An entire generation of people felt they had lost a father figure when Akira Toriyama, the author of the legendary Dragon Ball series, died.
Whether you’re a fan or not, you’ve likely heard of the series Dragon Ball and perhaps know a person or two who are completely obsessed! The truth is many young people, particularly males, felt immense inspiration from this show which was all about fighting, bettering yourself, pushing your limits, and standing up to the forces of evil to protect the peace.
This all sounds like a super generic plot in theory, but the way Dragon Ball is executed with its captivating characters, amazing fight choreography, and intense dialogues, such that one cannot help but feel the drive to be a better man. Personally, Dragon Ball (particularly Dragon Ball Z), got me through some of my toughest challenges as a kid, and this is especially true being the shy introverted young boy I was.
A Global Community
Akira Toriyama’s impact can be felt all over the world. In fact, Dragon Ball is one of the few anime shows out there that has a dubbed version in almost every language, some of which have surpassed the original Japanese audio version in terms of popularity. Thus, it’s no surprise that Dragon Ball fans come in all shapes and sizes, and despite being a predominantly male fan base, has also piqued the interest of many female viewers too!
My own life trajectory could also be attributed to the power of Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball series. After all, I met some of my closest friends in life by bonding over the show! As a child, I often changed schools due to my parents relocating constantly, living in various countries and states. However, this allowed me to learn to make friends by focusing on common interests and looking past our differences, something that Dragon Ball’s main character Goku is especially good at.
Huge Pop Culture Influence
The classic Goku & Vegeta rivalry. The hero and the anti-hero. This character dynamic was made popular by Akira Toriyama and can be seen in so many action anime shows to this day. Not only does a rivalry help the main protagonist keep pushing himself to new heights, but it also adds a certain emotional depth to the show. Motivations, ambitions, pride, and self-identity are all put on the line in these battles of strength, martial arts tactics, and sheer will.
Many of the world’s greatest manga authors have attributed their inspirations to Akira Toriyama including the creators of Naruto and One Piece. Whether it’s the rivalry between Naruto and Sasuke or the goofy carefree nature of Monkey D. Luffy, we can see how character traits and dynamics of many different manga series are inspired by Toriyama’s work. Dragon Ball also popularized the concept of character transformations with its iconic Super Saiyan form, a similar concept we often see with the main protagonists of other action anime.
Gone But Never Forgotten
Akira Toriyama may be gone, but his legacy will live on forever. Even now, Dragon Ball lives on strong through the currently airing Dragon Ball Daima and the continuation of the Dragon Ball Super manga which was entrusted to Akira Toriyama’s successor, Toyotaro, who worked as his official illustrator for many years. Other popular Dragon Ball mediums such as the latest hit video game Sparking Zero and the popular Dragon Ball Card Game are also going strong even after Toriyama’s passing.
For me personally, the initial news of Akira Toriyama’s death was a huge shock. However, grief quickly turned into happiness and gratitude for what the man has brought to the world. Now, I find myself appreciating Dragon Ball like never before, and the bonds between my friends and me have certainly strengthened since his passing. Reminiscing our favorite episodes, fight scenes, and soundtracks from the show reminded us what a beautiful thing the mere act of human expression can be.
That being said, I would like to encourage anyone reading this to be like Akira Toriyama and express whatever it is in your soul out to the physical world. Be your most unique and authentic self while striving to make the world a better place, you never know how many hearts you will touch and how many souls you can inspire. The people need to hear the beat of your drum and the music of your spirit. Just like Akira Toriyama took that leap to create the greatest action comic of all time, let’s all bravely pursue our heart’s desire and work hard toward our dreams!
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