Yahoo Finance “Dragon Ball Z” Creator Akira Toriyama Dead at 68
Toriyama "still had several works" he was focusing on at the time of his death, an official statement read
Akira Toriyama/ Instagram
Akira ToriyamaAkira Toriyama, the creator of the Japanese animated series Dragon Ball Z, has died. He was 68 years old.
Dragon Ball Z’s official X (formerly known as Twitter) account confirmed the news on Thursday.
“We are deeply saddened to inform you that Manga creator Akira Toriyama passed away on March 1st due to acute subdural hematoma,” a condition where blood collects between the skull and the surface of the brain.
The account shared that at the time of his death, Toriyama “still had several works in the middle of creation with great enthusiasm.” The post said that there were many goals he still looked forward to achieving.
Akira Toriyama/ Instagram
Akira Toriyama“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,” the social media announcement continued, while showing gratitude to those who had supported him throughout his career.
According to the account, a funeral service for Toriyama had already been held “with his family and very few relatives.”
Related: Dragon Ball Z Narrator Brice Armstrong Dead at 84
His family has asked for privacy during their time of mourning, requesting that individuals refrain from sending flowers or other gifts. They will also not be accepting visitors at this time, per the announcement on X.
In addition to the aforementioned requests, Toriyama’s loved ones have expressed that they will not be doing any interviews at this time.
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Akira ToriyamaWhile a commemorative gathering could possibly be held in his honor in the future, nothing is scheduled at the moment. However, if one is arranged, those plans will be shared at a later date.
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“We deeply thank you for your understanding and support as always,” the post concluded.
Dragon Ball Z originally debuted in Japan in the 1980s, before also becoming popular in the United States.
Akira Toriyama/ Instagram
Akira ToriyamaAccording to IGN, he also worked on video game projects Dragon Quest and Chrono Trigger, which showcased his distinct anime style.
The outlet added that he began his career at the age of 23 after entering an amateur manga creator contest in Kodansha's Weekly Shōnen Magazine.
One of his last rumored projects was the upcoming Dragon Ball Z spin-off series, Dragon Ball Daima, which would follow well-known characters Goku and Vegeta.
Daima’s executive producer Akio Iyoku reportedly spoke about Toriyama’s involvement during a panel at New York Comic Con 2023, where he said Toriyama was "deeply involved beyond his usual capacity" overseeing Daima's story, character design, and more, per IGN.
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