Eiichiro Oda and Masashi Kishimoto Mourn Akira Toriyama Along With Millions of Fans Around the World: “Don’t know how to deal with this hole in my heart”
The loss of an artist who impacted a million lives seems like a personal heartache for fans across the globe. On March 1, 2024, the world lost the creator of Dragon Ball, Akira Toriyama. The Japanese mangaka was known for giving the world an iconic anime like Dragon Ball, and subsequently, various video games that garnered a huge fanbase. His legacy continues even today, with younger fans finding the show and loving the storytelling.
Famous Manga Creators Mourn Akira Toriyama
At the age of 68, Akira Toriyama died due to health complications including acute subdural hematoma. As soon as the news broke, it sent fans and other creators in the manga and anime space into shock as the loss felt too personal. Toriyama was not just an exceptional artist and storyteller, but he was an inspiration, a light bearer in how the art of anime has evolved to date. Dragon Ball first premiered in 1985, finding fans and their love in every corner of the world.
Responses from both manga-ka: pic.twitter.com/dB6v7iN4Ph
— ScreenTime (@screentime) March 8, 2024
Along with thousands of fans, two very famous manga creators Eiichiro Oda and Masashi Kishimoto, who made One Piece and Naruto respectively, have also issued statements to express their mourning. After expressing his shock over Toriyama’s death, Oda further said that he went away too early. His death has left an insurmountable hole in his heart. He added,
“I also remember the last conversation we had. He is one of the people who took the baton from the era when reading manga would make you stupid and created an era where both adults and children read and enjoy manga. He showed us the dream that manga can do things like this and that we can go to the world. He gave it to me. It was like watching a hero push forward. The excitement and excitement he experienced when he serialized Dragon Ball is probably rooted in the childhoods of creators who are active in all industries, not just manga artists. That existence is a great tree.”
On the other hand, Naruto creator Kishimoto shared how Dragon Ball was his escape from the world after a bad day and how it helped him find his passion for art and stories. He said in his statement,
“Even if I had a bad experience, watching Dragon Ball every week made me forget about it. It was a relief for me, a country boy who had nothing. Because Dragon Ball was really fun! It was when I was a university student. Suddenly, the Dragon Ball that had been a part of my life for so many years ended. I felt an incredible sense of loss and didn’t know what to look forward to. But at the same time, it was also an opportunity for me to truly understand the greatness of the teacher who created Dragon Ball. I also want to create works like yours! I want to be like my teacher! As I followed in my teacher’s footsteps and aspired to become a manga artist, that feeling of loss began to disappear.”
Fans have flooded social media with heartfelt posts and tweets that reflect their gratitude and utter sadness over his death. So many childhoods were made brighter with Son Goku and his ultimate battle to collect Dragon Balls and defeat Saiyan. Inspiration to many, Goku encouraged children to find their inner hero and never be scared in the face of adversity.
Also Read: Dragon Ball Super: 6 Super Facts About Toriyama’s Masterpiece!
Akira Toriyama’s Initial Version of Dragon Ball
A fact that not many people know is that Toriyama’s manga was not always called Dragon Ball. Since the artist loved drawing and conjuring characters out of thin air, he used to craft different stories around martial arts. The first iteration of the story was titled Dragon Boy, where a strong young boy accompanied a princess on a journey back home. The two-part story became so famous that Toriyama decided to continue and reinvent it a bit. The latest version came to be known as Dragon Ball, being serialized in 1984.
Before that, Toriyama found success in writing Dr. Slump. After a slew of unsuccessful stories, his editor told him to experiment with a female lead. Toriyama’s first iteration of 1979’s Tomato the Cutesy Gumshoe did a bit well, so he decided to pursue the course and came up with Dr. Slump. This character went on to consolidate the artist’s position in the world of manga, eventually encouraging him to create many more stories and video games. The artist will be missed by people across the globe as his name will forever be linked to the legacy of manga.
