’s creations.
An official statement from Bird Studio, Toriyama’s production studio, stated: “It’s our deep regret that he still had several works in the middle of creation with great enthusiasm. Also, he would have many more things to achieve. However, he has left many manga titles and works of art to this world.”
“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.”