I am sad to say the creator of Dragon Ball Akira Toriyama passed away on March 1st due to acute subdural hematoma. He was only 68 and was still helping create new Dragon Ball content.

If you follow my photography you know I have liked Dragon Ball quite a bit since I was a kid and still follow it. Capturing photos of Dragon Ball characters has been a lot of fun for me and I recently introduced my partner’s kids to the Dragon Ball manga and cartoons. Heck, I even drink my morning tea out of a color-changing cup every morning.

Toriyama’s work got me interested in drawing and being creative as a kid. Goku was always one of my favorite characters since he is silly and strong at the same time. Once I got into toy photography Dragon Ball Goku, Piccolo, Trunks, Vegeta, etc have been characters I enjoy capturing photos regularly. I have been working on a project project called “The Super Saiyans and Piccolo” where they start a band that should be done this summer. I also am working on some Father’s Day-themed photos with Pan and Gohan.

Community Dragon Ball Photos

I would love to see some of your Dragon Ball photos too, so please make sure to tag your photos with #tp_dragonball like this one captured by Matias Cosentino posted in our MeWe Group that you can see below.

“Thank you for everything Akira…you will be missed and your legacy will continue for all eternity. R.I.P Akira Toriyama.”

Toriyama Was A Star Wars fan!

A big shoutout to @toytsh on Instagram for creating the above photo! Toytsh’s photo was inspired by Toriyama’s own homages to Star Wars in his Dr. Slump Manga/Anime series. 

More Dragon Ball Toy Photos by EqualMotion

I will keep adding community photos to this post as long as people send them to me. On that note, here are a few of my favorite Dragon Ball toy photos to accompany some information about the life and art of Toriyama.

Who was Akira Toriyama?

Akira Toriyama is a highly regarded Japanese manga artist and character designer, best known for creating the immensely popular manga and anime series “Dragon Ball.” Born on April 5, 1955, in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Toriyama’s contributions to the world of manga and anime have left a lasting impact.

Toriyama’s career took off in the early 1980s with the success of his manga series “Dr. Slump,” which showcased his unique blend of humor and creativity. However, he achieved worldwide fame and acclaim with the creation of “Dragon Ball” in 1984. The series, which originally started as a martial arts adventure, evolved into a global phenomenon, spanning multiple anime series, movies, and merchandise.

Toriyama’s art style, characterized by his distinctive character designs and dynamic action sequences, played a significant role in the success of “Dragon Ball.” His ability to create engaging and memorable characters, as well as his storytelling prowess, contributed to the series’ widespread appeal.

Despite his immense success, Toriyama is known for his relatively private and reserved nature. He has occasionally stepped away from the spotlight, and he is not as involved in the day-to-day aspects of the “Dragon Ball” franchise in recent years. Nevertheless, his legacy as a manga and his impact on the anime and manga industry remain influential and enduring. He is the GOAT of manga and anime in my opinion.

When was Dragon Ball created?

“Dragon Ball” was created by Akira Toriyama, and the manga serialization began in Weekly Shōnen Jump on December 3, 1984. The series ran in the magazine until June 5, 1995. “Dragon Ball” quickly gained popularity and was later adapted into an anime series, which first aired in Japan on February 26, 1986. The anime adaptation consists of several series, including “Dragon Ball,” “Dragon Ball Z,” “Dragon Ball GT,” and “Dragon Ball Super,” each continuing the story and expanding the “Dragon Ball” universe. The franchise has since become one of the most iconic and influential in the world of anime and manga.

Rest in Peace Akira Toriyama. Thanks for everything.