“The Pixels’ Tribute to Akira Toriyama”
8 min read
When I draw, I always recall my mindset when I was a child. – Akira Toriyama
As word has probably reached by now, Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama has left the world at the age of 68. He was someone whose influence has reached far and wide, and his work has left a lasting legacy on the world. This is a tribute to the late artist, written by individual writers from The Pixels.
I knew the work of Akira Toriyama well before I knew his name. Growing up in the 90s, it was hard not to at least be peripherally aware of Dragon Ball. It wasn’t something I watched myself – it wasn’t really kid-me’s thing – but I had friends who did, I saw the commercials, and I saw the style. It was distinctive, it was cool, and it was like nothing I’d ever seen before. Still, I only appreciated it from a distance. College came with more glimpses, as I dabbled in some of my first JRPGs, Chrono Trigger among them, though I didn’t stick with it. Time passed further, I learned of Dragon Quest, I finally put together the pieces of the similar art styles, I learned Toriyama’s name – and still I only appreciated from a distance. All up until just a few years ago, when I gave Dragon Quest XIa shot. And that’s when the real magic of it finally clicked. I don’t know why, exactly, either – maybe it was because it was a more familiar sort of setting than Dragon Ball was to my young mind, or because something about the gameplay resonated more than Chrono Trigger did the first time around. Something about being more genre-savvy when it came to Japanese media probably had something to do with it, too. But whatever it was, his art oozed so much vibrance, charm, and flair.
In a word, it all finally made sense.
I have to admit, I feel somewhat odd contributing to a Toriyama tribute when I wouldn’t have even really called myself a outright fan, as opposed to just an appreciator, until relatively recently. But I think that’s part of why I want to – it’s a testament to the timelessness of his art. I’m just one example of the proof that you didn’t have to grow up surrounded by his work to grow to love it, to see its import and impact, to see that here is a man, an artist, who found a means to speak across borders and generations and mediums, to inject just a little more brightness into the world around him. So thank you, Mr. Toriyama. Your work will continue to invigorate, inspire, and capture the imagination – for those who knew you from the beginning, those of us who were only starting to, and those yet to have the joy and the pleasure. You will be missed, but you will ever be loved.
My foray into Toriyama’s work didn’t really kick off until I began watching Dragon Ball Z on Toonami late at night in high school. I think I started right after the Raditz fight. I couldn’t watch every episode, but I followed it as best I could right into the end of the Buu Saga. During this time my mind was blown at the sight of Chrono Trigger and Dragon Quest. Ever since, I’ve been keeping up to date with the manga after watching Super and even had the misfortune of watching GT in college. I don’t think I can say I’m as big a fan as many others, but I’ve always found enjoyment in his work. It’s truly sad to know he’s gone, but he sure as hell won’t be forgotten.
I usually don’t think about the impact of celebrities deaths, and it isn’t really often they have significant impacts on me. Akira Toriyama on the other hand is one of the few people who’s came around and changed the world in a seemingly overwhelmingly positive light. For me, I’ve never really been too big into Dragon Ball, but most people my age have been aware of it. I’ve seen bits and pieces of it growing up. On the other hand, I’ve played Chrono Trigger back in 2019 and it had a huge impact on me. It’s probably the reason I’m writing on this website to begin with. Toriyama-sensei has left behind such a wonderful legacy that will reach for a long time. It’s sad that he had to leave so early, but nonetheless, his accomplishments will always be loved by many.Thanks for everything.
Akira Toriyama, a man who needs no introduction. The news of his passing still doesn’t feel real. He’s the man who made me cognizant of the artists behind my favorite projects, and as a fan of both Dragon Ball and Dragon Quest, there’s been plenty of his work for me to recognize him from. It’s going to be interesting for me to see how those franchises evolve without their original character designer. There was a certain magic to the designs that carried on through the series. His passing has been hard, but his is a legacy that will live on in my mind and many others for as long gas Goku is screaming and that little blue slime is bouncing around.
Dragon Ball Z at 8:30!
“Unparalleled Influence” is how I can best describe the impact that Toriyama-sensei has made, both on my life and on the entire course of history. Childhood mornings in the 1990s and 2000s were shaped by the overwhelming presence of Dragon Ball, which would end up inspiring other legendary artists and storywriters such as Oda-sensei and Kishimoto-sensei, the creators of One Piece and Naruto. This has undoubtedly trickled down into hundreds, if not thousands of other series that would not have been brought to life without Toriyama-sensei’s brilliant vision over the years. At the time, I had no idea that one of my first ever JRPG’s, Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls on the GBA, was part of a series inspired by the first Japan-made JRPG, Dragon Quest. This can even be seen in one of the most recent entries from 2023 being Final Fantasy XVI; it’s story confirmed to be directly inspired by Dragon Quest V, which released all the way back in 1992. What a privilege it is to have lived during a time where Toriyama-sensei also existed. I’m already looking forward to honoring him through the future Dragon Ball DAIMA series, multiple upcoming Dragon Quest games, and the April 26th release of SAND LAND. You will be greatly missed. Thank you, sensei!
Here is my little story about how Toriyama’s creations influenced my life: When I was around the age of 8 or 9, my dad (who was an Air Force fire fighter) was stationed in Madrid, Spain. My mother, baby brother, and myself were able to accompany him. We were placed in a small apartment in a rather busy area of the city, which provided plenty of “culture shock” for us. Not knowing Spanish but still wanting some way to connect with the local kids, I found out that they all collected Dragon Ball trading cards. There were quite a few street vendors who sold them at the time, and so I would always hit my parents up for the pesetas (the currency before the euro was adopted) to buy a pack or two. I remember communicating with other kids through showing them the different character cards I had, and they in turn would trade me cards that I didn’t have. We all had a lot of fun doing it, and no one ever felt slighted. Even though I had never seen the show, the commercial success of the Dragon Ball brand during that time allowed a little American boy to cross language barriers and make friends! I can only guess that my story is just one of thousands about how Toriyama’s creativity helped tear down cultural barriers between people.
Zerinus is a hobbyist writer, music lover, gamer, and vinyl collector. I’m usually Zerinus or DivineZerinus on social platforms such as Twitter.
I discovered dragon ball z give or take 25 years ago. Dragon ball has consumed my life everyday since, to the point my wife is concerned, and consequently she cannot fathom the hole left in my life from his passing.