“I prefer things nice and simple.”
-Akira Toriyama (1955-2024)
Akira Toriyama was a prolific artist. You don’t need me to tell you that.
You’ve already clicked on this post fully knowing who he is and what he has contributed to the world of art and entertainment. His work has impacted the lives of millions across the globe for decades. My favorite game of all, Chrono Trigger, exists because he collaborated with fellow geniuses Horii and Sakaguchi. However, in this tribute, I wanted to share something a little more personal than that.
I became an author because of Chrono Trigger. An amateur novelization attempt around age 12 introduced me to the world of writing fiction, and in my head, I could only picture that universe through Toriyama-san’s eyes. As I learned to draw, his interpretation of the world with all of its energy, enthusiasm, humor, and fury influenced everything I put to paper.
Below you’ll find a selection of very old memories and rather unfinished stories from my first attempt at a complete novel, a science-fantasy epic I cut my teeth on called Lies of the Machine, a collection of several tens of thousands of words on paper in my closet somewhere that will never see the light of day. Many of these illustrations of actors, monsters, and automata have never been shown to the internet world before. A few have. You will be able to spot Toriyama-san’s influence immediately in many of the figures, mixed with inspirations taken from Tolkien, Warhammer, Final Fantasy, and Magic: The Gathering.
Inspiration is priceless.
Thank you for the legacy you’ve left us, Mr. Toriyama. May you rest well and may your family be at peace.
Red formerly ran The Well-Red Mage and now serves The Pixels as founder, writer, editor, and podcaster. He has undertaken a seemingly endless crusade to talk about the games themselves in the midst of a culture obsessed with the latest controversy, scandal, and news cycle about harassment, toxicity, and negativity. Pick out his feathered cap on Twitter @thewellredmage or Mage Cast.
