Saying Goodbye to the Creator of Our Childhood Dreams, Akira Toriyama
A Light Has Gone Out
I don't know about you, but I felt a hole open up inside me when I heard the news. Akira Toriyama, the legendary artist and writer who created Dragon Ball, died on March 1st at 68 years old. It was like a light went out in my world. For those of us who grew up devouring Toriyama's iconic stories and characters, it's hard to put into words the profound impact he had on our lives and imaginations.
He Lived the Dream We All Aspire To
You know that feeling when you're a kid of wanting to create something amazing that will inspire others? Of dreaming that maybe, just maybe, you could write or draw the next big thing that captivates the world? That was the dream that Akira Toriyama actually achieved. And not just for himself, but for so many other famous artists too.
Toyotaro, who took over the Dragon Ball Super manga, said it best: "I drew manga because I wanted to be praised by Toriyama-sensei. It was everything to me." Reading that surfaces all those old memories of my own childhood ambitions and how much I idolized Toriyama's universe.
The same sentiment pours out from the likes of Naruto's Masashi Kishimoto, One Piece's Eiichiro Oda, and other legends in their own right. They speak so emotionally about the dream of one day earning Toriyama's respect and admiration for their work. He was truly a guiding star for an entire generation of creators.
The Heartbreak of Those Who Knew Him Best
Then there are the sorrowful words from the very people who helped bring Toriyama's visions to life through voices and animation. Legendary voice actress Masako Nozawa (Goku) who finally gave her thoughts on Toriyama’s passing:
"I don't want to believe it. My head is blank with a feeling that I don't want to think about it. Still, every time I see Goku, I remember what Toriyama-sensei said to me, 'Take care of Goku for me, please' and that helps me to keep my mind clear. 'I vow to stay by Goku's side until my life is over.' Sensei, please watch over us from heaven. May you depart in peace."
Also, animator Naotoshi Shida from Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero shares his thoughts:
"It's too sad...it's too soon and I'm speechless. I learned a lot from Toriyama-san's manga and being involved in the animation staff. The illustrations in Dragon Ball Volume 13 are my favorite and contain everything I strive for, I can only thank him for that. I pray for his soul to rest in peace."
It's utterly heartbreaking to imagine the void Toriyama's passing left in those closest to him and his works. You can feel the raw emotion and sense of loss from everyone involved in Dragon Ball over the decades. It's like they lost a dear friend and mentor, not just a creative partner. Their grief reminds us just how much of himself Toriyama poured into his art and those he collaborated with.
A Transcendent Imagination That United The World
Of course, Toriyama's impact extended far beyond just manga creators and anime productions. You had global figures from French President Emmanuel Macron to Jackie Chan lamenting this loss of a true artistic genius. The reason is because Toriyama's fantastical storytelling held a universal appeal that could inspire wonder in people from any culture.
The tales of powerful warriors testing their limits, of lifelong friends overcoming any odds through their bonds, of weird creatures and cosmic adventures - it all resonated so powerfully across the world. Toriyama had an unmatched talent for blending imagination, action, humor, and heart in a way that could captivate absolutely anyone. His art and stories were a common thread uniting childhoods across every border.
Keeping His Flame Burning Bright
More than anything though, I keep coming back to how much of an inspiration Toriyama was to so many creatives. Mangaka like Yusuke Murata (One-Punch Man) speak about him with a reverence usually reserved for deities or celestial bodies, saying "Toriyama-sensei was almost like a star in the heavens even before he died."
That's the perfect summary of his lasting impact. While Toriyama may be gone from this world, the shooting star of his imagination and the fire it lit in so many others will keep burning bright. We'll see it in the works of new generations who were inspired by the man who showed us all that creativity and passion can build entire galaxies.
Toriyama didn't just give us the memorable adventures of Goku, Vegeta, and his colorful cast. He gave a limitless number of would-be artists, writers, and dreamers the motivation to start journeys of their own via the amazing realms they'll go on to create. His life's work was an explosion that scattered sparks across this universe and every infinite universe yet to be born.
So as we say goodbye to the legendary creator, I'm thankful for the gift of walking through his imagination as a child. For the worlds of super powers, bizarre comedy, camaraderie, and high-stakes battles that forever shaped how I see the full potential of storytelling. Toriyama is gone, but the brightest stars never truly die out. They live on through the unquenchable flames of creativity, ambition, and wonder that they spark in all of us.
We'll miss you, sensei. But your spirit will blaze on forever in the realms yet to be dreamed into existence.
The goal isn’t to live forever…The goal is to create something that will.
Akira Toriyama (1955-2024)
Never good bye bulma it's just a see you later we will see him again in another life time😇
Damn this shit is really sad tbh Blvckbulmaa he was a great artist of the whole Dragon Ball Franchise maybe I pray that someone takes over so that it can continue on.