Akira Toriyama

Akira Toriyama (鳥山 明), born on April 5, 1955, in Kiyosu, Aichi, Japan, was a globally influential manga artist and designer. He is best known as the creator of the Dragon Ball franchise, which became one of the best-selling manga series of all time and a major factor in the international popularity of anime. Toriyama’s professional career began in 1978 with the one-shot Wonder Island in Weekly Shonen Jump, followed by his first major success, Dr. Slump, which earned him the Shogakukan Manga Award in 1981.

Beyond manga, Toriyama was a prolific character and mechanical designer for the video game industry. He served as the primary character designer for the Dragon Quest series from its inception in 1986 through Dragon Quest XI, and contributed designs to other acclaimed titles such as Chrono Trigger and Blue Dragon. His artistic contributions extended to the plastic model industry through his studio, Bird Studio, and he was known for his distinct style that blended bishojo-style characters with intricate mechanical hardware.

Throughout his career, Toriyama received numerous accolades, including being named a Chevalier of the French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2019 and posthumous induction into the Harvey Awards Hall of Fame in 2024. Toriyama passed away on March 1, 2024, at the age of 68.